Telluride, CO

Our drive from Durango to Telluride via Route 550 through Silverton is an unforgettable journey through the heart of Colorado’s rugged and awe-inspiring San Juan Mountains. Known as the Million Dollar Highway, this legendary route is famous for its dramatic scenery, steep inclines, and hair-raising switchbacks that hug the mountainside with little to no guardrails. As you ascend through high-altitude passes, you'll be treated to sweeping panoramic views of deep canyons, towering peaks, and cascading waterfalls. Along the way, the historic mining towns of Silverton and Ouray offer charming stops filled with rich history, quaint shops, and local eateries. Whether you're visiting in summer, when wildflowers blanket the meadows, or in winter, when the snow-covered peaks create a breathtaking winter wonderland, this drive is a must for anyone seeking an unforgettable Colorado adventure.

Highlights of the Drive:

• Durango to Silverton: The road begins in the historic town of Durango and winds northward through lush valleys and alongside the Animas River. As you approach Silverton, the landscape transforms into alpine vistas, with snow-capped peaks and cascading waterfalls.
• Silverton: This charming mining town, nestled in a high-altitude valley, is a great place to stop and explore historic buildings, quaint shops, and local eateries.
• Million Dollar Highway (Silverton to Ouray): This section is the highlight of the drive, with jaw-dropping views of the rugged San Juans. The narrow, winding road lacks guardrails in some areas, so it requires cautious driving, but the scenery—sheer cliffs, forested valleys, and remnants of mining history—is unparalleled.
• Telluride Access: From Ouray, a turn toward Telluride takes you through rolling meadows and dramatic mountain backdrops.

• Telluride claims it had the first electric streetlights in the world. Back in 1890, the need to process all the goldminers’ ore led to harnessing the hydropower of the San Miguel River at the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant.
• Mount Wilson (26 miles from Telluride) was the inspiration for the Coors mountains on the brewery’s logo.
• Butch Cassidy's first bank robbery was in Telluride. Butch got nearly $25,000 from the robbery. The movie Butch Cassidy & the SunDance Kid were filmed in & around Telluride.
• Telluride is the home of Telluride Regional Airport, the highest commercial airport in the continent at just over 9,000 feet above sea level.
• Bridal Veil Falls is found in Telluride and it’s the tallest free-falling waterfall in the entire state of Colorado at more than 360 feet.
• Telluride has the distinction of being the first town in the world to have AC power.
• The Telluride Gondola is the first, and so far only, gondola offering free public transportation in the United States. It’s been in service since December 20, 1996. The gondolar links the two lodging centers (town of Telluride and Mountain Village). The gondola system is run by "wind power". It is a 13 minute ride from the Telluride base station to Mountain Village.
• Telluride won the America’s Best Ski Resort in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards from 2012 – 2014.
• Telluride’s town shuttle, called the Galloping Goose, is free for humans and their canine companions.
• The longest ski run at Telluride Resort is the "Galloping Goose" at 4.6 miles.
• The town of Telluride is eight blocks wide and 12 blocks long, and the entire box canyon it sits in, is surrounded by 13 and 14 thousand foot peaks. The elevation of the main street in Telluride is 8,750 feet.
• Telluride was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964.
• Telluride Webcams can be found here.
• Since 1974, Telluride has hosted the Telluride Film Festival, a prestigious event that draws filmmakers and cinephiles from around the world. Known for its relaxed atmosphere and impressive premieres, the festival has a reputation for showcasing future Oscar-winning films.
• Telluride offers extensive hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing options. Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado’s tallest free-falling waterfall, is a popular hiking destination.

• What is Telluride’s Altitude: The elevation of the town is 8,750 feet above sea level. The town is situated at the local minimum elevation, so there is virtually nowhere to go but up from there. The surrounding mountains reach heights of 12,000 to 14,000 feet.
• Will I Experience Altitude Sickness: You may notice the effects of the altitude immediately and it may take several of days to get acclimated. You may experience shortness of breath, quickened pulse, and light-headedness. It usually gets better in a few days with rest and plenty of hydration.
• What does the Gondola to Mountain Village cost: The gondola is free to pedestrians and skiers who want to travel between Telluride and Mountain Village. Mountain bikers and hikers can also ride the gondola to access the ski area trails. There are handicap accessible cars as well as cabins designated for pets.
• What is Telluride Weather like: This location provides some of the nicest weather in North America. Telluride boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year, and if it is not snowing or sprinkling, Telluride is pure sunshine. Winters are mild in comparison to other resorts to the north. Summers are comfortable days and cool nights. The air is dry here with low humidity, which may impact people used to higher humidity.
• Is Parking in Telluride Difficult: No, free parking is available in several locations around the Village, including; the Gondola parking garage, Meadows Run parking, Heritage parking garage, Town Hall Plaza parking, South Village parking center and North Village parking center. Some of the side streets allow free two-hour parking, and a few back streets have unlimited parking, however, because Telluride is very walkable, once you are parked it is simple to move about the downtown area. Here is a link to a Telluride Parking location map.
• Accomodations in Telluride: There are approximately 110 hotels in Telluride, even more if you consider that there a number to be found in the Mountain Village area above Telluride. We selected the Ice House Condos & Suites (via Search Expedia) because it had secure parking and is located close to the gondola and places to eat. Here is a link to a Google Search Result for hotels in Telluride.

Here are five of the most popular restaurants in Telluride, known for their standout cuisine and unique dining experiences. Each item is linked to that restaurant's web page;

1. Counter Culture Kitchen & Catering - Counter service restaurant featuring locally sourced burgers, sandwiches, hammer fries, wraps, and grain bowls. (Google Review Rating 4.9)
2. Chop House Restaurant at New Sheridan Hotel steakhouse offering high-end fillets, mountain game & seafood in a sophisticated atmosphere. (Google Review Rating 4.6)
3. Stronghouse Brew Pub Located in downtown Telluride, the on-site brewery and restaurant occupy a historic stone building from 1892. Order one of our fresh house brews, enjoy some alpine pub fare, and share the adventures of the day. (Google Review Rating 4.7)
4. Allred's Elevated, contemporary American dining in a panoramic space at the top of the Telluride gondola. (Google Review Rating 4.7)
5. Petite Maison Petite Maison is an intimate French Brasserie in historic Telluride, Colorado serving dinner 7 nights a week starting at 5pm. (Google Review Rating 4.7)

There are a number of places to eat in Telluride and if you would like to perform your own research, here is a link to a Google Search Results for "places to eat in telluride colorado". Note that you can re-sort this list however you prefer.

Telluride & Durango had been in our plans since day zero, we knew we wanted to explore both areas. The drive north from Durango was exciting as it passes through some amazing mountains & passes. The route we used (route 550) is 120 miles in length.

The Million Dollar Highway is part of the San Juan Skyway and is one of the most spectacular drives in Colorado. The road climbs up to and crosses 3 very high mountain passes; Coal Bank Pass (10,640 feet), Molas Pass (10,970 feet) and Red Mountain Pass (11,018 feet). The stretch between Silverton and Ouray, the part everyone talks about, is only 25 miles in length but takes about 42 minutes to traverse.

You will drive by the Yankee Girl Silver Mine while you are on the Red Mountain Pass, which dates from 1882. That mine was owned by the famous industrialists James McKay and W. J. Hammond. The mine was one of the most productive in the Red Mountain Mining District, yielding exceptionally high-grade silver ore during its peak in the late 1800s. This mine had a vertical shaft descending over 1,200 feet, a remarkable feat of engineering for the time.

You will note that there are no guard rails on the Million Dollar Highway and that is because the snow plow operators need to be able to push the snow off the highway. It does tend to add a level of danger to the drive, as the lack of guard rails and very few turnouts add a lot of stress to this drive!

There is a lot of information available about this area, click here to view a Google Search Results list for that topic.

As you approach Telluride, the dramatic scenery takes center stage. Surrounded by towering peaks and framed by the rugged beauty of the Rockies, the town welcomes you with open arms. The historic architecture of Victorian-era buildings adds a touch of old-world charm, while the crisp mountain air signals the beginning of your alpine adventure.

At the entrance to Telluride, there was a large field where over two dozen Elk were grazing. These animals were not fenced in, they were just hanging out and grazing. Despite appearances, elk are sensitive to human presence and prefer to be left alone. Yet the migratory nature of the species means that they can’t simply retreat to more remote areas — they need corridors like the Telluride Valley Floor to travel between lower elevations in the winter and higher elevations in the summer.

At the eastern end of Telluride you can find the original gold mine, and above that (on the same road) you can find Bridal Veil Falls. There is a building at the top of the falls, it is the Smuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant. It sits on a 400 foot cliff, constructed in 1907 to provide electricity to the gold mine below. There is a parking lot just beyond the gold mine building, where hikers park and depart from to hike up to the top of the Bridal Veil Falls. There is a 4WD trail you could drive on, but there is a warning at the parking lot that describes that it is a one lane road with very few turnouts and you are required to use only high clearance 4WD vehicles. Click here to read about the hiking trail up to the falls.

The historic Main Street of Telluride is a shopper's paradise, adorned with colorful Victorian facades housing a diverse array of boutiques, art galleries, and specialty stores. Explore local shops like Scarpe, offering stylish footwear, or Between the Covers Bookstore, a haven for literature lovers. Discover one-of-a-kind treasures at Telluride Truffle for artisan chocolates or indulge in mountain-inspired home decor at Two Skirts. The shopping scene seamlessly blends upscale boutiques with authentic mountain-town flair, providing a perfect balance for those seeking both luxury and local authenticity. As you wander through the picturesque streets, the backdrop of majestic peaks adds a touch of magic to your shopping excursion, making each purchase a memory to be cherished against the breathtaking backdrop of the San Juan Mountains.

Above Telluride is the Mountain Village area, which contains quite a bit of ski resort accommodations and other commercial entities devoted to people who came there to ski. The gondola connects Telluride to Mountain Village, so regardless of where you stay, you can get back and forth easily.

Click here to view our Telluride Image Gallery.

Click the above video poster image to see our video of the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado. Telluride is a beautiful and remote ski town. It was quiet when we were there. The falls are spectacular and we were thrilled to see a heard of elk hanging out on the way into town. Telluride was worth the stop on our 16 day tour of Colorado and Utah.

• Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
• Telluride, CO Website
• Things to do in Telluride on the "Planetware" Site.
• Google Search Results list for "restaurants in the Telluride area"
• Google Search Results list for "accommodations in the Telluride area"
• Best Hikes in the Telluride area on the "All Trails" site
• The Essential Guide to Telluride Ski Resort on the "Trip Savvy" site
• Skiing & Snowboarding at the Telluride Ski Resort on the "Telluride" site
• Amazon Search Results for "Telluride, CO"
• Visit our Youtube Channel

As you can see by the this map, our trip covered 3 different states, approximately 1,600 road miles and allowed us to see some spectacular geography. You might think that a trip of this distance would be something that would result in a "tired of driving" mood - but our stops were so diverse with such incredible geography and fun things to do, that we found that we looked forward to each morning to where we could continue our adventures!

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