Telluride is one of the premier destinations in the United States. With it’s charming main street lined with shops, restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, & more. It also has an array of hiking trails and its proximity to national parks; Telluride offers a perfect blend of leisure & adventure.
What To Do in Telluride:
- Ride the Gondolas
- These are FREE public transportation, they run from 6 AM to 2 AM!
- Ride to the San Sofia station to see a view of Mt. Wilson (you’ll recognize the famous mountain from the Coors Light Can)
- These are FREE public transportation, they run from 6 AM to 2 AM!
- Get back on the gondolas at San Sofia & ride to Mountain Village
- Enjoy their restaurants & shops or book a mountain bike tour
- We recommend Crazy Elk Pizza if you’re wanting to feed a lot of people for not the price tag of some of the other restaurants- it’s a great family location
- Visit the Explore Page for more dining experiences or see my list below of restaurants we recommend
- Ride the gondolas back to Telluride & enjoy the nighttime view of the town
Where to Hike in Telluride:
- Hike in Telluride
- Telluride has some incredible hikes right in the middle of town & they’re very accessible.
- We recommend Bridal Veils Falls & Bear Creek Falls for beautiful views of the mountains & gorgeous waterfalls.
Bridal Veil Falls is a 2 mile, out & back hike that features several waterfalls, views of the mountains, & you can see some of the historic mining that used to take place in Telluride.
Bear Creek Falls is a longer hike with larger elevation gains, but my 3 kids did the hike fine. It is a 4.5 mile out & back hike to an INCREDIBLE view of the mountains, a really awesome waterfall, & you can stop to play at the city playground after you hit the trail.
Telluride Historical Museum:
Stop by The Coffee Cowboy & get a Lone Ranger coffee before heading over to the historical museum to learn all about the history of town!
Visit the Telluride Historical Museum. The museum has 10 rooms in their permanent exhibit. Here you can explore the region’s Ute heritage, mining history, ski, & festival history.
They also offer historical walking tours of Telluride on Tuesdays & Thursdays. The museum is open seasonally, so if you aren’t there in the summer, it won’t be open.
After your museum visit (and maybe your walking tour), talk leisurely stroll around town, visit shops, eat lunch at La Concina de Luz, & enjoy spending time in town.
Quiet Day at the Lake:
If leaving town isn’t something you want to do, use this day to go SUPing or fishing at Alta Lakes right outside of town. This will give you a fun & peaceful outdoor experience for enjoying nature.
We purchased fishing licenses online at Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Be sure you practice all legal & safe fishing laws required by the state.
To rent SUP boards, visit Telluride Outfitters.
Visit National Parks:
When we went to Telluride, we used 2 of our days there to explore National Parks. We visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park & Mesa Verde National Park. You can read about those here.
Both parks are less than 2 hours from Telluride & well worth making a day trip. If I was going to choose one of the 2, Mesa Verde is definitely the park you want to prioritize. Read my post about it for all the details & where to purchase cliff dwelling tickets.
Some Restaurants to Try in Telluride & Mountain Village:
- Butcher & Baker
- La Cocina de Luz
- Baked in Telluride (best Horchata I’ve had since living in Mexico!)
- Chop House at The New Sheridan (more expensive but amazing steaks & town history)
- Crazy Elk Pizza in Mountain Village
- Tomboy Tavern in Mountain Village
Some Shops to Visit:
- Between the Covers Bookstore (check out Bruno Coffeeshop next door!)
- Enchanted Forest Toy Shop
- Hook Telluride Angler
- Jagged Edge Mountain Gear
Coffeeshops to Visit:
- The Cowboy Coffee
- Bruno Cafe Coffee Shop (inside Between the Covers Bookstore)
- Telluride Coffee Company
Telluride stands out as a top destination in the United States. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or adventure, Telluride offers an unparalleled experience.