7 Greatest Telluride Hikes for Lakes, Waterfalls, & Views – Bearfoot Principle

Recognized for snowy slopes, nice meals, and a taking place arts and music scene, the Telluride mountaineering trails are additionally world-class. Step out your door and see 14,000-foot tall mountains towering over city (together with Wilson Peak, the mountain greatest recognized from the enduring Coors emblem), and alpine lakes hidden simply out of view. 

Inside a brief drive of city, you’ll uncover Lizard Head Move at 10,000 toes, with wildflower-filled meadows and trailheads main into the backcountry. Head the opposite route towards the Dallas Divide and catch one of the spectacular views within the nation, with out even leaving your automotive.

In case you are planning on visiting Telluride this summer time throughout your Colorado highway journey, make sure that to respect the city and the encircling space. Take the Inform-U-Proper pledge in order that we will all proceed to like and revel in these particular locations for generations to return. 

Learn on to find one of the best Telluride hikes for lakes, waterfalls, and epic views.

Necessary Reminder: Because it goes in the entire locations we share, please follow good path etiquette and keep in mind to Go away No Hint. This implies packing out your entire rubbish (together with bathroom paper), being respectful to others on busy trails, and following the established guidelines.

Map of the Greatest Telluride Hikes

Telluride Hikes In City

Bridal Veil Falls

• Distance: 2.5 miles spherical journey to the underside of the falls or 3.4 miles spherical journey to the highest of the falls
• Elevation Achieve: 850 toes to the underside of the falls, 1600 toes to the highest of the falls
• Issue: Simple/Average
• Path Sort: Out and Again
• Canines Allowed: Sure

Bridal Veil Falls tumbles 365 toes down a sheer cliff, making it the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado. The hike will be achieved two other ways, both on a path or on a jeep highway. After I did this hike, we hiked up the path and took the highway down. This beautiful Telluride waterfall is unquestionably definitely worth the journey. 

The path meanders by way of boulders and timber, climbing above the city. Ensure that to remain on the path always, as a lot of the encircling property is non-public. Take within the views down and throughout the valley as you climb increased and better in the direction of the waterfall. Once you arrive on the waterfall, marvel on the cascading spray and delightful views. Look out for the facility plant above the waterfall, which provides hydroelectric energy to the city of Telluride. If you happen to select to drive or hike to the highest of the falls, you might then proceed on to Blue Lake, Silver Lake, or Mud Lake. 

Getting There: From Downtown Telluride, proceed down Colorado Ave (the primary avenue by way of city) for about 1.5 miles. You’ll go a mine and discover a parking space on the finish of the highway. Once we had been there, we needed to park on the highway by the mine for the reason that parking space was full. This can be a well-liked space! Get there early to safe parking. If you happen to drive a 4WD, excessive clearance car, you’ll be able to proceed up the highway to seek out extra parking or drive to the highest of the falls. 

Bear Creek Path

• Distance: 5 miles spherical journey
• Elevation Achieve: 1,100 toes
• Issue: Average
• Path Sort: Out and Again (or mix with Wasatch Path and See Endlessly for a protracted loop!)
• Canines Allowed: Sure

Hike an outdated forest highway from proper on the town as much as the gorgeous Bear Creek Falls on the most effective hikes in Telluride. This well-liked path is rarely too steep, gaining elevation regularly over a few miles. There are two waterfalls on this path, higher and decrease Bear Creek Falls.

You’ll attain the primary fall in about 2 miles of mountaineering on the outdated highway. Proceed additional to the junction with the Wasatch Path, the place you might proceed on the precise fork in case you are searching for an extended journey. Keep straight to succeed in the higher Bear Creek Falls. On the best way again, take pleasure in views of the encircling peaks, cliffs, and the city of Telluride on the finish of the canyon!

Getting There: This path begins on the finish of South Pine Avenue in Telluride. Flip proper off of Colorado Ave onto Pine Avenue and drive or stroll 4 blocks to the place it turns into a large dust path. This path can also be well-liked with mountain bikers and horseback riders, so make sure that to share the path!

See Endlessly Path

• Distance: 5.5 miles spherical journey
• Elevation Achieve: 1,700 toes
• Issue: Simple/Average
• Path Sort: Out and Again (or mix with Wasatch path and Bear Creek for a loop!)
• Canines Allowed: Sure

One other nice hike proper in Telluride, Colorado, the See Endlessly Path ascends by way of the ski resort to provide summer time views of those well-liked winter slopes. The path is large and well-graded since they’re ski trails and entry roads. This is able to be an incredible hike for a household or anybody who simply desires to take a stroll to see the views above the city. And the views make it effectively definitely worth the elevation acquire. 360-degree mountains and valleys encompass you, from the Lizard Head Wilderness to the west to the Sneffels vary rising east of Telluride. 

At about 2.8 miles, the See Endlessly path intersects the Wasatch connector path. Right here you’ll be able to flip round and head down, or proceed on to the Wasatch path to intersect the Bear Creek path to make an 8.5 mile loop again to city. 

Getting There: To get to the See Endlessly path, it’s a must to take a gondola. You possibly can both park in Telluride and take the gondola as much as the St. Sophia station the place the path begins, or park in Mountain Village and take the gondola in the direction of Telluride, getting off on the St. Sophia station. 

Sneffels Highline Path

• Distance: 12.5 miles spherical journey
• Elevation Achieve: 3,380 toes
• Issue: Difficult
• Path Sort: Loop
• Canines Allowed: Sure

The Sneffels Highline path is a troublesome and scenic hike that consists of alpine meadows, forests, and views for days! When you’ve got all day, need to traverse beneath towering peaks, and take within the Telluride surroundings, the Sneffels Highline path is a must-do hike. The path reaches 12,000+ toes, on a saddle beneath the breathtaking Mount Emma, so in case you are from a low elevation space, be sure to are acclimatized earlier than making an attempt this strenuous hike. With the elevation acquire, be sure you pack trekking poles for this hike.

This hike connects a number of trails beginning on the Jud Weibe path from proper in downtown Telluride. Then after about half a mile, flip left on the Deep Creek path. Proceed till you attain the Sneffels Highline path, after which you’ll be able to select which route you need to do the loop. Going proper (beneficial) on the Highline path brings you to the excessive level first with a steeper climb, whereas going left on the Deep Creek path is a gradual, however for much longer climb. The hike stays above treeline for almost all, and can finally descend into the Mill Creek basin. 

Getting There: The path begins on the Jud Weibe path which will be discovered on the finish of Aspen Avenue in downtown Telluride. From Colorado Ave (primary avenue), flip left on Aspen and proceed to the tip of the highway. Parking on the trailhead is by allow solely, and the parking alongside Colorado Ave has a 2-hour restrict. The free Galloping Goose shuttle bus runs between two free parking tons on the town and a number of other stops all through city. 

Telluride Hikes Off Freeway 145

Hope Lake

• Distance: 5 miles spherical journey
• Elevation Achieve: 1,130 toes
• Issue: Simple/Average
• Path Sort: Out and Again
• Canines Allowed: Sure

The Hope Lake path traverses by way of the beautiful San Miguel Basin to an exquisite alpine lake. This is among the greatest lakes close to Telluride for mountaineering and exploring. This path is an easy-moderate approach to discover the alpine, as the primary mile or so isn’t very steep. Ensure that to not miss the unmarked creek crossing at .4 miles, or you’ll find yourself on the path up Poverty Gulch as an alternative of heading to Hope Lake. The final bit to the lake consists of switchbacks, topping out to spectacular views of the Wilson vary, Lizard Head, San Miguel Peak, and Vermillion Peak. 

When you’ve got the vitality to proceed after reaching the lake, the path retains going as much as Unnamed Move so as to add one other mile or so on to the hike. In case you are mountaineering in the summertime months, cease and benefit from the wildflowers alongside the path!

Getting There: To get to the Hope Lake path, head south out of Telluride on Freeway 145. Flip left on the flip for Trout Lake and comply with the highway across the lake (an incredible place to hang around after mountaineering) for about 2.5 miles till you attain Forest Highway #627. Flip left and comply with the highway because it switchbacks as much as the car parking zone. The highway can require some clearance however ought to be doable for many autos. 

Lizard Head Loop

• Distance: 12 miles spherical journey
• Elevation Achieve: 2,700 toes
• Issue: Difficult
• Path Sort: Loop or out and again
• Canines Allowed: Sure

Lizard Head Peak stands tall over Lizard Head Move, a wierd rocky protrusion surrounded by fourteen thousand foot peaks and grassy meadows. This loop hike will be achieved in a number of sections, or as a spectacular loop. 

After I hiked this loop, we began within the northern Lizard Head go trailhead car parking zone, and hiked counter clockwise. This obtained a lot of the climbing within the timber out of the best way first, and left the views for the second half of the hike. The primary a part of the path switchbacks by way of the forest with just a few fast sneak peeks on the upcoming views. After rising from the timber to grassy tundra, one can find your self on the prime of Black Face Peak, a 12,000 foot tall mountain overlooking the highway a thousand toes beneath. 

The path then descends to a saddle earlier than rising once more to the bottom of Lizard Head itself. From right here it’s all downhill again to the highway, the place you’ll be able to take a left on a dust highway that parallels the primary freeway to keep away from having to stroll alongside the highway again to the automotive. Or, park a automotive on the southern trailhead to chop off the final mile or so of flat strolling throughout the go. 

Getting There: From Telluride, head south on Freeway 145 for about 12 miles till you attain Lizard Head Move at 10,000 toes. Park within the first relaxation space/trailhead car parking zone you attain, on the precise aspect of the highway. There’s a restroom on the trailhead. The trailhead is on the north aspect of the car parking zone. 

Telluride Hikes on the Dallas Divide

Blue Lakes Path

• Distance: 10 miles spherical journey to all three lakes
• Elevation Achieve: 2,600
• Issue: Difficult
• Path Sort: Out and again
• Canines Allowed: Sure

To not be confused with the Blue Lake above Bridal Veil Falls, the Blue Lakes hike visits three lovely alpine lakes within the Mount Sneffels Wilderness. The hike winds its manner by way of the forest following a creek as much as three stunningly blue lakes beneath the fourteen thousand foot tall Mount Sneffels. 

The primary lake is a good place to hang around and have lunch earlier than deciding whether or not or to not head to the opposite two lakes. If you happen to select to proceed, the climb heads up steep and considerably unfastened switchbacks to the opposite two beautiful lakes. After that, you might head up extra switchbacks to the highest of Blue Lake go to look down into Yankee Boy Basin on the opposite aspect, however it should add one other couple miles on to the spherical journey. In case you are courageous, dive into one of many lakes to take pleasure in a surprising and refreshing dip within the vibrant blue water!

Getting There: Head west out of Telluride on 145 till you attain the junction previous Placerville. Flip proper on freeway 62 towards Ridgway. Drive about 18 miles after which flip proper onto County Highway 7, additionally marked as East Dallas Creek highway. After about two miles, keep proper at a junction. Proceed about 7 extra miles till you attain a big car parking zone with the trailhead. The highway is nice for many autos.

Have you ever hiked any of those Telluride trails? Are you planning a visit to Telluride? Tell us within the feedback beneath!