Telluride Travel Guide
your guide to planning a trip to telluride, colorado
Telluride is one of the hottest travel destinations in Colorado and there is a really good reason for it. It is, hands down, one of the most perfect mountain towns you’ve ever seen. Nestled at the end of a beautiful box canyon and surrounded by big peaks, aspen trees, and probably the most waterfalls of anywhere in Colorado, Telluride is just … perfect.
But I know that planning a vacation from afar can often be a challenge – so I put together this Telluride Travel Guide to help you out!
Hey! I’m Jen Dz and i know a thing or two about traveling in colorado!
In my job as an adventure and destination elopement photographer, helping my couples plan epic trips to beautiful places is a big part of my job – and Telluride is one of the areas I work in most (hey, it’s a tough job but someone has to do it!)
I’m an avid traveler, part-time van lifer, and elopement photograpaher and planner who is fall on obsessed with planning epic and off the beaten path trips in beautiful little corners of the world.
In other words, this kind of thing is my jam. Here’s what you should know about traveling in Telluride!
What is the best way to get to telluride?
Part of Telluride’s charm is the fact that is just. so. remote. This keeps the crowds down and makes it feel really removed from the real world. The downside of that remoteness? It takes a while (approximately a 7 hour drive from Denver) to get there. Fortunately you have some options!
Closest Airports to Telluride:
- Telluride Regional Airport (0 hours)
- Montrose Regional Airport (1.5 hours)
- Durango LaPlata County Airport (2.5 hours)
- Grand Junction Regional Airport (2.5 hours)
- Denver International Airport (6.5 hours)
Driving from Denver to telluride
Most people coming from out of state will fly into Denver International Airport and then drive to Telluride. There are a few different ways to get there, all of them scenic. As someone who does this drive a LOT I can tell you that I think the most scenic way to go is to take Highway 285 to Gunnison, Highway 50 to Ridgway, and then the San Juan Skyway around to Telluride. The fastest option is probably taking I-70 from Denver all the way to Grand Junction and then south on Highway 50 to Ridgway and the San Juan Skyway. If you are flying in and out of Denver I highly recommend doing one drive out and the other back so you get a change of scenery!
A quick note about GPS’s and driving in Telluride
This area has a lot of technical, high-clearance mountain roads (think Jeeps). Mapping apps have gotten a lot smarter in recent years but every year you hear of someone whose phone told them to go a certain way (or they saw a road on a map and just went for it) and they got stuck or worse. Please keep your wits about you while you’re driving around out here! If a road starts to seem super gnarly, it may be best to backtrack. Getting stuck on a mountain road isn’t just dangerous … it’s also super embarrassing!
THings to do in telluride
It probably comes as no surprise that Telluride is FULL of things to do! Most of these activities will obviously center around the beautiful outdoors but don’t worry, there is something here for everyone!
Hiking – Telluride has tons and tons of hiking nearby ranging from easy strolls through the wood all the way to the top of mountains! You could spend your entire trip doing nothing but hiking and still not be bored!
Via Ferrata – Traverse the cliffs above Telluride in (relative) safety on Telluride’s famous Via Ferrata! Bring your sense of adventure and some nerves of steel and get the best view of Telluride from the side of the mountain. Having done this, I can confirm it is a BLAST! No rock climbing skills required. Be sure to book a guide for this one.
Whitewater Rafting on the San Miguel River – Spend 7 glorious hours on the river! Half day options are also available.
Ride the (free!) Gondola – During the summer and fall months, Telluride’s gondola system is entirely free (and dog-friendly)! Ride the gondola up from either Mountain Village or the Historic District and take in the view of town from the top of the mountain.
Check out Bridal Veil Falls – Bridal Veil Falls is right at the end of town (you can’t miss it!) and is the tallest freestanding waterfall in Colorado. You can get to it’s magical, misty base either by hiking from the trailhead or driving up the road (4WD required).
Downhill Mountain Biking – Remember that free gondola we talked about? In the summer it also serves as lift access for the downhill mountain bike trails from the top of Telluride mountain. Bring your own bike or rent one in town – there are trails for all skill levels!
Guided Fly Fishing – Catch yourself a trout on a fly in one of San Miguel county’s beautiful rivers. Guided trips and instruction are available at numerous outfitters in town
Wander through Town – Telluride is one of Colorado’s fancier mountain towns and the Historic District is full of shops, restaurants, and cafes! You could spend an entire day just roaming around.
Take a Day Trip! – Telluride serves as the perfect jumping off point to explore other parts of the San Juan Mountains (and Colorado and Utah!).
Best day trips from Telluride
Telluride is in a perfect position to serve as a jumping off point to other beautiful spots around the region. While each of these could be done as a day trip to give you a little taste of the place, they also serve as perfect stops for a night or two if you’re looking to go a little deeper.
OUray
The little mountain town of Ouray is a gorgeous 1 hour drive from Telluride but a world away from the hustle and bustle of the big resort. Ouray is tiny and laid back town with a bunch of shops and restaurants. It’s a great place to soak in hot springs, take a Jeep tour, or go for a hike. Ouray is a perfect out-and-back day trip from Telluride
silverton
Silverton is probably my FAVORITE of all the San Juan Mountains towns! This place has so much character and just drips of the old West! But for all it’s rustic charm, it’s also home to some great bars and restaurants and one of my favorite hotels in Colorado. Silverton is totally doable as a day trip from Telluride but it would also be worth an overnight as well. You can also take a ride on the beautiful Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
PRO TIP: Ophir Pass connects Telluride to Silverton (which aren’t actually that far apart). Do NOT attempt to take this road unless you have a burly vehicle (like a Jeep) and experience driving on narrow, exposed mountain roads! Instead, take the BEAUTIFUL Million Dollar Highway from Ouray!
Moab, UT
Moab is one of my favorite places in the entire world and WELL worth a trip for some very different vibes. Visit Arches or Canyonlands National Parks, checkout Dead Horse Point, ride the world famous Slickrock Bike Trail, or just soak in the Edward Abbey-inspired desert vibes. Moab can be done as a day trip but to make the most of your time I highly recommend spending at least one night out there.
PRO TIP: The Moab desert gets blazing hot in the summer months so if you want to do any outdoor activities (and you should definitely do some outdoor activities while you’re there!), this is a side quest best taken in the Spring and Fall!
Mesa verde national park
Rocky Mountain National Park gets all the attention in Colorado but Mesa Verde is well worth checking out too! This park was created in 1906 to preserve the structures of the Pueblo people. Some of these structures are over 700 years old! To make the most of your time at Mesa Verde, I highly recommend scheduling a tour!
Best places to stay in Telluride
Telluride is a busy town with tons of lodging options, especially for those looking for something a little fancy or big beautiful ranches just outside of town. I sorted through all the noise of Telluride lodging options and came up with a list of some of the best places to stay in Telluride.
Just a little note: Lodging in Telluride doesn’t come cheap. If the prices on some of these places make you gasp and clutch your wallet tighter, I highly recommend check out lodging options in Ouray, Silverton, and Ridgway. They’re all beautiful but a little less bougie and will still serve as a perfect jumping off point for your southwestern Colorado vacation!
Best rental Houses in Telluride
Like any good resort town, Telluride has tons and tons of rental houses available. There are so many, in fact, that it can be hard to narrow it down – so I did some of that work for you! If you are looking for a beautiful AirBnB or VRBO type place to stay, here are some of my favorites! This list is a good mix of houses right in town, houses in Mountain Village (attached to the Town of Telluride by gondola), and more remote properties int he mountains.
serene mountain property 12 minute from town
Beautiful home with views of 14,000 foot Wilson Peak. Close to town but a world away from the hustle and bustle!
large luxury home in mountain village
Beautiful home with easy access to skiing and the gondola to town.
alpenglow ranch
12 acre property with stunning mountain views just 30 minutes from Telluride. This property is SO gorgeou!
Elegant mountain home on private wooded lot
Beautiful home along the stream close to skiing and all that Telluride has to offer!
Mountain retreat on trout pond
Beautiful cabin with loads of wildlife and a fishing pond just 25 minute from Telluride
condo in town with beautiful views
A perfect jumping off point for all your Telluride Adventures
Best hotels in Telluride
Being a bougie ski town, Telluride has LOTS of options for fancy hotels. Many of these hotels are located in Mountain Village, just a short gondola ride away from the town of Telluride itself (and lots of world class skiing!)
Hotel COlumbia
Ski in/ski out hotel near Telluride’s historic district
Madeline Hotel
Luxury hotel and spa in Mountain Village
Rico mineshaft Inn
Small hotel 35 minutes from town
Mountain Lodge Telluride
Upscale ski in/ski out resort
New Sheridan Hotel
Cute hotel in Telluride’s Historic District
The Peaks resort + Spa
Luxury resort and spa near Telluride ski area
When is the best time of year to visit telluride?
Visiting Telluride in the summer
As with everywhere in the mountains of Colorado, Telluride in the summer is gorgeous! Long warm days give way to cool nights and all the mountain adventures you could possibly want! If you are planning to do a lot of high-altitude things, remember that it takes a while for the snow to melt off the high peaks (so plan your trip for later in the summer). Summer in Telluride runs from June-ish to August.
Visiting telluride in the fall
Fall in Telluride is PERFECTION. In the fall the temperatures cool down a bit and the aspens turn bright yellow (typically middle to the end of September). The weather is mild and most of the tourists are gone. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this place in the fall! Fall in Telluride typically runs from September through November, although by the time you get to November you very likely have had some (or a lot of!) snow and you’re transitioning into witner.
Visiting telluride in Winter
You probably already know this but skiing in Telluride is kiiiiiiiiind of a big deal! Telluride resort typically opens for skiing in early December and closes in early April. Not into skiing? There is still plenty to do! Telluride is a winter wonderland! Winter in Telluride typically runs from December through April (yes, April!).
visiting telluride in spring
If I’m being completely honest, spring is probably my least favorite time of year in the Colorado mountains. It could be warm and sunny or cold and snowy (fun fact: we typically get snow all the way through May in the mountains!). Some trails will start melting out in spring … and become very muddy. I won’t tell you not to come here in Spring but I WILL say that it’s a perfect time to head to Great Sand Dunes National Park or Moab!