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Regional Biking, Hiking & Jeeping Trails
FROM TELLURIDE Bear Creek Canyon Trail 2.5 miles one way to falls. 1,040-foot elevation gain. Access: From the end of S. Pine Street, hike the dirt road through the 325-acre Bear Creek Preserve to the waterfall. Connects to Wasatch Trail and Bridal Veil Basin.
Bike Path 3 miles one way, 170-foot elevation gain. Access: Start at the west end of Telluride and follow the paved bike/walk path that parallels the highway. This path connects to the Galloping Goose Trail at Lawson Hill.
Bridal Veil Falls Road 4 miles one way from Telluride to the top of the falls and power plant. 1,200-foot elevation gain. Access: The best approach from Telluride to the east end of Highway 145, where the asphalt ends, is via the idarado Legacy Trail. Continue up the dirt road, past the mill, 1.2 miles to the bottom of the 365-foot falls.
Cornet Falls & Jud Wiebe Trail 3-mile loop. 1,190-foot elevation gain. Access: From the north end of Aspen Street, go left across the bridge and follow the trail. To simply reach Cornet Falls, continue straight (instead of crossing the bridge) and follow the creek .25 miles to the falls. The Jud Wiebe can also be accessed in reverse from the north end of Oak Street. Turn right on Tomboy Road and take the first left onto the single track.
Deep Creek Trail 6.5 miles round trip. 2,150-foot elevation gain. Access: Follow the Bike Path 1 mile west of Telluride and turn right on Mill Creek Road (or continue and go up Last Dollar Road, turning right before the airport and starting at the designated pullout on the right). This fairly easy trail has many forks, creating a myriad of options.
Galloping Goose Trail 20.6 miles one way. 2,150-foot elevation gain. Access: From Telluride, follow the Bike Path to Lawson Hill. From Society Drive, find the Galloping Goose trailhead off San Miguel River Drive. Follow the old railroad grade all the way to Lizard Head Pass. The trail crosses and follows dirt roads in places. Follow the Galloping Goose signs.
Idarado Legacy Trail 1.75 miles one way from Telluride to Pandora Mill. Access: From Telluride Town Park, follow the San Miguel River Trail east to where it merges with the Idarado Legacy Trail. This easy walk affords views of Bridal Veil Falls and is enhanced by informative plaques recounting the area's mining history.
San Miguel River Trail 4.25 miles one way. 85-foot elevation gain. Access: From the vehicle bridge into Telluride Town Park, follow the trail east or west along the river. The trail can also be accessed from other side streets as it proceeds: west to the valley floor and east (merging with idarado Legacy Trail) to the end of the valley and Bridal Veil Falls. It connects to Boomerang Trail, which ends in Mountain Village.
Telluride Ski Area Trail A variety of trails and maintenance roads (with occasional vehicles) are found on the ski area, and many can be accessed via the gondola. Hike or mountain bike beginning midway at Station St. Sophia, which is a 1,600-foot elevation gain from Telluride and approximately half that from Mountain Village. Trails meander back to Prospect Basin or up the ridge to Gold Hill. Prospect Basin is closed from late May to early July for elk calving, and other areas are sometimes closed for summer maintenance. Call 970.728.7360 or stop at the St. Sophia Nature Center for information.
Sneffels Highline Trail 14-mile loop. 3,450-foot elevation gain. Access: Approach the Jud Wiebe from Aspen Street. At .5 miles, turn left at the Mill Creek Trail sign. Follow the path to the Sneffels Highline sign and turn right. The route progresses above timberline and then down to Mill Creek. Turn left on the Waterline Trail and return to Telluride via the Jud Wiebe.
Tomboy Road & Imogene Pass 5 miles to ghost town of Tomboy (2,650-foot elevation gain), 7 miles to top of 13,114-foot Imogene Pass (4,350-foot elevation gain), Access: From the north end of Oak Street, turn right on the dirt road (Tomboy Road). Continue past the waterfalls and through a tunnel to the mining camp of Tomboy. Above Tomboy, the grade is steep with loose rock. Proceed, if you like, down the north slope to the Town of Ouray.
MOUNTAIN VILLAGE & REGION Alta Lakes 5 miles one way. 1,700-foot elevation gain. Access: Alta Lakes Rd. is 6 miles south of Telluride on Hwy. 145. 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. High-clearance vehicles recommended.
Black Bear Pass 3.6 miles one way from Red Mountain Pass to Bridal Veil intersection. 2,520-foot elevation gain. Access: The one-way road begins off Red Mountain Pass. For experienced drivers with 4x4 only.
Mountain Village Blvd. Trail 1.5 miles one way, well-maintained, wide enough for strollers. Access: Begin at the information center in Mountain Village (550 Mountain Village Blvd.) or cut in where the trail crosses Russell Drive.
Ophir Pass 6 miles one way from Hwy. 145 to top of the pass. 2,480-foot elevation gain. Access: From Telluride drive south on Hwy. 145 for 8 miles. Turn left onto a dirt road and proceed east through the town of Ophir to the rugged pass road.
Wilson Mesa Trail 13 miles one way (east) from Woods Lake to Sunshine Mesa. 3,700-foot elevation gain. Access: Drive 14 miles west on Hwy. 145. Turn left on Fall Creek Rd., and continue 7.75 miles to trailhead.
FROM THE GONDOLA Ski Area & Prospect Basin Trails A variety of trails and maintenance roads (with occasional vehicles) are found on the ski area, and many can be accessed via the free gondola. Hike or mountain bike beginning midway at Station St. Sophia, which is a 1,600-foot elevation gain from Telluride and about half that from Mountain Village. Trails meander back to Prospect Basin or up the ridge to Gold Hill. Prospect Basin is closed from May 20-July 1 for elk calving, and other areas are sometimes closed for summer maintenance. Call 970.728.7360 for information.
Download a detailed pdf of the regional trails map. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
