In late May, early June DH and I have 9 days to either take a flight to Maui or a road trip (from San Jose, CA) to Telluride. CO. We're very torn, any votes or opinions? We have friends to stay with both places though may spend a few nights at a B&B or small Inn. DH and I have been to Maui 3 times, and DH to Telluride 4 times (I've never been to T-ride). Thanks all!

What do you want to do?

I'm leaning towards Maui, though would enjoy finally getting to Telluride and seeing that whole area,

Telluride for me.

Do you enjoy driving long distances? I would probably pick Maui due to the travel time alone. Good luck w/ your decision.

Early June is wonderful here in the SW. I will post some pictures for you and here is something I wrote last year on a day we simply went out for a drive. We live about 75 miles from Telluride and it is a great area to visit. Lots of day trips and areas to explore: Mesa Verde NP, Durango, the Million Dollar Highway [part of the San Juan Skyway}, Ouray.

Lots of activites to do: biking, steam train, hiking [may still be muddy in some areas] white water rafting and so much more.

I'll come with a link for pictures in a bit.

A Sojourn - SW Colorado Style

It promised to be a perfect day with sunny blue skies and temperatures more akin to fall than the summer heat we have been having here in the SW. We took our steadfast 4WD vehicle over Ophir Pass which is just south of Telluride and rises to just under 12,000 ft. before starting a descent down towards Silverton and Durango.

These are the feasts that were bestowed upon on our eyes, ears, and noses.

There were towering pines, Blue Spruce and Douglas Fir, tens of thousands of them, reaching towards the sky. They stood well over 50 feet tall and looked like they would make perfect Christmas trees for the residents of Brobdingnag.

There was a bowl where an avalanche had rumbled and roared down from above, crossed the road to continue its path. In it desire to push forward, it tried to climb the mountain on the other side. It met these mighty trees and had knocked them down like pins at a bowling alley.

The air smelled fresh and clean and wrapped the scent of pine and brush sage whirling around us.

Above tree line, the tops of the mountains looked like bald pates of one’s favorite uncle.

We passed a field with verdant, lush grass no more than 18 inches tall, that undulated in the wind so as to look like waves upon a sea of green.

The wind rushed through the pass and called our names as we passed.

There were quaking aspens that for the moment are green but will be putting on their autumn show of gold and then turning into a buttery yellow before gently falling to the ground.

The last remnants of snow tucked into crevices that have but a few short weeks to disappear before they are covered with a new blanket of white.

We climbed craggy roads, and forded streams before the trip was done.

Deb

Love Colorado in the winter for skiing and in the fall with the aspen, and from say late June for the high-country wildflowers ... but in late May or early June to me it's just not at its best because nothing up high is growing yet and most of the high roads around Telluride will still be snowed in and inaccessible.

'Fly to Maui' gets my vote for this time of year

Bill

Here are pictures, a bit later in the summer.

http://picasaweb.google.com/DebitNM/SWColorado

Deb

I'd go to Telluride if snow won't block my path in early June.

Ophir Pass, will be closed; Last Dollar Road, Imogene etc should be drivable to some poit but the "normal" roads should be open for travel by then. If you are not planning to go "off roading" you should be fine.
Deb

Thanks Deb and everyone. Great pics Deb! I talked with DH, and we both decided we would go to Maui for this trip and save Telluride for when we have 2 weeks. The we may fly into ABQ, rent a car and also include Santa Fe & Taos.