Crested Butte: A Visit to the Wildflower Capital of Colorado

By Debbie Whittaker

Long after the columbines have dropped their petals on the foothills of the Front Range, the mountains surrounding Crested Butte, Colorado, burst into bloom. They are beginning to awaken in the subalpine meadows of the Elk Mountains that border the town when July and early August is bloom time at 10,000 feet.

The profusion is typical of summer in Crested Butte, where ostentatious blossoms capture its designation of "Wildflower Capital of Colorado." The showy display, along with numerous trails and varied terrain, make the locale a Mecca for the travelers, hikers and mountain bikers that replace winter sports enthusiasts in the summertime.

The rest of this story is now contained in "Colorado Outdoor Lover's Guide" by Front Range Living and Fulcrum Publishing. It can be purchased through www.fulcrum-books.com or at bookstores, such as: www.tatteredcover.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.borders.com or www.amazon.com.