Telluride

Telluride is a small town at 2,667 meters (8,750 feet) elevation inside a box canyon of the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. A gondola connects the historic center with the higher ski area of Mountain Village.

The settlement started in 1878 as a camp for silver miners and later became the seat of San Miguel County. Butch Cassidy robbed a bank here in 1889, marking one of his first widely known crimes.

Main Street keeps its late 19th-century construction with flat-front buildings and wide wooden balconies that recall the mining era. Many structures now house restaurants and shops while maintaining their original exterior appearance.

The free gondola runs all year between the two parts of town and offers a convenient alternative to driving. Visitors walking around will find most facilities and shops concentrated along the main street.

Bridal Veil Falls at the end of the canyon drops 111 meters (365 feet) and is the highest year-round waterfall in Colorado. The small power station at its top provided electricity for the region's first street lights starting in 1895.

Location: San Miguel County

Inception: 1878

Elevation above the sea: 2,667 m

Website: https://telluride-co.gov

GPS coordinates: 37.93915,-107.81632

Latest update: December 13, 2025 08:07