Listed below are some of our favorite day trips from Telluride. You can choose to make 2 trips in a day: for example, trips to Montrose and Ouray, or a single trip to the 4 corners or Mesa Verde. All are within 3 hours driving distance from Telluride.
Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde National Park, located between Durango and Cortez and only 2.5 hours from Telluride,
is rich in history with spectacular views stretching over one hundred
miles. The National Park was established to preserve archaeological
sites built by the Ancestral Puebloans dating back to 550 A.D. These inhabitants
lived in the Four Corners region of Colorado for over 700 years. Spend
hours looking at more than 4,700 archaeological sites including 600
cliff dwellings, pueblos, masonry towers, farming structures, and much
more. Take a peek into the past through the lens of one of the best preserved
and most notable National Parks of its kind in the United States. But
that's not all: Mesa Verde National Park has numerous hiking trails,
beautiful camping grounds, heritage foods and cuisine, Native American
handcrafts and shopping, and more. For more information on visiting Mesa
Verde, check out: http://www.visitmesaverde.com/
Million Dollar Highway
U.S. Route 550 runs from Bernalillo, New Mexico to Montrose, Colorado.
Boasting one of the most beautiful,
jaw-dropping drives in the entire nation, this stretch of road is
frequently called the Million Dollar Highway. The Highway is known for
its mountain
passes, high elevation, amazing scenery, steep cliffs, and other various
adventures: this drive is not for the fainthearted, but it's worth
every
mile! The stretch between Silverton and Ouray offers you the best
opportunity to experience the amazing scenic highway and stop over in
nearby
Telluride. Enjoy sites of the Uncompahgre Gorge, Idarado Mine, Animas
River, San Juan National Forest, Haviland Lake, Elektra Lake, Twilight
Peak, Red Mountain Pass, and many more "million dollar" views that
epitomize the American West. For more information about the Million
Dollar
Highway, check out: http://www.cotrip.org/home.htm
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
This is one of the most fun-filled activities in
Colorado -- perfect for the entire
family. The historic train through the San Juan
Mountains has been in operation since 1881, for over 120 years. Steam
locomotives were used to carry silver and gold from the San Juan
Mountains during the booming mining days. Embark on an unforgettable 45
mile (one way) journey from Durango to Silverton along the Animas
River with amazing views of Colorado's canyon scenery. You will pass by
old
mining camps, 14,000 foot peaks, and much more beautiful Southwest
Colorado terrain. For more information about the Narrow
Gauge Railroad, check out: http://www.durangotrain.com/
San Juan Skyway
The San Juan Skyway covers 236 miles of terrain across the
beautiful Southwest corner of Colorado. Beginning in Durango, the skyway
travels in a loop passing through Cortez, Delores, Rico, Telluride,
Ridgway, Ouray, and Silverton. Travel over high mountain passes, through
historic mining towns, and through the heart of 5 million acres of both
the San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests. Absolutely breathtaking
views and outdoor activities will accompany you along the entire
journey. For more information about the San Juan Skyway, check out: http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2101/stories/47131
For a detailed map of the San Juan Skyway, click this link: http://www.telluride.com/telluride/maps/san-juan-skyway.html
Ouray
The historic city of Ouray is located just a short hour's
drive (50 miles) from Telluride. Ouray claims itself as the "Little
Switzerland of America" and is set in a box canyon similar to
Telluride's. Visitors will enjoy the thermal activity at the local Ouray
Hot Springs swimming pool (open all year) and Vapor Caves. Take a
beautiful, historic drive or four-wheel adventure over to Telluride along Yankee
Boy Basin and the Imogene Pass. The original True Grit was filmed in this area in
1968 and included scenes in the city of Ouray and most notably, the
interior of the Ouray County Court House. Visit our mountain neighbors
in Ouray for the perfect day trip from Telluride. For more information
about Ouray, Colorado, check out: http://www.ouraycolorado.com/
Montrose
Montrose, Colorado is located just a short hour and 15 minute
drive (66 miles) from Telluride. Montrose serves as the major hub and
most used airport (MTJ) to access Telluride with daily flights and
shuttles rides to/from Telluride and Mountain Village. It's also the
gateway to the famous and beautiful Black Canyon of the Gunnison
National Park, known for its supreme rafting, fishing, and hiking
terrain. For more information about Montrose, check out: http://www.cityofmontrose.org/
Durango
Nestled in the Animas River Valley surrounded by the San
Juan Mountains, Durango is another nearby city with the same western
spirit. Durango was originally founded as stop along the Denver and Rio
Grande Railroad and has grown to be a much larger town than Telluride.
The Animas River runs straight through downtown of this beautiful
mountain town and provides great
waters for fly fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and canoeing.
Durango is known for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge
Railroad, the heritage railway connecting Durango to Silverton and for
its proximity to Mesa Verde National Park (just 35 miles east). Durango
is also
another transportation hub (DRO) during the winter and summer seasons
with daily flights and shuttle rides to Telluride and Mountain Village.
For more information about Durango, check out: http://www.durangogov.org/
Silverton
Our friendly ski town neighbor, Silverton, is a 2 hour
drive (74 miles) away from Telluride, weather depending. Silverton is a
former silver mining camp which takes advantage of the secluded
location, steep terrain, and enormous amounts of snowfall in the
winters. Silverton Ski Mountain offers guided tours during the ski
season and consistently boasts some of the deepest snow in the nation.
The ski resort was the setting for some of Shaun White's 2010 Olympic
training which allowed the snowboarder to perfect his gold medal routine
without the media and crowds. Silverton is also linked to the nearby
town of Durango via the Narrow Gauge Railroad. This is a great day trip
from Telluride in the winters to experience steep terrain, heli-skiing,
and waist deep turns. For more information about Silverton, check out: http://www.silvertoncolorado.com/
4-Corners
Four Corners is a region of the United States consisting of
southwest Colorado, northwest New Mexico, northeast Arizona and
southeast Utah. With Telluride's strategic location in the Four Corners
area, you can easily make day trips to the other 3 areas. Top attractions
around the Four Corners include: Mesa Verde National Park, Moab, Arches
National Park, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Canyon de
Chelly National Monument, Canyonlands, Lake Powell, and more. For more
information about the 4-Corners region, check out: http://www.fourcornerssw.com/joomla/
Moab
Moab, Utah is located a short drive from Telluride (134 miles) and
is one of the best day drips in the Telluride region. As you leave
Telluride's 13,000 foot peaks, in just under 3 hours you end up in the
desert town of Moab. The drive takes you through a beautiful canyon and
Paradox Valley where climbers flock from all over to experience this
superb rock. Moab hosts visitors to
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Mountain biking, camping,
4-wheeling, and much more adventures await you in this awesome town. http://www.discovermoab.com