Here's the quick rundown to start your ski trip planning. More details to come over the season.
When to Visit
Telluride runs from Thanksgiving through the first weekend in April. Each stretch has its own flavor:
- Thanksgiving: Probably not the best time — often only 1–2 runs open (#climatechange)
- Christmas/New Year's: Most festive, busiest, variable snow and terrain
- January: Mountain is fully open, skiing is good
- February: Most reliable snow month
- March: Bluebird days, everything open, spring skiing starts
- April: Closing weekend — slushy laps, costumes, and revelry
If you're coming for snow, January and February are most reliable. If you want sun, March and April are fun.
The Mountain
There is a lot to ski. Highlights are in-bounds hike-tos (Gold Hill Chutes, Palmyra Peak), massive moguls (Mammoth, most of Lift 9), and winding blues (See Forever, Lift 10, Lift 5). Come ready to be challenged, if you're into that.
Oh also — and this is hard to believe if you haven't been — there aren't lift lines. Locals complain about 5 minutes over the holidays at 1 or 2 lifts on the whole mountain. So you actually get to ski, which is probably different than last year's vacation.
Passes & Tickets
Telluride is on the Epic Pass. Full Epic pass holders get seven unrestricted days here, with 50% off additional days after that.
Getting Here
Most folks fly into Montrose Regional Airport, about 75 minutes away, with direct flights from New York, Texas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, and Phoenix. I recommend taking a shuttle (Telluride Express, Mountain Limo) and skipping the rental car. If you stay in Telluride or Mountain Village, you absolutely will not need it.
Where to Stay
- In Town: Victorian houses, boutique hotels, walk everywhere including the mountain. More expensive, but best location.
- Mountain Village: Feels like a resort village — great ski-in/ski-out, bigger hotels and condos, less nightlife.
- Ridgway or Rico: Both about 45 minutes away, much cheaper, but mountain passes can be dicey in a storm. Ridgway is easier, Rico is funkier.
Other Winter Activities
If you don't want to ski every day — or don't ski at all — winter is still awesome:
- Cross-country skiing on the Valley Floor, or Priest Lake for quiet forest loops
- Hot springs: Ouray Hot Springs or Orvis Hot Springs in Ridgway (clothing optional!)
- Ice skate at Town Park Rink, catch live music at the Sheridan Opera House, or wander Main Street