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Telluride Facts
Population: 2,221
Elevation: 8,792
Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time with Daylight Saving Time from April-October.
When it is noon in New York City; it is 10:00 AM in Telluride.
Average Temperatures:
Month High Low
January 38F 12F
February 43F 17F
March 51F 24F
April 60F 30F
May 69F 36F
June 80F 43F
July 83F 51F
August 82F 49F
September 75F 42F
October 64F 32F
November 53F 23F
December 39F 13F
When to Visit Telluride
In spring and fall, the weather is unpredictable, but rates drop and the crowds are gone. Spring is a good time for fishing, rafting, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. In Fall, the fish are spawning and the angling is excellent.
Summer begins in late June or early July. Days are warm, with highs in the 80s, and nighttime temperatures falling to the 40s and 50s. Winter arrives in during November, and deep snows cover the mountains and valleys by December. Temperatures are just above freezing by day and below zero at night. Winter tapers off in March, though snow lingers into April on valley bottoms and into July on mountain passes.
Telluride Slope Summary
Summit Elevation - 10,822 feet
Base Elevation - 8,793 feet
Vertical Rise - 2,029 feet
Lifts - 11 Total
Total Ski/Ride Terrain - 1,700 acres
Snowmaking - 250 acres
Number of Trails - 85
Longest Run - Galloping Goose - 4.6 miles
Pipes and Parks - 2 terrain parks
Holidays
New Year's Day (Jan. 1)
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day (3rd Mon. in Jan.)
President's Day (3rd Mon. in Feb.)
Memorial Day (last Mon. in May)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (1st Mon. in Sept.)
Thanksgiving Day (4th Thurs. in Nov.)
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Dec. 24 and 25)
New Year's Eve (Dec. 31).
Ambulance ( 911).
Fire ( 911).
Police ( 911).
Tips: At restaurants, a 15% tip is standard for waiters; up to 20% may be expected at more expensive establishments. The same goes for taxi drivers, bartenders, and hairdressers.
Safety
Many trails are at high altitudes, where oxygen is scarce. You may find yourself alone on a trail, so it is important to be prepared. Hikers and bikers should carry emergency supplies in their backpacks. Proper equipment includes a flashlight, a compass, waterproof matches, a first-aid kit, a knife, and a light plastic tarp for shelter. Backcountry skiers should add a repair kit, a blanket, an avalanche beacon, and a lightweight shovel to their lists. Always bring extra food and a canteen of water as dehydration is a common occurrence at high altitudes. Never drink from streams or lakes, unless you boil the water first or purify it with tablets.
Altitude
You may find yourself breathing heavily at high elevations. It takes a few days to get used to the rise in elevation. It is easy, in Colorado, to climb to 12,000 ft and higher while driving. The remedy for altitude-related discomfort is to go down quickly, into heavier air.
Wild Animals
When in any park, respect the territorial rights of all animals, and never attempt to feed them. Photograph from a distance, bringing the subject closer through use of a lens.
Telephone:
The country code for the United States is 1. The area code for Telluride is 970.
Business Hours
Most retail stores are open from 9 or 9:30 AM until 6 or 7 PM daily in downtown locations and until 9 or 10 in suburban shopping malls and in resort towns during high season. Downtown stores sometimes stay open later Thursday night. Normal banking hours are: weekdays 9-5; some branches are also open on Saturday morning.
Arriving in the United States: For customs information, contact the U.S. Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20229
Electricity
The U.S. electrical standard is 110 volts/60 cycles AC. Foreign visitors traveling with dual-voltage appliances will not need a converter, but they will need a plug adapter. The standard U.S. electrical outlet takes a plug of two flat pins set parallel to one another.
Arriving by Air
Telluride Regional Airport,
1500 Last Dollar Road suite 1, Telluride, CO 81435
Telephone: (970) 728-5051. Fax (970) 728-0178.
Other regional airports include: Grand Junction (GJT), 128 miles north and Durango (DRO),120 miles southeast, (both 2.5 hours away).
International travelers fly into Denver International Airport (DEN) ( 303/342-2200; 800/247-2336, which is about a five-hour drive from Telluride. Connecting flights to Telluride are available.
Transfers Between the Airport and Town
Shuttles and rental cars are available at all airports.
By Taxi
Telluride Express (970/728-6667)
Driving
When entering Colorado from the south, U.S. 550, U.S. 160, and U.S. 666 lead to the Four Corners region. From the east or west, I-70 (U.S. 6) intersects U.S. 50 in Grand Junction; U.S. 50 runs south to the San Juans and Four Corners area. From the north, take I-25 to I-70 in Denver, for a long drive west to U.S. 50.
Telluride is 330 miles southwest of Denver. The route is scenic. The fastest is way is to take U.S. 285 south to U.S. 24 south to U.S. 50 west to Montrose. Take U.S. 550 south to Ridgway. From Ridgway, take Route 62 west to Placerville and Route 45 south to Telluride.
Summer driving times: Montrose - 1-1/2 hours
Durango or Grand Junction - 2-1/2 hours
Denver - 6-7 hours
Phoenix - 8-9 hours
Albuquerque - 5-6 hours
Getting Around Telluride
By Bus
The Galloping Goose (970/728-5700) provides an in-town loop and the gondola connects the town of Telluride with the Mountain Village with no fare charged., 7 AM-11 PM.
By Gondola
A gondola connects Oak Street with the Mountain Village. The 2-mile ride takes 11 minutes. Another gondola joins the Mountain Village with a parking lot. The gondola operates 275 days a year 7 AM-11 PM Sunday-Thursday and 7 AM-midnight Friday and Saturday.
By Taxi
Taxis are easy to find, and the wait is only about 15 minutes.
Telluride Express ( 970/728-6667).
By Car
A car is unnecessary for local transportation, except for any out-of-town excursions.
Road Conditions
Colorado offers some of the most spectacular and challenging driving in the world. Deer, elk, and even bears may try to cross the road in front of you. For road conditions and information, contact Colorado Road Conditions (303)639-1111 within a 2-hr drive of Denver or 303/639-1234 statewide; 877/315-7623).
Winter Driving
Even main highways can close. Be prepared for stormy weather: carry an emergency kit containing warm clothes, a flashlight, some food and water, and blankets. It's also good to carry a cell phone, but be aware that the mountains can disrupt service and there will be some areas in which there is no cell phone service.
Highway Rules
The speed limit on interstate highways ranges from 65 to 70 mph, as indicated, unless otherwise posted. Right turns on red lights (after making a stop) are legal in Colorado.
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