What's the best time to visit Telluride?
Telluride shines from mid-November to early April, offering the best skiing and a bustling winter atmosphere. Beyond the slopes, visitors can enjoy fat biking, snowmobiling, and dog sledding, among other outdoor adventures.
For those less inclined to brave the cold, indoor activities like art classes, visits to the Anasazi Heritage Center, and spa days provide cozy alternatives. The Dunton Hot Springs offer a relaxing escape, with more hot springs and attractions available in nearby Durango and Ouray.
If you love winter mountain getaways, try Telluride, Colorado, which is known for its world-class ski resort, shopping, and tourist attractions. The beautiful town sits at the base of the northwestern San Juan Mountains in the Rocky Mountains mountain range.
Telluride has grown from its humble beginnings as a silver mining camp into one of the wealthiest towns in Colorado. The pristine ski resort and beautiful location attract wealthy homeowners to buy vacation homes and snowboarding bums.
Even if you aren’t into skiing and snowboarding, Telluride has so much to offer! High-class shopping provides local shops and boutiques for an unforgettable shopping experience.
Shop for clothes, accessories, and books, or stop at a local coffee shop to warm up with a hot cup of joe! But while there’s countless amazing things to see and do, when is the best time to visit Telluride? Here’s our take.
The Overall Best Time to Visit Telluride
Telluride Colorado / USA 01/12/2012mTwo skiers descend Mountain Quail ski run at the Telluride Ski resort Telluride Colorado/DBSocal/Shutterstock
The overall best and most popular time to visit Telluride is mid-November to early April. November to April marks the winter season in Telluride and is when the town is in full swing.
Telluride is known as a ski town, and you won’t find better skiing in the area than in Telluride! If you’re not interested in skiing or snowboarding, Telluride has many other things to offer in the winter months.
The breathtaking views as you walk the streets are more than enough to pull you in, but other fun winter activities will have the non-snowboarder having fun in Telluride! If you are outdoorsy, try fat biking on winding paths around the town.
Fat biking allows you to enjoy the views and snowy mountains from the fun of a mountain bike. Other outdoor activities apart from skiing are snowmobile rides, hiking trails, dog sledding, horseback rides, and ice skating.
If you go to Telluride in the winter but aren’t outdoorsy, don’t worry! Telluride offers plenty of indoor and relaxing activities to do in the wintertime.
Try taking an art class from a local artist while on your visit or head to the Anasazi Heritage Center to learn about the history of the locals of Telluride. If you want a relaxing time, Telluride offers spa services at local spas.
Other relaxing activities in the wintertime are at the Dunton Hot Springs, where you can swim and relax in natural hot springs. Nearby Durango and Ouray have hot springs and other activities if you want to venture out of Telluride.
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Cheapest Time to Visit Telluride
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The cheapest time to visit Telluride is late September to early November. Telluride is most popular in the winter and summer months and dies down in the fall and spring seasons.
Because of this drop in tourists, many hotels drop their prices during these months to attract more people to visit in the off-season. This short-lived fall is a beautiful time in Telluride, but the summer festivals have come to a close and enough snow hasn’t fallen for the winter activities to begin.
Late September to early November poses the perfect vacation time for hikers to enjoy beautiful trails without them bustling with people. Late September to Early November is the slow fall time in Telluride, but April to early June is the slow spring season.
Telluride is muddy this time of year but most of the hiking trails are just opening from the winter season. Fall and spring are the cheapest times to visit Telluride because the lodging is cheaper to attract more tourists and most of the activities available like hiking are free.
A lot of the shops in Telluride are closed for maintenance in the fall and spring. If you aren’t into shopping, this shouldn’t affect you. If you are into shopping, this makes Telluride even cheaper during these months because you won’t spend as much money on gifts!
If you plan on visiting during the busy summer or winter season in Telluride, book flights two months early. This booking process gets you the cheapest flights available to the area.
Least Busy Time to Visit Telluride
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The least busy time to visit Telluride is during the off-seasons, from April to June and September to November. Telluride has two off-seasons and two busy seasons.
Spring and fall are the off-seasons, while winter and summer are Telluride’s busy seasons. Spring and fall are great times to visit Telluride if you are a hiker. In the springtime, the trails are just beginning to open and aren’t crowded with summer visitors.
The trails can be muddy in the spring, so bring some boots that you aren’t afraid to get dirty! Fall is a beautiful time of the year to visit Telluride. The summer festivals have come to a close and most visitors have gone home.
The break between the summer festival goers and the winter ski bums is short but a great time to visit if you can catch it in time! Some shopping is still available during the spring and fall, but many of the shops have closed for maintenance during the off-season.
If you are not into shopping, this won’t affect your vacation too much! If you are into shopping, the few local shops that remain open will be busy with the few tourists visiting during the spring and fall.
Worst Time to Visit Telluride
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There is not a bad time to visit Telluride but your goals for the trip decide when the worst time to visit Telluride is.
Everyone likes a different way of vacationing, so get your group on board with a plan to know when the worst time for you to visit Telluride is! If your goal is to experience the top-rated ski resort in the United States, summer is the worst time to visit Telluride.
Late April to early November is the thawing season in Telluride, which means no slopes to shred. Do not visit in the summertime if you want to snowboard or ski! If you plan on hiking a lot, winter is the worst time to visit Telluride.
Most of the hiking trails are closed due to high snowfall. You can enjoy some hiking trails or fat biking, but most of the hikes are not available in the wintertime. If you are into snowshoeing, winter is a fine time to see the sites in Telluride.
If you want to do lots of shopping and relax, fall and spring are the worst times to visit Telluride. The mining town is busiest in the summer and winter, so many of the shops close down during the slow months in the fall and spring.
If you hate crowds, summer and winter are the worst times to visit Telluride. The festivals and outdoor activities in the summer attract many tourists. The world-class ski resort attracts many tourists in the wintertime.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If you’ve read this article and still have some questions, don’t worry! We want your experience in Telluride to be the best possible.
We want all of your questions answered before heading out to Colorado. Check out some frequently asked questions about the best time to visit Telluride below!
What is the off-season for Telluride?
Telluride has two off-seasons. One is in the spring between ski season and the exciting summer. This is a great time to visit and enjoy some early-season hiking. After the festivals of summer have died down and the snow hasn’t fallen yet the fall is the second off-season in Telluride.
Is Telluride, Colorado worth visiting?
Yes, Telluride is worth visiting. It offers some of the best activities and adventures on and off the mountain. You don’t have to be a ski bum to visit Telluride! Enjoy shopping, history, art, and festivals in Telluride.
What month does Telluride get the most snow?
Telluride gets the most snow in March. Mid-March is the peak snow conditions for skiing and snowboarding. The high elevation and north-facing slopes provide a natural refrigerator to keep the snow in prime condition.
Is October a good time to visit Telluride?
Yes, October is a good time to visit Telluride. The bustling summer tourists have gone home, allowing for a peaceful time to watch the town turn into an alpine paradise.
Why is Telluride, Colorado so popular?
Telluride has a rich history and played a significant role in the history of the American West. It was an old mining town and was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964. Its rich history, pristine ski resort, and high-class shopping made Telluride popular.
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So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Telluride?
Winter is the best time to visit Telluride. Beautiful mountain ranges, a pristine ski resort, high-class shopping, and activities make winter the best time to visit Telluride.
All seasons bring their perks to Telluride, so pick what your goals for the trip are and set out for your mountain escape. Happy travels!