Generally, the Festival takes place the second week in July. The 2023 Festival will take place July 7-16, with few to no events on Wednesday, July 12.
The 2023 Program Guide is now available and early registration access for Members will open March 20, followed by general registration starting on April 3. All of this information will be communicated via the website, our newsletters, and social media as we get closer to the Spring!
We offer a host of pre/post Festival events starting in June and going through August. You can view our 2023 Program Guide for the complete listing of events!
Alternatively, Crested Butte has plenty of incredible hiking opportunities that you do not need to register through the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival to do. HERE is our self-guided hike guide with a helpful map alongside instructions to find several of the most popular hikes around town. For detailed information about the hikes in the area, check out Travel Crested Butte’s Hiking Guide HERE!
Although the best time and place to see the most blooms depends year to year (and species to species), generally speaking, mid-July through early August we see a peak bloom! They are EVERYWHERE- alongside the road, in town, on trails, in the alpine… you will not miss them! Our “Follow The Bloom” hikes will take you to where they are best at any given point!
Registration for our Wildflower Festival Members will open March 20 of 2023 – before registration opens to the general public. As we get closer to early registration, all Members will receive special instructions via email on how to access their early registration. Learn more about Memberships and this year’s staggered registration process HERE.
Registration opens to the public on April 3 at 10am MTN on our Program Guide page! All event registration happens via our website (with the exception of Members Only Events, where we will email you). Events are filled on a first come, first served basis.
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To cancel an event, please email info@cbwildflower.com
Before making your final decision about cancelling your event make sure you are up to date with what our Cancellations, Transfers, and Refunds Policy is. Click HERE to learn more information.
The 2023 Program Guide is HERE on our website!
In an effort to be more environmentally sustainable, we are no longer printing and mailing copies of the Program Guide. The version on our website is downloadable and easy to print, so you can print your own copy if you would like.
Members will receive an email with instructions for early registration in March, shortly before registration opens.
Membership with the Wildflower Festival at any level will allow for the Membership holder and their participants to register early for events, so long as the Member and the participants are both attending the same events. If you have others in your party that would like to attend events separately than the Member, they can wait until general registration opens to register for those events or they can purchase a Membership for themselves and secure their spots early.
The Crested Butte Wildflower Festival offers many Membership options, starting at just $25. You can learn more about our Membership benefits and become a Member by clicking HERE. As a Member, you will get a jump on the general public for event registration!
All of our events have the option for a waitlist. If an event is full, the option to sign up for the waitlist appears. As spots in the full event open up, all folks on the waiting list, regardless of when they got on the list, will receive an email notifying the first come first served availability. At that point, those still interested in the event can sign up (as availability allows). You will not be charged for the event until you secure a spot.
There is a 5% registration fee added to all events purchased. Merchandise orders have a 3% transaction fee added.
Please note: rain is typical in Crested Butte during the summer months and will not prevent events from going out. Weather delays may be considered in the event of extreme weather but are not guaranteed. Please prepare accordingly.
Yes, and you’ll need to contact us at info@cbwildflower.com or 970-349-2571 to do it. Here’s our policy:
If it is within 7 days of an event, you may not change events.
As availability allows and if it is 7 days or more before the start of an event, you may change events:
After June 23, 2023, a $15 fee will be applied per person transferring per event. Click HERE to read more.
Unless the event description specifically states that transportation is provided, you’ll meet at your class location (specified on your registration confirmation email) and your leader will split the class into 2-4 carpools. You may be asked to drive and take other guests in your vehicle, and you will follow the leader to your event. If you do not have a vehicle, you will be able to ride with someone else.
We do offer the Garden Tours/Historic Garden Tours that can be accessed from the 4-Way Stop in town, so no transportation would be needed for those if your transportation options are limited.
Yes! Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley have fantastic and FREE public transportation available. Our Headquarters is located just a block-and-a-half east of the 4-Way Stop in Crested Butte.
For transportation in and around Crested Butte, check out the Mountain Express:
You can view a complete map of their summer routes HERE.
For transportation in the Gunnison Valley & beyond, check out the Rural Transportation Authority.
If you are participating in outdoor events, bring rain gear, warm layers, hat, gloves, hiking shoes/boots (broken-in please!), insect repellent, sunscreen, snacks, and water. If your event extends over the lunch or dinner hour, bring a snack/sack meal. Your hike description may also suggest bringing river-crossing shoes or sandals, and hiking poles.
Supplies for art classes are provided, but you may want to bring a portable camp chair for field events.
If your event requires any specialty equipment (i.e. photo classes), it will be listed in your event description.
Crested Butte has plenty of incredible hiking opportunities that you do not need to register through the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival to do. HERE is our self-guided hike guide with a helpful map alongside instructions to find several of the most popular hikes around town. For detailed information about the hikes in the area, check out Travel Crested Butte’s Hiking Guide HERE!
Generally, if an event is suitable for children under the age of 16 it is specified in the event description on the Program Guide. Because our events are outdoors, at least a few hours long, and focus on wildflower identification, young children can easily become bored and often lack the stamina required to complete the hike. However, there are a couple of events that might work for younger children – Tour of Crested Butte Gardens and Wildflower ID Walk both are easier to peel off from the group if needed. For hikes we recommend Woods Walk (it is shady and has tree forts) and Brush Creek (very flowery and easy to walk but can be hot and sunny as it sits on a southern slope).
If you have any questions or wish to inquire about making an exception, please call our office at (970) 349-2571.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate dogs at Festival events. Crested Butte is a very dog-friendly town, and you may walk your dog on any of the trails here on your own – but please! Pick up after your four-legged friend and respect leash laws.
Trained service animals (seeing eye dogs, etc.) are allowed. Please notify us via email (info@cbwildflower.com) or phone (970.349.2571) that you will have this accommodation upon registration so that we can communicate with our event leaders ahead of time to work out additional clearance as needed. Emotional support animals are not allowed. For questions or requests for special accommodations, please contact us via email (info@cbwildflower.com) or phone (970.349.2571).
The meeting location for your classes will appear on your registration confirmation (sent to you via email after you register). Most events will meet at the Historic Train Depot – 716 Elk Avenue. This is our Festival Headquarters!
You can find us on GoogleMaps HERE!
For any classes that start before or after our operating hours, please consult your registration confirmation for your class’ meeting location. Sometimes, this will be off-site, and we will provide a physical address. Please be at your class meeting location 15 minutes before your class starts.
Please be at your meeting location 15 minutes before your program starts. This gives you time to check-in and your leader time to make sure everyone in the group is well prepared. If you arrive late (even 15 minutes), we cannot guarantee you will be able to meet up with your group. Due to the nature of the Festival, we are unable to transfer you to another hike or issue a refund if you are late. Keep it simple, arrive early!
Most events take place at an altitude of 9,000-11,500 ft above sea level. Some people may experience being light-headed and/or a feeling of “being out of breath” when they first arrive in Crested Butte. This is common and there are a few things you can do to help yourself feel better faster:
There is! Crested Butte received the honorable designation, “Wildflower Capital of Colorado,” from the State legislature in 1990, and our mission is to help folks enjoy, learn about, and preserve our beautiful wildflowers. Please help us protect this amazing gift.
All festival participants are expected to display responsible outdoor etiquette. Failure to adhere to these expectations may result in dismissal – without a refund – from any remaining classes for which one is already registered.
Since our events are first come first serve and are open online for registration, the likelihood of an event having more than one, if any, open spots closer to the Festival is slim. You are welcome to drop by the Depot or call us (970) 349-2571 to see if there is availability, though we cannot guarantee there will be open spots for drop-in visitors.
You are always welcome to explore on your own, however. HERE is a link to our self-guided hike brochure and some helpful wildflower ID pamphlets!
This is a strenuous 11-mile hike at altitude. You need to have an excellent level of cardiovascular fitness and be acclimatized to the altitude (9,000-11,500 ft) to enjoy and complete this hike. You will be required to submit a Medical Consent Form for this hike. This form will be sent to you via email approximately 2 weeks prior to your hike.
This is a very subjective area, but in general:
Beginner: One who has very little understanding of the workings of their camera. They have not done much more “point and shoot” photography. Enjoys taking snapshots but wants to learn more about composition, lighting, and the capabilities of their camera to enhance their images.
Intermediate: One who has basic understanding of their camera. They have read their manual or other photography-related information and can use more than one lens. They know basics such as aperture, shutter speed, composition and how to use some of the manual settings on their camera. They are looking to expand their knowledge by going deeper into the capabilities of their camera as well as learning art of photography.
Advanced: One who has a great understanding of their camera and the art of photography. They have multiple lenses and can use the manual settings on their camera with ease. They understand lighting, flash-photography, different compositions, depth, backgrounds, movement, contrast, framing etc. They are looking to be guided to the scenic areas at optimal times for the best shots. They are open to additional photographic tips and enjoy talking “shop” with their instructors.
The last time we offered Jeep/ 4×4 Tours was 2017. Since then, the company was sold and no longer offers them.
However, each year we do offer some classes and photography workshops in which participants caravan and carpool in their own 4×4 high clearance vehicles to access some of those more secluded areas. Check out our Program Guide for details.
Thank you for your interest! If you would like to be involved in one of our upcoming Festivals, simply send us an email and introduce yourself! Generally speaking, we work on solidifying our leaders around November for the upcoming Festival. We start our search for summer staff leading up to May and take Volunteers as late as during the Festival! Let’s connect! info@cbwildflower.com
*The Festival does not have music performances of food vendors. We have not partnered with vendors/ consignment sellers for our Blossom Boutique since 2019.*
Currently, Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley do not have any restrictions in place for COVID-19 protocol. If this changes, we will communicate updates via our website, social media, and newsletter.
CBWF is an equal opportunity service provider and employer and operates under permit from the USDA Forest Service, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest