A Box Canyon Ringed by Peaks
Telluride is a former silver-mining town in the San Juan Mountains of south-west Colorado, known for its dramatic box-canyon setting, its Victorian main street and the Telluride Film Festival. The town sits at about 8,750 feet and is enclosed on three sides by peaks, with Bridal Veil Falls tumbling at the head of the canyon. The whole town is a National Historic Landmark District, and its painted wooden buildings, once home to miners, now hold galleries, bookshops and restaurants.
Telluride's most distinctive touch is the free gondola, which links the town with Mountain Village, a purpose-built resort community higher on the slopes. The ride gives sweeping views of the San Juans and makes it easy to leave the car behind. In winter, the ski area offers everything from beginner runs to the demanding terrain of Palmyra Peak and Revelation Bowl. A tourist board has a rare, visually striking story to tell.
Festivals, Hikes and Mountain Cooking
The festival calendar is exceptional for a town this size. The Telluride Film Festival, held each Labor Day weekend since 1974, is one of the most respected in the world, while the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in June fills Town Park with music beneath the peaks. Other events include a jazz festival, a mushroom festival and a wine festival, so something is always on. The town's cooking draws on local produce and regional game, in cosy dining rooms and mountain lodges.
Summer trails lead from the town edge to alpine lakes, wildflower meadows and the high passes of the San Juans, and the nearby Ouray ice park and Ophir offer further outings. Jeep tracks cross high passes such as Imogene. Neighbouring resorts Aspen, Vail and Beaver Creek give contrasting Colorado experiences, and Utah's red-rock country lies to the west within the wider Rockies. A hotel group can feature slope-side stays at Mountain Village.
Read the full Telluride guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitTelluride.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.