Telluride
An inherently spectacular place, paired with an entirely
genuine demeanor.
The Region
As the alpine sovereign over its surroundings, the town of Telluride is only about one square mile in size, with its nearest traffic light 37 miles away. Telluride’s picture-perfect, protected Victorian architecture is unassumingly hidden at 8,750 feet beneath the jagged and precipitous San Juan Mountains. Its sophistication as a world-class ski resort, threaded with internationally-renowned cultural festivals and events, is disguised behind a casual,
informal persona that even famous personalities love to escape to. And its overzealous enthusiasm for the outdoors and close-knit, progressive and conscientious community are both fronted by a small-town charm where familiar faces constitute virtually everyone.
On the other side of the ski area and connected by the free 13-minute Gondola ride, Mountain Village is Telluride’s younger sibling and a community all its own. Abutting the mountain’s ski runs and four lifts, Mountain Village is also home to the Telluride Golf Course and large resort hotels. At 9,545 feet, Mountain Village takes the term ‘ski town’ to new heights with its youthful grace and rapidly evolving infrastructure. Large homes sit along the golf course and border the ski area, while a pedestrian Village Center evokes a feel similar to European resorts.
Just beyond Telluride and Mountain Village are several mesas, as well as mining and agricultural communities like Ophir, Rico, Placerville and Norwood. Each of these outlying areas possesses a distinct character formed by the land and people who live there.
Summer Activities
Summer brings warmer weather and clear skies, perfect for exploring the pristine hiking and biking trails that start right from the valley floor. Winter’s runoff also unveils a playground for boaters, rafters and fly fisherman starting from the San Miguel River that runs right through town. Summer marks the kick-off of the Telluride festival season with such world-renowned events as Telluride Bluegrass, Telluride Film, Telluride Blues & Brews, Telluride Yoga Festival, and many more. And every Friday, the place to be is the Farmer’s Market for fruits, vegetables, pasture raised meats, baked goods, an array of delicious concessions, local crafts and much more.
Golfing: Spring, summer and fall are dictated by the green of the Telluride Golf Course. From May to mid-October, golfers play from dawn to dusk on the 18-hole, 6,719-yard, par-71 course in Mountain Village. Surrounded by a peak-studded horizon the Telluride Golf Club is often dubbed “the most beautiful place you’ll ever tee”– a catch-phrase adapted from its winter sibling.
Trail Running & Hiking: Numerous trail options are accessible from downtown Telluride and Mountain Village; dozens of others are within a short driving distance.
Mountain Biking: Off-road trails are abundant and close by, including the well-maintained Galloping Goose, a 17-mile former railroad grade, which runs from Society Turn to Lizard Head.
Kayaking and Rafting: Thrills never cease on the rapids of Colorado’s prime waterways.
Rock Climbing: Mellow pitches and sheer cliff walls are scattered about the region, beckoning sinewy climbers to defy gravity.
Jeeping: An intricate web of former mining, now 4×4, roads wind through these mountains, with hundreds of miles of drivable terrain.
Fly-Fishing: The Gold Medal waters of the San Miguel, Dolores and Gunnison rivers provide a myriad of options for catching trout.
Flying: Paragliding, hang-gliding, hot air ballooning, and glider rides, with or without a guide, satisfy the need to soar with the birds.
Horseback Riding: Horses are always eager and willing to cruise around on the numerous trails and 4×4 roads the region offers.
Winter Activities
Winter celebrates all things snow, and the Telluride Ski Resort provides a world-class playground with legendary terrain and Colorado’s most spectacular mountain views – Telluride has quickly risen in the ranks as a must-visit ski destination. If skiing isn’t your thing, Telluride is a winter haven for many other cold weather sports as well.
Downhill Skiing: Telluride’s World-Class Ski Resort is a grandiose backdrop to the historic town, offering a genuine mountain experience for all levels of skiers thanks to a mix of quality terrain on 2,000+ skiable acres. Even beginners and intermediate skiers can ride to the highest peaks and enjoy terrain and views typically reserved for the experts. And forget crowds: the trails are never packed, and there is rarely a lift line. Telluride has been called the #1 ski resort in North America multiple times by Conde Nast readers, as well as Ski Magazine.
Ice Skating and Hockey: Both are very popular in Telluride, particularly since the NHL regulation-sized Hanley Ice Rink opened in Telluride’s Town Park in 2005 and the Madeline Hotel’s outdoor skating rink opened in the Mountain Village Core in 2009. There is also an outdoor rink in Town Park.
Snowmobiling: From snow-cruising to more extreme riding, opportunities are numerous; popular spots include Alta Lakes and the mesas.
Nordic Skiing: For those looking to stay in shape, cross-country and skate skiing are fantastic workouts; popular places include Telluride Town Park, the Telluride Golf Course, the Valley Floor, and Priest Lake/Trout Lake. The Ski Resort offers Nordic skiing for a nominal fee, utilizing trails at the top of Lift 10. The Nordic Center is located in Telluride Town Park.
Ice Climbing: Crystal blue walls are scattered about the region; the biggest is the internationally recognized Ouray Ice Park.
Helicopter Skiing: Telluride is home to Colorado’s only heliskiing company– Telluride Helitrax; the outfit has escorted thousands of clients down millions of vertical feet of fresh snow since 1983 and uses an A-star chopper.
Kids & Schools
Telluride delivers basic brick & mortar education with excellence, but learning is all about leveraging the region’s unique assets – small size, big mountains, brain trust, deep pockets, depth and breadth of non profits – to provide customized and potentially life-changing experiences for students of all ages.
The Telluride R-1 School District is consistently recognized by the state for its excellence and progressive learning environment and was recently noted for superior standardized test scores, far above the Colorado state average. The district, which serves more than 585 students and boasts a staff of more than 80 full- and part-time professionals, is comprised of an elementary school and a middle/high school. Both schools recently underwent sizeable renovations and additions.
Telluride Mountain School is an independent school for preschool through 12th grade. In 2006, the school was accredited by the Colorado Association of Independent Schools, and has approximately 100 students and 20 teachers and staff members.
Programming: Outdoor Programs for kids are abundant. During the school year, programs like Ski P.E. are available, while in the summer, Telluride Academy is an adventure camp that offers everything from rock climbing and backpacking to theater and rocket building. It is the largest outdoor enrichment and adventure program in Western Colorado with over 100 camp programs offered. The Pinhead Institute, a Smithsonian Affiliate is a STEM education organization spreading the love of science and technology. Pinhead educates and inspires children and adults in the greater Telluride region through classes, camps, in-school and community programs and prized internships.
Airports
Telluride Regional Airport: Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) is perhaps the most scenic and conveniently located airport in all North American mountain destinations. Just 10 minutes from Telluride’s ski-in/ski-out downtown and Mountain Village, you can literally see the slopes and trails from the airport runway.
Montrose Regional Airport: Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) is a state-of-the-art facility centrally located on Colorado’s western slope, approximately 60 miles from Telluride. Montrose Airport boasts the best performance among mountain destination airports with a 98% flight completion rate. Montrose Airport offers convenient non-stop winter & summer service from major hubs across the U.S.