Long before prospectors arrived, the San Miguel River valley was summer hunting ground for the Ute people. The mining era took hold after the first claims were staked in Marshall Basin in 1875, and the settlement that grew up below (originally called Columbia) was platted as an 80-acre town site in 1878. Because its mail kept getting confused with Columbia, California, the town took the name Telluride, which residents officially adopted in 1887.
The name is often misunderstood. It comes from tellurium, an element associated with gold and silver bearing ores; though, as the Telluride Historical Museum and town historians point out, little to no tellurium was ever actually found in the valley. The colorful “to-hell-you-ride” story, supposedly shouted as a sendoff to fortune seekers headed for the rowdy camp, is local folklore rather than the documented origin.
Telluride Colorado’s boom arrived with Otto Mears’s Rio Grande Southern Railroad in 1890, which connected the remote camp to the outside world and swelled the population into the thousands with immigrant miners from across Europe. Two stories from this era still define the town’s legend. In 1889, a young Robert LeRoy Parker, soon known as Butch Cassidy, committed what is generally considered his first bank robbery at the San Miguel Valley Bank on Colorado Avenue, escaping with roughly $24,000 in mining payroll. And in 1891, businessman L.L. Nunn, working with George Westinghouse and building on Nikola Tesla’s alternating-current technology, switched on the Ames hydroelectric plant on the San Miguel River was the first station in the world to deliver AC power for commercial use. The power reached Telluride by 1894, making it one of the earliest towns anywhere lit by alternating current.
When silver prices collapsed in 1893 and mining gradually wound down over the following decades, Telluride faded toward ghost-town status, with fewer than 600 residents remaining by the 1960s. Its second act came on skis: the Telluride Ski Resort opened in 1972, and the festivals that now fill the summer calendar, including the Bluegrass and Film festival, took root that same decade. In 1961, the town was designated a National Historic Landmark District as one of the country’s most significant places tied to mining history, a status that has kept its Victorian streetscape remarkably intact to this day.
Summer in Telluride: Activities for Everyone
There are year-round activities in Telluride to satisfy adventurers of all skill levels and interests. Known primarily as a world-class winter destination, visit Telluride in summer and discover pristine outdoor adventures with hiking, biking, paddle sports, and fly fishing.
The San Miguel River offers the river enthusiast an opportunity to wet-a-line fishing or get wet rafting on Southwest Colorado’s premier freestone river. The river begins high above Telluride at over 10,000 feet and meanders its way through alpine meadows and canyons in what feels like untouched wilderness. According to INSTAAR and the Department of Geography at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the San Miguel is “one of the few remaining ecologically and hydrologically intact river systems in the West.”
Top 5 Day Trips from Telluride Colorado
Exploring the region – things to do near Telluride within two hours or less – amazing day trips not be missed.
Million Dollar Highway and San Juan Skyway
The name says it all. This drive offers up “million dollar” views that will leave you breathless, taking you through some of Colorado’s most spectacular mountain passes and charming towns. The 24-mile section between Silverton and Ouray is by far the most stunning and dramatic portion of this classic drive, with just a few fishing spots along the way – stop by the shop for the latest fishing information. Going south from Ouray as you approach the summit of Red Mountain, you will pass old mines and abandoned buildings, including the ghost towns of Red Mountain Town and Ironton.
Also along this route are the trailheads for the Alpine Loop and Black Bear Pass. For the more adventurous traveler who wants to explore the backcountry, you’ll want a high-clearance 4×4 and note that Black Bear and Imogene Pass are expert-only routes, not casual backcountry drives (see the FAQ below before attempting either). As you leave Ouray, you will pass the famous Ouray Ice Park on the right. Take a right at Camp Bird Road for access to the Yankee Boy Basin, or take the scenic route to Telluride via Imogene Pass – the 2nd highest drivable pass in Colorado at 13,114 feet.
Should you choose to do the San Juan Skyway from the other direction, take Highway 62 west off of 550 in the historic ranching town of Ridgway. Located in a beautiful open valley with expansive views of the Cimarron Range and the San Juan Mountains, Ridgway sits at the crossroads between Ouray, Montrose, and Telluride. Known for its family-friendly feel, Ridgway puts you right in the heart of regional outdoor adventures. Only minutes away from the San Miguel River, the Uncompahgre, and Ridgway State Park, Ridgway is the perfect place to stop, relax, and enjoy the outdoors.
Telluride Fly Fishing – the San Miguel River and beyond
Fly fishing in and around Telluride means over forty-five miles of fishing runs on the San Miguel, renowned tailwater fishing on the Uncompahgre River, pristine high country perfection on the forks of the Cimarron, and mind-blowing scenery and healthy brown and rainbow trout on the Gunnison River. Closest to Telluride, the San Miguel offers four species of trout, and plentiful pocket water, along with some pool and riffle-like runs. The river lends itself to a wide variety of bug life including caddis flies, mayflies, and stonefly hatches. July through October will present the best conditions. Going out with one of our professional fly fishing guides, or stopping by the local fly shop for some advice and regional flies, is the best way to ensure success.
Rafting the San Miguel River offers another way to enjoy this beautiful river. The San Miguel can usually satisfy most experience levels with lush riparian forests, red rock canyons, and continuous Class II and III+ rapids that will challenge your paddling skills and leave you wanting more. Between the rapids, look around and enjoy the spectacular scenery unique to this part of Colorado. Rafting is another great way to experience the San Miguel River when water levels are too high to fly fish this freestone river.
Ouray
A perfect day trip from Telluride, Ouray is a historic and charming Victorian-era mining town, dubbed the “Little Switzerland of America.” Only about an hour’s drive from Telluride, come to Ouray to soak in the natural hot springs, hike miles of established trails, or go 4 wheeling in the “Jeep Capital of the World.”
Owl Creek Pass and the Cimarron Range
Whether you are a backcountry enthusiast or an RV traveler, Owl Creek Pass and the Cimarron Range offer everyone a rare and unspoiled wilderness adventure. If you seek solitude, backcountry hiking, camping, or high alpine fly fishing, this is your place. Highlights include wild rainbow and cutthroat trout on the three forks of the Cimarron River, the scenic and remote Silverjack Reservoir, along with great camping and fishing below the dam at the Big Cimarron Campground. The area boasts excellent public access and is only an hour and a half drive from Telluride.
From Telluride, on your way to any of the top five day trips, you will pass through the town of Ridgway. Centrally located on the main drag in Ridgway, RIGS is the oldest full-service fly shop and guide service in Ouray and Montrose Counties. Located only 10 minutes from Ouray, 30 from Montrose, and 40 from Telluride, RIGS is a great place to stop for supplies and advice.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, departing the historic depot in Durango each morning, is a trip the whole family will never forget. This historic steam locomotive train ride has run continuously since 1882 – more than 140 years. Enjoy 45 miles of Southwest Colorado’s canyons, abandoned mining camps, and steepest peaks on the way to the historic mining town of Silverton, where the train lays over before heading back in the afternoon. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is an ideal family day trip from Telluride.
It sits at the end of a box canyon. Telluride is hemmed in by steep mountain walls on three sides at an elevation of 8,750 feet, which means there is essentially one road in and out of town.
Bridal Veil Falls is Colorado’s tallest free-falling waterfall. At 365 feet, it spills off the cliffs at the head of the canyon and is visible right from Main Street. The historic power plant perched at its top still generates a portion of the town’s electricity.
The gondola is free and one of a kind. The gondola connecting Telluride to Mountain Village, opened in the mid-1990s, is widely recognized as the only free public transportation system of its kind in the United States. It also delivers some of the best views in the region.
Butch Cassidy got his start here. The 1889 robbery of the San Miguel Valley Bank on Colorado Avenue is generally regarded as the outlaw’s first.
It helped electrify the world. The nearby Ames plant’s 1891 transmission of alternating-current power was a genuine milestone in the history of electricity, and the AC power that grew from it reached Telluride by 1894.
The whole downtown is a National Historic Landmark District. Designated in 1961, the protection is why the Victorian-era buildings along Colorado Avenue look much as they did during the mining boom.
Plan Your Telluride Colorado Trip
A visit to Telluride fills as many days as you can give it – scenic drives, mining history, waterfalls, festivals, and high mountain passes in every direction. It is the landscape, the activities, and the communities scattered throughout these valleys that bring people back to this corner of Colorado, season after season. And since travelers pass through Ridgway to reach nearly any of these trips, it’s a natural reason to stop into the shop. Pick up a current fishing report, grab regional flies and local advice, or book a guided trip with our team before you head out.
How do you get to Telluride?
The closest airport is Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), about 6 miles from town, though its mountain setting means flights can be limited and weather-dependent. Most visitors fly into Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), roughly 65 miles (about an hour and a half) away, which offers more flight options and regular shuttle service to Telluride. From Denver, it is a six-hour drive.
What elevation is Telluride Colorado and should I worry about altitude?
The town sits at 8,750 feet, and many of the surrounding passes and trails climb well above that. Give yourself a day to acclimate, drink plenty of water, and ease into strenuous activity. Altitude can affect visitors coming from lower elevations.
When is the best time to visit for fishing and outdoor activities?
Summer and early fall are traditionally prime for hiking, rafting, and fly fishing. However, depending on the snowpack, Telluride activities can be open in early spring. On the San Miguel specifically, July through October typically presents the best fishing conditions. Water conditions vary year to year, so checking current flows before your trip is always a good idea; give us a call and we can tell you what is fishing well.
Do I need a four-wheel-drive vehicle for the day trips?
For the paved scenic drives, the Million Dollar Highway, Dallas Divide and San Juan Skyway, any vehicle is fine. The high backcountry routes, like Yankee Boy Basin, the Alpine Loop, and the road up to Bridal Veil Falls, need a high-clearance 4×4 and are only open seasonally, usually clearing by late June or early July.
Two routes deserve a real word of caution. Black Bear Pass and Imogene Pass are expert-only, not casual drives. Black Bear especially is one of the most dangerous roads in Colorado: it runs one-way downhill toward Telluride, so it is no shortcut, with tight switchbacks on a narrow shelf above a drop of more than 1,000 feet. The San Miguel County Sheriff warns it is for experienced off-road drivers in proper 4x4s only, rental cars are not allowed, and serious accidents happen nearly every season. If you want to take in this high country without the risk, the best way to experience it is with a professional jeep tour out of Telluride.
Is the gondola really free?
Yes. The gondola between Telluride and Mountain Village is free to ride and is recognized as the only free public transit system of its kind in the country. It is both a practical way to get between the two towns and one of the best free views around.
What is the closest day trip from Telluride?
Everything from Telluride/Mountain Village area is about 40 minutes way or longer. The closest spots are destinations like Alta Lakes, Trout Lake, Rico, Ridgway, Ouray and Dolores. We call Ridgway home because it sits right at a regional crossroads; making it an easy and natural stop on your way through as you head to Telluride or east to several of the region’s day trips.
