Telluride is a small town of about 2,300 people in the southwest of Colorado. What began as a silver and gold mining camp in the 1870s has transformed into a world-renowned ski and snowboarding destination. In fact, Conde Nast readers chose Telluride as the No. 1 ski resort in the U.S. for its marvelous slopes and boarding features.
Telluride gets about 300 inches of snow per season on average and boasts more than 2,000 acres of skiable acres. As a cheerful bonus, this resort enjoys 300 days of sunshine per year.
Telluride upped its game in 2008 when it opened the Revelation Bowl in 2008. Described as a European-style terrain, it’s located above the tree line making for a breathtaking setting that the word “scenic” fails to capture completely. This is a spectacular place to snowboard.
Approximately 41% of Telluride’s slopes are for advanced snowboarders. If you like a pumping adrenaline surge to go with your snowboard run, Lift 9 takes you to “the Plunge”. It features incredible steep bump runs. The awesome black diamond falls 3,140 feet from the mountain top all the way down to Telluride town. Another advanced feature is Gold Lift featuring an amazing “steep and deep.”
About 36% of Telluride runs are rated intermediate. If this is more your skillset, Palmyra, Village and Prospect Bowl are perfect. On these runs, the snowboarder will encounter glades, corduroy cruisers, short chutes and moderate bumps.
Just over 23% of Telluride is excellent for beginner-level boarders. This is where the newbie snowboarder can work on basic skills and moves. Ute Park, Sunshine and Prospect Bowl are fun while offering “no pressure.” The beginners’ area also features the terrific Galloping Goose. It’s a 4.6-mile trail that runs gently from the top of Prospect all the way down to Mountain Village.
The majority of the lifts in the area are high-speed quad chairs that can hold four passengers. The highest lift on the mountain reaches a dazzling height of 12,570 feet.
Telluride has emerged as something of a cultural icon because it has attracted celebrity figures and served as inspiration for artists, such as Glenn Frey of the Eagles. His solo career featured a hit song called “Smugglers Blues” in which Telluride gets a mention.
