LindainOhio

I don't see a lot of information on the site about summer travel to Ouray/Telluride. We are hikers and need our "mountain fix". Rather than touring the area, I think we will just book a condo in Telluride and do day trips. I'm in the process of booking a condo in Telluride. Any suggestions? I think I am going to go ahead and stay in the Mountain Village--Is there any disadvantage to staying there rather than town, other than having to take the gondola when you want to go into town. There are a couple of complexes that have nice outdoor pool areas there. After dinner, we usually just go back to our condo, so we don't need a lot of nightlife.

Debated about staying in Ouray but there only seem to be hotel rooms and inns in the town.

Any suggestions for hiking or day trips would be greatly appreciated.

DebitNM

If you are going to go the condo route, there are units available in both Mountain Village [MV] and in Telluride [T]. Being in MV is more remote, there isn't much up there save the great views. Yes, it is just a gondola ride into town, but it does get a bit tiresome having to go that route for most of everything. If it were a few days, MV would work, if it is for longer, T maybe fit the bill.

MV does have a supermarket [VERY pricey]and some small places to eat and have coffee, a couple of shops [mostly gear oriented].

T has lots more of a selection for everything. It is busier, there are more people for sure. There are some nice condos in T. Parking in T may be more challenging, but many units come with parking spots.

It really comes down to what attracts you more.

Is this for THIS summer?? It may be hard, especially if it is for a weekend. Weekends have festivals and that makes rooms hard to come by and also means minimum nights stay.

We have stayed at St Elmos' in Ouray and really liked it.

What level of hiking do you want? You ok with the altitude and elevation gains? I'll get back to you with some ideas.

LindainOhio

I have found a lot of condo availability in Telluride for our dates--Aug. 23rd-30th. hotels seem to als have vacancies in Ouray. I booked FF flights last night. I don't have as much time to research but have always read about how beautiful the Ouray area is. I am hoping we will find some great hiking since I see it is nicknamed the Switzerland of America

We are looking for moderate hiking trails with some elevation gain ok--possibly 4-5 hours long, along with shorter hikes. We really like to hike along ridges or on trails with great views rather than through a forest--we have some beautiful forests and streams to hike here in Ohio. Waterfall hikes are always great but it is a little late in the season.

Our favorite hikes are in the Canadian Rockies; my husband hiked in and out of the Grand Canyon--I just went 2 hrs down and then back up; loved the Awawapuhi-Nualolo hike on Kauai-wouldn't have wanted any more uphill than that trail had.

Thanks for your help

DebitNM

Where are you flying into?

I will ask DH re: hikes, he is more familiar with that aspect of it.

LindainOhio

We fly into Montrose

camperk8

There are some excellent day hikes in the Telluride Region. I'm a big fan of Bear Creek, Hope Lake, Ajax and more... the Telluride Tourism Board had a great overview of these. The waterfall hikes are still great this year as we've had some good rainfall as well as late spring snow that's slowly melting.

http://www.visittelluride.com/things-to-do/trails-huts

They can also help with lodging as well.
Enjoy your trip!

Greg_Munno

Stay in town! The Mountain Village is lovely, but what makes Telluride great is having the duel access to wilderness and vibrant town, all within walking distance. If you stay in the Mountain Village, you will likely be driving to the trail heads and certainly taking the gondola into town (which is free and beautiful, so it's no big deal). It's the difference between suburbia surrounded on all sides by wilderness and an old west, happening, cosmopolitan oasis surrounded on all sides by wilderness. You really can't go wrong. But I strongly prefer the old town. If you were going to rent a camp up off Last Dollar or on Wilson Meas, that might be another story. But to stay in a condo in the Mountain Village during the summer makes little sense to me, unless your true priority is proximity to the golf course. In town, Camel's Garden and Ice House are your best bets. Both have condos as well as multi-room suites as part of the hotel.

Connie

Ouray is well known for their Jeeping. You can rent Jeeps and take different levels of old mining roads. We've used Switzerland of America twice and found them to be very professional and helpful. I'm sure the other company in town is just as good. Both companies will take you on a tour if you don't want to do the driving.
www.ouraycolorado.com/Jeeping

There are other scenic drives in the area you can take in a regular car.

You will want to definitely drive the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton. It's worth the drive there and back--great views. Both towns are fun to walk around in for a bit.

You can order a hiking map from a hiking group in Ouray that maintains trails.
www.ouraycolorado.com/Hiking

If you like the original True Grit, it was filmed in Ridgway and surrounding area. The square in Ridgway downtown still looks much like it did in the first part of the movie when they are having a hanging.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a 20is mile drive north of Ridgway--just east of Montrose.

cmcfong

Linda please do a trip report. We are considering this area for a summer trip.

DebitNM

cmc -are you finally going to make it out here????

cmcfong

Possibly,Deb. My group is down to two choices, Darby, MT and Telluride. Getting eight adults pinned down to dates of travel and destination is never a quick and easy process. I have kept a file of your recos. I had hoped the Durango property would stay in the running, but.......

DebitNM

Let me know if I can help~

mrt

Stay in Telluride at the Mountain Lodge above the Mountain Village.

LindainOhio

We got back on Wednesday and had company arrive on Friday, so I will do a trip report next week.

We loved, loved, loved Telluride and Ouray and can't believe it has taken this long to visit.

We did stay at Mountain Lodge in a 2 br condo because it was such a good deal. I really don't think it matters if you stay in Telluride or Mountain Village. Telluride is a charming, western feel, town; Mountain Village has a more country club feel---but what a setting!

We loved taking the free gondola to town and then back up to the village. There were trails right from Mountain Village or Telluride. You could take the gondola to the Village or Telluride and go to restaurants, shopping, without even getting in your car.

My husband played golf twice and said ot may be the most beautiful course he has ever played.

Loved Ouray too--the drive from Telluride to Ouray is beautiful. We did the fabulous drive to Silverton, hiked to Blue Lakes, drove up to Alta Lake and hiked around---more later.