Just moved to Crested Butte & Gunnison, or getting back into it after a while? These groups are beginner-friendly and welcoming — no need to be fast, experienced, or know a soul.
Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association
Wednesdays, 4:00–7:00pm · summer · volunteer trail-building & maintenance, tools provided
Rotating CB-area trailheads (see CBMBA calendar)
Hands-on trail stewardship on the planet’s oldest MTB club’s 480+ miles of singletrack — no experience needed; a great way to meet the local riding community.
High Country Conservation Advocates
Summer series · guided group hikes on trails & peaks around the valley
Gunnison Valley public lands & wilderness
Led by HCCA’s longtime hike leader; specific dates and destinations are announced through the summer — check the HCCA site.
Daily in winter · 9:00am, 10:30am, 12:00pm & 1:30pm · 60-min classic-technique groups
Crested Butte Nordic Center, 620 Second St
Four daily start times; weekend half-day clinics (2.5 hrs on snow) also run at 9am. 50+ km groomed right from town.
Crested Butte Avalanche Center
Annually, early December · free kickoff talk with avalanche pros + raffle
Center for the Arts, Crested Butte
The season-opening community event for new and experienced backcountry travelers; proceeds support the CBAC.
Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association
Seasonal · member group rides & events — dates announced via newsletter/social
Crested Butte
Membership unlocks group rides and member-only events; check the CBMBA newsletter and Instagram for the current ride calendar.
Tuesdays · summer · volunteer trail-building days across Gunnison County
Rotating Gunnison-area trails (often Hartman Rocks)
Start time varies by project — confirm on the Gunnison Trails site or socials before heading out.
Weekly · women of all paces · easy 2–3 miles + a treat after
Gunnison
WCU-student-founded women’s run club; reach out via the local running community for the current weekly day and meeting spot.
Gunnison Community Running Club
Casual drop-in community runs · all levels · organized via Facebook group
Gunnison (Main Street / Hartman Rocks)
Schedule is posted in the Facebook group — check there for the next run before showing up.
High Country Conservation Advocates
At least 6 workdays a year · wet-meadow restoration, fencing, trail cleanup
Gunnison Valley public lands
Volunteer restoration days with local land managers — a hands-on way to give back to the trails you hike.
July · guided naturalist & wildflower hikes on protected parcels
Snodgrass, North Pole Basin & other CBLT lands
Run during the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival (mid-July) with local botanists and artists; registration usually required.
Fridays, 9:00am–3:00pm · 8-week summer camp · ages 8–11 · movement, knots & belaying
Irwin Guides Office, 330 Belleview Ave, Crested Butte
Local kids’ rock-climbing program, ~mid-June through mid-August; 14 kids per session, 5:1 staff ratio.
Seasonal · 8-week team-based youth climbing camps in Gunnison
Gunnison
Builds rock skills and team skills for local kids; dates and sessions vary — confirm with Irwin Guides.
Select Thursdays, noon · winter · free 60-min intro skate-ski lesson
Crested Butte Nordic Center, 620 Second St
Free clinics on set dates (e.g. Dec 11 & 18, Jan 8/15/22, Feb 5 & 19 in 2025–26) — confirm the season’s dates on the CB Nordic site.
All winter · ~45–50 km of free volunteer-groomed classic & skate trails
Hartman Rocks, Van Tuyl Ranch, Jorgensen Park & more (Gunnison)
Free public skiing; check the daily grooming report before you go. Some venues (e.g. parts of Hartman) allow dogs — verify per trail.
Crested Butte Avalanche Center
Annually, early December · free hands-on beacon, rescue & shoveling practice
Crested Butte area (see CBAC events)
Field skills 9–2 with an afterparty 3–5; any experience level welcome to practice transceiver searches under CBAC staff.
Throughout winter · AIARE 1, AIARE 2 & Avalanche Rescue courses
Crested Butte (classroom + field)
AIARE 1 & 2 are 3-day courses; Avalanche Rescue is 1 day. CBAC staff also teach AIARE courses in the valley.
Seasonal field trips · birding & wildlife outings across the chapter’s counties
Gunnison County & Western Slope sites
The Audubon chapter serving Gunnison; check the site for the current field-trip schedule, including spring Gunnison Sage-Grouse viewing.
Seasonal · chapter meetings, fly-tying clinics & destination slideshows
Gunnison
The local Trout Unlimited chapter; fly-tying clinics and programs plus conservation workdays — check the site or Facebook for dates.
River season · whitewater kayak, packraft & swiftwater clinics for all abilities
Taylor River / Gunnison whitewater park
Youth and adult instruction; boatable Taylor River flows typically mid-May through September. Contact for the current class schedule.
Academic year · student-led rafting & kayaking trips + gear rentals
Western Colorado University, Gunnison
Whitewater rafting and kayaking are among WP’s most popular trips; primarily for Western students but a model for valley paddling culture.
Summer · guided adaptive hiking, climbing, paddling & biking for people with disabilities
Crested Butte
Year-round therapeutic recreation; scheduling is per-participant. Works with any disability regardless of ability to pay.
Winter · adaptive alpine, Nordic & snowboard sessions with trained instructors
Crested Butte Mountain Resort & Nordic trails
Monoski, bi-ski, snowboard, Nordic and snowshoe programs; scheduled per participant.