Telluride is one of the most picturesque and pristine mountain towns in Colorado. It is famously known for its ski resorts, but tourists are also flocking to Telluride to enjoy its numerous other summer attractions.
The following are the most popular summer attractions in Telluride:
Mountain biking
As one of Colorado’s premier mountain bike destinations, Telluride offers mountain bikers a variety of terrain. The San Juan Skyway is one of the most well-known mountain biking trails in the country, and many bikers come to Telluride just to ride this trail alone. Other popular mountain biking trails include Imogene Pass, Engineer Pass, and Bear Creek Loop.
Hiking
There is a popular hiking trail in Telluride called the Pillars of Hercules. This hike is about 6.4 miles long and has an elevation gain of about 2,400 feet. It is considered to be a challenging hike, but also very rewarding due to its beautiful views of the San Juan Mountains. Another good hiking destination in Telluride is Bridal Veil Falls, which offers views of three waterfalls cascading over cliffs on Bridal Veil Creek.
Fishing and boating
Because Telluride sits at a high elevation (over 9,000 feet), it attracts great numbers of trout and salmon during their annual migrations up from the ocean to spawn in nearby rivers and streams during the summer months. Anglers are also known to catch trout during the winter when they go back to their original home.
The San Juan River is located just below Telluride and offers several popular boating destinations. The river is considered to be one of the most challenging fishing destinations in the country due to its many obstacles like sharp rocks and deep holes. Anglers can fish for brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout here. The best time to fish in this area is from July through September.
Climbing
Climbing in Telluride is a popular summertime activity because of the plethora of rock climbing opportunities that it offers. There are many different rock climbing destinations, including The Pillars of Hercules, which is a popular destination for climbers thanks to its moderate climbing difficulty. Other popular rock climbing destinations include the Crystal Palace and Blanca Headwall (both of which are considered to be technical climbs).
Ziplining
Telluride is also one of the premier ziplining destinations in Colorado. The town offers five different zip lines with heights ranging from 200 feet to 1,000 feet. The world’s longest aerial adventure park is located in Telluride, and another popular ziplining attraction is called the “Eldorado Canyon Treetop Adventure.” This zip line has a total length of 10.6 miles and offers some incredibly breathtaking views of Telluride.
These are the most popular summer attractions in Telluride, but there are also many other areas to enjoy such as hiking, boating, and biking.