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Telluride Ski Resort
Home to the highest concentration of 13,000ft peaks in America, the scenery here – the steep forested crags of the San Juan mountains - commands attention.
Meanwhile, the old mining town beneath them’s like something from an old western. So western, in fact, Tell is home to the first bank ever robbed by Butch Cassidy.
There’s another bed base too: connected to Tell by the free San Sophia Gondola, the Mountain Village is full of ski-in/ski-out hotels and equally attractive as the town.
For all of the area’s traditional charm, the lift and resort infrastructure remains state of the art and, just like Aspen and Whistler, silver service tends to win out over cafeteria-style dining. You won’t need to rob any banks for them, but resort prices are accordingly at the upper end of the spectrum.
Regulars would argue you can’t put a price on skiing like this – with varied terrain and slopes to and from a fully-fledged town in a land where ski-in/ski-out towns are few and far between. A location a little off the beaten track, meanwhile, keeps it all from being drowned in adoring fans.
Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) is a quarter of an hour from the resort, with Montrose-Telluride Airport (MTJ) an hour and a half away. There are more regional airports within two and a half hour’s drive, including Durango and Grand Junction.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Colorado, USA
Established: 1972
Open: November - May
Downhill: 127 runs, 2000 acres
View our detailed Telluride snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Telluride snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) | 6 miles, 15 minutes |
| Montrose-Telluride Airport (MTJ) | 68 miles, 1.5 hours |
| Denver International Airport (DEN) | 386 miles, 6.5 hours |
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| Top Altitude: | 4010m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 2659m |
| Resort Altitude: | 2667m |
| Longest run: | 7.4km |
| Slope Orientation: | |
| Vertical Drop: | |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1070m |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 127 runs, 2000 acres |
| Beginner slopes: | 23% |
| Intermediate: | 36% |
| Advanced slopes: | 41% |
| Lift Pass Price: | $86 (adult pass per day) |
| Nearby resorts: Crested Butte | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Telluride
Covering 2000 acres, what makes this ski area special is that there’s genuinely something for all kinds of SNO lover. In a way, the piste map is neatly divided into three – beginners in a safe haven at the lower and SW side, intermediates on the middle mountain, and experts at the steep and glorious top. Clever design, just like the grading system here – which categorises runs into green and double green, blue and double blue (and so on) to show a clear path of progression. Better still, the infrastructure is so top-notch, you’ll find little to no lift lines.
Telluride is perfect for beginners, and as much of the green terrain is clustered around the Mountain Village accommodations, it’s convenient for first-timers or families to stay here. The Meadows area around the Mountain Village and serviced by the Chondola (a gondola and chair lift hybrid) is great for newbies – speed freaks don’t tend to stray this way. At the same time, you can cover some good ground from the very beginning as green runs include the 4.5-mile Galloping Goose down from the top of Bald Mountain, through a treeless area and featuring vistas that will rob you of speech.
For intermediates, the offerings are equally exciting. The Polar Queen Express high speed quad is a blue run playground, and many skiers spend entire days here. Meanwhile, some immediate level off-piste is a possibility over in Prospect Bowl, a good place to break into backcountry for the first time.
The top of resort is the hub of the expert and advanced terrain and trails like Spiral Stairs and Mine Shaft are arguably the finest mogul runs in the nation. There are some serious steeps here, while over the hill, Revelation Bowl is a treeless bowl of powdery perfection where you can ski any line.
Telluride Apres Ski
By the by, the après fresh from the piste is at its finest in Mountain Village, on the huge patios at Tomboy Tavern and in famed Alpino Vino (the highest dining experience in the US).
Nightlife, however, is at its jauntiest down in town. The bars here are full of character, like mahogany-lined New Sheridan Bar (which started serving up in 1895) and the Last Dollar Saloon (or, “the Buck”), the stuff of local legend. No matter if you’re staying in Mountain Village but fancy a night out - the San Sophia Gondola runs till the strike of 12, so you can easily soak up some of the local culture before heading back to bed.
Alongside expensive and exceedingly good eats (like those at Allred’s), there’s a real community feel to Telluride, best felt in pizza and slow-smoked barbecue joints like Brown Dog Pizza and Oak.
Not to be outdone in its off-slope activities, helicopter tours, snowmobiling and paragliding are all options. Ice climbing is also local specialty and available for all abilities (kids too!).
Spas here are a dime a dozen, but the standout is that at the Peaks, another award-winner, and voted one of Conde Nast’s top resort spas in the US.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Telluride
Best time to visit & ski Telluride
Telluride's high elevation and abundance of north-facing terrain help it maintain good conditions for weeks, and with an average 300 inches of the white gold a year, conditions are likely to be respectable whenever you visit.
The resort is known for its relative tranquillity throughout the season, making it a fantastic getaway at peak dates like Christmas or New Year. For a serious powder hound, snow conditions peak in March, when days are also longer (approx. 12 hours sunlight) and warmer (5°C).
Peak Dates
The Main Street and Ski Tree are lit up with fairy lights over Christmas in Telluride where Christmas Train rides, photos with Santa and holiday crafts have been favourite activities in recent years.
Look out for gala dinners and concerts at the Sheridan Opera House over New Year in Telluride.
Make the most of the doorstep skiing at Half Term in Telluride, when the snow conditions are usually incredible.
A Sunday scavenger hunt is one of the traditions during Easter in Telluride - for a fun week on the mountains all round.
Families in Telluride
With hotels in Mountain Village that literally overlook the Meadows beginner’s area, it doesn’t get more convenient for young skiers than this. And the tranquillity of the resort, at a distance from any big cities, means minimal lift lines and more relaxation. While Tell may be a little further than your standard French resort, the rewards are worth the extra travel time.
Book sprogs in with the Telluride Ski School, which divides lessons into Cubs (2.5 - 4 year olds), Otters (3-4), Bears (4-6) and Eagles (7-14) for age and skill specific experiences.
The Cubs Camp, meanwhile, will take care of tots aged 2 months to 4 with lots of outings and gondola rides. Big on nature in these parts, Eco Adventures’s another exciting local operation, with various day camps for kids that include snow biking and wilderness survival lessons.
GroupsGroup Holidays Telluride
With such a genuine variety in its terrain and the restaurants, and the bars and hotels of two amazing towns to choose from, Telluride’s a no-brainer of a resort for a group ski trip. The community spirit here is infectious, and will rub off in ancient bars like the New Sheridan or the terraces of the Gorrono Ranch. In the past, the resort has offered complimentary welcome receptions and mountain tours to groups, and even set up BBQs on request to end a long day.
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