Things To Do in Telluride, Colorado in Every Season

Telluride is annually voted as one of Colorado’s most beautiful mountain towns. It is set in the heart of The San Juan Mountains with a picture-perfect backdrop of stunning, snowcapped peaks. 
 
There are many things to do in Telluride in any season. Each month features different festivals, outdoor activities, and unique places to visit.

I have visited Telluride a handful of times in each season, so this is by no means a definitive guide for all there is to do but a list of things I have personally enjoyed or strive to accomplish during future visits to Telluride.

Before diving into the list, there are a few things to note:
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Telluride is EXPENSIVE! It is probably one of the more expensive places to visit in all of Colorado. Skiing day passes start at over $200, and hotel rooms can be $300+ even in the “off-season”. If you are traveling on a budget, Telluride might not be the most ideal town to visit.

Secondly, Telluride is very far from Denver. It is nearly a 7-hour drive from The Denver International Airport, and weather conditions can make this drive even longer. (​You can fly directly into Telluride or make it a shorter trip from Grand Junction or Durango’s regional airports.) It is a mountain town, so please make sure you have a proper car if visiting in the winter and obey Colorado’s traction laws before embarking on your journey. Read those 4WD and chain laws here!

Where to stay:
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As mentioned before, Telluride is pretty expensive. I have both a “boujee” and a cheap option for places to stay near town, and camping is always an option as well. There are plenty of campgrounds in the national forests. You can find campsites online here.
 
*If you plan to stay in a van, NO overnight parking is allowed downtown. Do not attempt to sleep in your car on any streets within city limits. You WILL be ticketed!

• The Hotel Telluride
  • If you are looking for a very nice, 4-star hotel, The Hotel Telluride is the perfect place for you! Located right in town, The Hotel Telluride is walking distance from all the restaurants, bars, and shopping your heart could ever desire, and it’s just a few blocks from the gondola that will take you up the mountains for sightseeing, skiing, or mountain biking. The hotel has a great restaurant inside plus hot tubs and a bar for all the après activities you crave.
  • I stayed on Friday, December 2nd, and my rate was $350. Book a night for yourself at The Hotel Telluride here: thehoteltelluride.com

• The Bivvi Hostel 
  • For the cheaper, money-saving option, I recommend The Bivvi Hostel! I had never stayed in a hostel before, and The Hostel Bivvi made me feel so safe and comfortable. I stayed in a six-person bunk room but only ended up having one roommate. Each person receives their own locker, ear plugs, and towel.
  • Read more about my stay at The Bivvi Hostel here!
  • My bed in a six-person bunk room was $55, and a private room started at $120. See what kind of room fits your needs here: www.thebivvi-telluride.com

And finally, things to do In Telluride by season:
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Summer ​

The summer is my favorite season in Colorado. Many people visit Colorado in the winter, but I recommend visiting in the summer. You can hike, bike, fish, and do so much more! Sure, you can do those in the winter too, but there won’t be any wildflowers!​

Hike to Bridal Veil Falls

• It’s a very short hike or drive with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle from downtown Telluride to Colorado’s tallest free-falling waterfall, Bridal Veil Falls.
• Read more about our hike up to Bridal Veil Falls here. ​

• Climb a Fourteener
  • Telluride is surrounded by mountains. If you are an experienced hiker and looking for more of a challenge, hike a “14er” like Mount Sneffels. Make sure you are prepared for the weather, check trail conditions, and are well-adjusted to high altitude. Hikes like these are no joke, but very rewarding.
  • Watch more from Mount Sneffels and other nearby 14ers here.

• Attend a Music Festival
  • Every summer, Telluride builds an incredible outdoor stage for festivals like The Ride Fest and Telluride Bluegrass. The red rock background of the nearby mountains is remarkable. If you can get tickets for a show here, I cannot recommend it enough. 
  • We attended The Ride Fest in summer of 2019. See more from that amazing Widespread Panic concert here. 

​Fall 

The next best time to visit telluride, in my opinion, is the fall. When the Aspen tree leaves change, Telluride completely transforms into an explosion of bright yellows and oranges. The leaves usually peak somewhere between the middle of September and middle of October depending on the weather the previous seasons. Check local news sites and social media channels for up to the minute updates!

• Ride the gondola
  • The gondola service in Telluride is free and my favorite way to get around town. The gondola will take you from downtown up to the mountains and to The Mountain Village. It is always free, and when the fall foliage changes, these cars above the trees give you the best views of the town period. 

• Take a scenic drive or go off-roading
  • If you have a vehicle with 4WD and high clearance, take a ride up a mountain pass like Black Bear or Imogen Passes, and you can visit some other nearby towns by the most scenic routes. Get to places like Ouray or Silverton, but beware. These are some of the most dangerous off-road trails in the state. Hire a guide, or go with someone knowledgeable. These roads are nothing to underestimate!

​Winter/Spring

One of the more popular times to visit Telluride is in the winter for world-class skiing. The best time to come for snow is from January till nearly April. There are a few other things I recommend besides skiing and snowboarding just in case those aren’t in your wheelhouse. ​

• Fire Festival
  • The first weekend in December, Telluride hosts its Fire Fest. It’s a weekend full of circus performances, music, and of course, lots of fire. The family-friendly, mini-Burning Man event is extremely fun!
  • Look for tickets and announcements on their website here: www.telluridefirefestival.org

• Try Ice Climbing in nearby Ouray 
  • This is something I have never done, but I really want to! Ice Climbing looks like an incredibly fun sport, and every year, Ouray hosts an entire festival and competition around it. Ouray is less than an hour away from Telluride and absolutely worth the drive.
  • See when the festival is taking place this year here: www.ourayicepark.com/ouray-ice-festival

• Skiing 
  • When you watch my video below, you might not think I would still recommend skiing, but it’s impossible for me not to. It is the main attraction in Telluride! Plus, I have many friends who swear Telluride is their favorite place in the world to ski. I just do not recommend going in December. January through March are the prime times to ski here. 
  • Also be warned that it is expensive! If you plan to ski more than 3 days, look into getting an Epic Pass to be able to ski Telluride and other resorts across the world for the same price as Telluride day passes. 
  • Watch more from my failure of a day in Telluride here.

 
I hope this guide helps you plan a trip to Telluride no matter when you visit. It is an amazing town full of wonderful people and beautiful scenery with a plethora of activites and scenery. 

​See other places I recommend visiting in Colorado: