Powder Compass

Atlas · Colorado · CO

Crested Butte

12,162′ summit · 2,787′ vert · 1,547 acres · avg 234″/yr

Solid odds — Feb 1–15

Delivered 24″+ in 7 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 9 of 20 · typical 15", most land 12"–32"

Before you book

This bet missed 3 of the last 10.

1 of the last 10 came in under 8″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Crested Butte · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 15 30 45" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 1 of 10 · 4 busts Long shot 11" 24" 2020 0" 2025 · 2 of 20
Nov 16–30 24″+ 4 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 16" 37" 2024 1" 2012
Dec 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 2 busts Coin flip 18" 48" 2007 3" 2006
Dec 16–31 30″+ 3 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 20" 103" 2021 3" 2011
Jan 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 16" 110" 2017 3" 2010
Jan 16–31 30″+ 2 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 19" 33" 2023 4" 2025
Feb 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 15" 46" 2019 3" 2022
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 5 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 19" 32" 2026 7" 2025
Mar 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 Solid odds 16" 84" 2019 7" 2012
Mar 16–31 30″+ 3 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 19" 47" 2023 3" 2012
Apr 1–15 24″+ 2 of 10 Long shot 15" 36" 2018 3" 2015
Apr 16–30 24″+ 4 of 10 Coin flip 20" 36" 2011 6" 2012

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

Colorado's old extreme-skiing capital — the North Face and Headwall's gnarled, technical steeps are still some of the state's most interesting inbounds terrain when they're open, wrapped around a friendly front side and one of the best-preserved mining towns in the Rockies.

Remote by Colorado standards — no easy interstate lane, which keeps crowds low. Epic Pass. The extreme terrain is snow-dependent and opens late in thin years. Town beats base village decisively for lodging and character.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Crested Butte's odds move on the Feb 1–15 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.