Ask any local on the gondola and they’ll probably tell you, they came to Telluride for the skiing and stayed for the summers. There is no place quite like Telluride in the summer. You can find a lifetime’s worth of outdoor activities to do. Kids float through town on inner tubes or soar through the air on bungee trampolines at Mountain Village. People wander the charming galleries and shops, or park themselves on the benches along Main Street to watch the bustle of daily activity flow by. And above it all, incredible azure skies inspire you to breathe life in full. It’s good the days are long because that’s the only way to fit everything in.

Surrounded by towering peaks and nestled in a stunning box valley, it’s no surprise that the San Juan Mountains provide a variety of terrain perfect for biking and hiking. Choose from quick afternoon jaunts to summiting 14,000-foot peaks (14ers). Travel along expansive jeep roads or journey on a multi-day cross-country excursion. There is enough terrain to explore a different trail every weekend. 

For mountain bikers, road riders and gravel tourers, explore old mining roads and basins high above the box canyon. For longer, more moderate trails, mountain bikers can link several former railroad tracks throughout the valley and to the west. And when the snow melts, the Telluride Ski Resort transforms into a biking playground with a new Bike Park and plenty of meandering trails through aspen groves and lush meadows, all accessed by the gondola. 

With some of the finest trout streams in the Rocky Mountains, and a variety of lakes, ponds and alpine creeks, Telluride is an angler’s paradise. Make the most of your outing and learn insider tips with the help of a local guide. Or if you prefer, bring the family for some lake-dipping fun. Travel our waterways by kayak or SUP and splash your way through a great time.

Telluride’s Festivals bring locals and visitors together in a setting like no other. Vibe to world-class entertainment amongst a backdrop of glowing peaks. The iconic Town Park stage has hosted legendary bluegrass, jazz, blues and rock artists such as Allison Krauss, Chris Robinson, David Byrne, Jerry Garcia and Widespread Panic. 

Sit back and marvel in May at the cinematic genius of the iconic Telluride MountainFilm Festival or watch the Hot Air Balloons take to the skies in June. Whatever your pleasure, the summer festival season is guaranteed to delight.