Experience The Alley Loop

More Than A Ski Race

Crested Butte's Best Costume Party

February 5, 2022

About the Alley Loop

The Alley Loop is not your typical Nordic Marathon. . . . It stands both as a premier American Birkebeiner Qualifying event, in addition to being Crested Butte’s most outrageous costume party of the year! The course winds its way through snow-laden streets, alleyways and narrow bridges through the heart of downtown Crested Butte. You’ll find yourself cheered by town revelers as you navigate a crazy gliding costume assemblage. . . . Racers are sometimes forced into making daring passes and depending on their luck, may even get waylaid on a bridge for a moment. Once you make it through town, you are rewarded by pristine tracks and exhilarating vistas throughout the Crested Butte Nordic trail network.

If you like normal, you may want to look for another race.  If you are up for anything… this is right up your alley!

Alley Loop Events

On Friday, February 4 the Alley Loop Snow Carnival will be taking place for free on Elk Avenue. This event will feature fun relay races, obstacles, and challenges for the whole family, thanks to Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties.

The full Alley Loop takes place on Saturday, February 5, thanks to Fischer Skis & Odlo. The Alley Loop includes:

  • 42K Nordic Marathon skate
  • 42K Nordic Marathon classic
  • 21K Half Marathon skate
  • 21K Half Marathon classic
  • 10K freestyle (you can skate or classic– your choice!)
  • 5K freestyle
  • Kids 3k freestyle
  • Kids 1k freestyle

Where to Stay

We are a community, nonprofit Nordic Center. We exist because of the generosity of our community, from individual season passholders to donors to our municipal partners to our businesses. We encourage you to stay with the amazing Lodging Partners that support us in providing trails, programs, and events that sustain our community’s mental and physical health.