Telluride

Telluride Ski Resort

Telluride may have only recently grabbed the attention of British skiers and riders, but the combination of a charming old mining town, mind-blowing scenery and some epic terrain make this one Colorado’s must-visit resorts.

Located in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, Telluride is a little off the beaten track, but it is so worth the extra effort to get here. The pretty former mining town is located in a spectacular valley and is home to numerous cafés, restaurants and bars, but perhaps most importantly, it sits at the foot of a fantastic 2000 acre ski area with one of the biggest vertical drops in Colorado. From the gentle beginner terrain served by the Chondola lift to the gnarly Gold Hill Chutes and gullies off Palmyra Peak, there is something here for everyone.

Tie in a visit here to the other major resort in southern Colorado, Wolf Creek, and if you’re an expert skier or rider, the rad little ski area at Silverton with its one lift but incredible steep terrain, is well worth visiting for a day.

Our Telluride Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Advanced ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Fast Lifts ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Resort Activities ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Après ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Value ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Telluride Skiing and Snowboarding

Immediately above the town of Telluride lie steep, north facing runs that often retain good snow despite the low altitude. Beginners will want to avoid these however and either base themselves at the Mountain Village, or hop on the free gondola to ski the gentle greens served by the resort’s Chondola lift and the Sunshine Express. Intermediates will thoroughly enjoy the groomed runs in Prospect Bowl and the winding, tree-lined blues off the Polar Queen Express.

Tough challenges are littered across the mountain for more advanced skiers and riders. Check the grooming report to see if any of the trails served by the Plunge chair have been groomed overnight – these are a blast with fresh corduroy. The main off piste attractions lie above the treeline and can be accessed by hiking the ridgeline from the top of the Prospect Express and the Revelation Lift. Some seriously steep terrain can be skied in the Gold Hill Chutes or if you’re willing to put in more legwork, the runs off the 4000m plus Palmyra Peak are epic.

• Total Pistes: 2000+ acres
• Beginner: 23%
• Intermediate: 36%
• Advanced: 41%
• Lifts: 14
• Altitude: 2659m – 4008m

Telluride Piste Map

The local area map can be downloaded here.

Telluride Resort

Two options are available when it comes to basing yourself at the resort of Telluride. For a more convenient location, particularly if you are coming with young children or beginners, then the tastefully built Mountain Village is a good option. Several smart hotels and well-equipped condo blocks can be found here, whilst the Poachers Pub and Tomboy Tavern are popular watering holes at the end of the day.

However, for anyone else we would recommend staying in the town of Telluride itself. There are some great family-run B&Bs and lots of self-catered accommodation, as well as a great choice of bars and restaurants. After a powder day or on holiday weekends these can become nice and lively, with live music and good-value happy hours, but don’t come here expecting a big party!

How to get to Telluride

Getting here is a little tricky, with Denver Airport a 350 mile drive from Telluride. We’d therefore either recommend visiting as part of a long, extended roadtrip taking in other resorts or catching an internal flight to Montrose around 75 minutes to the north.

• Montrose airport: 1.5 hours
• Denver airport: 7 hours

Telluride Contact Details

• Website: www.tellurideskiresort.com
• Email: info@tellurideskiresort.com
• Telephone: + 1 866 754 8355
• Facebook: @telluride
• Instagram: @tellurideski
• Twitter: @Telluride