Tucked in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, Telluride is a premier destination for skiing and snowboarding for people of all skill levels. With more than 2,000 acres of terrain, an average snowfall of about 300 inches per year, and breathtaking views, it’s no wonder why people think Telluride is one of the best ski resorts in the US.
The Mountain
Telluride resort offers 148 trails, with 23 lifts and an elevation of 13,150 feet at the top, making it one of the highest ski resorts in North America. The mountain has several areas across the frontside, the backside, the Prospect Bowl, the Revelation Bowl and the Black Iron Bowl, each with its own levels of terrain and amazing views.
The front side of the mountain is great for beginners and intermediate skiers/snowboarders, with wide, groomed runs. The backside of the mountain, which ends in the town of Telluride, offers challenging terrain for advanced skiers, with mostly steep, narrow chutes. The Prospect Bowl offers a mix of intermediate and advanced runs, with stunning views of the San Juan Mountains. The Revelation Bowl and Black Iron Bowl have all expert terrain that is especially great on powder days (once opened).
In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there is a variety of other winter activities to do in Telluride, including snowshoeing, ice skating, sleigh rides, and snowmobiling.
And at the end of the day, when you’re ready for a break, the picturesque town of Telluride offers many dining and shopping options around its main street, Colorado Ave.
Where to Stay
The ski resort has two main sides, one side starts in the town of Telluride and the other starts in the town of Mountain Village. Telluride is your classic, cute mountain town with a main street, restaurants, bars and lots of housing options. There are many short-term rental options and some hotels as well, including Hotel Columbia and the Hotel Telluride. Mountain Village is more of a ski base village with many short-term rentals, some hotels and some restaurants and shopping. There is a free gondola that allows you to get from one side to the other, so either town is a great option!
Where to Buy Lift Tickets
- You can buy lift tickets directly at the mountain, or buy ahead online to save some money! The window rate for tickets day off can range anywhere from $180 – 250, but buying online typically will give you 10-20% off this rate.
- If you live near an Epic Pass mountain (or plan on visiting one) you can buy a multi-day Epic Pass or the full Epic Pass. I would definitely recommend going this route if you know well enough in advance (before November) that you will be taking a long trip to Telluride.
How to Get There
There are several options to get to Telluride:
- Fly into the Telluride Regional Airport. This is definitely the quickest and easiest option, as the airport is only a 15 minute drive from the town of Telluride. It’s a very small airport, though, so flights tend to be on the expensive side and typically have connections.
- Fly into the Montrose Regional Airport. This is a bit larger of an airport and therefore offers more flight options. However, it’s a bit farther away at about a 1.5 hour drive to the town of Telluride. Once here, you can rent a car and drive to Telluride, or you book a transfer through a company like Telluride Express.
