Things to do in Telluride
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Telluride
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Ski season, deepest prices at Christmas and New Year. January is cold and quiet, March is the locals favourite.
Spring mud season mid April to mid May with ski area and gondola closed, then Mountainfilm relaunch in late May.
Summer festival and alpine season, with monsoon afternoon storms July to early September.
Fall window with Blues and Brews, gold aspens late September to mid October and falling prices.
Late October to late November mud season and gondola closure, then ski season opens late November.
What's on
- Telluride Bluegrass Festival 18-21 June
Four days over summer solstice in Town Park, the defining summer event since 1974.
- Mountainfilm Memorial Day weekend
Adventure and environmental film festival that relaunches the season in late May.
- Telluride Yoga Festival July
Summer yoga festival listed in the town summer calendar.
- Telluride Jazz Festival early August
Town Park jazz with late night Jazz After Dark sessions.
- Telluride Film Festival Labor Day weekend
Secret programme until opening morning, premieres and the hardest summer lodging ticket.
- Telluride Blues & Brews Festival mid September
Town Park music and beer festival opening the fall window.
- Telluride Horror Show October
Cult horror film festival pick in fall.
Best things to do in Telluride
Telluride Gondola
Free 13 minute ride between Town and Mountain Village with a stop and overlook at San Sophia.
Telluride Ski Resort
Serious expert leaning mountain with big vertical, hike to terrain and famously short lift lines.
Main Street (Colorado Avenue)
Original 1880s mining main street with Victorian houses, courthouse and independent shops.
Sheridan Opera House
Intimate 1913 theatre that hosts concerts, comedy and festival screenings year round.
Telluride Historical Museum
Small museum in the 1896 hospital covering mining, Ute history and the ski era reinvention.
Town Park
Festival lawn at the edge of the San Miguel River with peaks as the stage backdrop.
Mind Blown Telluride
Tiny room close up magic show that is the best non ski evening plan in Mountain Village.
San Miguel River Trail
Flat river trail and park where locals walk, fish and gather outside festival weeks.
Where to stay in Telluride
Historic Town of Telluride
first trip, all round base
Everything walkable in a flat grid, with restaurants, bars, museum, festivals and gondola base.
Mountain Village
ski first trips, families and luxury
Ski in ski out lodging, golf and spa around the gondola plaza, quieter and earlier at night.
East End / Eider Creek & Town Park Edge
groups and return visitors
Larger houses by Town Park and Bridal Veil trails, a 10 to 20 minute walk to Colorado Avenue.
Lawson Hill, Aldasoro & Ski Ranches
car based, locals style stays
Bigger homes and the best Wilson views, but no walk to dinner life and shuttle dependent.
Think twice about
- Placerville, Sawpit, Ophir, Ridgway and Norwood listings marketed as Telluride
Not a safety issue, but you face a mountain highway drive after dinner. Choose only knowingly as a value strategy.
Best restaurants in Telluride
Allred's
Dinner at 10540 feet by gondola, best at sunset with town lights below and elk as signature.
221 South Oak
Chef driven New American cooking in a historic house, with the town best brunch.
La Marmotte
Classic French alpine cooking in a former ice house, the quiet luxury anniversary pick.
Chop House at the New Sheridan
Traditional steakhouse in the New Sheridan with the deepest fine dining review base in town.
Alpino Vino
Italian wine led lunch near 12000 feet, among the highest dining rooms in North America.
Bon Vivant
French country lunch deck below Revelation, a destination ski in lunch in good weather.
The National
Exposed brick small plates and cocktails room, the best planned or upgraded dinner in Town.
Siam Telluride
Family run Thai institution and the takeout lifeline when everyone is tired of steak.
Outdoor things to do in Telluride
Telluride Helitrax
Guided heli skiing in the San Juans and hike to terrain for advanced skiers only.
Snowmobiling, Fat Biking and Nordic Trails
Guided snowmobile trips plus groomed Nordic and fat bike loops without a lift ticket.
Bear Creek Falls
Signature town hike from South Pine Street to a multi tiered waterfall in a preserve canyon.
Bridal Veil Falls
Colorado tallest free falling waterfall at the head of the box canyon by the old power station.
Telluride Via Ferrata
Exposed cable traverse above Bridal Veil that most visitors should do with a local guide.
Imogene Pass
Guided Jeep route past Tomboy ghost town over a 13114 foot pass down into Ouray.
Blue Lakes Trail
Strenuous hike to turquoise alpine lakes that is among the best lake hikes in Colorado.
Telluride Bike Park
Free gondola carried trails plus lift served downhill in the Mountain Village bike park.
Best hotels in Telluride
New Sheridan Hotel
1895 landmark hotel with Historic Bar, rooftop and Chop House at the centre of Town.
Hotel Columbia
Polished 21 room boutique at the gondola base, steps from lifts and two blocks from main street.
The Hotel Telluride
Larger boutique lodge at the quieter west end with spa, shuttle and canyon view balconies.
Dunton Town House
Small immaculately run in town house from Dunton, booked for service and calm.
Victorian Inn
No frills kitchenette value pick a block off Pacific Avenue with free parking and hot tub.
Town Park Campground
Town run campground by the river, five minutes walk to Colorado Avenue with hot showers.
The Bivvi Hostel
Dorms and privates in Placerville, the hostel option Telluride itself lacks.
Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
Five star ski in ski out centrepiece of Mountain Village with spa, pool and Timber Room.
Is Telluride expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | $140 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | $550 a person |
| Splurge | $1,600 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Telluride Ski Resort: weeks ahead
- Sheridan Opera House: weeks ahead
- Town Park: months ahead
- Mind Blown Telluride: a few days ahead
- Telluride Helitrax: months ahead
- Snowmobiling, Fat Biking and Nordic Trails: a few days ahead
- Telluride Via Ferrata: a few days ahead
- Imogene Pass: a few days ahead
- Festival passes and lodging book far ahead, Bluegrass passes on sale in November and ski peaks at Christmas, Presidents Weekend and spring break.
- Book lift tickets, lessons, Helitrax, tee times and top restaurants when you book the hotel, not on arrival.
Is Telluride safe?
- Altitude is the main risk. Take day one easy, hydrate, go easy on alcohol for 48 hours and seek care and descend if symptoms worsen.
- Lock cars at trailheads and use ski checks. Watch for wildlife on Highway 145 at dawn and dusk and secure food from bears.
Telluride travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Paying peak prices for Mountain Village in mud season when the gondola is closed and many restaurants shut.
- Driving Black Bear Pass yourself, expecting Aspen style nightlife, or staying only one night given the airport transfer.
Getting around Telluride: public transport and more
- Fly to Montrose for most flights, about 1.5 hours away. In Town and Mountain Village use the free gondola, free town shuttle and walking.
- A car is only needed for day trips and Lawson Hill or Ski Ranches stays. In winter rent AWD or 4WD with real winter tyres.
Who Telluride suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Telluride your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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