The Best Telluride Hikes and Things to Do in this Picturesque Colorado Destination
Telluride, Colorado. I feel like I should compose a song about this gorgeous mountain town, or a short poem, or at least a haiku. Talk about beautiful scenery! Many people informed me that Telluride is one of the most gorgeous cities in the States; smack dab in the middle of a valley surrounded by mountains, it's picture-perfect and feels like a postcard. Once I arrived, I could not agree more. Telluride is what vacation dreams are made of, and during the autumn season, the views are NEXT LEVEL. Whether you’re just strolling through town or decide to embark on one of the gorgeous options of Telluride hikes, you will fall in love with this quaint little vacation destination over and over again.
Getting to Telluride Colorado
Telluride does have an airport so you could technically fly into Telluride Regional. However, if you don't plan on hitting the ski area with all your gear, I highly recommend getting to Telluride, Colorado by car to see the fantastic scenery first-hand. We chose to travel to Telluride as a day trip from Durango, Colorado, a town southeast in the state. The drive takes you up along the Dolores River on the San Juan Skyway. This scenic byway slowly starts to wind further and further into the mountains as you make your way to Telluride. Along the way, there are some excellent road trip stops you can explore to round out your Colorado experience.
Walk the Length of Rico, Colorado
The tiny town of Rico may only have roughly 200 people living in its 0.8 sq mile limits (yup, less than a mile), but its history is so much greater. Initially settled in 1879, Rico became a central location in the business of silver mining. These days, the small road through town serves as a historic tourism stop of the days gone by. Backdropped by the iconic Colorado Aspen trees, and steep mountain inclines, the buildings on Rico's Main Street make you feel like you've stepped back in time. It's very similar to when we visited Pioneertown in the California high desert, and makes for some unique travel photos.
Drive to Lizard Head Pass
Driving north on the San Juan Skyway, you make your way through Lizard Head Pass. This stretch of road is home to views of Lizard Head Peak, a mountain that kinda, sorta looks like the face of a lizard (emphasis on kind of). No matter what you think it looks like, it's still a pretty cool rock formation on the horizon and is an excellent place to get out and stretch your legs on your drive. The 13,000 ft+ summit is also one of the most notoriously tricky climbs in Colorado. It's no surprise why it has that distinction when you see the sheer drops along the nose of the Lizard Head, even from afar.
Wander Along Main Street Telluride
Due to its prime location in a box canyon, as soon as you make your way into the town of Telluride, you will be encircled by mountains. Almost every street in the 8-block by 12 block-wide city deads ends at a cliff in every direction. The size and location really do make Telluride the hidden gem of the state of Colorado. Make sure you have your camera at the ready when walking down Main Street, both to capture pictures of the mountains AND all the dogs you'll be walking past. I have read that Telluride has basically "gone to the dogs" since everyone seems to own a pup, and the town did not disappoint. That's my kind of Main Street!
If you're hungry, make sure you check out Steamies'. Home of the best Wagyu sliders I've ever had, this unpretentious restaurant has a whole menu-full of burger options. As a lover of all things condiments, I also could not get enough of their sauce station. With crazy concoctions such as bacon mustard, wasabi pesto, and blueberry BBQ, I was in heaven (all are free and unlimited with your order).
Preparing for Telluride Elevation
One thing you should be extra aware of is Telluride elevation and how altitude could affect your trip. Similar to how I mentioned in my Durango blog post, I knew we had to be careful. My fiancee and I are from Illinois, where the land is very flat, and farmers grow corn and soybeans basically at sea level. Telluride, on the other hand, sits very high in the mountains. At 8,500+ feet, it's well above the threshold of when altitude sickness starts to affect visitors (8,000 ft). Plus, if you're hiking, you may end up even higher than that. The best way to prepare is to drink LOTS OF WATER and make sure you're staying consistently hydrated. Also, if you are hiking, take it slower than usual; you may find it's harder to catch your breath while on your trek.
Enjoy the Best Telluride Hikes
Speaking of hiking, there are so many fantastic choices of Telluride hikes you can work into your visit, even if you're only in town for a day. Bear Creek Falls is one of the most popular routes and for good reason. Starting from a side street near the gondola lift that takes you up to the Telluride Ski Resort, you'll begin your descent upwards. As you make your way, you'll witness better and better views of the town below. A crucial thing to note is that part of this trail is used for mountain biking, so you may have riders barreling down the path past you. Keep your eyes peeled and hike to the side, and you'll be fine.
Eventually, you'll come across an expansive valley where you'll start to realize the amazing-ness of the trail around you. You'll also pass a section of the path where the trees have been leveled to the ground. This is what the destruction of an avalanche looks like first-hand (having occurred in March of this year). Closer to the actual falls, you'll come upon an opening of the canyon where you can see much of what you just hiked. Stop to grab some EPIC photos of the scenery then make the final push to Bear Creek Falls. The waterfall was frozen when we visited in October, creating a gorgeous ice sculpture of falling water rising above us.
Another hike that should be on your list if you have time is the route to Bridal Veil Falls. Less of a trail and more of an access road that you hike up, the walk itself isn't very momentous. However, you end up at the tallest waterfall in Colorado. Who knew Telluride was home to so many magnificent waterfalls!
In case you haven't realized it yet, you need to head to Telluride ASAP, not just for the stunning views in all directions, but for all of the legit Telluride hikes that start right in town. Make sure you're aware of the changes in Telluride elevation, and you'll end up falling in love with this gorgeous mountain town.
