Great Weekend Getaways - Mountain Magic

Telluride

By Eric Lindberg

Photo courtesy of Telluride Tourism Board

When the Rio Grande Southern rolled into Telluride back in the boomtown days of the early 1900s, legend has it that the conductor would yell, "To hell you ride!" reminding passengers of the jarring, dusty journey they'd just completed.

These days most people arriving at this former gold mining town think they've pulled into paradise. Nestled in a box canyon where waterfalls roar down from surrounding peaks, Telluride sparkles as one of Colorado's crown jewels.

The town has two personas. In winter, heavy snowfall makes it a deep-powder ski destination. In spring, wildflowers bloom, hummingbirds return, and Telluride becomes a sun-drenched alpine village where festivals, fun and a funky mountain atmosphere drive away winter's chill.

At less than a mile long, the place is made for walking. Victorian buildings line Main Street. While the brothels and gambling dens are gone and the saloons have lost their rough edges, the town offers delights and distractions those miners never imagined.

Colorful shops, café bakeries, galleries and bookstores provide plenty of low-volume entertainment, while summer events such as the famous Telluride Bluegrass Festival offer higher-volume fun. With rugged mountains on all sides, there are plenty of reasons to leave the pavement. The San Miguel River Trail follows the river for 2.7 easy miles. Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado, can be reached via a steeper hike of 1.8 miles.

For an easier route and a panoramic view, ride the free, 12-minute gondola from town up to Mountain Village, Telluride's upscale sister hamlet. Once there, ogle the sky-high real estate, or take off on one of many hiking and biking trails that start here.

Telluride's gold rush era left numerous high country roads, and today those tracks lead to weathered mining ruins. Local companies offer jeep tours to Tomboy and Alta ghost towns, Imogene and Ophir Passes, and points beyond.

In a state known for mountain escapes, Telluride tops the list. The veins of gold are long gone, but there's still much of great value to discover.

Information: Telluride & Mountain Village Convention & Visitors Bureau, www.visittelluride.com, 888-605-2578; www.telluride.com.

Please note: This article is from our archives and some facts may have changed. Please contact your nearest AAA office and ask to speak to a travel counselor to update you on the latest travel information.

Eric Lindberg is a Lakewood-based travel writer and photographer who has written for EnCompass on numerous occasions.