My wife and I are considering a fly - drive trip to SW Colorado in early December. We are not skiers but like to sightsee and hike in the mountains and visit interesting towns. Telluride, Durango, Ouray area. Being Floridians without much cold weather/snow experience, we were wondering if this area is accessible in this timeframe or will driving, much less hiking be a problem? Also would appreciate any recommendations on where to go and stay. Thanks so much.

Hi!
I live in SW CO and have answered lots of similar inquiries recently. If you click on my name, you will bring up my postings...scroll down and read away and then feel free to ask me Q's or email me directly.

Hiking in December in those area maybe turn out to be snowshoeing! Dustings of snow are already visible. That said, there are areas at lower elevations {around Mesa Verde/Cortez/Dolores} that will be open for hiking.

The best route to take is to start in Durango, head up to Silverton and then onto Ouray. From there, over to Telluride and then down to Dolores and Cortez. On to Mesa Verde and then back into Durango. Depending on how much time you wanted to spend, you could do this at an unhurried pace, spending a day or so in each place in 5 - 7 days. It can be done in as little as 4, but why rush? It is beautiful here.

I will be happy to recommend places to stay along the way, restaurants and sites to see.

Hope this helps...
Debi

I would recommend that you postpone this trip until the summer. My concern is with your lack of cold weather/snow experience. The drive from Silverton to Ouray scares a lot of drivers in the summer, so I am concerned about you making that drive in the winter. SW Colorado is my favorite part of the state, but if you are interested in hiking in the Telluride & Ouray areas you are better off waiting for warmer weather.

wtm -- you are correct that summer or fall is perhaps a better time to visit here, but I assumed that OP had given consideration to the weather here and knew what it was like...perhaps I was wrong in making that assumption.

In any case, here are links to some of those threads I mentioned in my first post:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/postrep...0&tid=34854095

http://www.fodors.com/forums/postrep...0&tid=34814871

http://www.fodors.com/forums/postrep...0&tid=34814243

http://www.fodors.com/forums/postrep...0&tid=34824783

Hope this helps...
Debi

I've gone to Durango twice in winter - and loved both trips. You'll find plenty to do - although you may not be hiking the same trails you would hike in summer.

My favorite memory of the December trip was the sleigh ride through the woods and dinner at a cabin. I don't know if there will be enough snow in early December, but consider it as an option.

My favorite memory over Valentine's Day weekend was a trip to Mesa Verde.

We loved driving in the high desert in the winter. Took a VERY SLOW, dramatic drive to Ouray - although you may not enjoy that drive if you are like the "flatlanders" from Florida who visit the mountains in my neck of the woods.

SW Colorado is wonderful in every season - you may just have to rethink WHAT you do while there in winter.

Thank you all so much for the advice and recommendations. We look forward to seeing this area of Colorado.
Ross near Tallahassee