Morning
Millennia after the Ute Indians settled in the craggy San Juan Mountains, prospectors struck gold and silver in present-day Telluride. By 1896, the town had 10,000 residents and its very own hospital — now the beautifully renovated Telluride Historical Museum. Start here for an overview of Telluride’s evolution from gritty mining town to 1970s hippie haven to ski hot spot.
Then choose from one of the museum’s walking tours, and mosey the tree-shaded streets to vintage Victorians and brownstones. Twelve blocks along the town’s main street, Colorado Avenue, comprise a National Historic Landmark District and include highlights such as the Old Town Jail, the Rio Grande Southern Railway Depot and the Appaloosa Trading Company (the site where notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank in 1889).
Telluride is truly unique — all shops, restaurants and hotels are independently owned and Colorado minded — something that surely contributes to its designation as a Certified Colorado Creative District. And there’s no need for a car here — between the gondola and Galloping Goose bus in town, getting around is a (free) snap!
Pop into the Visitors Center for local tips and guidance on exploring the area.
Afternoon
Heading east, pick up the serene and well-maintained River Trail, which turns into the Idarado Legacy Trail at the town park. In the summer, the park bustles with music and cultural festivals. From here, take the easy 2.5-mile path, lined with placards about the gold under your feet, until you reach the base of Bridal Veil Falls — Colorado’s highest free-falling cascade. Intrepid hikers can climb the switchbacks to the top of the 365-foot falls for access to additional trails in the Bridal Veil Creek Basin. For a hidden gem, seek out Little Hawaii, a semi-secret hike off Bear Creek Falls trail. This spot along the river is formed by a giant rock wall with water cascading into a tranquil pool. Ask a local for specifics on getting there.
Or get a bird’s-eye view of the densely forested San Miguel River Valley during a ride on the gondola, which leaves from downtown. The free, 13-minute journey carries you over the San Sophia Ridge to the Mountain Village. This totally separate town is a jumping-off point for more hikes, mountain-bike trails (including a bike park with freeride, technical and cross-country trails) and rock climbing. Or just relax on the patio at one of the plethora of restaurants.
Evening
Back downtown, the Sheridan Opera House is the perfect place to take in a rock concert or ski film. Built during the gold-rush heyday, the small, ornate theater was designed to be colorful and airy — a welcome change for men who spent their days underground. Still have steam left? Go gallery to gallery on the Telluride Art Walk. Local art shops stay open late and offer free refreshments on select evenings, or you can pick up a self-guided map at most galleries.
You’ll also find plenty of excellent places for a meal — one of the reasons Bravo’s “Top Chef Colorado” once filmed in this foodie- friendly enclave. Favorites like Wood Ear Whiskey Lounge & Noodle Bar join other long-time hits Allred’s, La Marmotte, Alpino Vino and 221 South Oak.
Get Sidetracked
Pay a visit to Montrose by heading north to U.S. Hwy. 550 and driving through Ridgway (also a Certified Colorado Creative District). Make a short detour to Orvis Hot Springs, where you can soak in the clothing-optional mineral pools while taking in dramatic views of Mount Sneffels. Continue on the scenic route to Montrose, an ideal basecamp for exploring the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the Curecanti National Recreation Area, home to the impossibly sparkly Blue Mesa Reservoir. Continue to Montrose for some antique shopping, or head to Montrose Water Sports Park for rafting, kayaking and tubing on the Uncompahgre River. West of Montrose, explore the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area’s 200,000 acres of red-rock canyon country or the Buzzard Gulch Trail System. In town, the Ute Indian Museum connects the past with contemporary Ute life and culture, and the Museum of the Mountain West offers an authentic peek at the Wild West.
North of Montrose, the towns of Cedaredge, Crawford, Delta, Hotchkiss, Orchard City and Paonia are a growing organic-food and wine region with winery and farm tours, wine tastings and farm dinners. Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford are Certified Colorado Creative Districts, where artists’ studios, musicians, writers and other creative folk mix among the mesas.
For active diversions, Sweitzer Lake State Park near Delta is a relaxing place for boating and birdwatching. Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area is popular with hikers, backpackers and tout fishers on Gold Medal Waters; the area’s Sidewinder Trail is a challenging new singletrack luring serious mountain bikers to the area.
Visiting During Winter?
Telluride Ski Resort boasts mountains of skiing and snowboarding just a gondola ride away, hidden behind a soaring mountain ridge. More than 2,000 acres of ski terrain and towering, glossy resort amenities are just minutes from Telluride's quiet downtown. It's a nice situation: Tackle the above-the-treeline Revelation Bowl with its European-style terrain in the morning, and leave all the hustle bustle behind for dinner in a true mountain village on the valley floor below.
Check out our Colo-Road Trips itineraries: Telluride Gold-Season Itinerary, 3 Days in Telluride and A Grand Tour of the Mountains & Mesas Region.