The Ultimate Summer Bucket List for Telluride, CO

Telluride, Oh Telluride.  If you have read any of my previous posts on Telluride, you may have picked up that I kind of have a thing for it.

But really…who can blame me?

If you haven’t been to Telluride, then I need you to pull up a calendar for next summer and start planning your trip right now!  Telluride is my Number One mountain town in the whole state – and that’s saying something because, to be honest, I have been around!  The snow-capped peaks of the San Juans are tough to compete against, as you can see in the below picture!

For those of you who haven’t been, here’s a quick rundown of Telluride in the longest run-on sentence ever:  The historic Main Street of Telluride feels nostalgic without being rundown, the beautiful San Miguel River runs through the length of the town, the tallest free-falling waterfall in the state is present along with multiple other waterfalls, mountains tower over three sides of the town, a free gondola ride takes you to the ski area and Mountain Village…. and that’s not even mentioning the endless Festivals that take place in this town all year long!

I’m not much of a skier (you tend to not like skiing when you fall, rather than ski, down the mountain… as 5-year-olds ski past you without ski poles), so summer is my go-to time for visiting my favorite town. (I would LOVE to visit Telluride during the Fall, seeing as how Telluride is home to the famous Last Dollar Road and its hillsides are literally covered in Aspen, but I have not managed to make that happen yet despite my many visits.) Early summer has always been a big winner, in my opinion.  The landscape has already turned green, the mountains are still white-capped, and there’s a Festival or two every week! So, in honor of all you who are planning a trip to my beloved town, here’s the Ultimate Summer Bucket List for Visiting Telluride in the summer…in no particular order!

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(Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that when you click on the link below to buy a certain product, I will receive a small commission off the sale.  It doesn’t affect the price that you pay, and the commission I receive doesn’t have any bearing on my recommendation! Regardless, I hope that you like the products and give them a try whether you use my links or not, cause I truly suggest only what I use and love!)

1. Stroll through the shops of Historic Main Street 

Strolling through the shops and restaurants of Main St, Telluride is kind of a must-do.  As I stated previously, the buildings along Main Street feel historic and nostalgic without being rundown at all.  Telluride is a well-kept little town, and I love that! There are many shops for you to buy your souvenirs at as well as many quality restaurants.  Make sure you check out the New Sheridan Hotel, Cowboy Coffee, High Pie Pizzeria and Tap Room, and the Butcher and Baker Cafe while you’re there!

2. Experience one of the famous Festivals of Telluride

My favorite Festival (and consequently, the only one I have actually been to) is the Telluride Balloon Festival.  It happens the first weekend every June – but there are many Festivals in Telluride – and they last throughout the whole year! (Click here for a full list of all the Events & Festivals!)  There are a handful of Festivals that are super popular, so if you are interested in one of these (such as the Bluegrass Festival) I would suggest booking a hotel a year in advance.  Check out this cool snippet from the Night Glow of the last Balloon Festival I went to:

3. Go 4-wheeling up one of the many passes in and around Telluride.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpJ9LqEHbLa/

Telluride’s mountains are home to a network of old mining roads that lead to 4×4 heaven – such as abandoned mining ghost towns, alpine terrain, and waterfalls! Some of the most popular passes to test your skills on are Black Bear Pass, Imogene Pass, and Tomboy Ghost Town. If you want to 4-wheel but you don’t have a 4-wheel drive car, don’t despair – just rent an ATV or Jeep from town! Colorado 145 Jeeps is a popular rental company located in Telluride and Montrose.  I’ve often seen Jeeps in Telluride with their logo displayed on the vehicle.  If you do decide to tackle one of these drives, make sure you check to see if the pass is open for the season! If you want to experience these roads but don’t want to do the actual driving, there are a handful of Off-road tour companies in Telluride that’ll drive for you – my favorite being Telluride Offroad Adventures!

4. Hike along the San Miguel on Telluride’s Valley Floor

The Telluride Valley Floor is a 570-acre spread of land that is home to trails, the San Miguel River, and an abundance of wildlife.  I love the story behind this park! It used to be owned by the San Miguel Valley Corporation, but a major grassroots campaign funded the purchase of the land for $50 million to make sure the land was kept forever wild and protected.  It’s truly beautiful land, and I’ve only been to Telluride once that I haven’t seen a huge herd of elk grazing here in the early morning (pictured above)! The valley is recreational year-round, with ski trails in the winter – but the summer makes for some great hiking! Make sure to take the time to see it.  Lots of people park across from the Conoco on HWY-145, as there is a trailhead there.

5. See Cornet Creek Falls

Cornet Creek Falls is an impressive 80-foot waterfall that is visible from the Gondola and is an easy hike from Main Street.  While short – it is strenuous! I suggest hiking this mid to late morning so you can chow down on some food from one of the many restaurants along Main Street afterward! I wrote an entire post dedicated to hiking to this waterfall, so click here to check it out!

6. Visit the Telluride Historical Museum

The Telluride Historical Museum is a great way to learn about the history of this awesome little mountain town!  Located at the top of N. Fir Street, the Museum has easy access from town, although I wouldn’t suggest walking from Main St as it is almost all uphill! The Museum is regularly updated and occasionally has events, such as walking tours and hiking excursions! There is an admission fee and hours vary according to the season so make sure and check out their website here before visiting!

7. Ride the Gondola

What trip to a Colorado mountain town is complete without a Gondola Ride??? The best part of Telluride’s Gondola is that it’s free!!  According to their website, the Gondola is actually the first and only free transportation of its kind in the country! Dogs are allowed in compartments that have the paw prints going up the side of it.  The ride starts at the Telluride Station and climbs to the top of the mountain to the San Sophia Station – which is at 10,540 ft! From there the Gondola also includes two stations that take you through the length of Mountain Village.  The summit is the crown jewel of the trip, offering 360-degree views of the surrounding San Juan Mountains.  (You can even see the mountain range that Coors uses for their logo – ask an attendant at the top to point it out to you!). To describe the beauty as breathtaking really doesn’t even begin to describe it.  Take my word for it, this is an absolute Must-Do!

8. Take in the views on Telluride’s Ski Slopes

This goes hand in hand with the Gondola Ride and the San Sophia Overlook below.  Once you ride the Gondola to the San Sophia Station at the summit, make sure to take some time to hike around on the ski runs – provided they’re dried out enough from all the snow! We hiked down the ski slopes a short distance and really enjoyed taking in all the views along the way.

9. Make a stop at San Sophia Overlook – the most popular spot for weddings in Telluride

Enjoying the views from the San Sophia Overlook are definitely something you have to do once you reach the summit via the Gondola Ride! A short distance down the main path from the San Sophia Station is where you’ll find this amazing view of the town.  We have always come up here and tried to get it to ourselves in the late afternoon when the lighting is better (morning sun tends to be really harsh on the valley).  You won’t find a better view of Telluride, I can assure you!  It’s no surprise that this is the most popular place to get married in the area.  You’ll probably want a tripod to capture you and your family/friends at such a picturesque spot! The below tripods are my go to’s.  I usually use the one on the left because I prefer using my Nikon, but the one on the right is great when you only use a phone, and it’s better for traveling light.

10. Experience Bridal Veil Falls – the tallest freefalling waterfall in Colorado

Bridal Veil Falls can’t be missed on your summer visit to Telluride.  Thundering down an impressive 365 feet, this is the tallest free-falling waterfall in the entire state of Colorado! Some people hike to it while others drive – but you will need 4×4 vehicles for the gravel road! If you do see the Falls, make sure and hike to the very top! You can stop at the top of the falls or keep hiking into a wonderland of awesome scenery and popular trails! Check out the post I wrote on Bridal Veil Falls for all the details!

When the Falls are really rushing (i.e., early summer and late spring), you’ll probably want to make sure and have a waterproof bag handy, depending on how long you plan on hanging around the base exploring.  I was very glad to have a waterproof bag to stash my camera in once I got the pictures I wanted so it didn’t get wet! The brand I use isn’t waterproof if it’s submerged, but it definitely keeps things dry in rain and in waterfall spray situations! I even went Stand-Up Paddle Boarding with it and it kept everything dry! Click the picture below to check out the bag I use on these short excursions:

11. Stroll a portion of Telluride’s Riverwalk

The Riverwalk follows the San Miguel River through the length of the town.  We used it to get to Main Street from our Condo, but it’s worth a walk in any circumstance! The scenery is beautiful and you don’t have to walk the entire thing to enjoy it, just pick a section! There are multiple access points to the streets of Telluride so you can hop off anytime and be back at Main Street within a few blocks.  It’s something you’ll definitely want to make sure and enjoy during your visit!

12. Take a Hike

Does this really need to be said? Hiking is the lifeblood of Colorado, and Telluride has some of the prettiest hiking scenery in the state!  You can’t visit Telluride in the summer and not take in at least one trail – it’s sacrilegious! Here’s a list of AllTrails hiking suggestions in the area, just to get you started!  If you’re hiking with kids, I cannot suggest enough to go with an Ergobaby carrier.  Mine has been worth its weight in gold, I tell you! Here’s a link to my fave:

13. Explore one of the many National Forest Access Roads in and around town.

If you drive around HWY-145 at all, you’ll see lots of signs that point out National Forest Access along the way.  I highly suggest giving a couple of them a whirl while you are there! We usually pick a turn-off to drive down and always come across beautiful scenery and sometimes hiking trails.  The above picture was taken down one of these National Forest Access Roads from the last time I visited.  It definitely makes for a nice way to enjoy your afternoon!

14. Drive on the San Juan Skyway/HWY 145 towards Lizard Head Pass

Depending on the route you came to Telluride, you may or may not automatically see this portion of HWY-145…but if you came from the Million Dollar Highway/Ouray like I usually do, then you should make sure and keep driving along the highway past Telluride while you’re in the area!  Truly breathtaking views continue to impress as you gradually make your way to Lizard Head Pass.  There are camping sites along this way, such as Alta Lakes, and pretty views of the San Juans.  It makes for a nice way to spend your afternoon if you’re tired of hiking and walking around town!

15. Realize that your life won’t be complete until you visit Telluride again

Telluride is one of those places in Colorado that you just have to experience for yourself..similar to the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Million Dollar Highway.  I can never get over the beautiful scenery of the town, and can guarantee you that it’s something I will experience again more than once in my lifetime if I have any say about it! I hope that this list has helped you plan your trip to my favorite mountain town, or at least inspired you to start planning a trip here!

Don’t forget to leave me a comment and let me know what you think!!

Until next time!

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