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© Copyright 2008, Mountain Kids
Magazine, LLC

Summer 2008
Gunnison/Crested Butte Colorado Family Activity Guide

Kid Friendly Activities
in the Valley - 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 Gunnison and Crested Butte parks almost daily. Visitors are also welcome to use the fields whenever games or practices are not being held. There is also a great assortment of unorganized sporting activities all over the valley.

CB Farmers Market hosts "The Great Apricot
Chuck-Off Field Games"!
Bring a partner to Crank's Plaza at Fifth and Maroon (Town Hall) Sunday, August 3rd to sign up for the Field Games.
Events include a Human Wheelbarrow Relay, 3- Legged Race and "The Great Apricot Chuck-Off". Furthest apricot chucked back and forth between two partners without dropping or smashing the 'cot wins!

First prize in the event is 2 free tickets to the Telluride Blues & Brews Saturday Night Music & Microbrewery Grand Tasting. 2nd & 3rd place will receive Market Bucks good for shopping at the Crested Butte Farmers Market. Sign up at 11:00AM at the Crested Butte Farmers Market located THIS WEEK ONLY at Fifth and Maroon. Participation in the Field Games is FREE! For more information contact Kevin McGruther at (970)901-0711, powderfarmer@gmail.com or online at www.cbfarmersmarket.org

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 www.myrecdept/co/gunnison.

The Crested Butte Park and Recreation Department offers baseball, soccer, tennis, gymnastics, skateboard lessons, flag football, and more. For information on ages, registration and fees, contact the Crested Butte Recreation Department at (970) 349-5338 or visit their website at www.myrecdept/co/crestedbutte.

Junior Golf Clinics – Dos Rios Golf Course in Gunnison offers Junior Golf Clinics throughout the month of June. Please call (970) 641-1482 for more information. The Crested Butte Country Club is offering Jr. Golf and Jr. Tennis throughout the summer. Please call (970) 349-6869 for updated information on fees, dates, and times.

SooBahk Do – Several children who are enrolled in this program have competed at the national level and have come home champions. All aspects of SooBahkDo 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 on schedules, location and fees visit www.westelksoobahkdo.org or call (970) 349-7752 or (970) 209-5081.

High Mountain Flyers – This disc golf club has some scheduled tournaments and some to be scheduled. June 8 in Crested Butte there will be a tournament at Big Mine Park. July 20 on Mt. Crested Butte is a tournament titled “Tossin’ in the Clouds.” The August tournament “Mixed Up Classic” has not yet been scheduled. If you sign up for a tournament, you automatically become a member. The club is currently putting together a night league in which they will use fiber optic discs. For more information about the club, contact Chris Brown at www.highmountainflyers.com, or call (970) 209-6616.

Kinder Kids Yoga – This yoga class is for kids ages 4 – 6 in Gunnison at The Sanctuary in the new Colorado Fitness building at 405 W. Tomichi. The classes are on Fridays from 10:30am to 11am. The Sanctuary is run separately from Colorado Fitness, so you do not have to be a member of the gym in order to attend yoga/pilates/meditation classes. Most of our classes have child care available during class times. The cost is $8.00 for yoga drop-ins or punch cards are available. Kids can use mom or dads punch cards as well. For more information, contact Leia Morrison at (970) 275-8927.

Yoga for the People – This locally owned and operated green yoga studio has a is devoted to “unity in diversity, local & global activism, and taking Yoga off the mat and into the world!” Classes include “Yoga Baby” for post-partum parents to connect with their babies, other parents and enjoy some gentle yoga; Teen Yogini’s designed for girls to embrace their unique selves, create healthy body acceptance, and explore the magic of yoga; and Yoga Kids, a nationally renowned program that utilizes yoga, music and creative arts to educate the whole child. A Yoga Kids Camp is planned for the summer, but the dates were not available at the time of printing. For more information including a schedule of classes, visit their website at www.yoga4thepeople.com or call (970) 349-0302.

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 a dirt road. The Red Lady Express chairlift is also open. You can take your bikes 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. For more information call (970) 349-2262 or visit their website at www.skicb.com. Also keep in mind that bikes can be transported from town to the mountain on the town bus.

There are also several beginner trails for mountain biking in the valley including some rides at Hartman Rocks, The Lower Loop, And the lower part of The Upper Loop from the town of Crested Butte to Skyland Residential Area. Bikes for Mom, Dad, and the kids, tag-alongs, and bike trailers can be rented or purchased from sporting good stores such as the Tune Up in Gunnison (970) 641-0285 and Big Al’s Bicycle Heaven (970) 349-0515 in Crested Butte. “Townies” are also available for rental for just cruising around town.

The town parks in Gunnison and Crested Butte offer soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, picnic tables, pavilions, and more. Please refer to our maps that have the locations of all the parks in Gunnison and Crested Butte.

The Skateboard Park in Crested Butte is another 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.

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 $1.00, tournaments, and refreshments. Large groups, parties, and fundraisers are welcome. Open daily 9am to 10pm. Children 3 and under are free.

Check out the Frisbee disc golf courses. In Gunnison, there is a course at Western State College near the water storage tank, and another by the Middle School. Stop by All Sports Replay at 115 W. Georgia Ave. or call them at (970) 641-1893 for current information on pick-up tournaments, discs, and directions to each of the courses. In Crested Butte, there is a course at Big Mine Park. Pick up a map at the Nordic Center’s 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 - chlorine free! Natural rivers and lakes have cool to cold water. If your kids are big enough to handle a short hike, take them to Long Lake. Parking is about 1.5 miles up Washington Gulch Road. There are tennis courts next to the parking lot. Cross the road (Pristine Point Dr.) that goes over the dam. Keep left until the road ends. Take this switchback up the hill to Long Lake and enjoy! Another popular day excursion is Blue Mesa Reservoir off of Hwy 50 west of Gunnison. At 20 miles long and with 96 miles of shoreline, it is the largest body of water in the State of Colorado. Hang out on one of the many beaches. The Bay of Chickens (Windsurf Beach) is 1.2 miles west of elk Creek. Dry Creek is 1 mile east of Elk Creek, and Old Highway 50 beach is adjacent to the Elk Creek Campground. These 3 locations have designated “no wake” areas for motorboat traffic. For information on locations of picnic areas and beaches, and a myriad of activities at Blue Mesa Reservoir, call the Elk Creek Visitor’s Center at (970) 641-2337 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/cure. Want to just get your feet wet? Go to Totem Pole Park in Crested Butte (3rd & Maroon St.) or to Gunsight Pass (down Slate River Road) and splash around or toss pebbles into the shallow water (once the spring melt off has died down, of course!) Check out Whitewater Park in Gunnison. They have man-made hydraulics that are ideal for kayakers, boogey boarders, and other types of watercrafts to surf and play in. This play boating area is for intermediate and advanced kayakers to enhance their skills.

Fishing Ponds for Kids
Three Rivers Resort features a Kid’s Fishing Pond. This is a no license necessary for kids fishing pond ages 5-12. The rate is $5.00 for kids to catch and release or catch and keep up to 2 fish in a 2 hour limit. The pond will run 10-5 Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. For more information, call (970) 641-1303 or visit www.3riversoutfitting.com

There is also a fishing pond at the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery just north of Almont on Hwy 135. Pull into the grounds and a sign will direct you to the fishing pond. Bring your own pole and bait. There are no supplies there.

Horseback Riding
Taking a guided horseback ride through the mountains is a great way for your family to experience the beautiful outdoors! To make reservations contact the Chamber of Commerce in Gunnison www.gunnison-co.com or (970) 641-1501) or the Crested Butte Chamber (crestedbuttechamber.com or (970) 349-6438). There are several outfitters to choose from with trips ranging from an hour to overnight.

If you own your own horse, training and riding lessons are available through Stephanie Reinhardt. Call (970) 641-4321 for more information.

If you would like to learn to ride but do not own a horse, riding lessons are available at the Messner Ranch up Ohio Creek in Gunnison. They will provide you with a horse, or you can bring your own. For more information on rates and availability, call Heather at (970) 641-1838.