Visit and Ski at Telluride Ski Resort

Ski Resort Stats

Summit: 13150 feet
Resort Height/Vertical Drop: 4423 meters
Ski Slopes: Over 2000 acres of skiable terrain
Runs: 127
Beginner: 23%
Intermediate: 36%
Advanced: 41%
Ski Lifts: 18
Highest Lift: Season: Ski season starts on

In southwestern Colorado lies a county seat which comes by the nickname, “To-Hell-You-Ride.” Back from its mining days where it started, Telluride’s quiet town in Colorado was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The incredible views of the famous San Juan Mountains are visible from anywhere in the city.

Right next to the town is the Telluride Ski Resort sitting on one of the highlands of Mountain Village. A free 13-minute gondola ride connects the ski resort from the heart of the town. This premier ski destination boasts 300 days of sunlight each year, 280 inches of average snowfall, and 18 ski varying ski lifts. Yes! You heard it right: a total of 18 lift systems, including two gondolas, two surface lifts, two magic carpets, and 12 chairlifts. This means no more waiting in long lines to get a ride.

Not only that, but there are also terrain ranges suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers and four hike-to landscapes for the advanced and experts. The ski area flaunts its 2000 acres of skiable terrain and its 10 kilometers of snow perfect for Nordic skiing.

How to Get There

The Telluride Ski Resort is about 330 miles (or at least a six-hour drive) southwest of Denver, Colorado. If you want to save time, the nearest airport is Montrose Regional Airport (MRA), 65 miles from the resort. There are seasonal, direct flights to Montrose from significant hubs of Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. However, many visitors opt to fly directly into Telluride Regional Airport via connecting Denver flights.

If you are traveling from Denver, take west to Grand Junction, head south to Route 50 to Montrose, reach Route 550 to Ridgway, and turn right on Route 62. Drive straight ahead until you see Route 145 and turn left. Follow the signs that will lead you to Telluride. Tourists arriving through the MRA follow the same route.

Telluride Ski Resort

Global media company once rated Telluride Ski Resort as the number one resort in North America. In 2008, the ski resort opened its Revelation Bowl – a European-style terrain, totally wide-open and treeless. It features 50 acres and 800 vertical feet of alpine snowfields situated above the Bear Creek basin.

Meanwhile, Telluride also offers a wide variety of terrain for skiers of all levels.

Beginner. Newbies can experience ski on the Sunshine (through Lift 10), Ute Park (Lift 11), and Prospect Bowl (Lift 12). These are blue and green runs that extend only for about two miles. Aside from that, beginners could also enjoy the 4.6-mile trail Galloping Goose accessible from the top of the Prospect Bowl and descents directly to the base of Mountain Village.

Intermediate. Skiers of this level should check out the terrains of Village (Lift 4) and Palmyra (Lift 5). This run offers cruisers and glades with moderate bumps and short slopes. The crowd favorite for this level is Forever (accessible from Lift 6, 9, 14, and 15). The Forever trail is just over three miles long but provides panoramic views of Utah’s La Sal Mountains.

Advanced/Expert. For the fearless skiers, the Plunge (Lift 9) terrain is the best choice to go. This black diamond ski-run is the steepest in Telluride and the classic option for those who plan an eagle’s eye view of the whole town. Crash your bucket list out by conquering Kant-Mak-M, Spiral Stairs, and Mammoth’s vertical bump runs. There are also other expert terrains such as the Gold Hill Chute (Lift 14), where runs Little Rose, Dynamo, and Electra are the hit.

Accommodation

The Lumiere Hotel and the Madeline Hotel and Residence are two of the best luxury lodges in the Mountain Village. The Lumiere is a boutique-style hotel with ski-in/out access to the mountain. Amenities include a pool, a hot tub, and a sauna. Don’t worry about forgetting your ski equipment, too. The Lumiere Hotel offers rentals on site.

Meanwhile, the Madeline Hotel and Residences is located near the ski area. Guests have the chance to earn two free lift tickets to Telluride. It also has a ski-in/out access, full-service valet and spa, and sauna.