Telluride

We spent 10 days in the San Juan mountains exploring a few towns while working remotely. We visited in the fall when the leaves changed colors which was stunning. Everywhere you looked there were trees with orange, yellow, red, and green leaves. We started our trip in Telluride then ended it in Ouray! Check out our Telluride travel guide below!

How we traveled there

We drove over 6 hours from Denver to Telluride. We drove at night and there was a 30-minute stretch of dimly lit, windy roads close to Telluride that we did not love driving in the dark.

Where we stayed

We stayed at this Airbnb, which was in the town of Telluride. We were at the edge of town but we were still able to walk into town and to the gondola. It was a townhome style with two bedrooms and a small balcony. It worked for us since we booked last minute, and they allowed dogs, but we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. It was outdated and we had Wi-Fi issues. We’d recommend booking early and finding a different place if possible. 

I also visited Telluride with my cousin a few years before this trip and we stayed at this Airbnb in the mountain village area. It was a huge, beautifully decorated condo with 3 rooms, a large living room, and a small balcony. 

What activities we did

• Telluride Transfer Warehouse – Considered a historic landmark in Telluride, this old warehouse has been reimaged as an open-air event space. We went to a concert that ended up selling out that weekend. They offer drinks for sale which you can have during the performance. Check out their page for events during your visit.
• Take the Gondola up to the mountain town or down to the downtown area, depending on where you are staying. It is free, dog-friendly, and takes 10 minutes.
• Hikes close to Telluride
  • Village Trail – It was confusing to find the trailhead and had a higher elevation gain than stated. It did have very beautiful aspen trees mid-trail.
  • Telluride River Trail – Low elevation gain trail that runs alone downtown and the river
  • Bridal Veil Falls Trail – Moderate trail with 850 feet of elevation gain that ends at a waterfall. In October, the waterfall was mostly dried up but the views of Telluride with the leaves changing colors made this hike worth it.
  • Here are more Fall hike recommendations. 
• Fly Fishing with Telluride Outside – It was a half-day trip with a guide who brought all the gear and equipment needed. The guide set up our lines and gave us advice on the best techniques to fly fish. We both caught a few fish. Going earlier in the year (we went in October) is recommended to catch more fish because the water level is higher and running faster.
• Shopping – there are a bunch of cute stores to check out on Colorado Ave. We didn’t buy much, but we did get some dog toys at PET Telluride. They were very helpful and sold a lot of brands we’d never seen before.

Where we ate

• Siam – Thai food, we recommend getting a reservation.
• Baked in Telluride – Great for breakfast or lunch. They get busy. They allow dogs on their patio out front. 
• Side Work Spanish-American lounge with shareable plates
• Altezza – Delicious restaurant at The Peaks Resort with indoor and outdoor seating. This is a great location to catch the sunset. If there are no reservations, you can grab a drink on their outside patio.
• La Cocina de Luz – Mexican restaurant where we had breakfast 
• Clark’s Market – Grocery store if you plan to cook at home

Where we drank

• There Telluride – An artsy spot for cocktails, we recommend getting a reservation
• Silver Dollar Saloon – Dive bar with a rooftop patio
• Telluride Brewing Company – Brewery located in the mountain village
• The Cornerhouse Grille – An old house turned into a bar. They have a few TVs for sporting events.
• The Coffee Cowboy – An outdoor coffee shop at the base of the gondola. Dog friendly.

What we recommend knowing/preparing

• Telluride is split into two areas; the downtown area and the mountain village area. The mountain village area is where the skiing resort is located. The mountain village is only accessible to and from the downtown area by taking the gondola or driving. 
• Downtown Telluride is very walkable, with Colorado Avenue being the main street. 

What we didn’t do but looked into

• The National Restaurant – Mediterranean and Italian. We recommend a reservation. 
• Via Ferrata

What we packed

In October, we wore a coat in the mornings and nights with gloves and a hat. When the sun was out during the day, you could be without a coat. We mostly wore casual clothes during the day with sweaters at night. Check out our recommendations for travel clothing and essentials.

We hope you enjoyed our Telluride travel guide. Leave a comment below or contact us for any questions. If you are looking for more San Juan Mountain adventures, then you should also check out our post on Ouray.

~Elyse