On our first summer vacation of 2013 we returned to spend our second 4th of July in Telluride, one of our favorite mountain towns in Colorado. Telluride is one of those amazingly special places that cater to those who love a mountain setting and who know how to use it to its full advantage. On our last trip we marveled at this beautiful town that is nestled amongst the aspens and red rocks in a tight box canyon sitting at the far southwestern corner of our state. There is literally one way in and out of this little mountain village, and it has an eclectic character all its own. Rising steeply from the valley floor on all sides are a variety of trails and waterfalls that make for challenging but rewarding day hikes. During our trips we have hiked to see two of the areas waterfalls, a 4-mile hike to Bear Creek Falls and a shorter but steeper hike up to see Cornet Falls.
Hikes - Cornet Falls and Village Trail
One of the truly unique features of the town is there gondola system which traverses three mountains and rises nearly 2,000 feet in elevation from the valley floor to the end point up in Mountain Village. The best part of the gondola is that it is free and everyone uses it to get around town which really saves on traffic congestion and makes for a much more enjoyable ride into town than in a car. The best feature of the gondola is not only that it runs between the Mountain Village and town but you can take your bike along to gain access to 14 amazing hiking and mountain biking trails. On our first trip I had no idea about the gondola and so didn’t know to bring my bike stuff. I didn’t make that mistake on our return trip this summer.
On this most recent trip I would get up at dawn before the family was awake and make a series of runs across the main mountain. After trying half a dozen or so trails during the week I decided that my favorite was “The Village Trail”. This trail was a little over 3-miles and was a largely descending single track trail with plenty of speed, trees, and rocks to wake you up first thing in the morning. The best part of morning rides was getting to watch the valley wake up. From the sun sweeping its way across the valley to the mountain flowers, deer, elk, and marmots…everyone was up to see the new day begin.
The Village Trail
The Prospect Trail
The second morning of our trip I decided to do a much longer trail (10 miles + several road miles) and that choice proved to be very rewarding but a whole lot more challenging. From the gondola at the top of the main mountain (10,585 feet) the trail rises several hundred additional feet and then cuts across the entire face of the ski area. The first few miles were punctuated with steep and challenging climbs that forced me to push but the downhill sections were spectacular. All along the way I was treated to amazing vistas of mist filled streambeds, lush aspen forests with mossy floors, and views of the high peaks whose upper reaches were still flanked with snow. The second half of the route started after you attained the high point of the ride at 11,000 feet and dropped quickly through several miles of aspen glens and rocky single track. That part of the ride was my favorite and after two days of riding I was really beginning to feel comfortable with the speed on these runs. I didn’t have too much choice about “being comfortable with the speed” since I was unable to break too hard because of tennis elbow issues I have been experiencing on my rear brake hand.
The Jurassic, Meadows, River, and Sheridan Trails
The last full day of the trip I really wanted to ride as many of the remaining trails as I could. I also wanted to see what the drop off the main mountain was like and so I chose several trails that follow the steep wall that separates Mountain Village from town. I started with a fast paved run down from our condo, through Mountain Village, and lower to the golf course where I picked up the Jurassic Trail. This mile long trail featured some fast riding and some exposed sections in a few spots. Just down from the Jurassic I picked up the next trail which brings you the rest of the way from the ridge top down near where the meadows begin. This trail had a few more steep drops and was a little bit longer than the first. It ended up finishing about a mile up the road from the valley floor where I would pick up the 5-mile long River trail to return back to town.
Hanging out in town
The town of Telluride is pretty amazing as well. There are lots of restaurants and bars and the typical t-shirt shopping experience. We made a side stop in the thrift store because we had to see what you’d find in such a place in a “fru fru: mountain town. I laughed as I sorted through a variety of $150 biking shoes and other outdoor gear, it was pretty comical.