Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Brush Creek Shortcut

Brush Creek ShortcutPhoto: jpaxton, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.6 mi
distance
78 ft
climb
9,355 ft
high point
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Brush Creek Shortcut open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Brush Creek Shortcut, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Brush Creek Shortcut is a cross-country skiing route in the Gunnison Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The route is short, about 0.6 miles, and rises roughly 80 feet from a low point of 9,272 feet to a high of 9,355 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.46 miles, with a grade of about 13 percent. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Crested Butte weather station show January highs around 26°F with lows near -7°F, while July highs reach about 76°F. That station sits roughly 500 feet lower than the route, so temperatures on the shortcut run a little cooler. Campsite BC 11 and Campsite BC 10 are both within half a mile, and the Death Pass mountain biking trail is about 0.3 miles away. For paddling, Brush Creek is about 0.9 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Brush Creek Shortcut

    Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      26° / -7°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      29° / -2°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      38° / 7°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      47° / 19°

      9 wet

    5. May

      58° / 28°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 34°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 40°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 38°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 31°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 22°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 9°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / -4°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crested Butte, CO, 6.3 mi away at 8,867 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors