Telluride Ski Area

Telluride sits at the head of a dramatic box canyon in south-western Colorado's San Juan Mountains, one of the most scenic settings in American skiing. The resort links two bases: the historic town of Telluride, a preserved Victorian mining settlement ringed by cliffs and waterfalls, and the purpose-built Mountain Village higher up. The two are connected by a free public gondola that floats over the ridge between them, a genuinely unusual piece of civic infrastructure. The terrain is varied and serious, with gentle groomers, long intermediate cruisers and, above, a wealth of steep chutes and hike-to lines that give Telluride a reputation for demanding expert skiing.

Telluride is for skiers who want scenery and character as much as terrain. The box-canyon setting is breathtaking, the historic town is one of the most atmospheric in the Rockies, and the free gondola linking it to Mountain Village is a delight in itself. The skiing spans everything from mellow cruising to steep, hike-accessed chutes for experts. Its remoteness keeps crowds down and preserves a sense of getting away from it all. It suits those willing to travel a little further for a resort with real soul, dramatic looks and challenging high terrain.

The high San Juan Mountains catch cold, dry Colorado snow, and Telluride's upper terrain, including its hike-to chutes and bowls, comes into its own once storms have filled it in. The sheltered groomers on the front of the mountain stay dependable through the season, while the steep, exposed high lines reward experienced skiers on the right day. Deep winter brings the coldest, driest snow, and spring adds sunshine and softer conditions across the more sheltered runs.