Wildflowers, aspen groves, stunning mountain views—it doesn’t get any better than that.

I was nervous about my first solo camping trip, after much research Crested Butte, CO was my destination of choice, and I’m really happy with the decision I made.

It’s a popular tourist destination, especially during the summer as it has been coined the wildflower capital of the state, making it a top contender for solo travel.

Even though I traveled here in early June before peak wildflower season, there were still some pops of color, and the area is beautiful regardless of weather the flowers are in full bloom.

Not to mention, the town of Crested Butte is lovely with a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and cute coffee shops for you to enjoy.

So if you’re looking to plan your own solo two day trip to Crested Butte, this itinerary is for you.

I’ll share where I camped, hiking trails, and where I ate. Enjoy!

My Itinerary

Day 1:

Arrive at Crested Butte Campground and set up camp
Short hike - Judd Falls
Lunch at the car
Hike near camp - Snodgrass or Teddy’s Trail
Dinner in downtown Crested Butte
Head back to camp

Day 2:

Wake up + eat breakfast at camp
Coffee in downtown Crested Butte
Paddle board at Lake Irwin
Lunch on the lake
Drive home

Where I Camped

I camped at Mt. Crested Butte Campground just across the street from the ski resort.

Here, there are 26 free first come, first serve tent only campsites that are available.

I traveled here on a weekday and only 3 of the spots were taken, meaning I practically had the place to myself.

The campground is pretty minimal, all you have is a porta potty in the parking lot and that’s about it.

You also cannot have an open flame, so this camping spot is pretty much just for sleeping, which is great for explorers who prefer to be out and about.

I felt very safe since I chose a spot near my car and felt comfortable knowing that there were homes across the street.

I would recommend this spot for other solo campers.

Where I Hiked

I chose to do just two short hikes on this trip. Being alone, I didn’t really want to go on a super long hike deep in the mountains.

I also didn’t want to get up super early in the morning if I’m being honest. So I just did these two short hikes back to back.

Even though they were short, both were very scenic and represented the area very well. I was a little early to peak wildflower season, but there were still pops of color along every trail.

Judd Falls

Length: 2.2 mi

Elevation gain: 446 ft

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

This was a pleasant hike just a few miles drive down the road from my campsite. It’s a gorgeous hike that leads to a stunning waterfall lookout with forests and wildflowers all along the way. Not to mention, the surrounding area is beautiful with towering mountains right beside you.

Teddy’s Trail

Length: 1.8 mi

Elevation gain: 301 ft

Difficulty: Easy

If you’re looking for an easy wildflower hike just outside of Crested Butte, this is it. The trailhead is also within walking distance from the campground which was a huge bonus. This trail takes you through wildflower meadows, aspen groves, and offers cool views of Mt. Crested Butte. This is also the trailhead for the Snodgrass trail, so you can do that one as well if you’re looking for a longer hike.

Where I ate in Crested Butte

I was trying to stick to a budget on this trip so I only ate out twice and brought all other food with me.

That being said, there was one coffee shop that was on my list of things that I just had to check out.

I had to stop by the iconic Camp 4 Coffee which I’ve heard so much about. It’s a cute little coffee shop in the town of Crested Butte with excellent outdoor seating and delicious drinks. I thoroughly enjoyed my hazelnut raspberry latte.

For dinner on my first night I was crazing a hearty meal and decided to check out Thai Chili 78 downtown. The thai red curry dish with rice and a refreshing thai iced teas is exactly what I needed after a day of exploring.

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Trip Review

I was a little nervous about my first camping trip alone, but I’m glad I followed through with it!

The campground was perfect and there was never a moment where I felt uncomfortable. It’s definitely lacking in amenities, but it was free so I can’t complain. It’s located in the most idyllic meadow filled with wildflowers and sometimes you can see horses grazing in the distance which makes this spot feel like a fairy tale.

I really liked that there were dozens of hiking trails nearby making getting around pretty easy, even in my sedan! Next time I visit, I want to do some of the longer more challenging trails. I also hope to time my trip a little better so that I can see Crested Butte in peak bloom. The camp was also conveniently located only 10 minutes away from town, so I could easily grab food when I needed it.

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Safety tip: download AllTrails maps for the trails you plan on hiking prior to your trip. You can also download Google Maps in areas that are likely not to have internet services so you always have access to your map to get around (I did both of these).