Several years ago my parents bought a cabin in southwest Colorado. Since then, I have visited the Telluride area many times with our family and friends, and every time I return, I love it more! Here are some of the reasons I love Telluride in the winter.
#1 Telluride Ski Resort
Telluride is the nicest, most beautiful, and posh ski resort I have visited. The facilities are well maintained, and guests are pampered. There are even tissue boxes at the top of some lifts. My favorite ski run in the world is See Forever at the top of Gold Hill Express Lift. It takes you along the spine of the mountain where you have a 360 degree view of the open valley stretching west, the mountains on the north side of the Telluride box canyon, and the mountains on the other side of Revelation Bowl that are so close you could reach out and touch them. It is a top of the world experience! The run may look intimidating, but it is well within the abilities of an intermediate skier. After following the ridge, Lower See Forever turns downhill and is a heavenly wide blue with spectacular views. It is what skiing should always be. Other runs that are family favorites are from the top of Holly Cow lift, including Double Cabin, Bridges (where you ski over and under several bridges) and the Enchanted Forest. My kids love going through the Enchanted Forest and catching air on small jumps and bumps.
#2 Mountain Village
Mountain Village is the town located at the base of Telluride Ski Resort. It is a beautifully built ski village with restaurants, hotels, and shopping. Heritage Plaza is at the heart of Mountain Village where we rent skis, explore winter apparel shops, or grab a hot coffee or crepe to enjoy as we sit outside or stroll. My teens love the Mountain Village Ice Rink which is located in the adjacent Reflection Plaza. If our teens prefer to skate after skiing and eat later, while the adults prefer to warm-up and sample the après-ski specials, it’s all good!
A free public gondola runs from Mountain Village’s Market Plaza to Heritage Plaza at the base of the ski lifts, then up the mountain to San Sophia Station, and finally, down the mountain into the town of Telluride.
The parking garage for the ski resort is conveniently located adjacent to The Village Market grocery store. It’s a great place to pick up what you need. If we are skiing, we park at Mountain Village, but often take the gondola to Telluride and back for a meal or sightseeing. The gondola runs until midnight.
#3 Fantastic Restaurants
Telluride Ski Resort has what I consider to be destination restaurants on the slopes.
Bon Vivant serves French bistro fare on a large outdoor veranda with a view.
Alpino Vino is the highest fine dining restaurant in North America, at 11,966 feet. It serves charcuterie boards, gourmet soups and sandwiches and maintains an extensive wine list. A visit to Alpino Vino is like stepping into a rustic Italian villa with a warm fire burning inside where a glass of wine and gourmet comfort food await to warm you up in the most indulgent way!
There is also the more casual Gorrono Ranch restaurant, where the saloon occupies a historic ranch cabin with a wood burning stove.
The granddaddy of high altitude fine dining is Allred’s, accessible at San Sophia Station, the gondola’s half-way point between Mountain Village and the town of Telluride. Reservations are recommended considering that Allred’s is very popular and is also a venue for private events. The menu has fine dining American fare such as Lobster Bisque and Colorado Rack of Lamb, and the décor of large hewn beams and antler chandeliers tells you that you are in a spectacular location in the Rocky Mountains. However, the view is what is most unforgettable. From the wide picture windows as the sun sets you see the colors change in the box canyon below, until all is dark but the twinkling town of Telluride. If you cannot get a reservation in the restaurant, you might be able to stop by the bar for a cocktail and an appetizer to soak in that same spectacular setting.
In the town of Telluride, one of our family favorites is Brown Dog Pizza. According to our kids, a trip to Telluride must include Brown Dog! Another great restaurant in Telluride is Cosmo, right across from the lift and known for its happy hour and sushi, in addition to delicious entrees.
#4 Telluride
The town of Telluride has so much to offer. It is an historic mining town that sits in a box canyon and is accessible by Highway 145 from the west or the gondola from Mountain Village. The main street through town, Colorado Ave., has an assortment of shopping and restaurants, but some great places sit tucked away on the side streets as well. We like to explore and hit some of our favorite shops such as Telluride Trappings & Toggery, Overland, Timberline Ace Hardware, and even the Telluride Thrift Shop. After an afternoon of walking around town, it is sometimes necessary to stop by the Telluride Truffle for a chocolate or grab a hot coffee at The Cowboy Coffee.
It you travel to the east end of town you can see the frozen Bridal Veil Falls. They are at the closed end of the box canyon.
If you want to learn about the mining history of the town, a visit to the Telluride Historical Museum is well worth your time. It is a nicely procured museum in the old hospital building up Fir Street on the north side of town. From December to April it is open 11:00 to 5:00, but due to Covid-19, appointments are by reservation.
#5 Snowmobiles, Sleighs and Sleds
Think of this category as multiple outdoor activities, other than skiing and snowboarding. There are many wilderness areas that are not accessible during the winter, but snowmobile tours and sleigh rides provide the perfect opportunity to get out and explore off the beaten path.
We loved the Alta Ghost Town Tour through Telluride Outfitters in 2015. This beautiful trip led us to through the snowy forest to the ruins of the mining camp at Alta. I love history and old buildings, and so the trip was worth it just to see the ruins. But we also had time to race around on a snowy hill hot rodding the snowmobiles. I think that was our favorite part of the trip. I’d recommend this tour! Interestingly, the ruins of Alta are only about one half-mile south of the ski area. Additional tours are available.
Another local snowmobile outfitter is Telluride Outside at Fall Creek, 30 minutes from Telluride.
Several years ago, we went on a family sleigh ride with Roudy the cowboy. Telluride Horseback Adventures is located several minutes west of Telluride and provides rides an entertaining ranch sleigh ride complete with blankets and hot chocolate at the end of the ride. My kids fondly remember their ride with Roudy!
There are other sleigh ride outfitters we have not had the chance to experience. Telluride Wranglers provides sleigh rides and dinner sleigh rides.
Dinner sleigh rides are also available through Telluride Sleighs and Wagons. We have not enjoyed their experience, but you can read more about it here.
If you want to have a simple (and economical) day in the snow with your family, take your sleds or disks to the nearest hill and have some fun. Don’t have any equipment? Try Ace Hardware in Telluride. If you kindly ask a local, they just might direct you to a great sledding spot.
This post provides general information, but for specific information related to Covid-19, please visit the websites referenced in this post.
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