Hike,
Bike, Explore
Telluride's premier source for mountain bike rentals and adventures. With
the guidance of expert instructors and naturalists,
participants in our programs gain an appreciation for
the rich natural and cultural history of Telluride's
majestic San Juan Mountains.
Ski
Mountain, Telluride Ski Resort-Bike where you ski!
Moderate to Difficult - A variety of superb
backcountry trails on the ski mountain are accessed via the free gondola,
which runs continuously from 7 a.m. to midnight every day beginning May 23
until off-season. Mountain bike beginning at mid-station at Station St.
Sophia and about half that elevation gain from Mt. Village. Call the ski
area at 728-7538 for more information. Try the
Telluride Trail, ride the gondola up from Telluride, and coast down, fun,
but be careful, make sure your brakes work.
Alta Lakes Trail-Great views!
Easy to Moderate - The 1870s mining town of
Alta is on the National Register of Historic Places and Alta Lakes are
picture postcard beautiful. It is 5 miles one way with a 1,700-foot
elevation gain. Directions: go six miles south of Telluride on Hwy. 145
(toward Cortez) to Alta Lakes Road. To reach the ghost town of Alta, stay
on the main road for 4 miles. To get to the lakes, turn right at the town
and follow the signs to Alta Lakes.
Black Bear Pass-Bike, Jeep, Hike
Difficult - This is for experienced bikers
only. Black Bear Pass is a one way ride from Red Mountain Pass, and
extreme caution must be taken coming down the switchbacks to Telluride. It
is 3.6 miles one way from Red Mountain Pass to Bridal Veil intersection, a
2,520-foot elevation loss. Access: the one-way road begins off Red
Mountain Pass, climbs gradually, then makes a breathtaking plunge into
Telluride alongside the 125-foot Ingram Falls, and past Bridal Veil Falls.
Deep Creek-Recommended
Easy - This is 6.5 miles one way with a
1,672-foot elevation gain. Access Deep Creek from the Jud Wiebe trailhead
at N. Aspen St. or Mill Creek. Cross the bridge over Mill Creek and turn
right on the Deep Creek Trail, which continues to Last Dollar Road. The
trail has many forks, so a map/guide is recommended. Bikers can make an
18-mile loop. Follow the trail to Last Dollar Rd., turn left and climb to
the intersection with the paved airport road. Ride down to Hwy. 145, then
east into town.
Galloping Goose Trail-Recommended
Moderate biking. A long and rewarding bike
that is 20.6 miles one way with a 1,580-foot elevation gain. Take the Bike
Path west from town and go up to Lawson Hill entrance, follow single track
down old railroad grade to Ilium Valley. Make a sharp right turn at the
road. Turn left over bridge to Sunshine Mesa. At first switchback,
continue straight onto the old railroad grade again. Trail continues above
Ames to Ophir Loop (Hwy. 145). Loop can be completed by taking South Fork
Rd. back to Ilium single track and Lawson Hill or continue south (under
the highway) to Trout Lake and Lizard Head Pass.
Ilium Road/Ames Historic Site
Easy - Ames is the site of the country's
first alternating current power plant built by George Westinghouse, L.L.
Nunn, and Nikola Tesla. To get there, bike five miles west on Hwy, 145
from Telluride, then turn at the Ilium Road turnoff that parallels the San
Miguel River (south fork) to the historic Ames power plant. It is 6 miles
one way with a 1,250-foot elevation gain.
Last Dollar-Recommended
Moderate - There is a 19-mile "Local's
Loop" for bikes with a 300-foot elevation gain. Access: 3 miles west
of town on Hwy. 145, turn right on the airport road and follow it for 2
miles to the dirt road that forks north just before the airport. Continue
for 1.5 miles, then turn left on Deep Creek Rd and ride down 2 miles to
the highway. Ride east toward town, turn right on South Fork Rd., then
turn left on the Galloping Goose Trail and ride up to the bike path back
to town. A longer loop for bikers is available by following Last Dollar
Road, then descending to Sawpit and Hwy.145 via Rd. 58P. Another option is
to continue north to Hwy.145 where an inspiring panorama of mountain peaks
awaits you at Dallas Divide on the way to Ridgway, Ouray, or Montrose.
Ophir Pass-Recommended
Moderate to Difficult - Spectacular Ophir
Pass is six miles one way from Hwy. 145 to top of the pass with a
2,480-foot elevation gain. From Telluride, drive south on Hwy. 145 for 8
miles. Turn left onto a dirt road (watch for post office sign) and proceed
through "old" Ophir to the pass road. Ophir Pass climbs above
timberline over a scree field to the 12,789-foot summit. Return via the
same route, or continue down to Red Mountain Pass and make a long loop
back to town via Ouray.
Wilson Mesa Trail
Moderate - If you want awesome scenery mixed
with solitude (and colors in the fall), take this trail which is 13 miles
one way east from Woods Lake to Sunshine Mesa with a 3,700-foot elevation
gain. To access: Drive 14 miles west of Telluride on Hwy. 145. Turn left
on Fall Creek Road and follow for 7.75 miles to the trailhead. Park here
or continue another .25 miles to Woods Lake and park there. Or access from
the top of Sunshine Mesa and the trailhead to Bilk Creek heading west to
Woods Lake.
Bear Creek Canyon-Recommended-Steep-bring a
lunch.
Easy to Moderate - This is an awesome bike
from town, a favorite of locals and visitors alike, because Bear Creek's
amazing serenity and beauty makes you feel like you are miles away from
civilization. It's 2 miles one way to the waterfalls with a 1,040 foot
elevation gain within this 325-acre mountain canyon that is secured for
the public by the Telluride Land Trust. Enter the trail from the end of
South Pine Street and follow Bear Creek up the canyon and enjoy views of
jagged peaks on your way to the waterfalls. About .25 miles before the
falls, watch for the sign on your right announcing the trailhead to the
rugged and challenging Wasatch Trail.
San Miguel River
Trail-Take the kids on this.
Easy - This is a refreshing, easy ride,
perfect for those who want to acclimatize to the altitude. Recently
expanded, it's about 2.75 miles one way with a 170-foot elevation gain.
Begin at the east end of town at East Colorado and Columbine Street, past
Town Park. All along the river, you can access side streets as it
continues west towards the valley floor, ending at Boomerang Road. (Do not
enter the valley floor as it is closed to public use).
Bridal Veil Falls-Spectacular
Moderate - These stunning waterfalls, over
300 feet in length, entice many people to bike up the road. From Pandora
Mill to Bridal Veil waterfalls and the power plant, it's 1.8 miles and a
1,200 foot elevation gain. Or you can bike to the bottom of the falls and
get energized in the midst of the mist. Directions: Go east through town
on Colorado Avenue toward the mountain, pass the old Pandora Mine on your
left, and follow the road marked County Road. Continue on this dirt road
and go up the switchbacks for 1.2 miles to the bottom of falls, or go the
extra .6 miles to the top of the falls. You don't have to stop here,
though. Beyond the privately owned historic power plant, the awesome
Bridal Veil Basin, Blue Lake, and Silver Lake await you. Note: If you
drive, park your car at the base of the falls and bike up. Parking is not
available at the top.
Tomboy Road, Town of Tomboy, Imogene Pass & Ouray-Long,
Fun, Worth It!
Moderate to Difficult - Be prepared for the
rugged five-mile road to the fascinating town of Tomboy (2,650 foot
elevation gain) by taking plenty of water, food or snacks, and warm
clothing. It's 7 miles to Imogene Pass (at 13,114 feet, it's a 4,350
elevation gain) and 18 miles total to Ouray. Start in town at the north
end of Oak Street and turn right on the dirt road (Tomboy Road). Continue
past waterfalls and through a tunnel to arrive at the mining camp of
Tomboy. The road continuing on to the pass is a steep grade with loose
rock and, after that, a steeper downhill ride to Ouray. Several paths at
the top of the pass lead to peaks. You can take a side trip by making a
left turn (marked) and explore the raw beauty of Yankee Boy Basin;
continuing toward Ouray, you'll pass by Camp Bird, historically one of the
richest mines in the country. If you're going straight to Ouray, expect
this trip to take at least two hours but, if you want to explore, expect
to spend a good part of the day.
