Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) is a high‑elevation field station and research center in Gothic near Crested Butte, Colorado, that supports ecological and evolutionary research, student training, public programs, and visitor services.







Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) is a nonprofit high‑altitude field station located in the Gothic townsite north of Crested Butte. The facility hosts visiting scientists, students, and members of the public for research, education, and seasonal programs.
RMBL provides logistical support for field research, including laboratory space, shared equipment, permitting coordination, and access to a variety of research sites. The station manages long‑term datasets and research infrastructure, maintains an herbarium and mapped research sites, and operates policies and committees for research review and animal care.
The Weldon and Rosalie Weekley Visitor Center offers seasonal exhibits, a small store, and guided programming. Seasonal public offerings include interpretive wildflower hikes, daily Gothic townsite tours, seminars, family events, and special initiatives such as Fat Marmot Week and collaborations with the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival.
RMBL’s Gothic campus can accommodate conferences and workshops with on‑site meeting spaces (including a community center and classrooms), a range of on‑site housing from rustic cabins to more comfortable units, and a dining hall that can provide meal plans or support catered events. Additional services for groups include AV/IT assistance, field trip coordination, and event planning support.
A 2-hour interpretive hike through the Gothic campus focused on local wildflowers, common names, and RMBL research connections.
A 2-hour intermediate interpretive hike that visits sites near local stewardship and Forest Service lands to explore wildflowers and natural history.
A 3-hour intermediate hike starting at the Visitor Center that passes Judd Falls and leads onto nearby wilderness trails for an extended wildflower and natural history experience.
A new 2-hour beginner out-and-back hike beginning at RMBL 365 in downtown Crested Butte that covers local wildflowers and geology.
Guided tours of the Gothic townsite covering RMBL science and the area’s mining history.
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