TELLURIDE

Small-town with a Big Personality

Written by Christy Waller of CW Luxury Travel

There are ski resorts, and there are ski towns. Telluride is the latter. Here, you can spend days exploring the shops, eclectic cafés, gourmet restaurants, yoga studios, art galleries, and day spas that line Main Street. Chairlifts ascend the mountain from town, and you’ll see that they are a part of it, rather than an extension of it. You’ll see more bikes than cars and realize that lift lines are the exception rather than the rule.

Telluride is a place of legend, nestled at the end of a lush canyon and surrounded by some of Colorado’s most rugged peaks. Nowhere else in the country, or perhaps the world, does such a place exist. To some, Telluride is known for its incredible alpine skiing. Everyone embraces the area for its authentic mountain character, unpretentious attitude, and celebration of four seasons of adventure in the Rocky Mountain high country’s most beautiful spot.

The area is tucked into a box canyon surrounded by 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks. The town of Telluride is just eight blocks wide and twelve blocks long. Because of its significant role in the American West’s history, Telluride’s core area was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964. This listing is the highest level of historic status available from the United States Secretary of the Interior. These sites are so unique that they are eligible for consideration to become national parks. With the town’s colorful Victorian-era homes, clapboard storefronts, boutiques, art galleries, gourmet restaurants, historic buildings, and more, Telluride is a delight to explore.

The towns of Telluride and Mountain Village are linked by a spectacular, 13-minute ride on a free gondola—the first and only free public transportation system of its kind in the United States. This popular scenic attraction provides hiking and biking trails in the summer and the ski slopes in the winter. Passengers can load the gondola in either Mountain Village or Telluride and ride to the midway point (Station St. Sophia from which hiking, biking, and ski trails are accessed) and then continue to the other side.

Deep powder. Endless runs. No lift lines. Blissful solitude. But it’s the views that will take your breath away! There are lots of places with snow. But there are no places quite like Telluride. As you click in atop Revelation Lift, stop to take in the moment. The valley floor lays nestled far below. Around you, the endless peaks of the San Juans encompass you in their jagged majesty. While under your feet, fresh

powder awaits your first tracks down the flowing steeps and chutes of Revelation Bowl. For many, Telluride is a powder-seekers nirvana. And for a good reason. Excellent snow conditions and crowd-free runs. Breathtaking scenery. Expansive side country and hike-toterrain that provide an in-bounds “backcountry” experience. It all creates the perfect recipe for fun.

The region receives more than 300 inches of snow annually and offers more than 2,000 skiable acres for all ability levels. With 300 days of yearly sunshine and no lift lines, the skiing and snowboarding in Telluride is an epic experience. Telluride Ski Resort opened Revelation Bowl in 2008. This spectacular European-style terrain is situated above the tree line and offers advanced and expert skiing in an unbelievably scenic setting. All told, the resort has recently expanded by nearly 400 acres, offering the most incredible skiing and riding on the continent.

Telluride offers a wide variety of terrain ideal for abilities of all levels. Adrenaline junkies beeline to Plunge (Lift 9) to conquer steep bump runs, such as Kant-Mak-M, Spiral Stairs, and Mammoth. Some experts opt to ski or ride The Plunge, a classic run known for its breathtaking views of the town of Telluride. This jaw-dropping black diamond descends 3,140 vertical feet from the top of the mountain down to Telluride. Others prefer the steep and deep off Gold Hill (Lift 14), where Little Rose, Dynamo, and Electra are popular choices.

While Telluride skiing and snowboarding are renowned for its steeps and bumps, 38 percent of the resort is intermediate terrain. Village (Lift 4), Palmyra (Lift 5), and Prospect (Lift 12) are perfect for intermediates, offering corduroy cruisers, glades, moderate bumps, and short chutes. See Forever, Telluride’s most popular intermediate trail, is just over three miles long, providing panoramic views of Utah’s La Sal Mountains.

With wide-open slopes and no lift lines, beginner skiers and snowboarders can learn the trade tricks in a friendly, low-pressure atmosphere. Sunshine (Lift 10), Ute Park (Lift 11), and Prospect Bowl (Lift 12) are a beginner and lower intermediate’s dream with meandering green and blue runs that span nearly two miles. Beginners also enjoy the Galloping Goose, a 4.6-mile trail that gently works its way from the top of Prospect (Lift 12) down to Mountain Village.

WHERE TO STAY: The Madeline, a member of Auberge Resorts Collection, is nestled at the end of a lush canyon floor where the San Juan Mountains loom ahead. The hotel is your adventure base camp with ski-in/ski-out access, and is located steps away from where hiking trails start and access to the rugged Colorado backcountry begins. You will feel right at home with the relaxed mountain lifestyle.

The ski school is available right outside your doorstep. Instructors will greet skiers from the hotel and guide them into lessons for a full or half-day. When done skiing, kids can ice skate for free or enjoy hot chocolate by one of the many fire pits surrounding the village. Guests have a variety of accommodations to choose from at Madeline. A plethora of options are available from guest rooms, suites, and private residences.

Make small-town Telluride your home in one of the 48 artfully designed two-to-five-bedroom residences. Element 52 is the only in-town Telluride ski-in/ski-out resort. Guests will be able to select the residence of their choice per their needs. WHERE TO DINE: Executive Chef Bill Greenwood, at Black Iron Kitchen + Bar, is creating modern mountain cuisine that is authentic and approachable yet sophisticated—all guided by his pursuit to bring the best out of beautiful local ingredients. A new dinner menu features line-caught wild salmon, seared Colorado lamb chops, local ranch cut steak, whiskey glazed Berkshire pork porterhouse, and one of Chef’s favorites—delicious fried Texas quail legs with spicy apple cider honey dressing and horseradish aioli. You will keep coming back for more.

WINTER FLY FISHING: There are many streams and rivers in the greater Telluride region that are prime for fishing all year-round. Late February to April, the San Miguel River offers excellent fishing opportunities. The Uncompahgre fishes well all winter and provides private water for a multi-day experience. Whether you’re taking a day off from the slopes or heading to Telluride specifically for a fishing outing, winter is a beautiful season on our rivers.