How big is Telluride?
Telluride has 147 pistes served by 18 lifts — 10th for pistes of the 15 resorts we track in the USA. On lifts it ranks 11th of the 15.
Telluride resort guide
Colorado, USA
Stunning box canyon with world-class terrain
Telluride at a glance
147
Pistes
18
Lifts
3,875m
Top
2,667m
Base
1,208m
Vertical
TEX
Nearest airport, 9 km
23% beginner36% intermediate41% advanced
Telluride offers stunning box canyon scenery, world-class terrain, and a charming historic mining town atmosphere.
Your questions about Telluride, answered
How high is Telluride?
The lifts run from 2667m at the base to 3875m at the top, a vertical of 1208m. Of the 15 resorts we track in the USA, that is the 2nd highest, with the 4th biggest vertical.
A base above 1,800m is high by Alpine standards, so the runs back to the village hold their snow better than at lower resorts.
Is Telluride good for beginners or experts?
The pistes at Telluride split 23% beginner, 36% intermediate and 41% advanced, against an average of 19% beginner and 42% advanced across the resorts we track in the USA.
On those numbers it suits confident skiers and riders looking for steep terrain.
For off-piste, our guide documents 4 zones at Telluride, with the lift to take and the avalanche risk for each.
When is the ski season at Telluride?
Over the last ten winters Telluride has typically held skiable snow at mid-mountain from around 14 December to 15 May, about 154 days.
March is the best all-round month on the record, with an average base of 86cm, 52cm of new snow and 3.5 bluebird days.
Month-by-month snow history →What is the nearest airport to Telluride?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Telluride Regional (TEX), 9km away in a straight line. Montrose Regional (MTJ) is 64km, Durango La Plata County (DRO) is 88km, City of Colorado Springs Municipal (COS) is 288km. Road distances are longer, often much longer in the mountains, and the nearest airport is not always the one with the most flights.
How much is a lift pass at Telluride?
A 6-day adult Telluride lift ticket costs US$1,970 for 2025/26, or US$328 a day. For value it ranks 11th of the 15 resorts we price in the USA.
Full lift pass prices and history →Airports near Telluride
Airports with scheduled flights, nearest first. Distances are straight-line; by road they are longer, and in the mountains often much longer.
- Telluride RegionalTEX9 km
- Montrose RegionalMTJ64 km
- Durango La Plata CountyDRO88 km
- City of Colorado Springs MunicipalCOS288 km · major airport
Travel time to Telluride
Pick the airport you fly from for an estimate of the journey to the resort.
- Fly to Telluride Regional (TEX)Quickest
- Flight
- 10h 20m · 7,839 km
- Transfer by road
- 10m · 12 km
- Total
- ≈ 13h
Likely needs a connection: 2h 30m added
- Fly to Montrose Regional (MTJ)
- Flight
- 10h 15m · 7,790 km
- Transfer by road
- 1h 20m · 86 km
- Total
- ≈ 14h 5m
Likely needs a connection: 2h 30m added
- Fly to Durango La Plata County (DRO)
- Flight
- 10h 25m · 7,900 km
- Transfer by road
- 1h 50m · 119 km
- Total
- ≈ 14h 45m
Likely needs a connection: 2h 30m added
Estimates from straight-line distances, not timetables: flights at typical cruising speed plus taxi and climb, transfers at an average 65 km/h by road. They leave out check-in and baggage time, and mountain roads in snow can take much longer. Check with airlines and transfer companies before booking.
Telluride lift pass 2025/26
US$1,9706-day adult Telluride lift ticket · ≈£1,476
US$328 per day · 0.6 km of piste per € · #11 of 15 for value in the USA
Dynamic pricing — book early for lower prices
13value scorePremium price
Telluride piste map 2024/25
2024/25 seasonThe official Telluride piste map, published by Telluride Ski Resort. It shows every run, lift and sector across 147 pistes served by 18 lifts, from 2,667m at the base to 3,875m at the top.
Always check the resort's live piste status before setting off. Runs shown on a map are not necessarily open, and off-piste terrain is never patrolled unless the map says so.
Why go to Telluride
- Stunning box canyon scenery
- World-class terrain
- Charming historic mining town
- Excellent snow conditions
- Less crowded than major resorts
- Great for all skill levels
Things to know
- Can be expensive
- Remote location
- Limited flight options
- Weather can be variable
Skiing and snowboarding Telluride by ability
Beginners
Telluride offers good beginner terrain, particularly in the lower mountain areas. Beginners should stick to the designated beginner runs and consider taking lessons. The resort is generally beginner-friendly.
Intermediates
Telluride is excellent for intermediate skiers! The resort offers extensive intermediate terrain with beautiful scenery. The box canyon setting provides stunning views while skiing.
Advanced
Telluride offers excellent advanced terrain! The resort has challenging expert runs, powder stashes, and great off-piste opportunities. Advanced skiers will find plenty of challenging terrain to explore.
Our take on Telluride
Food & dining
Après-ski
Price level
Luxury
Facilities
Official resort website: tellurideskiresort.com
More on Telluride
- Telluride snow reportLive conditions, snow depth and the 7-day forecast by elevation
- Telluride snow historyTen seasons of snowfall, snow depth, powder days and when the season ends
- Telluride lift pass pricesDay and week pass prices, how they have changed, and value for money
- Telluride off-piste guideWhere the powder is, which lift to take and the avalanche risk
- Telluride off-piste guidesMountain guides and schools offering off-piste, touring and heli-skiing here.
- Ski resorts in the USALive snow reports and a map of resorts, cities and airports in the USA
Ski resorts near Telluride
Distances are straight-line, not by road.