Telluride is set in one of the most beautiful valleys in the Rocky Mountains. The old town is filled with atmosphere. With the opening of Prospect Bowl, there's plenty of terrain for all abilities.

Telluride is at the crossroads of colliding worlds. The bottom of the box canyon in which Telluride sits is red-rock desert, while the mountains tumbling into town are snowcapped and craggy Alpine granite. Then there's the contrast in architecture between the Old West town of Telluride and the contemporary Telluride Mountain Village. The town of Telluride is a pageantry of Victorian buildings wearing bright and bold colors. Mountain Village, on the other hand, is carved out of rock and log dressed in muted earth tones.

Mountain Village, partway up the mountain, is hunkered in at 9,540 feet above sea level, while the town of Telluride rests at the very bottom of the trails at 8,750 feet. If you're skiing down any of the front runs that drop into town, it feels as if you're going to land on someone's doorstep, ready to announce, "Hi, I'm here for dinner!" Another novelty is the free 2.5-mile gondola that links the town of Telluride with Mountain Village, making it a cinch to go back and forth between the two for shopping or dining.

Telluride certainly is one of the most breathtaking environments for a ski resort. Be prepared for recreating at high altitude, with lifts dumping you off as high as 12,260 feet. Perhaps the most delightful surprise about Telluride is that it's one of the few North American resorts that can truly be a remarkable vacation for just about everyone, regardless of skill level. From a copious amount of gentle learning terrain to ideal powder training grounds for intermediates, it seems downright greedy to ask for more. As for advanced skiers and riders, whether you get your thrills ripping down steep trails that spit you out into town, or you long for the solitude of high-mountain peaks with no hint of civilization, it's here waiting. Those venturing into the backcountry have much to choose from, including a couple of peaks topping 14,000 feet.

Everyone here is quick to tell about Telluride's fascinating history, from Butch Cassidy robbing the bank to the first miners to strap on a pair of 7-foot-long skis to glide down the mountain. No need for yarn spinnin' about Telluride's past, it's all woven into the fabric of life and as authentic as it gets. Fortunately skiing replaced the ailing mining industry in the early 1970s, saving the small community from becoming a ghost town. It also saved its rich past, preserving the entire town in a National Historic District that's worth the visit alone.

Telluride Ski Resort Facts:

Summit elevation: 12,260 feet
Vertical drop: 3,535 feet
Base elevation: 8,750 feet

Expert: +++++
Advanced: +++++
Intermediate: ++++
Beginner: +++++
First-timer: +++++

Dining: +++++
Apres-ski/nightlife: +++
Other activities: ++++

Address: 565 Mountain Village Boulevard, Telluride, CO 81435
Area code: 970
Ski area phone: 728-6900
Snow report: 728-7425
Toll-free reservations:
(866) 287-5016 or (800) 525-3455
Fax: 728-6228
E-mail: info@tellurideskiresort.com
Internet: www.tellurideskiresort.com (ski area); or www.visittelluride.com (visitors guide)

Number of lifts: 16—2 gondolas, 7 high-speed quads, 2 triples, 2 doubles,
2 surface lifts, 1 moving carpet
Skiable acreage: 1,700 acres
Snowmaking: 15 percent
Uphill capacity: 21,186 per hour
Parks & pipes: 3 parks, 1 pipe
Bed base: 5,500
Nearest lodging: Slopeside
Resort child care: Yes, 2 months and older
Adult ticket, per day:
$73–$76 (05/06)