Telluride Day Trips

We have listed some of our favorite day trips from Telluride below. You can choose to make 2 trips in a day, like Montrose and Ouray - or just one, like a trip to the 4 corners or Mesa Verde. These are all within 3 hours drive distance from Telluride.

Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde National Park, located between Durango, 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. With a spectacular look into the lives of the Puebloans, 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 time to look back into the past at 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 in the Western United States. Boasting one of the most beautiful, jaw-dropping drives in the entire nation, this stretch of road is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway. Known for its Mountain passes, high elevation, amazing scenery, steep cliffs, and other various adventures - this drive is not for the fainthearted, but worth every mile! The stretch between Silverton and Ouray offers you the best opportunity to experience the amazing scenic highway and stop 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 make up 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 best fun-filled events for the entire family in Colorado. The historic train ride through the San Juan Mountains has been in operation for over 120 years - built in 1881, steam locomotives were used to carry silver and gold from the San Juan Mountains during the booming mining days. From Durango to Silverton, embark on an unforgettable 45 mile (one way) journey along the Animas River with amazing views of Colorado's canyon scenery.  Pass by old mining camps, 14,000 foot peaks, and much more beautiful Southwest Colorado terrain. This would be a perfect day trip activity for the family departing from Telluride. 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. Starting in Durango, the skyway travels in a loop passing through Cortez, Delores, Rico, Telluride, Ridgway, Ouray, and Silverton. Travel over high mountain passes, historian 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 over to Telluride along Yankee Boy Basin and the Imogene Pass. 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 + 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 attitude. Founded by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, this beautiful mountain town is much larger than Telluride but keeps the same unique feel. The Animas River runs straight through downtown and provides great waters for fly fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. Durango is best known for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the heritage railway connecting Durango to Silverton and being located just 35 miles east of Mesa Verde National Park. 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 all 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 4-Corners, check out: http://www.explorefourcorners.com/

Moab
Moab, Utah is located a short drive from Telluride (134 miles) and is one of the best Day Trips 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 many visitors each year, mostly to visit the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Mountain biking, camping, 4-wheeling, and much more adventures await you in this awesome town. http://www.discovermoab.com