The 5 Best Things to do in Telluride in the Summer

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Wondering what to do in Telluride in the summer? You’re in the right place!

I’ve been to Telluride in the summer twice… and once during shoulder season, when there was NOTHING to do!

But, in the summer, Telluride is the picture-perfect mountain town.

It’s nestled in the middle of a valley with white peaks all around. People travel to Telluride in the winter for skiing and the warm coziness of a cabin, but summer in Telluride is where it’s at.

You have all the shades of green around you, cold water flows through the creeks, and people enjoy the sun on a hike or while they walk around town. And that’s without mentioning Mountain Village!

As a guy who’s been road tripping across the USA for 2 years, I’ve experienced the challenges of traveling affordably in the US. And I’ve been able to do it and have some amazing experiences, just like in Telluride.

This Telluride guide will cover all the best things to do in Telluride in the summer based on my own experience. It also includes where to stay for free (plus some hotel options) and a 1-day Telluride itinerary.

Let’s get straight into it!

How to get to Telluride

Telluride is kind of in the middle of nowhere, on the western side of the Rocky Mountains.

It’s 6 hours (330 miles) from Denver and 6 hours and 20 minutes (366 miles) from Salt Lake City.

Because of how far it is from any big city, Telluride is best visited as part of a road trip. I seriously recommend flying to Denver for a Colorado road trip. I visited during a huge road trip around Colorado, and it was one of the best road trips of all time.

If you’re looking to fly a little closer, the best airport to fly into is the Durango airport because you can rent a car and then drive to Telluride through the million-dollar highway.

I’ve already driven the million-dollar highway from Durango 3 times (and been to Telluride 3 times) and it is AMAZING! It’s the best scenic drive I’ve been on in the US because of the epic mountains.

Where to stay in Telluride

Telluride and Mountain Village have amazing hotels, but the best places to stay in Telluride in the summer are campgrounds – some of which are free!

If you’ve read the blog much, you know I’m all about finding ways to stay places for free, especially in the US, where lodging is so expensive. I camped for free when I visited Telluride, and I’ll share exactly how:

Camping in Telluride, CO

There are free and paid campgrounds near Telluride, and some are further from town than others.

The free campground where I stayed was Lower Beaver Campground. It’s right by the San Miguel River but is 37 minutes from Telluride. It isn’t very convenient, but the campsite was beautiful.

I never mind driving a bit more for a good deal!

Now, I encourage you to look for your free camp sites in dispersed campgrounds and national forests by using the apps iOverlander and Campendium. They have bunches of options and the best part is you can see other people’s reviews of the place.

I like having 2 or 3 options beforehand just in case they’re crowded.

To get you started, here are other places to camp in Telluride:

• Fall Creek Recreation Site: free, only three sites, and first-come, first-served.
• Last Dollar Road: free, pretty far from road and might need 4WD, incredible view.
• Mary E Campground: $20 per night, 7.5 miles from Telluride.
• Telluride Town Park Campground: expensive ($30+), popular, right by Telluride.

FYI, these campgrounds fill up quickly in the height of summer!

I created a map of all the free car camping sites I found during my Colorado road trip, and you can access it here for FREE:

Hotels in Telluride

If you’re booking a hotel in Telluride, expect to pay top dollar for some awesome stays.

I tried researching some affordable hotel options in Telluride for you – but there aren’t many. These are the best “budget” hotels in Telluride:

• This Modern In-town Studio with Kitchenette (tiny)
• Telluride Studio

Both are really highly rated, but also in really high demand. You’ll have to book WAY in advance to get them?

My advice? Don’t go during the high season because hotels hike their prices up like crazy.

Visit Telluride in August or September when it isn’t shoulder season, but the summer is coming to an end. Most things will still be open, the weather will still be great, you’ll see less crowds and you’ll pay less.

Whatever the date of your trip is, check out the most affordable lodging options in Telluride on the map below!

Best Things to do in Telluride in the Summer

You can expect these activities to be super fun and cheap – because they’re based on everything I did in Telluride. And I’m always on a small budget, especially in an expensive ski town!

1. The Best Hikes in Telluride in the Summer

My favorite thing to do in Telluride is hike because nature just puts on a show during the summer.

The mountains around Telluride are splendorous. The different shades of green are all vivid, there’s water rushing everywhere – the whole world feels so alive!

Plus, hiking makes food taste finer and sleep feel better. So here are the best hikes in Telluride in the summer:

1. Bear Creek trail

This is my favorite hike in Telluride. I’ve done it with snow up to my knees and in the summer – it’s definitely better in the summer.

The hike begins right off of South Pine Street in Telluride, 3 blocks from Colorado Avenue (Telluride’s Main Street).

It doesn’t feel too tough because it’s never extremely steep, but you do get to hike 4.5 miles with 1,000 feet of elevation gain round-trip.

Most of the hike winds along with Bear Creek on your left. Along the way, you’ll see pine trees, aspen trees and wildflowers in the occasional clearing, until you get to Bear Creek Falls.

The falls are tall and wide, and the amount of water falling from above is astounding. In the summer, I definitely recommend taking an icy shower under the falls or in one of the shallow pools under the falls!

2. Bridal Veil Falls

The picture of Telluride in my mind is from the middle of downtown, purple and yellow flowers in front of me, with pretty shops on the side of the road.

It’s sunset, and the road is lined with rustic lamp posts that cast their yellow light on the people walking under them. And in the distance, where the road leads, are gigantic mountains with a waterfall right in the middle.

That waterfall is Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado’s tallest free-falling waterfall (350 feet), and it’s a short hike from the trailhead.

To get to the trailhead, go to the point on the map called “Bridal Veil Trail.” Parking for the trail is right off the road in a lot, and then you hike 1.2 miles straight up to the base of the falls.

It’s a short but very steep hike, gaining 850 feet in just 1.2 miles! So, be ready to start breathing hard and feel your glutes burning!

3. Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail

This trail is a 3.4 mile loop with 1,200 feet of elevation gain (yes, most every hike in Telluride is going to have a lot of elevation gain). It’s a beautiful hike in the forest, and you can extend it a bit to see Cornet Falls.

But the best part of this hike is the view of Telluride down below. The town is just as picturesque from above as it is from below, and you can see it the entire time you’re hiking.

The Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail begins right in town, off of North Aspen Street. Type “Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail” into Google Maps and that’s the trailhead!

4. The Via Ferrata

One of the best views and more adventurous activities you can do in Telluride is climb the Via Ferrata.

A via ferrata is a route on a rock wall made accessible with iron gear you can hang onto and step on – via ferrata is Italian for “Iron Path.” It’s a safe way to access really exposed rock faces, at least with proper gear and/or guidance.

The Telluride Via Ferrata is absolutely gorgeous, with stunning views of Bridal Veil Falls and the town below. I highly recommend doing the via ferrata!

A safety tip for rock climbers: Lala and I didn’t do the via ferrata because we didn’t have the gear. Rock climbing gear is not ideal for a via ferrata! You need a kinetic lanyard to absorb the shock of a potential fall… slings and carabiners won’t cut it.

If you want to read about climbing the via ferrata in Telluride, I found this great guide by Seeking the Now.

2. Walk around Colorado Avenue

Colorado Avenue is the Main Street of Telluride, and it’s a gorgeous downtown. No visit to Telluride is complete without walking up and down Colorado Avenue.

Check out the cool shops – there’s lots of shopping to do if you’re into that, but my favorite thing to do was walk through the Tony Newlin Gallery. His wild pictures of nature are awe-inspiring, and it’s a level of photography I can only aspire to.

Colorado Avenue is also just a good time – it seems like there’s always something going on.

We sat down to watch a musician playing out of his van while we sipped on delicious coffee, and he was amazing!

3. Coffee Shops in Telluride

I had you at coffee, didn’t I?

Telluride has some gorgeous shops and restaurants, but there’s nothing like a quaint, low-commitment, feel-good café.

I was seriously craving coffee after a day of hiking and almost getting hypothermia because of my ice bath under Bear Creek Falls, so I went on the search for the best coffee shop.

I narrowed down the list to these three:

• The Butcher and The Baker (see reviews): this is where I ended up going! Not only is their coffee spectacular, their pastries and breakfasts made my mouth water, and the vibes are super chill.
• Between the Covers (see reviews): speaking of quaint, this café is also a bookstore. Being here, sipping on delicious coffee, makes you feel warm inside and out.
• Viceroy Café (see reviews): this is a more modern coffee shop with a wide variety of drinks. Their specialty drinks are out of this world.

4. Free Gondola to Mountain Village

The Gondola that connects Telluride and Mountain Village is free (more on Mountain Village right below)!

When Lala and I visited Telluride our first time, the Gondola taught us a valuable lesson: don’t visit Telluride during shoulder season.

Shoulder season happens when there isn’t enough snow anymore to ski, but it’s still too cold and dead to enjoy otherwise. That’s generally April-May and October-November.

The Gondola (and everything else) is closed.

All that to say, the gondola’s summer 2025 dates are from May 22, 2025 to October 19, 2025.

When you’re on it, the 12-minute ride to Mountain Village is stunning.

You start with a view of the entire valley in which Telluride is nestled. Once you crest the ridge, you get an entirely different gorgeous view and can see some gigantic, beautiful houses on the ride down to the Village. You can also stop mid-way for a walk at Station St. Sophia (a great place to watch the sunset).

What is Mountain Village?

Mountain Village is called the town at the top of the world. It’s even higher up in the mountains than Telluride, and it’s even more of a winter wonderland than Telluride.

Mountain Village is probably what the North Pole looks like.

Seriously, while I was up there in the summer, I kept saying, “This looks like Disney!”

Everything is perfectly manicured and the décor everywhere is pristine. After taking the Gondola up here, it’s an amazing place for a walk and a bite to eat.

A great spot to drink a cup of coffee is Telluride Coffee Co. Yes, I drink a lot of coffee.

5. Go to a Summer Concert in Telluride

Telluride and Mountain Village are the ultimate cool mountain towns, and they have cool events like yoga festivals, art shows, movies under the stars. But my favorite is probably Music on the Green.

It’s a series of free concerts they hold every Friday during the summer from 5-7 pm!

There wasn’t anything the day I visited, but I missed one of these by a couple of days!

With that in mind, make sure you check out what events they’re putting on before you go so you don’t miss anything.

Fortunately, I was able to enjoy a street musician on the sidewalk as I ate some ice cream. He was actually so good!

And just like that, those are the best things to do in Telluride in the summer! From tough hikes to relaxing sunset concerts, Telluride is the ultimate summer destination.

1-Day Telluride Itinerary

1. Breakfast: I always make my own to save some money, but you could try the Butcher and the Baker. I went in for coffee and their pastries looked delicious.
2. Morning hike: the best hike is the Bear Creek Falls Trail, but if you want a shorter one try the Bridal Veil Falls Trail. If you want a crazy adventure, on the other hand, do the Via Ferrata.
3. Take the Gondola to Mountain Village
4. Walk around and have a picnic or lunch at The Pick
5. Gondola back to Telluride
6. Walk down Colorado Ave.
7. Coffee break at The Butcher & Baker Cafe
8. Gondola to Station St. Sophia for the sunset
9. Dinner at Smuggler Union Restaurant & Brewery in Telluride or a concert!

Day Trips from Telluride

Ouray: The Switzerland of America is just 1 hour from Telluride. Ouray is a smaller ski town and it’s also gorgeous. Hike to Cascade Falls (easy) or do the Perimeter Trail that goes all around Ouray (moderate) for unmatched scenery. Walk down Main Street and enjoy the shops and the food.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison: This underrated national park is one of the steepest canyons in the US and is home to Colorado’s tallest single cliff. It’s small, so the Black Canyon is perfect for spending half a day.

Million-dollar highway to Silverton: If you didn’t already drive the million-dollar highway to get to Telluride, you can do it as a day trip. It goes through Ouray and ends in Silverton, an old mining town turned into quaint ski town close to Durango.

Road Trips that Include Telluride

Colorado road trip: this EPIC road trip has been one of my favorites ever. It’s a loop starting in Denver and going through Colorado Springs, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Telluride, Aspen and a bunch more. It’s the perfect loop through the Rocky Mountains.

The Grand Circle road trip: this road trip through the American Southwest that goes through 6 national parks and many other stops can be extended to include the Colorado National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Telluride!

If you have any more questions about things to do in Telluride in the summer, feel free to reach out to me in the comments below and I’ll be sure to answer personally!