TELLURIDE RESORT GUIDE
Telluride Resort Overview
January 2021
**Covid Operating Guidelines: Telluride will require lift tickets to be puchased online, in advance. Epic Passholders will NOT be required to make reservations. Telluride's restaurants are currently open for take-out only. The resort has 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
Packed 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
Start your day at Baked in Telluride for breakfast and grab sandwhiches for the day. This grab-n-go style stop has donuts, pasteries, burritos, soups, salads and more!
True ski-in-ski-out. Access the mountain from town from lifts 1, 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)
Tellruide has a ton of easily accessible side-country. If you're keen to venture to the backcountry, bring your becon, shovel, and probe. Learn more about Telluride's Backcountry terrain here and don't skip their safey page
Telluride is one of the leading heli-skiing locales in the U.S. A full day of heli skiing is abvailable 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 you are 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. Once you're there, Telluride is best enjoyed on foot.
