Marble

The town of Marble's claim to fame is the largest single piece of marble ever quarried. Marble's economy was entirely dependent on the marble found here in the late 1800s. Fishing is a popular pastime here. Beaver Lake is good for rainbow and brook trout fishing, while Yule Creek, flowing through town and over glistening white marble, supports plenty of cutthroats. Following the creek south will also lead you to the Yule Marble Quarry. Four-wheeling is excellent in the area; one route to try is Schofield Pass, which heads east from Marble to the ghost town of Crystal, eventually entering Crested Butte through the backdoor. The Marble Historical Society Museum, housed in the community's 1910 schoolhouse, preserves the unique silver, gold and, of course, marble history of the town. While there, pick up a self-guided tour map of historic downtown; marked sites include the former Crystal Mill location, where you can hike around the oddly fascinating marble rejects and Marble's old church and bank. A dozen other day hikes are also available from town.