Wondering what the best things to do in Telluride, Colorado during the winter months are? Not into the tropical beach vacation scene? Looking for a domestic destination to live out your Hallmark-esque vacation fantasies in the winter months? Look no further than Telluride, Colorado! In this guide, I’ll share the best things to do in Telluride in winter including the top winter activities, where to stay and all the best restaurants.
Telluride is one of the most beautiful mountain towns in Colorado and is home to world-class skiing, outdoor winter activities, luxury hotels, incredible restaurants and a picturesque downtown.
Here is the winter weekend guide to Telluride, Colorado!
About Telluride
Once a booming mining town in the Victorian era, Telluride is now a hot vacation spot year-round, though it’s most popular in the winter as an ideal skiing destination.
The scenery in Telluride couldn’t be more perfect for a winter wonderland getaway: charming works of historical Victorian architecture line the (highly walkable) downtown streets while snowy peaks and forest greens stretch across the skyline as far as the eye can see.
Telluride is actually comprised of two separate tiny towns: Mountain Village and the main small town of Telluride.
The town is remarkably petite–stretching only a few blocks in each direction–which makes it perfect for exploring on foot, by bike, or by car. Make no mistake, though: this tiny town is packed with big adventure! Telluride has a culture rich in the arts, entertainment, and athletics–every block in this little destination town is lined with boutiques, restaurants, galleries, museums, and historic landmarks that offer endless fun and interesting pursuits to fill your time there.
On the other side of a short (and complimentary!) gondola ride lies the itty-bitty mountainside haven of Mountain Village, the town’s more compact other-half, where you’ll experience a different side of this snowy paradise. Mountain Village is home to the renowned Telluride Ski and Golf Resort and lodges reminiscent of structures you might expect to find in the Swiss Alps.
During your time in Telluride, you’re guaranteed to fall in love with the endless mountain views, friendly townspeople, and miles-long list of experiences this small-but-mighty town has to offer.
How to Get to Telluride in the Winter
Telluride is located in the southwest quadrant of Colorado, around 330-ish miles away from Denver, CO and 360-ish miles away from Salt Lake City, Utah. You can fly into either of these major cities and drive the rest of the way (between six and eight hours of driving time for both), or take a direct flight to Telluride Regional Airport from Denver or Phoenix. You can also take nonstop flights from Houston, Dallas, Denver, or Chicago to the Montrose Regional Airport, where they regularly arrange ground transportation to cover the 65-mile drive to Telluride.
For my recent trip to the mountains, I ended up driving from Denver to Telluride during winter. The drive took about 6 hours in total and was pretty easy as we had great road conditions – plus it was a beautiful, scenic drive! Before doing the drive, I’d definitely recommend checking weather and road conditions to ensure you have safe travels.
After the trip, we returned our rental car at the airport in Telluride and flew to Phoenix via Denver Air Connection. I couldn’t believe how seamless it was. The airport was small which made the check-in process quick and the 1.5 hour flight was a breeze!
The Best Time to Visit Telluride
If you’re looking for frosty fun, plan to visit Telluride in the winter, when the town is blanketed in somewhere between ten to twenty inches of snow between the months of November and April. Winter is the best time for skiing, mountainside ice skating, and classic white winter vibes – there are so many things to do in Telluride in the winter!
Though this is a winter guide, you’d be seriously missing out if we didn’t mention some of the great things Telluride offers in the summer. Summers in Telluride are great for golf and hiking in Mountain Village, and the warmer months are packed with fun events like live music and festivals of all kinds (including the hot air balloon festival held annually in June!). Telluride stays fairly busy year-round, but especially so during weekends and holidays.
You’ll likely want to plan your visit around the off-season in the spring, when many of the attractions and restaurants close for a few weeks between April and May. Outside of that brief hiatus, Telluride is bustling for the rest of the year!
How to Get Around Telluride
How you get around Telluride during your visit is entirely up to you! If you’re up for walking and the conditions are favorable, you can easily get around downtown Telluride on foot, though you may want to bring or rent a car if you plan on exploring every square mile of this small town. Do be aware, though, that if you do choose to bring a car, street parking is fairly limited, and most spots along the streets are metered, permit-only, or paid parking, though there is some free parking around town. There’s also a free bus route that runs along a few of the main streets on the south half of town and includes a stop at the gondola station.
The gondola in Telluride is completely free and gracefully carries you up the mountainside, taking you from town to Mountain Village in just under fifteen minutes. Plus, the scenic gondola ride gives you some of the best views in town!
You can also drive up to Mountain Village if you wish to keep your car handy while you access the plethora of trails and ski lifts to different slopes, but again, parking is limited. There are only a few parking lots available and most charge an hourly or daily rate. Otherwise, you can absolutely enjoy Mountain Village on foot!
How Many Days Should You Spend in Telluride?
As previously mentioned, Telluride is exceptionally small (at least as far as vacation destinations go) and can easily be explored over a weekend if you maximize your time! If your priorities lie on the more naturalistic or athletic side of Telluride’s many winter activities, you’ll want to spend a whole day or more in Mountain Village, where the majority of the nature trails and ski slopes are accessible.
If the shops, galleries, and historic buildings are calling your name, plan to spend most of your time in town where you can find new sources of entertainment around every corner. You should still plan to check out Mountain Village at least once, though: the European-style village and the mountain view from the short gondola ride can’t be missed! There’s ample time within a three-day-weekend to explore both sides of Telluride and experience much of what it has to offer.
Things to Do in Telluride in the Winter
Telluride has an abundance of winter activities for your snowy pleasure! There’s something for everyone and no shortage of interesting pursuits to keep you occupied throughout your stay, whether you want to stay indoors and warm up or get your chill on in the frosty winter air. Check out some of Telluride’s most popular winter activities:
Warm Up Apres Ski at Tomboy Tavern
Visit the tavern to sample fare from their Apres Ski menu. Warm up from the inside out with a signature cocktail, craft beer, or glass of vino from their extensive wine selection while you nosh on small plates like decadent truffle fries and charcuterie.
Hike or Snowshoe Bear Creek Trail
Bear Creek Trail, located on Bear Creek Preserve, is one of Telluride’s most popular nature trails, and for good reason: one hour on the trail will lead you to the majestic Bear Creek Falls.
Hit the Snowy Slopes to Ski or Snowboard
Telluride is most well-known for its top-notch skiing and snowboarding scene so of course this is one of the best things to do in Telluride in the winter! Whether you’re a beginner or an old pro, Telluride has a slope for you (or a handful, considering that the ski town boasts more than 2,000 acres of skiable land). Many of the resorts and lodgings in Mountain Village, where the slopes are located, are ski-in ski-out, meaning you can step right out onto a slope or a ski lift directly from your hotel.
Ice Skating in Mountain Village
Mountain Village isn’t just for skiing and snowboarding! There’s also a skating rink in Reflection Plaza that’s open from noon to 8 P.M. daily. It’s one of Telluride’s most popular winter activities! Don’t worry about packing your skates, as the rink offers skating equipment rentals.
Explore Downtown
Spend time adventuring in this historic mining town and marvel at the Victorian architecture! Along with historic landmarks, downtown Telluride is packed with places to shop, dine, and play.
Sip on a Flatliner (Telluride’s Signature Drink!)
There are few places remarkable enough to have a world-famous signature cocktail, and Telluride is one of them! The Flatliner is a variation of an espresso martini, typically made with a vanilla vodka, Kahlua, Bailey’s, and espresso to keep you awake on the slopes. Cheers!
Where to Dine in Telluride
After a day of playing in town or on the slopes, you’ll have worked up a substantial appetite. Luckily, Telluride offers more than fun: the tiny town offers tons of award-winning dining opportunities as well!
Allred’s Restaurant: Come for the food, stay for the view! Allred’s offers a prix fixe menu of American cuisine and a unique, cozy ambiance at the top of the gondola on San Juan Mountain (that’s 10,551 feet above sea level!).
La Marmotte: If you’re craving French-inspired fare, check out La Marmotte on San Juan Avenue in Telluride. This downtown restaurant resides in a Victorian icehouse and has been serving patrons in the heart of Telluride for more than 30 years. The prix fixe menu includes dishes like foie gras, coq au vin, and creme brulee to pair with their fine selection of wines.
221 South Oak: As one of Telluride’s premier fine dining restaurants, 221 South Oak offers more than just food. One of their most popular offerings is not on the menu: a wine and delectable pairing class hosted by owner and head chef, Eliza Gavin, where you’ll learn to cook up a minimum of twelve dishes paired with wines. There are limited spots for each class, so make sure to snag one quickly if you plan to attend the class during your stay in Telluride!
The Wok of Joy: This Telluride favorite offers elevated authentic Thai cuisine with uncompromised quality. The Wok of Joy’s dishes are made from recipes that have been handed down from generations. Place a carryout order online or snag reservations for a night out!
Chop House Restaurant: The Chop House Restaurant is one of the top-ranked restaurants in Telluride and is located inside the historic New Sheridan Hotel downtown. This high-end steakhouse offers premium fare for brunch, lunch, and dinner with a curated selection of wines.
Where to Stay in Telluride
Looking for the best hotels in Telluride? You’ll find no shortage of lodging options here! In fact, you’ll likely have a hard time choosing between the many hot accommodations in Telluride and Mountain Village:
Madeline Hotel and Residences: The Madeline Hotel and Residences is perched between peaks in Mountain Village and offers a luxurious experience to all who stay, as well as direct access to ski slopes as an added bonus. This one-of-a-kind resort has been featured in the Forbes Travel Guide and employs a team of Adventure Guides to curate personal itineraries for its patrons, so you’ll never run out of things to do in Telluride.
New Sheridan Hotel: The New Sheridan Hotel is a historic boutique hotel nestled in downtown Telluride and houses a steakhouse, rooftop bar, a second restaurant, a café, and the oldest bar in town! You could stay within the walls of the hotel for an entire weekend and never run out of things to do–though with all of the things the town has to offer, you’ll likely venture out more than once and return to rest in one of the expertly designed rooms at the New Sheridan.
The Hotel Telluride: The Hotel Telluride is a classic mountain-lodge style hotel with a four-star rating, featuring signature rooms and suites to accommodate every preference. You can pick up a complimentary cruiser bike at the front desk to get around town and return for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, the West End Bistro.
Inn at Lost Creek: The Inn at Lost Creek is an incredibly convenient and cozy option for those seeking a skiing adventure, located in Mountain Village Center near all the skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating action.
What to Pack for Telluride
Wondering what to pack for Telluride in the winter? With snowy weather and temperatures that can dip below freezing, you’ll want to make sure to pack appropriately.
Winter Clothes
Of course, you’ll want to pack good winter clothes and layers to keep you warm in the mountains, as well as everything you need for skiing (I love these ski pants and this ski jacket!).
At almost 9,000 feet above sea level, it’s common to experience altitude sickness in Telluride. I always experience some symptoms when I’m in the mountains in Colorado so this helps, along with lots of hydration!
Speaking of hydration, I always bring these little packets of electrolytes with me so I can stay hydrated. I love that these have zero sugar in them and the flavors are tasty (raspberry is my favorite!).
The dry mountain air can cause some seriously dry skin… so having a few of these Aquaphor tubes on hand is essential. I love that these are travel sized!
These can be a total life saver when your hands or feet are freezing after a long day of skiing!
OK, hair spray doesn’t seem like a mountain essential… but hear me out! Whenever I’m in the mountains, everything from my hair to my clothes gets so much static electricity because of the drier air. So my solution? Spray a little hair spray on it and problem solved!
That’s a wrap on my guide to Telluride, Colorado! There are so many things to do in Telluride in the winter so the next time you are planning a snowy getaway, consider this gorgeous mountain town.
Leave a Reply