TELLURIDE RESORT GUIDE
Telluride Resort Overview
February 2021
**Telluride will require lift tickets to be puchased online, in advance. Epic Passholders will NOT be required to make reservations. On-mountain restaurants are open for indoor dining and many will offer take-out options as well. The resort has also added outdoor structures for guests to eat and warm up. For the latest on Telluride's covid operating guidelines check their Covid Know Before You Go Page.
The appeal of this resort is simple — Telluride might be the best ski town in North America, and it happens to be nestled at the end of a box canyon in the epic San Juan Mountain Range. If you've ever seen a Coors Light can, you’ve caught a glimpse of Telluride's jagged peaks. Telluride should be a stop on everyone’s bucket list. Though Telluride is a challenge to reach, it's well worth the journey to Southwestern Colorado.
There is skiing for all levels--nearly a quarter of the terrain is accessible to beginners. Telluride also packs over 3,800 feet of vertical into 2,000 acres with the terrain to challenge even the best of skiers. Options for dining, après and lodging abound. From motels and dive bars to five star restuarants and stunning Airbnbs you can tailor your own experience. There's plenty in the town of Telluride, though for easier ski-in-out access, Mountain Village is ~1,000 feet further up from town, accessible by gondola. Once you visit Telluride, you'll understand that this place has a vibe you won't find anywhere else.
Resort Ratings
Powder
Snow Reliability
Snow-Making & Grooming
Travel Convenience
Terrain Variety
Extreme / Off-Piste Terrain
Ski School
Accommodations
On Mountain Dining
Quick Take
Let's Go
Arguably the best ski town in the United States as ranked by Ski Magazine and Travel & Leisure; the central area of this old mining town has been designated a National Historic Landmark
One of the few pedistrian friendly ski towns in the U.S.
Lifts 6, 9, 14, and 15 offer some of the best expert inbounds skiing around. For a real challenge, try the hike up to Palmyra Peak, this is about as intense as skiing gets for patrolled areas.
For a town of only 2,500 people there is no shortage of excellent food, drink and good times for everyone
Mountain Village, accessible by gondola, 1,000 feet further up from the town of Telluride, is family friendly with slopside condos and a day care center
Hesitations
Telluride is isolated and getting here involves flying into a remote area and/or taking a lenghty road trip
Beware of lean snow years in the American Southwest. Telluride can be feast or famine
Only the full Epic Pass includes 7 days at Telluride. The Epic Local Pass requires separate tickets to ski here
Similar to most resorts, you can expect crowds and lift lines on weekends, holidays and, of course, powder days
Insider Tips
True ski-in-ski-out. Access the mountain from town with lifts 7, 8 and the Gondola. The free Gondola runs between town and the mountain village until midnight
For moguls and steeps, or just to test yourself on an iconic run, seek Plunge, located below chair 9 (Plunge Lift)
Start your day at Baked in Telluride for breakfast and grab sandwiches for the day. This grab-n-go style stop has donuts, pastries, burritos, soups, salads and more
Tellruide has easily accessible side-country. Beware, this terrain skis more like proper backcountry. Routes can be difficult to follow, their are cliffs and avalanche risks. A guide is strongly recommended along with bringing a beacon, shovel, and probe. Learn more about Telluride's Backcountry terrain here; don't skip their safety page and be sure to check the avalanche forecast
Telluride is one of the leading heli-skiing locales in the U.S. A full day of heli skiing is available for a "reasonable" rate (as far as heli-skiing goes) through Helitrax for ~$1,395
Trail Map
For an in-depth breakdown of Telluride's terrain, head to our Mountain Guide. Top trails and mountain stats included.
Getting To & Around
Telluride is not easy to reach, but once there, the area is best enjoyed on foot. The nearest major airports, Salt Lake City and Denver, are each ~6.5 hours drive away. Many people fly into one of those cities and make a road trip, stopping at destinations along the way like Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.
The town of Telluride has a small airport, however flights are pricey and the likelihood of weather impacting travel is heightened. Flying into Montrose and then driving two hours south is the middle ground.
Getting To
Closest Major City: Denver, CO or Salt Lake City, UT
Denver: Distance: ~355 miles North East, ~ 6.5 hours drive
Salt Lake: Distance ~375 miles North West, ~6.5 hours drive
Closest Regional Airport: Montrose, CO
~5.5 miles, ~80 minute drive
Direct service from 10 major cities with limited availability
Closest Airport: Telluride, CO
~5.5 miles, ~12 minute drive
Primarily serviced by private plans
Neighboring Resorts
Telluride stands alone in the San Juan Range in Southwestern Colorado. There are a few smaller resorts nearby, but the closest major resorts are more than 5 hours away.
Closet Neighbor:
Silverton (~75 miles, ~2 hours)
Other Colorado Resorts on the Epic Pass
Vail, CO (270 miles, ~5 hours)
Breckenridge, CO (~270 miles, ~5 hours, 15 mins)
Keystone, CO (~300 miles, ~5.5 hours)
Closet Neighbors on the Ikon Pass
Travel by Plane
Closest Major Airports: Denver, CO or Salt Lake City, UT
Denver: Distance: ~355 miles North East, ~ 6.5 hours drive
Salt Lake: Distance ~375 miles North West, ~6.5 hours drive
Closest Regional Airport: Montrose, CO
~5.5 miles, ~80 minute drive
Direct service from 10 major cities with limited availability. Southwest and Jet Blue both service to Montrose.
Closest Airport: Telluride, CO
~5.5 miles, ~12 minute drive
Limited service by private Plane
Travel By Bus
The Galloping Goose bus service takes people between town and Mountain Village
Airport Shuttles: Telluride Express provides shuttles from/to the Gunnison-Telluride and Montrose airports to Telluride
Western Slope Rides also provides shuttles from/to the Gunnison-Telluride and Montrose airports to Telluride; shuttles to/from Montrose are $159 per person each way, and $53 per person for groups of 3 or more
Travel by Car
A car is not essential when visiting Telluride. The Mountain Village Gondola is free and transports people from town to the village and runs from 6:30 a.m. to midnight daily. It’s a 13-minute ride each way. The town and village are pedistrian friendly.
Ride shares: (e.g., Uber, Lyft) are available but not reliable here