Crested Butte Land Trust

What Crested Butte Land Trust does

Crested Butte Land Trust (CBLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land conservation organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in Crested Butte, Colorado. Its mission is to permanently protect and steward open lands in Gunnison Valley for scenic vistas, wildlife habitat, ranching heritage, and public recreation. The organization works exclusively with willing landowners, securing land through two core mechanisms: conservation easements (voluntary, legally binding restrictions that run with the title) and fee-title acquisitions. CBLT holds independent accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (Land Trust Alliance), signaling adherence to national ethical and operational standards.

The organization's conserved portfolio comprises 85 properties totaling 6,554 acres, including 446 acres of wetlands, 12.5 miles of rivers and streams, 3,735 acres of working ranchland, and 22 miles of trails. Notable recent transactions include the August 2024 mineral rights extinguishment on 885 acres of Mt. Emmons (Red Lady), a 120-acre conservation easement on Cement Creek Ranch with the Baxter family, and the February 2026 acquisition of the 90-acre Kapushion-Spehar Wetlands at the headwaters of the Slate River. Public access to conserved lands is provided at no charge, with documented recreational use exceeding 100,000 visits in summer 2025.

CBLT's revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions: individual donations, corporate sponsorships, grants from public and private funders (including Great Outdoors Colorado, the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Board, and 1% for Open Space), targeted acquisition campaigns, and event-based fundraising (Starry Evening Gala, Caddis Cup fly-fishing tournament, CBLT Week). The organization supplements contributed revenue with modest merchandise sales. It operates with a small core staff (1–10 employees) supplemented by seasonal Conservation Land Stewards and Recreation Rangers, and is governed by an independent Board of Directors. There is no parent company, equity sponsor, or institutional investor.

Name

Crested Butte Land Trust

Legal name

Crested Butte Land Trust

Website

https://cblandtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Crested Butte Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that permanently protects and stewards open lands in Gunnison Valley, Colorado, through conservation easements and fee-title acquisitions with willing landowners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Biodiversity Conservation & Habitat Banking (AFAMAMAC), Recreation, Ecotourism & Access Rights (Hunting, Fishing, Camping) (AFAMAMAD)

Keywords

• Land conservation
• Conservation easements
• Land stewardship
• Recreation areas
• Community fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Crested Butte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: Primary revenue stream consisting of individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants from public and private funding organizations. The organization runs targeted fundraising campaigns for specific acquisitions (e.g., Slate River Wetlands campaign targeting $2.1 million). Donors are cultivated through the monthly Mountain Memo newsletter, annual events, and direct relationship management.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Crested Butte Land Trust branded merchandise through the online shop. Information collected includes contact and financial (credit card) data for order fulfillment.
3. Events and Community Programs: Revenue from community events including the annual Starry Evening Gala, Caddis Cup fly-fishing tournament, and various free community programs. Events serve both fundraising and community engagement purposes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Crested Butte Land Trust works with willing private landowners, ranchers, and government partners in Gunnison Valley to permanently protect land through conservation easements and fee-title acquisitions, then provides ongoing stewardship of conserved properties. The trust makes protected lands available to the public at no charge through multiple recreation areas (Mt. Emmons, Slate River, Lower Loop, Long Lake) and supports conservation through donations, grants, merchandise sales, and community fundraising events.

Product overview

Crested Butte Land Trust is a nonprofit land conservation organization that has operated for over 34 years protecting open lands in the Gunnison Valley. The organization offers a portfolio of conservation-focused products and services centered on land protection and stewardship. Core offerings include conservation easements—voluntary legal agreements that permanently protect land—and ongoing stewardship services that manage conserved properties. The trust maintains multiple public recreation areas including Mt. Emmons Recreation Area (Red Lady Bowl), Slate River Recreation Area, Lower Loop, and Long Lake Recreation Area, which collectively provide trails, floating access, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Community engagement is facilitated through the monthly Mountain Memo e-newsletter, annual events (Starry Evening Gala and Caddis Cup Fly Fishing Tournament), and a photography merchandise shop. The organization also offers various donation mechanisms including the Opportunity Fund and legacy giving programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Slate River Wetlands Preserve: 90-acre wetland conservation area acquired in 2026 along the Slate River
• Kapushion-Spehar Wetlands
• Cement Creek Ranch
• Red Lady / Mt. Emmons Recreation Area

Products and services

• Conservation Easements Voluntary, permanent legal agreements with willing landowners in the Gunnison Valley that limit future development while allowing continued private ownership and uses such as ranching.
• Land Stewardship Services Ongoing management, monitoring, and maintenance of conserved properties including trail upkeep, wildlife habitat management, fencing, and ecological restoration across 85 parcels.
• Mt. Emmons Recreation Area Public access recreation area featuring Red Lady Bowl with 885 acres of protected alpine habitat, open for non-motorized winter recreation including skiing and snowshoeing.
• Slate River Recreation Area Approximately 23-mile river corridor providing floating, fishing, and wildlife viewing opportunities, with a voluntary no-float period from March 15 through July 15 to protect wildlife.
• Lower Loop Recreation Area Multi-use trail system open year-round for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing, connecting to the Crested Butte Nordic trail network.
• Long Lake Recreation Area High-alpine lake area with swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and hiking, featuring a 1-mile accessible loop trail with 42-inch width for hand cyclists.
• Starry Evening Gala Annual fundraising gala featuring live music, dinner, and silent auction to support CBLT's conservation mission.
• Caddis Cup Fly Fishing Tournament Annual July community fly-fishing tournament that raises funds for CBLT's land conservation work.
• Photography Shop Online store selling local landscape and wildlife photography products, with proceeds supporting CBLT's conservation fundraising.
• Mountain Memo Newsletter Monthly email newsletter delivering CBLT updates on conservation projects, stewardship, community events, and land management news to subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,554 acres of Gunnison Valley land permanently conserved across 85 properties
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Mt. Emmons Mining CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2024On August 29, 2024, Mt. Emmons Mining Company extinguished its mineral rights to Red Lady (Mt. Emmons) through a Conservation Easement and Mineral Extinguishment Agreement with CBLT, permanently protecting 885 acres of alpine habitat and winter recreation. This was the culmination of decades of advocacy and negotiation.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner in the Red Lady/Mt. Emmons conservation project, contributing to the multi-partner effort that protected 885 acres of alpine habitat and secured continued winter public recreation access.
• City of Crested ButtecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in multiple conservation projects including Mt. Emmons, Cement Creek Ranch, Long Lake, and Slate River Wetlands. Provides co-funding and policy support for land conservation initiatives in the Gunnison Valley.
• Gunnison CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner in the Mt. Emmons conservation project and broader land conservation efforts in Gunnison Valley.
• High Country Conservation AdvocatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation nonprofit that was a key partner in the Red Lady/Mt. Emmons campaign, representing community advocacy that drove the successful mineral extinguishment.
• Coal Creek Watershed CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal watershed organization partner in the Mt. Emmons conservation effort and ongoing collaborative work on watershed protection in the Gunnison Valley.
• Baxter Family (Cement Creek Ranch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate landowner family who partnered with CBLT to place a permanent conservation easement on their 120-acre ranch surrounding by Gunnison National Forest, protecting wetlands, wildlife habitat, and agricultural land.
• Spehar and Kapushion Families (Slate River Wetlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-generational landowner families who partnered with CBLT to sell 90 acres of wetlands and farmland at the Slate River for permanent conservation protection. The Spehar family has owned land in the area since the 1880s.
• Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association (CBMBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal mountain biking advocacy group that collaborated with CBLT on the Long Lake 1-mile accessible trail loop, contributing over 100 community volunteers to trail construction.
• Adaptive Sports CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGunnison Valley nonprofit collaborating with CBLT on accessible recreation trail projects including the Long Lake 1-mile accessible loop with 42-inch wide path for hand cyclists.
• Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned field research station in Gothic, Colorado, partnering on North Pole Basin conservation (2013) and ongoing scientific research collaboration on conserved lands.
• Slate River Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner18-member collaborative group of landowners, conservationists, local agencies, and recreation advocates working to balance recreation with conservation along the Slate River through river-specific management strategies and voluntary user education.
• Mountain Roots Food ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food security nonprofit collaborating with CBLT on the Glacier Farm property, hosting annual Dig-In Day community farm tour and volunteer days to support farm operations and community engagement.
• Crested Butte NordicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Nordic ski club whose trail system traverses CBLT-conserved lands, providing year-round winter recreation access on protected properties.
• Crested Butte MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal museum that co-hosted the Colorado Gives Day Open House event with CBLT, sharing community history and cross-promoting both organizations' missions.
• Colorado Backcountry Hunters and AnglersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter of a national nonprofit focused on protecting public lands and wildlife habitat, hosting the 'Beers, Bands, and Barbed Wire Strands' community conservation event to benefit Gunnison Valley lands.
• Juntos por GunnisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organization collaborating with CBLT and Crested Butte Nordic on bilingual (Spanish/English) outdoor recreation events including snowshoe hikes.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership organization that supports and accredits land trusts across the U.S., including accrediting CBLT. Indirectly comparable as the industry body that sets CBLT's accreditation standards and connects it to peer land trusts, funding networks, and policy advocacy.

Direct peers

• Aspen Valley Land Trust: Colorado mountain community land trust conserving open lands in Pitkin County. Directly comparable in mission (permanent land conservation via easements and stewardship), geography (adjacent Western Slope), and revenue model (donor and grant funded nonprofit).
• Colorado Open Lands: Statewide Colorado land trust conserving working lands, ranches, and natural areas. Directly comparable in service offerings (conservation easements, fee-title acquisitions, stewardship) and accreditation status, with a broader geographic mandate than CBLT.
• Eagle Valley Land Trust: Vail Valley-based land trust conserving open lands and ranching heritage in Eagle County. Highly comparable as a small Colorado mountain-region land trust running conservation easements, stewardship programs, and donor cultivation events in a recreation-driven community.
• High Country Conservation Advocates: Gunnison-based conservation nonprofit focused on public lands advocacy in the same valley as CBLT. Comparable as a partner organization operating in CBLT's geography with overlapping conservation campaigns (Mt. Emmons) and donor constituencies.

Regional players

• San Juan Citizens Alliance: Regional advocacy organization protecting public lands, waters, and communities in the San Juan region of Colorado. Comparable in advocacy for land and water protection in a Colorado mountain community, though primarily focused on policy and public-lands issues rather than fee-title stewardship.
• Vital Ground Foundation: Regional land trust focused on conserving habitat for grizzly bears and other wildlife across the Northern Rockies. Comparable in conservation easement model and donor-driven funding, with a more species-specific mandate than CBLT's multi-value conservation portfolio.
• Rocky Mountain Wild: Regional conservation nonprofit focused on protecting wildlands and wildlife habitat across the Southern Rockies. Comparable in conservation outcomes (habitat, migration corridors) and donor base, but more advocacy-oriented and less focused on fee-title landownership than CBLT.

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that protects land for public access and conservation across the U.S. Comparable in core methodology (conservation easements, fee-title acquisitions, public recreation creation) and donor-driven funding model, but operates at national scale with a much broader portfolio.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation organization that acquires and stewards land for ecological outcomes. Comparable in conservation easement and fee-title protection activities, though far larger, globally diversified, and more science-driven than community-focused CBLT.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crested Butte Land Trust