Filed under: outdoor recreation, skiing, snow, snowboarding, top-feature
Skiing and Snowboarding in Telluride, Colorado
There are many things that make people want to visit Telluride, Colorado, including the town’s award-winning dining; European alpine-style architecture (Legend has it that the first skiers there were Swedes and Finns in the late 1800s.); views of the San Juan mountains; and its ties to the Wild West, including a link to Butch Cassidy who robbed his first bank there in 1889.
Telluride's Night Lights and ski runs
But it is Telluride’s Ski Resort (565 Mountain Village Boulevard; map) that makes people repeat visitors who enjoy Telluride’s thousands of acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain and short lift lines. Because of Telluride’s remoteness (The town is 35 miles from the nearest stoplight.), Telluride doesn’t have the crowds that other Colorado resorts have, making it one of North America’s best ski resorts for its lift lines (usually only four-people deep) and pristine trails.
About Telluride
Telluride, which sits in a valley of 13,000-foot peaks in southern Colorado and averages 309 inches of snow each year, is actually comprised of two areas: Mountain Village and Telluride, which are are linked by a public gondola and boast about 1,700 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain with 120 trails for every level. Roughly 23% of Telluride’s trails are beginner terrain; 36% are intermediate; and 41% are advanced/expert. Telluride also has expert chutes, above-treeline bowls, and freestyle terrain parks.
Telluride is a challenging mountain. For instance, some trails designated for beginners can be steep and have drop-offs on the side so be sure and get the details on any runs you might do, especially if you are new to skiing or boarding.
Telluride’s trails are conveniently segregated, allowing Beginners to explore their own section of long, gentle trails off the Sunshine Express high-speed quad or ski the 4.6 mile Galloping Goose, for example, while Intermediates can ski their own cruiser runs like See Forever. There are also steeper runs like the Plunge, as well as runs with bumps, mogels, and boulder-filled cuts through trees for expert skiers.
Noteworthy stats on Telluride include:
- Summit Elevation: 13,150
- Vertical Drop: 4,425
- Lifts: 18
- Night Skiing: No
Planning
Telluride’s remote location means most people travel to there by plane. The Telluride and Montrose Regional airports have non-stop air service from several U.S. cities, including:
- Denver and Phoenix into the Telluride Airport, which is North America‘s highest commercial airport located at 9,070 feet and is serviced by Great Lakes Airlines and U.S. Airways Express.
- Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, and Salt Lake City into the Montrose Regional Airport, which is a scenic hour or so drive from Telluride and is serviced by United , Delta, and American.
Both airports have car-rental and shuttle services available.
While Telluride can have about 300 days of sunshine each year, it does have its weather issues. The town sits in a box canyon, which can trap storms especially in March when, for example, three feet can fall in about 36 hours. It’s important to pack a variety of clothing, including hats; gloves; glove warmers that can fit inside your gloves or ski boots; ski socks; ski pants and jackets; goggles or sunglasses; and an outer shell to protect against wind and rain. It is also smart to buy small tubes of sunblock and lip moisturizer and keep them in one of your ski jacket’s pockets.
If you are an avid skier or boarder and have your own equipment, you can send it as checked luggage on your flight or ship it out ahead of time via Fed-Ex. You can also rent skis and poles and boards in Telluride if you prefer not to travel with them. Tip: Pre-purchase your ski or snow boarding rentals at one of Telluride Sports shops.
For more ideas on packing for your snow vacation, check out these ski planning tips.
Lift Tickets
You can purchase lift tickets online or at the lift ticket window at the Telluride Ski Resort. Tickets are sold as single-day or multiple-day passes. Single day lift ticket prices are:
- Adults, $98
- Children 6-12, $61
- Senior citizens, $87
- Multiple-day passes start at about $300
Off the Slopes
For those who like to do more than just ski when in Telluride, there are a number of off-slope activities, including ice-skating, sledding, Nordic skiing, ice climbing, snowshoeing, and snowmobile tours.
There’s also the Telluride Town Park (500 E. Colorado Avenue; map), which is open daily for cross-country skiing and has three kilometers of groomed trails.
Telluride is also home to natural and historic sites, including the Bridal Veil Falls, which is the longest free-falling waterfall in Colorado.
Restaurants
Because of the celebrity appeal of Telluride (Model Christy Brinkley can often be spotted there), the town’s dining choices are on par with many high-end New York City restaurants. But not every good eat in Telluride has to be five-star to be popular.
Breakfast
Baked in Telluride (127 South Fir Street; map) is known for its fresh (and warm) croissants. The Ham & Swiss croissant is a delicious choice.
Lunch
Giuseppe’s Restaurant (565 Mountain Village Boulevard; map) atop Lift 9 serves a hearty hearty Black Bean Sauté that hits the spot after a long morning of skiing.
La Piazza (117 Lost Creek Lane; map) is a great choice for Italian dishes, including homemade Pappardelle pasta sautéed with wild Porcini mushrooms and garlic and rigatoni pasta with fresh homemade local organic Black Angus beef Bolognese sauce.
Dinner
Allred’s (565 Mountain Village; map) is popular for its European-inspired interior, mountain views, and upscale foods like braised short ribs and sashimi ceviche. The restaurant is located at 11,000 feet and is accessible by gondola.
Alpino Vino (565 Mountain Village Boulevard; map) is a new restaurant near the Gold Hill Express lift that looks like a European chalet and offers a five-course Italian themed menu with optional wine pairings, including Tuscan red wines that you can enjoy by the fireplace.
For a romantic, candle-lit dinner, try the French-inspired La Marmotte (150 West San Juan Avenue; map), which is housed inside one of Telluride’s oldest buildings and serves dishes such as beef tartar with caper berries, lemon, and bearnaise sauce, steamed Prince Edward Island mussels in yellow curry sauce, and grilled buffalo rib eye.
Après Ski
The Last Dollar Saloon (100 East Colorado Avenue; map) draws locals for its margaritas and its dart boards.
If you like live music and dancing, check out Fly Me to the Moon Saloon (136 E. Colorado Avenue; map), which also has a spring-loaded dance floor in front of the stage.
Photo credits: Doug Berry and the Telluride Ski Resort
2 Comments
Nice article… But you might want to mention that your breakfast recommendation, Baked in Telluride, burnt to the ground last year and is currently being re-built.
Grand article. “To Hell You Ride,” the conductors used to call out!
I visited Telluride when it was a “resting” mountain town, having ended its career as a mining center. Part of the old railroad line was visible – some rails still intact, and the old depot doing nothing but posing for photos. One could almost smell the lingering coal smoke. Then someone saw snow on the hills, saw room for motels, saw old buildings that could be replaced, and
saw the green of tourism! A new Telluride was born. A “heavenly” place for skiers, you might say.
RSH