Photo by Xavi Fane
Cattle and Conservation
The seasonal movement of cattle is both a vital ranching tradition and an essential ecological strategy in managing healthy pastures and rangelands around Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley. Each year, local ranching families orchestrate a precise, elevational migration to optimize livestock forage and protect the valley’s fragile ecosystems.
The cycle begins in late spring on low-elevation home ranches in the lower valleys. Once calving finishes, herds move out to allow these valley fields to rest, receive irrigation, and grow the summer hay needed for winter. By late-Spring, herds are driven up into mid-altitude transitional meadows. As the snow melts at higher altitudes around Crested Butte in early-Summer, herds are again moved, this time to federal allotments and large areas of conserved lands, some of which include over 3700 acres of rangelands and pastures conserved and stewarded by the Crested Butte Land Trust, in partnership with long-time Gunnison Valley ranching operators.
Continually moving livestock throughout the summer according to environmental conditions, hands-on experience and long-standing knowledge, these cattle producers are highly-valued stewardship partners as they thoughtfully and expertly move cattle across conserved sagebrush rangelands, forests, meadows and irrigated pastures. Sustainable grazing practices on working conserved lands play a critical role in keeping these places, and the landscape of which they are a part, resilient, healthy, and supportive of the Gunnison Valley’s ranching economy and heritage.
As autumn chills the peaks in late-Fall, the process reverses. Fall roundups bring the herds back down from high elevations. Returning to the valley floor, the cattle graze on harvested hay stubble and are fed baled winter hay, completing a timeless, sustainable cycle of high-country land management.
HCCA and CBLT Volunteer Day
Interested in getting involved with an irrigation project?
Join the Crested Butte Land Trust (CBLT) and High County Conservation Advocates (HCCA) on Saturday, September 12, for a volunteer workday on CBLT’s Robinson parcel along the CB–Mt. CB Rec. Path.
This project is the final phase of CBLT’s investment in a new irrigation system for the conserved property. Volunteers will work alongside CBLT staff, with support from HCCA, to install irrigation pipe and attach control gates for the sprinkler system.
Come lend a hand and help CBLT care for and steward this important working landscape for years to come!Registration is live here along with the event page here.
CBLT Week Schedule!
Join us for CBLT Week, a weeklong celebration of the places we call home. Enjoy hikes, volunteer opportunities, forestry and wildlife programs, and special events that connect us to the land, wildlife, ranching, recreation, and conservation that make the Gunnison Valley so special.
🏔️ Monday (9/21) | Protecting the Places We Love
Long Lake Hike with Executive Director Jake Jones
🕒 3:30-5:30 PM – RSVP Here!
🦌 Tuesday (9/22) | Living & Recreating with Wildlife
Gunsight Bridge Hikes & Exploration
🕒 8 AM – 12 PM – RSVP Here!
- 8 AM: Bird Watching with Drew Kelly
- 11 AM: Big Game Migration with Colorado Parks & Wildlife
🌱 Wednesday (9/23) | Agriculture & Partnerships
Glacier Farm Volunteer Day with Mountain Roots
🕒 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM – RSVP Here!
🌲 Thursday (9/24) | Forest Health & Pine Beetle
Lower Loop Walk with Colorado State Forest Service
🕒 1 – 4 PM – RSVP Here!
- 1 – 3 PM: Walk & Talk with CSFS
- 3 – 4 PM: Mingle & Q&A
🎨 Friday (9/25) | Scenic Views & Community
Experiencing the Landscape and Outdoors through Art
🕒 9:30 AM – 8 PM – RSVP Here!
- 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Peanut Lake Plein Air Watercolor Hike with Local Artist Sarah Schmidt
- 5 – 8 PM: Artwalk Watercolor Hike Expo & Happy Hour at Redline Gallery
Come explore, learn, lend a hand, and celebrate the places we love, together!
Other Summer Events
We are excited to be out and about in the community all summer long. Come say hi and learn more about the Land Trust at one of our field trips, tabling events, or happy hours. Stay tuned for more to come!
September 6th (Sunday) @ 9 AM | Farmers Market Booth
Stop by our booth at the Farmers Market to connect with faces both new and old then check out some great CBLT merch while enjoying the market!
September 21st-25th (Monday-Friday) | CBLT Week
Join CBLT for a weeklong celebration featuring hikes, community gatherings, and special events designed to connect people with the places they love and the conservation work that protects them – More details coming soon!
October 4th (Sunday) @ 9 AM | Farmers Market Booth
Round Two! Stop by our booth at the Farmers Market to say hi and check out some great CBLT merch while enjoying the market!
2027 CBLT Calendar is Live
Click the link here to purchase yours!
