The Odometer: Roughly 192 miles, one way from Denver (3 hours, 30 minutes)

Nestled at the base of the ruby-hued Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Crestone is revered for its spiritual centers, crunchy vibe, and backcountry access. New-Agers and mountain climbers share the zip code with reiki masters and woodworkers.

For many, Crestone is primarily a gateway to Great Sand Dunes National Park, 14,296-foot Crestone Peak, and hot springs in nearby Moffat. Others come in search of a higher power at the local Hindu ashram, Buddhist retreat centers, and Tibetan temples and stupas.

Whether you’re seeking an outdoor escape or you’re just a little curious about Crestone’s eccentric vibe, you’re in for an awakening. Below, where to play, pray, eat, and sleep in and around this under-the-radar Southern Colorado community.

Jump Ahead:

What to Do in Crestone

Crestone sits at roughly 8,000 feet on a high-desert canvas speckled with petite cactus, hardy piñon, and fragrant juniper. The Sangre de Cristo Range yawns to the north and east, serving up ample hiking and backpacking trails just a short drive from town.

At a lofty 14,295 feet, nontechnical Crestone Peak is popular with peakbaggers, while more advanced route-finders and alpinists enjoy the puzzle that is 14,197-foot Crestone Needle (class 4). Nearby 14,066-foot Humboldt Peak is the easiest of the trio (just class 2), but still requires a strenuous, 11-mile round-trip. If you’d rather let the experts handle the gear and wayfinding, book a guided Sangre de Cristo alpine climb with Colorado Climbing Company.

crestone needle and crestone peak
Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak. Getty Images

More into water? Catch the Willow Lake Trail east of Crestone for a nine-mile round-trip trek through fir and aspen to the path’s crystalline namesake (pass a lacy waterfall en route). More into sand? A short drive down Colorado 17 brings you to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, a 30-square-mile choose-your-own-adventure dunefield that seems to pop up out of nowhere.

Post-hike muscles will rejoice in the mineral-rich pools at remote Joyful Journey Hot Springs. Book a yurt or tent for an overnight experience and pop out before bed to drink in the Milky Way; Crestone boasts International Dark Sky Community status.

Where to Worship in Crestone

The San Luis Valley is home to more than two dozen spiritual centers. How come? Some locals believe the isolated and sacred land attracted Indigenous people on vision quests. Others assert that because Crestone rests on a natural aquifer, it’s an energy vortex. The least fun but most likely reason: In the 1970s, Canadian environmentalists Maurice and Hanne Strong purchased a generous chunk of land and, following a failed real-estate venture, donated parcels to spiritual and religious groups.

Seekers, artists, and environmentalists have been arriving ever since. Many religious centers welcome visitors for daily meditation programming, fire ceremonies, and longer retreats.

Here are some stops to add to your spiritual itinerary.

  • Crestone Mountain Zen Center: This wisdom school is a place for monastic Buddhist living. Although it’s not open to day visitors, the center is available for personal retreats and hosts monthly meditation weekends.
  • Chamma Ling Colorado: Rooted in ancient Tibetan Bön Buddhist tradition, this retreat center offers private cabins for independent spiritual journeys. Not open to day visitors.
  • Haidakhandi Universal Ashram: Visit a spiritual community inspired by Haidakhan Babaji and dedicated to the Divine Mother. Day visitors are welcome in the Maha Lakshmi Gift Shop and the Lakshmi Temple, where they can join for ceremonies, meditation, prayer, and karma yoga.
  • Mangala Shri Bhuti Temple: This Tibetan Buddhist religious community focuses on compassion, wisdom, and liberation from suffering. Visitors are welcome. Call 719-270-1198 to schedule a tour.
  • Shumei International Institute: This non-denominational spiritual fellowship is dedicated to art, culture, and the practice of natural agriculture. Daily tours and prayer services are open to the public. Call 719-256-5284 to sign up in advance.
  • Stupa of Enlightenment: Anyone is welcome to visit this Tibetan Buddhist site of devotion from sunrise to sunset.
  • Tashi Gomang Stupa: This 42-foot tall Tibetan monument commemorates the 16th Karmapa who escaped Tibet after the Chinese invasion. Visitors are welcome to the outdoor stupa anytime.
  • Vajra Vidya Retreat Center: This modern Buddhist retreat center sits on 35 acres. Visitors are welcome to attend daily morning meditations Tuesday through Sunday from 8:45–10:30 a.m. Check the event calendar for workshops and retreats.

Where to Shop in Crestone

Exterior of Elephant Cloud Market
Elephant Cloud Market in Crestone, Colorado. Photo by Lisa Blake

It’s no surprise Crestone’s retail shelves sparkle with handmade jewelry, textiles, and tinctures. Take your time strolling the town’s funky, compact center, and don’t miss the Crestone Free Box on the east side of town where a shed serves as a give-and-take thrift store.

Here’s where to find your next treasure:

Where to Stay in Crestone

If it’s a weekday May through November, you might have a shot at scoring one of the 13 first-come, first-served sites scattered around North Crestone Creek Campground. Secluded tent spots are tucked into copses of dense juniper and fir, creating the feel of remote backcountry camping less than two miles from town.

The Penthouse at the Bliss Inn & Restaurant is a hotel room in the heart of town with a private deck and kitchen. A short walk from downtown, Crestone Casitas welcomes guests with a trio of boutique spaces and a lush walking garden set on 40 forested acres. Connect with your casita neighbors around the firepit in the shared outdoor kitchen.

If you really want a taste of Crestone’s creatively curated sanctuaries, start clicking around Airbnb. You’ll find domes built for stargazing (complete with your own constellation-tracking telescope), a hobbit home with an infrared sauna, adobe solar homes, creekside cabins, and mod shipping containers with a rooftop deck and vinyl records.

Where to Eat in Crestone

burger and fries
The Yak Burger at Bob’s Place. Photo courtesy of Bob’s Place

A three-in-one stop, Elephant Cloud Market serves as Crestone’s primary cafe and grocery store with a holistic edge (think: sage bundles, loose teas, and hand-woven grass baskets), and its only gas station. Peruse displays from local artists while the staff whips up your paleo bowl or organic turkey panini with locally grown greens.

Open Thursday through Saturday, Our Food is Art Restaurant is known for its stacked burgers, cherry barbecue pulled chicken and ribs, and catfish tacos topped with hemp seeds and crispy kale crumbles.

Across the street, the Bliss marries French and Thai in its curries, wraps, and crepes. Nosh on an Enlightenment Crepe stuffed with red onion, grilled pear, cilantro, peanuts, and your choice of protein. Or go with the beloved Cosmic Cobbler, a caramel-drizzled fold of grilled peaches, cinnamon, and cookie dough crumbles.

At Bob’s Place Diner, try the Crestone yak burger, made with Chokurei Ranch Tibetan yak raised down the road in Moffat, or visit in the morning for a gut-busting country-fried chicken, biscuit, and eggs plate.

The Crestone Saturday Market is held in Town Park May through October and brims with seasonal organic produce, handmade chocolate, tamales, juices, quiches, and home-baked goodies. The bazaar ensures every vendor lives within a 60-mile radius of Crestone.

If You Do One Thing in Crestone…

yellow ziggurat in front of snowy mountains
The Crestone Ziggurat rises in front of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Getty Images

Walk the half-mile trail to the Crestone Ziggurat, and then climb the spiral ramp to the top. Built as a quiet meditative perch, the vibrant yellow tower is said to represent a gateway from Earth to heaven.

Lisa Blake
Lisa Blake
Lisa Blake is a freelance writer and children's book author living in Breckenridge. When she's not writing about food and mountain adventures, she can be found on the river with her son, pug and husband.