Colorado Highway 135 to Crested Butte and Kebler PassI used to think that, for all but dirt bikes, CO 135 to Crested Butte is a dead-end, with the only exit being to return to Gunnison. I recently found out that I was very wrong. More of that in a moment. Crested Butte used to be another of those mountain towns that make Colorado so interesting and picturesque. The old downtown area still is, although it is now more of a Disney-style tourist downtown. Meanwhile, the rest of the area has been built up so incredibly much in the last few years that I can no longer recommend that anyone go here, unless you’re checking it out as a possible ski destination. Like Steamboat Springs, which used to be a quiet, dusty Western wide spot in the road, Crested Butte is engulfed with condos, golf courses, shopping malls, and way too much more. At least Steamboat stills retains some of its original feel; Crested Butte does not. On top of all that, the road up from Gunnison is nothing special. There is one motorcycle-accessible campground along this road, outside of Almont, by the name of Almont Campground. What is probably much the better road, and the best reason to come here, is the road over Kebler Pass, which you’re only going to want to take if you’re adventurous enough to take your bike on gravel. Some people aren’t. If you are game for a decent gravel road, take Gunnison County Road 12 over Kebler Pass. CR Road 12 meets up with CO 133 as it comes down from McClure Pass toward Hotchkiss. Here are some photos going west to east along that route: And here’s the route: Again, there is nothing all that interesting along CO 135 between Gunnison and Crested Butte, but here’s a picture along the route. You can judge for yourself. The last two are of the old part of town and new construction under the mountain backdrop: |
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