FIVE FUN THINGS TO DO IN TELLURIDE (IN THE SUMMERTIME)
Most people think of snow and skiing when they think about Colorado. But we think Colorado is one of the best summer destinations we’ve ever been to. Cooler temps, hiking, rafting, sitting out on a patio without melting. It hardly gets better. We just spent a fabulous four days in Telluride, Colorado and I can’t wait to share all the fun things we did with you.
GETTING HERE
The runway for Telluride airport can be seen in the distance. It’s the highest-elevation commercial airport in the United States.
Telluride is located on the Western Slope of Colorado. The former mining town sits in a box canyon that is not easy to get to, but the effort is absolutely worth it. Telluride is located about a six hour drive from Denver, two hours from Durango and an hour and a half from Montrose. We drove up from southern Colorado where we had spent the previous few days at a wedding. The drive into Telluride, no matter what direction you come from is absolutely stunning!
The nearest airport with commercial air travel is Montrose, Colorado, which is just 65 miles from Telluride. There is an airport in Telluride, but flights are expensive and you’ll have to connect.
Telluride can be divided into two towns. There’s the actual Town of Telluride, in the canyon, and then there is Mountain Village. This is the ski village in the mountains above Telluride. You can drive here or take the gondola up.
Map courtesy of Telluride.com
FIVE FUN THINGS TO DO IN TELLURIDE
Historic Mainstreet
EXPLORE
Telluride has a rich history in silver mining dating back to the late 1800’s and a very interesting transformation into the ski town it is today beginning in the 1970’s. Begin your walk down Telluride’s Historic Main Street. Be on the lookout for the San Miguel County Courthouse (1886) the New Sheridan Hotel (1891) and the San Miguel Bank which was the first bank Butch Cassidy ever robbed in 1889. We enjoyed visiting the Telluride Historical Museum which is in the former hospital built in the 1800’s. While you can take a guided history walking tour of the town, we opted for the self-guided version (because we like to learn and take a million photos). You can find the walking tour map on the visitor’s center website here. Full disclaimer, my sister and I did this one alone while the kids were on a different adventure. Build plenty of time in for lots of photo stops and perhaps a glass of wine along the way.
We found this gorgeous waterfall right behind Town Park
HIKING
You don’t have to be a world class hiker to visit the mountains. There is a trail or hike for every ability. In Telluride, we popped into the Visitor’s Center and the staff recommended for our group the Bear Creek Falls hike and The River Trail. We added the Cornet Creek hike ourselves. It was a little more steep than we like (actually the walk to the trail head felt like the hike itself!) but we survived. Just have fun! There are a lot of other great moderate to strenuous hikes that you can find here if you need something more challenging.
The Telluride Gondola is completely free to ride, pets allowed too!
RIDE THE GONDOLA
One amazing thing about Telluride is that you can ride the Gondola for no cost at all. All day, as much as you want, for absolutely zero dollars. That’s a pretty awesome perk, especially for families. Plus, parking for the Gondola is free too in Mountain Village. The ride takes just a short thirteen minute in each direction. The gondola stops at San Sophia station (get off here for scenic overlook views) then on to Mountain Village. This is such a fun way to go from Telluride into the mountains. Our lodging was in Mountain Village so it was fun to ride the Gondola down to Telluride and not have to worry about parking. Try to ride it at different times of the day. The views are to die for. Pro Tip: For best views, try to sit on the side of the Gondola facing Telluride. Also, if there is a long line, just jump in the single rider line. We met a couple of cool people this way!
HIT THE TRAILS
My husband booked an ATV tour with Telluride Outfitter’s and the kids said it was the funnest thing they did on the trip. The tour is guided and all riders are outfitted with helmets and goggles. Plan to spend half a day on the tour. Pro Tip: Pack sunscreen, bug spray and wear clothes that can get dirty.
RELAX
One of the best things about being on vacation in the mountains is that you don’t have to do anything at all. Bring a book, grab a drink and hop in the hot tub. Relax, you’re on vacation!
TELLURIDE TRAVEL TIPS
You can hop on hop off the Galloping Goose shuttle for FREE all day
Telluride sits at 8,750 feet and Mountain Village at 9,545 feet. If you have the chance to acclimate in a Colorado town at a lower elevation on the way for a night, your adjustment will be better. I felt a little out of breath every day here.
Groceries are expensive. If you are road tripping into Telluride, I highly recommend grabbing as many groceries as you can in Durango or Montrose. We had some sticker shock for sure (like a bag of Ruffles was $6.00). Also, you’ll have to pay for grocery bags, so if you can remember, pack some extra grocery bags as well.
Another perk for families is that the Town of Telluride has a FREE shuttle that loops around Mainstreet from one end of town to the other as well as stops by the Gondola so when you get tired from walking you can just hop on. If you’re staying in Mountain Village, they also have a FREE bus service for visitors and residents.
Be prepared. If you’re a novice hiker, take note of the trail that you will be hiking. Screenshot a photo of the trail map as it’s very likely you won’t have cell service. Dress in layers and always hike with more water than you think you’ll need. Also, accidents happen, so I recommend always hiking with a first aid kit or have a way to clean and dress up minor scrapes just in case. Happy Travels!
