Telluride
Telluride, CO
A former mining town in a box canyon ringed by peaks, with Victorian buildings along Colorado Avenue and a gondola up to Mountain Village. Look up the canyon head to Bridal Veil Falls; summer is easiest.
Telluride sits at about 8,750 feet (2,670 m) in a box canyon, with Bridal Veil Falls plunging at its head. The town began in 1878 as the mining settlement of Columbia, was incorporated in 1887 and renamed Telluride the same year. The Rio Grande Southern Railroad, which arrived in 1891, made it possible to haul out the ore. In June 1889, Butch Cassidy robbed the bank here, his first major recorded holdup. The town later turned into a winter sports and festival destination: the first ski lift opened in 1972, and the Pandora Mine closed in 1978.
The Telluride Historic District is a National Historic Landmark. A gondola links the town with Mountain Village. Since 1974, the Bluegrass Festival in June and the Film Festival at the end of summer have been held here, and crowds are large. Because of the altitude of about 8,750 feet (2,670 m), allow some time to acclimatize; summer is the easiest season to visit.
- Nearest town
- Telluride, CO
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 37.9375, -107.8123
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed)Campsite4 mi from TellurideTentsToilets
- Sunshine CampgroundCampsite5 mi from TellurideTentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
- Thistledown CampgroundCampsite7 mi from TellurideTentsToilets
- Matterhorn CampgroundCampsite7 mi from TellurideElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
- Amphitheatre CampgroundCampsite10 mi from TellurideDrinking waterToilets
- Grizzly RT RV ParkMotorhome stopover22 mi from Telluride · 6 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
All campsites in Colorado · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Telluride?
Telluride is in Telluride, CO, at GPS 37.9375, -107.8123. It is about 6 mi from Red Mountain Pass.
Can you camp near Telluride?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Mill Creek Basin Backcountry Camp, about 3 mi away; within 25 mi there are 44 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Telluride?
Places worth a stop nearby: Million Dollar Highway (8 mi), Ute Indian Museum (35 mi), Black Canyon of the Gunnison, South Rim (44 mi) and Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot (46 mi).
When is the best time to visit Telluride?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)