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© Copyright 2007, Mountain Kids Magazine, LLC

Gunnison and Crested Butte Colorado Family Activity Guide -- Summer 2006
Kid Friendly Activities in the Gunnison Valley

Day Camps | Special Events, Festivals and Concerts | Clubs | Sports
Tours | Music, Dance, and Art | Indoor and Rainy Day Activities
Back to Kid Friendly Activities main page

Sports

While organized sports are mainly for locals, visiting families are encouraged to spectate. The adult and youth games like soccer, softball, kickball and more take place in the Crested Butte and Gunnison parks almost daily. Visitors are also welcome to use those fields whenever games or practices are not being held. There is also a great assortment of unorganized sport activities all over the valley.

Organized Sports

The Gunnison Park and Recreation Department offers many summer sports to children including baseball, softball, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, volleyball, rollerblading, and basketball. Their summer schedule can be obtained by calling 970-641-8060 or visit their website.
The Crested Butte Parks and Rec Schedule follows. Contact the Crested Butte Recreation Department at 970-349-5338 to register.
The Little League program, for ages 5-13, starts on June 5 and ends on July 28 with the All-Kids Picnic at noon at the park pavilion. Please sign up by June 2.
The Babe Ruth League, for ages 13-15, starts practice in late April. Games run late May through July. Please sign up by April 15.
Gymnastics for ages 4-7 runs June 5 through July 26. Sign up by June 3.
Junior Soccer for kids in grades 1-5 in the Spring Soccer Camp runs April 26 through May 20. Sign up by April 21. The August Soccer camp for ages 4-13 starts July 31 and ends on August 18, with an All-Kids Picnic being held on Friday July 28 at noon at the Park Pavilion.
Basketball for ages 9-13 runs July 17-28.
Junior Tennis Lessons for classes of four or more run in three-week sessions from June 12-29, July 10-27, and July 31-17.
Skateboard lessons will be held for beginner and intermediate children ages 6-12 on the following Saturdays: June 10 and 24, July 8 and 22, and August 5. Please bring skateboard, helmet, and knee and elbow pads.
Junior Swimming for ages 3-10 at Three Seasons runs session one from June 12-30 and session two from July 10-28. Register early.

Junior Golf
In Gunnison: Junior clinics at Dos Rios Golf are offered through the month of June. Please call 970-641-1482 for more information.
In Crested Butte: The Crested Butte Country Club offers clinics beginning on Tuesday, June 14 and continuing each Tuesday for six consecutive weeks. The cost of the clinic is $10.00 per session, $15.00 for guests. All clinics begin at 5:00 p.m. and last for one hour. Please register with the golf shop 970-349-6131. Golf clubs are provided if needed.

Horseback Riding
If you own your own horse, horse training and riding lessons are available through Stefanie Reinhardt. Call 641-4321 for more information.

SooBakDoo
Several children who are enrolled in this program have competed at the national level and have come home champions. Children's classes in Crested Butte are divided into three levels, a Kindergarten Class (5-6 years old), Kids Class (6-7 years) and a Juniors Class (7 and above). The Juniors Class in Gunnison is conducted as part of the Gunnison Middle School character education program. In Crested Butte, Juniors classes will be held Monday through Thursday afternoons. All aspects of Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan are included in the curriculum with examples of how the underlying principles and philosophies relate to everyday life situations. For more information, visit their web site or call 970-349-7752 or 970-209-5081.

Unorganized Sports

Crested Butte Mountain Resort has two chairlifts open in the summer. The Silver Queen Chairlift will take you high atop Mt. Crested Butte. You can hike around on trails, hike to the peak, or hike back down to the base area following the road.

The Red Lady Express chairlift is also open. You can take your bike on this lift and ride the many trails from the top of the lift. Family-friendly rides are in the Gold Link area. Maps are available in the lift ticket office. Bike rentals are available at the ski base area at various sporting good stores. For more information call 970-349-2262 or visit their website.

The town parks in Gunnison and Crested Butte offer soccer and baseball fields, and basketball courts that are open to the public when not in use by teams.

The Skate Board Park on the corner of Belleview and Third in Crested Butte is another great place to go, to be a part of the fun, or just to watch. Just make sure your little rippers come equipped with a helmet and pads. If they don't have the right equipment it can be purchased at the Air Up There.

Teller Street Miniature Golf, located at Teller St. and Virginia Ave. in Gunnison, offers 18 fun and challenging holes to adults ($5) and children ($3). Also offered are additional rounds for $1, tournaments and refreshments. Large groups, parties, and fundraisers are welcome. Open daily 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Children under 3 are free.

Check out the many disc golf courses. In Gunnison, you'll find a course at Western State College near the storage tank, and also by the Middle School. In Crested Butte there is a course at Big Mine Park. Pick up a map at the Warming house to navigate your way around this super fun 9 hole course. There is also a course on Mt. Crested Butte at the ski area. Most sporting good stores can give directions.

Hot day? Go swimming! If you’re staying at a hotel, chances are you have a
pool right there. Otherwise Rocky’s Gym in Gunnison offers open swim for a
fee. For info call 970-641-3751. Crested Butte Country Club members and
their guests can enjoy the indoor pool at the club house. Rather be chlorine
free? Natural rivers and lakes have cool to cold water. If your kids are big
enough to handle the hike, take them to Long Lake, located across from the
Meridian Lake neighborhood, and float around in a raft or the canoe. For
another option, head west out of Gunnison on Hwy. 50 to the Blue Mesa
Reservoir, the largest body of water in Colorado, and hang out on one of the
many beaches. Just want to get your feet wet? Go to Totem Pole Park in
Crested Butte or Gunsight Pass down Slate River Road and splash around or
toss pebbles into the shallow water (once the spring melt off has died down,
that is!).

Check out Whitewater Park in Gunnison. Man-made hydraulics were created and they're ideal for kayakers, boogey boarders and other types of water crafts to surf and play in. This play boating area is for intermediate and advanced kayakers to enhance their skills. Lessons are available through Scenic River Tours in Gunnison. They provide all the equipment you may need. Lessons include evaluation of your skills and a determination of the day's events.