Located in Colorado's southwestern corner about 200 mi/320 km southwest of Denver, the ski resort of Telluride was for years relatively inaccessible and undiscovered. But then the airport (the second highest in the nation) was built in the late 1980s. Now there is regular service from Denver and other cities, and Telluride has become both a fashionable ski destination and a summer vacation spot.
Even though its popularity has skyrocketed, Telluride has a slightly funkier, more authentic feel to it than some of the more antiseptic upscale resorts. It offers a mix of cowboy chic and movie-star glamour. Among the celebrities who have owned houses there at one time or another are Oprah Winfrey, Ralph Lauren, Christie Brinkley and Oliver Stone. Despite the glam factor, locals are proud of their laid-back, jeans-wearing style. Telluride is also the kind of place where ski instructors and tour guides are likely to be renegade physicists or corporate lawyers who went there to ski and never left.
The town of Telluride, located at the end of a highway in a magnificent box canyon, has so far retained its small-town charm, including Victorian architecture and quaint bed-and-breakfasts. It also offers full-service lodging, boutiques, restaurants and apres-ski amenities. The Peaks Resort and Spa is one of the top spas in the U.S.
Some of the nonski attractions in Telluride include a downtown historic district where restored buildings have been converted into shops and restaurants. Bridal Veil Falls, the longest in Colorado, is absolutely gorgeous.
A free gondola system provides a scenic way to get between Telluride and its newer, European-styled sister city, Mountain Village.
Recreation
In winter, of course, skiing is the preferred acitvity in Telluride. But the area offers plenty to do in warmer months, too, including multiple festivals, golf, tennis and rock climbing.
Skiing
Telluride has a wide range of conditions, and the choices have gotten even better with the opening of the Prospect Bowl area. Also new is the Revelation Bowl, to be served by the new Revelation quad lift. Situated above the tree line, the wide-open bowl offers steep pitches and rock features, as well as groomed terrain for expert skiers and snowboarders.
Beginners can find gentle slopes at the Meadows, accessed by Lift 10 (the Sunshine Express) or Lift 1 (the Chondola).
Lifts 3, 4 and 5, around the Gerrono Ranch Restaurant, lead to a number of areas for intermediate skiers.
Experts will want to try Lifts 6 and 9, where the slopes offer moguls, tree skiing and steep groomed runs. On a powder day, the place to get first tracks is Gold Hill (off Lift 6), a hike-to area that offers steep chutes and tree shots. Experts can get their kicks at the Plunge, and boarders have the Surge Air Garden Terrain Park.
Heli-skiing is available for those wanting to explore the pristine slopes of the San Juan Mountains.
Dining Overview
New eateries in Telluride include the German-inspired Hop Garden restaurant in Mountain Village at the base of the Village Express, which serves three meals a day and apres ski on the terrace. Or skiers can stop for appetizers, fine wines and cheeses at the Alpino Vino near the top of Gold Hill.
Calendar
One of the festival capitals of the southwestern U.S., Telluride offers some kind of community event nearly every weekend from May through October. Calendar highlights include nationally recognized events such as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and MountainFilm.
During the winter months, the slopes of Telluride play host to a variety of professional and amateur races. For information on ski-related events, call the Telluride Ski Resort. Phone 970-728-6900. http://tellurideskiresort.com.
For more information about upcoming events in Telluride, call the Telluride Tourism Board. Phone 970-728-3041 or toll free 888-605-2578. http://www.visittelluride.com.
To call any of the numbers listed in this calendar from outside the U.S. or Canada, you must first dial your country's international access code, followed by the U.S. country code, 1.
Information in this calendar is subject to change and should be confirmed.
December, 2008
25 Dec—
Christmas Day Public holiday.
January, 2009
1 Jan—
New Year's Day Public holiday.
19 Jan—Martin Luther King Jr. Day Public holiday.
February, 2009
16 Feb—
Presidents Day Public holiday.
May, 2009
22-25 May—
MountainFilm This annual film festival includes slide shows and various presentations with a focus on how visual media can instigate change. Multiple venues. For more information, call 970-728-4123. http://www.mountainfilm.org.
25 May—Memorial Day Public holiday.
June, 2009
Early June—
Telluride Balloon Rally This annual festival begins at sunrise with the launching of many brightly colored and uniquely decorated hot-air balloons. At sunset Telluride's Main Street is lit up by the balloon glow. Downtown Telluride. For more information, call 970-708-2202. http://www.tellurideballoonfestival.com.
Early-Mid June—Wild West Fest Split between Town Park and the Sheridan Opera House, this family-oriented festival celebrates the culture and history of the old west with games, barbecue and live performances. For more information, call 970-728-6363. http://www.sheridanoperahouse.com/wwf.htm.
4-7 Jun—Telluride Jazz Celebration Multiple indoor and outdoor venues play host to international and regional jazz artists. For more information, call 970-728-7009. http://www.telluridejazz.org.
18-21 Jun—Telluride Bluegrass Festival This festival is nationally renowned and has featured artists from Allison Krauss to Earl Scruggs and Bela Fleck. Town Park. For more information, call 800-624-2422. http://www.bluegrass.com/telluride.
29, 30 Jun—Telluride Plein-Air Festival This gathering sees nationally recognized landscape artists paint original works of Telluride and the surrounding mountains. The resulting work is placed on exhibit before being auctioned to raise funds for the Sheridan Arts Foundation. Sheridan Opera House Courtyard and Elks Park. For more information, call 970-728-6363. http://www.telluridepleinair.org. Continues through 4 Jul
Late June—Bike Week A week-long celebration of the bicycle as a means of transportation and recreation. Scheduled activities include group rides and an auction. For more information, call 970-729-1379. http://www.visittelluride.com.
Late June—Telluride Wine Festival Various winemakers offer tastings, luncheons, cooking demonstrations and seminars for experts and novices alike. For more information, call the 970-728-3041. http://www.telluridewinefestival.com.
July, 2009
Early July—
Telluride Fur Ball A silent auction, pet photography and gourmet dog treats are just some of the highlights of this pet-centered gathering. There's even a dance performance by a competitive canine/human freestyle team. Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village. For more information, call 970-626-2273. http://www.visittelluride.com.
Early July—Concert Free live music, kid's games and activities. Former artists include national headliners such as Jonny Lang. Sunset Plaza in Mountain Village. For more information, call 970-728-1904. http://www.visittelluride.com.
1-4 Jul—Telluride Plein-Air Festival This gathering sees nationally recognized landscape artists paint original works of Telluride and the surrounding mountains. The resulting work is placed on exhibit before being auctioned to raise funds for the Sheridan Arts Foundation. Sheridan Opera House Courtyard and Elks Park. For more information, call 970-728-6363. http://www.telluridepleinair.org. Concludes 4 Jul
4 Jul—Independence Day Public holiday. Special events are held throughout Telluride including a parade down Colorado Avenue and fireworks after sunset. For more information, call 970-728-3041 or toll-free 888-605-2578. http://www.visittelluride.com.
4 Jul—Fireman's Fourth of July This all-day celebration includes a barbecue in Town Park, kid's games, fireworks and a parade down Colorado Avenue. Multiple venues. For more information, call 970-728-3041. http://www.visittelluride.com.
10-12 Jul—Telluride Yoga Festival This annual event features nationally renowned yogis giving a variety of workshops and seminars for all ability levels. For more information, call 970-728-2477. http://www.tellurideyogafestival.com.
Late July—Art Exhibit In late July each year, Ah Haa School for the Arts holds an art auction and fundraiser. All of the work in a given year is centered around a specific theme. For more information, call 970-728-3886. http://www.ahhaa.org.
Late July—Rotary 4x4 Rally Group four-wheeling on trails throughout the Telluride area. For more information, call 970-728-3041. http://www.telluride4x4.com.
August, 2009
Early August—
Telluride Cajun Festival Traditional Cajun food and zydeco music highlight this downtown festival. Pine Street. For more information, call 970-728-1175. http://www.mountainvillagemusic.com.
Early August—Exhibit Technological festival celebrating past and future scientific achievements. Past highlights include Nobel laureates, Internet pioneers and a Tesla coil demonstration. For more information, call 970-239-4486. http://telluridetechfestival.com.
Mid August—Telluride Festival of the Arts Culinary arts are the center of this mid-August festival. Highlights include tastings, seminars, demonstrations and celebrity chefs. For more information, call 970-369-4632. http://www.telluridefest.com.
Late August—Telluride Film Festival This Labor Day weekend film festival is immensely popular among locals and film enthusiasts from the region. A variety of films are shown, but the complete listing is never revealed until the day the festival begins. Multiple venues. For more information, call 510-665-9494. http://www.telluridefilmfestival.org. Continues through early September
Late August—Telluride Mushroom Festival Lectures, dining, species identification and a parade make this event a fungophile's dream come true. For more information, call 970-728-8312. http://www.tellurideinstitute.org.
September, 2009
Early September—
Telluride Film Festival This Labor Day weekend film festival is immensely popular among locals and film enthusiasts from the region. A variety of films are shown, but the complete listing is never revealed until the day the festival begins. Multiple venues. For more information, call 510-665-9494. http://www.telluridefilmfestival.org. Concludes early September
Mid September—Blues and Brews Festival This three-day festival attracts world-renowned blues musicians and dozens of microbreweries from across the country. Town Park. For more information, call toll-free 866-515-6166. http://www.tellurideblues.com.
7 Sep—Labor Day Public holiday.
October, 2009
Early October—
Telluride Oktoberfest Beer, bratwurst, oompah music and a variety of activities and entertainment. Heritage Plaza at Mountain Village. For more information, call 970-728-1904. http://www.visittelluride.com.
November, 2009
11 Nov—
Veterans Day Public holiday.
26 Nov—Thanksgiving Day Public holiday.
