Freshies at the Crest – Monarch Pass, CO

Freshies at the Crest

Have you ever wondered what that little shop at the top of Monarch Pass was? Well, I found out for you! After a wonderful hike on top of the pass, I made my way over to the Monarch at the Crest Visitor center for lunch. The shop is great with a bunch of grab and go snacks, mementos, and other road trip essentials. They also have a restaurant, Freshies at the Crest, and that was my main focus!

The Food!

Now to the important part…the Food! When I stopped by the restaurant had an assortment of burgers, some barbecue and other sandwich options. They also had ice cream which is perfect after a long hike. Nothing too fancy but enough to fill you up at 11,000 feet!

I went with the brisket sandwich which was actually really good! The brisket was really soft and had that “melt in your mouth” quality. The flavor was good with a combination of smoky and the sweeter BBQ sauce. There were also a lot of sauteed onions and it was the absolute perfect sandwich after a longer hike.

After spending the day in the hot sun the ice cream was really calling my name as well. So I just had to have some and I have to tell you, I have never been happier with a decision. It was cold, smooth and a perfect way to end a late summer day at Monarch Pass! If you find yourself climbing the pass, do yourself a favor and stop and grab a little something for your trip!

Finding Freshies at the Crest

Monarch at the Crest is at the top of Monarch Pass on US-50. It is located between the towns of Maysville and Gunnison. There is a lot of parking at the pass and there are restrooms available inside. The visitor center is seasonal and weather dependent.

I have added this restaurant and all of the restaurants I have been to on my interactive map that you can find here. If you have a suggestion for a restaurant or any comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Bon Appetit!