After Crested Butte (see Crested Butte blog post here), we made our way to Telluride. The town of Telluride is pictured above. This photo was taken from the top of the gondola, showing how the town sits in a box canyon.
After immersing ourselves for 7 days in Telluride, we drove south with stops in Ouray, Silverton, then Durango to spend the night. We then went on to Santa Fe, Mexico for a couple days. It was our first time in New Mexico. We then drove east to make our way home. Commentary, a video and photos below...
Enjoy this scenic video with only the natural sounds of the outdoors (no music)
Telluride is arguably the most beautiful mountain town in America because of how it’s situated inside a box canyon. You’re walking downtown, look up, and BAM! The mountains are in your face.
Where the gondola ride is free and the views from it never get old. The San Miguel River trail runs the entire length of town and beyond…perfect for everyone to enjoy on foot or wheels. Dogs galore (Moose made lots of friends). Within close reach, trails and old 4x4 roads snake over high mountain passes and old mining ghost towns. No A/C and windows open 24/7 in summer weather at 9,000 ft elevation. All reasons we returned for a third visit back to this idyllic spot.
Although a super high end mountain town along the lines of Aspen CO, Sun Valley/Ketchum ID & Jackson WY, like those other towns, Telluride still retains its rustic character and old western cowboy mining town vibes amongst the bougie spaces.
Telluride's airport - the highest elevation commercial airport in North America (with a really short runway)
Bear Creek Trail
Bear Creek Falls
Appropriately saw a cinnamon black bear on the way up the trail
downtown Telluride
the free gondola ride
San Miguel River
towing Moose on the local multi-use path
downtown Telluride
Telluride Bike Park - lift access for fun downhill trails
Elk!
fun downhill trails
Bridal Veil Falls
Can you spot the climber (white shirt)?
a hike up after getting off the gondola
a distant wildfire
Naturally I was curious what lay ahead. So I biked up it (Tomboy Road which leads to Imogene Pass) to check out the old Tomboy Mine
Looking toward Bridal Veil Falls
Tomboy Road
An old mining shed with an old tractor inside
Tomboy Mine
A couple of 4x4 Jeeps that had driven over Imogene Pass from Ouray
an old mine shaft
Looking toward Bridal Veil Falls & Black Bear Pass
an old wooden gate to someone's very old property along Tomboy Road
Cornet Creek Falls
Departing Telluride, we drove the scenic Last Dollar Road to Ridgeway - its a fairly mild 4x4 road (still wouldn't recommend low clearance 2WD vehicles)
Ouray, Colorado
Along the scenic Million Dollar Highway - a few sections aren't for the faint of heart
Silverton, Colorado
Can still imagine cowboys riding into town here - coincidentally, we saw a man get arrested by deputies for disturbing the peace outside a saloon.
Durango, Colorado
My first time in New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe recently captured the #1 city in America spot per Travel & Leisure Magazine’s Readers Poll. Charleston held that position prior for 12 yrs straight (now #3). As it happens, Santa Fe was sort of on our way back east, so we decided to check it out for a couple days. It was my first time in New Mexico.
We discovered that Santa Fe is the polar opposite southwest version of Charleston - a large historical district, narrow streets, buildings look the same, great restaurants, shops, art galleries, plazas & green spaces. It just sits at 7,000 ft elevation and no ocean nearby. We had some amazing New Mexican/Southwest cuisine. Shout out to Palacio Restaurant for their amazing fresh ingredients New Mexican meal and great service.
When I say all the buildings look the same, I’m not joking. Every single one is reddish brown adobe pueblo style concrete/stucco…all homes and all commercial buildings (banks, hotels, etc) are this same exact style.
Kris, Moose & I hiked to the top of Pichacho Peak for amazing 360 degree views & I sampled some of the local Dale Ball mountain bike trails near town.
Pichacho Peak hike
I mountain biked the North & Central Dale Ball trails as a loop. It's a nice (rocky!) trail system close to town.
I tend to judge a state or city by the state of its roads. I-40 there is horrible with lots of bad potholes, but as soon as we crossed the border into Texas, that same I-40 was interestingly a much better & smoother ride.
Texas!
I wouldn't want these in my backyard!
Moose in Nashville at our daughter's place. Almost home!
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