Telluride, Colorado

Telluride Colorado lies amidst the San Juan Mountain peaks in a box canyon surrounded by towering Mountains and cascading waterfalls. This classic high mountain town is home to a world-class ski resort in the winter and a wealth of outdoor activity and history in the warmer months. Beginning in town the San Miguel river starts as a small stream heading through town and gains strength and volume by the time it reaches Placerville 12 miles down stream were it becomes a popular destination for kayaking and rafting.

A scenic drive west offers river runners a chance to experience the canyon country of the Colorado river later in the summer when the San Miguel becomes to low for boating and beckons those with fishing poles in hand. The twelve block long historic district tours through timeless Victorian architecture, testament to the wealth of the mining periods. Biking trails allow access into the backcountry surrounding Telluride, including the 206-mile mountain bike route, which is punctuated with intermittent fully equipped hut, The San Juan Hut System and Deep Creek Trail. Hiking trails, rivers, as well as the open mountain resort make Telluride an area with a wide variety of activities. Ride the 11-minute gondola ride from Telluride to Mountain Village, which edges the ski area and allows access to the surrounding mountain areas. For the history buff, the trout fishermen, the biker or the skier, Telluride offers a well rounded distinctly Colorado experience.

History

The first people to settle at the head of the San Miguel River in the Telluride area arrived in 1875. The town of Telluride, originally called Columbia wasn’t officially established until 1878. The railroad reached the city in 1890, just the beginning of a lessened isolation. Mining was the economic impetus for development, of this area. Its history is not one free of violence. The local Victorian architecture is a testament to the incredible wealth amassed by the management of the mining community, this wealth did not however extend to the workers of the mines who experienced premature death from mining accidents, avalanches, and pneumonia. Strikes and union activity were prevalent in the historical formation of the area. Telluride experiences most of its economic success based upon its appeal as a destination for outdoor activity.

Facts

Population: 2221 residents
Elevation: 8745 feet
Established: 1878

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