The ultimate guide to Telluride with kids

Welcome to Telluride

Telluride is known for its uncrowded slopes and exceptional terrain for all levels and abilities. Beginners can enjoy long, wide-open groomed runs, while for intermediate and advanced skiers, there are powder-filled bowls, bumps, trees, and challenging hike-to terrain if you’re feeling adventurous.

Village Life

With a backdrop of 14,000-foot peaks, Telluride is as much renowned for its memorable town atmosphere as it is for its skiing – an old Victorian mining town tucked into a spectacular box canyon.

The town of Telluride is just 8 blocks – with no traffic or traffic lights. The charming streets of Telluride are bustling with galleries, retail shops, bars and restaurants. Shop in locally owned boutique stores that cater to refined tastes and enjoy truly distinctive dining experiences.

Stay in town or at the Mountain Village, linked till late by a 12-minute gondola ride – which is your free transportation between the two distinct towns. Most lodging options are ski-in/ski-out or a short walk to ski access. Telluride Resort has a varied, exciting terrain mix and an excellent lift system. For the ultimate adventure, try Heli-Skiing directly out of the resort’s base.

An insiders guide to Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado

Telluride is not known as the most beautiful ski town in the world for no reason. Just ask Rachael Oakes-Ash, who lived there for a year.

Groms, tweens, teens and youth will adore the cowboy mining town of Telluride deep in the San Juan Mountains. While junior is salivating over the skiing, ice skating and s’mores, parents will be picking up their jaw from the ground at the seriously stunning vistas the box canyon is known for.

Both the historic Main Street with an old Western feel and the schmick Mountain Village halfway up the slopes are accessible by chairlift so you can ski downtown or to the Mountain Village centre. A free eco-gondola then connects the two residential areas of Telluride. Rent some skates and take in the ice rink in Mountain Village or cruise the downtown Main Street shops in search of cowboy boots before hitting up the education-themed rooms at the Telluride Historical Museum.

On the slopes of Telluride Ski Resort

But what of the skiing? Telluride has 809 hectares of skiable terrain to keep all members of the family happy. The experts head to the Gold Hill Chutes and hike the staircase to access some impressive terrain. While advanced skiers will love Revolution Bowl on a powder day or the thigh-burn of Bushwacker, intermediates can cruise the terrain around Chairs Four and Five and beginners have the whole of the Sunshine Express terrain in which to play.

Check the kids into ski school where Cubs (2.5 years to four years), Otters (three to four years), Bears (five to six years) and Eagles (seven to 14) play in small-group learning programs to progress little shredders and rippers to the next level.

If that’s not enough to keep their energy levels burning then try any of these family-friendly adventures on for size.

Go horse riding in the snow

There’s something magical about riding a horse in the snow. Jump on your trusty steed and be guided by Roudy, an authentic Telluride cowboy, who will lead you on a snow-laden trail through the San Juan Mountains.

Try out a fat bike

Prefer your steed to have wheels? Then get yourself a fat bike from one of the rental shops on Main Street and start pedalling. The winter river trail on the San Miguel River is stunning and a great way to take in the fresh mountain air. You’ll meet locals along the way and plenty of Telluride’s famous resident dogs who walk this trail with their humans daily.

Soothe your muscles in the hot springs

An hour’s drive from Telluride you’ll find the historic town of Ouray. It, too, sits in a box canyon and is famous for ice waterfall climbing. Take a drive through the town and marvel at the daring ice climbers then head to the Hot Springs Swimming Pool for some mineral sulphur-free soaking under a snow-heavy sky. There are five pools to choose from, which will keep the kids happy for hours.

Get booked out at the library

The library is famous in these parts, really famous. For good reason. Enter the Wilkinson Public Library and lose yourself in story time. Check out a karaoke machine, try your hand with a GoPro and sign in for some snowshoes so you can take a hike in the deep snow.

Head to the hills

Jump on board a sleigh pulled by a snowcat or a wagon led by a horse, with hot chocolate in hand, and head up to the historic Aldasoro Ranch for a magical sunset across the San Juans before dinner in a stunning canvas-sheet camp tent served up family-style on a giant custombuilt farm table. The Aldasoros are Telluride royalty and have been in these parts for five generations so you’ll hear plenty of stories of years gone by.

Après sip and swim

The parentals can pull up a seat at the bar at Mountain Lodge Telluride for some après libations and watch as the kids throw themselves in the bar-side heated pool and hot tub. Better yet, book into one of the condos or luxury lodge cabins with mountain design touches.

The best place to toboggan

After a day on the slopes, grab a sled from the Telluride Nordic Centre and head to Firecracker Hill in the beautiful Town Park. This is where the locals bring their kids after school for a fun toboggan ride down the hill, so you’ll get to have a blast and get some local tips while you’re there.

Where to stay in Telluride

You can choose to stay in either the Victorian-era old town in the canyon. Or above the village in the modern Mountain Village where the resort base is located.

Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge

The luxurious Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge is just steps from the gondola. The hotel is perfect for post-ski relaxation with a heated outdoor pool, hot tubs, sauna and steam room.

The Two-Bedroom Residences have a full kitchen, huge leather lounge chairs, a lavish dining room and two deep spa baths. You’ll have to drag yourself away from the large cosy fireplace. The property also offers babysitting services, a kids’ club and a games room.

Madeline Hotel & Residences

Also in the Mountain Village is the Madeline Hotel & Residences. The ski-in, ski-out property supplies endless hot chocolates to warm up the kids. The Madeline also has a pool with a view and plenty of recommendations for kids’ activities in Telluride.

Mountain Lodge Telluride, Colorado, USA

The ski-in, ski-out Mountain Lodge has one-, two- and three-bedroom condos as well as private cottages that have up to six bedrooms. The Lodge is a full-service hotel with staff that go the extra mile. Guests can soak in the outdoor swimming pool or two hot tubs. For something warmer, board games can be found in the magnificent lobby warmed by the fireplace. 

Travelplan Ski

Travelplan Ski is Australia’s leading operator of quality snow holidays to the world’s great ski resorts. Travelplan Ski is one of the most successful and respected specialty travel wholesalers internationally. The perfect ski holiday can be a dream come true, providing you with memories that last a lifetime. Whatever your taste, the inspirational destinations they cover provides opportunity for the ultimate snow experience. Travelplan Skis’ expert staff have an average of over 15 years’ ski travel experience and can expertly customise a holiday that suits your style and budget.

To arrange packages for British Columbia, book through Travelplan Ski.

This article originally appeared in Ski & Snowboard with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.