Colorado · Cross-country skiing

The Maze

The MazePhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.0 mi
distance
10 ft
climb
8,862 ft
high point
Easy
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Is The Maze open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name The Maze, 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.

The Maze is a cross-country skiing route in Colorado, set within the Gunnison Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests and on the Moon Ridge area. It is a short, easy outing of less than a mile, with a high point of 8,862 feet and a low of 8,847 feet, so the climb is almost flat. The route is private land, and the nearest town is Crested Butte, which sits about a mile away. The weather station in Crested Butte, at nearly the same elevation as the route, records typical averages that make winter the clear season for skiing. January highs average 26°F with lows around -7°F, while July brings typical highs near 76°F and lows around 40°F. Middle Earth and Tony's are both cross-country skiing spots about 0.2 miles away. Climbers can head to The Hone Stone and High Times, each about half a mile off. For an overnight stay, Crested Butte RV Resort is about 2 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit The Maze

    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, 0.7 mi away at 8,867 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Middle EarthPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Middle Earth

Next door

Middle Earth is a 1.23-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 310 feet of elevation gain.

Tony'SPhoto: Nicholas Swanson http://nicholasswanson.com/ http://dribbble.com/NicholasSwanson, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tony'S

Next door

2.80-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 874 ft of elevation gain.

Old Ditch TrailPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Old Ditch Trail

Next door

0.23-mile trail in Colorado with 21 ft of elevation gain.

PowerlinePhoto: Nick Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Powerline

~3 min drive

Powerline is a 0.14-mile ski trail in Colorado.

Tony'S Trail 603Photo: Nicholas Swanson http://nicholasswanson.com/ http://dribbble.com/NicholasSwanson, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tony'S Trail 603

Next door

Short, beginner-friendly Colorado ski trail perfect for quick outings.

Crested Butte Mountain ResortPhoto: Draconrex, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

~3 min drive

Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado has 15 lifts and 95 runs with 2,315 ft of vertical drop.

Washington Gulch RoadPhoto: Sheila Sund from Salem, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Washington Gulch Road

~9 min drive

Short, beginner-friendly road ski in Colorado's Washington Gulch.

Skyland CcPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Skyland Cc

Next door

1.33-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 141 ft of elevation gain.

GulchPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gulch

Next door

Gulch is a 0.61-mile trail in Colorado with 86 feet of elevation gain.

Recreation PathPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Recreation Path

Next door

1.84-mile route in Colorado with 481 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors