Butch Cassidy Robbed His First Bank in This Mountain Town Now Famous for Celebrity Ski Vacations

Telluride, Colorado

Most ski towns lost their soul to condos and chain stores. Telluride didn’t. This former mining camp still has its 1890s main street, but now you can take a free gondola over the ridge to Mountain Village, catch a Sundance film, or hike to a waterfall without leaving town.

And yep, it’s just as amazing as it sounds. Here’s everything you need to do during your visit.

The Town’s Free Wind-Powered Gondola System

The gondola connects Telluride to Mountain Village in a 13-minute ride with a view from 10,500 feet. Wind turbines on Gold Hill power this free transport system, which carries millions of people every year and keeps thousands of cars off the road.

Platforms at Stations 7 and 12 are perfect spots to watch mountain goats on the cliffs near Ajax Peak. At sunset, the limestone peaks turn pink and orange as the sun goes down.

The Hidden Pool at Bear Creek Falls

A little-known side trail branches off Bear Creek Trail at the 2.3-mile mark, just past an old lightning-struck pine tree. This path leads to a deep green pool fed by an 80-foot waterfall. Local rock climbers have mapped out seven climbing routes on the north wall, ranging from beginner to expert difficulty.

The Original 1895 Bar at New Sheridan

The New Sheridan’s bar counter has stood in the same spot since 1895, showing 128 years of wear from countless elbows. A mirror from Germany hangs behind it, having survived the mining days, prohibition, and a huge bar fight in 1902.

The brass foot rail came from an old mine cart track, and the wooden pillars holding up the bar are the same ones shown in photos from opening day.

The Highest AC Power Plant in America

A restored power plant from 1907 sits at the top of Bridal Veil Falls, 10,040 feet up. It houses North America’s oldest working Westinghouse Electric AC generator, which originally powered the Smuggler-Union Mine.

The plant still uses its original cast iron pipes to channel water from Blue Lake at 12,000 feet and is capable of producing 500 kilowatts of clean power for the town. Summer visitors can hike up to see the historic generator running.

A Perfect Place for Stargazing

Telluride replaced all more than 4,000 of its streetlights with special LEDs that reduce light pollution. These new lights point downward and give off a warm glow creating ideal conditions for seeing stars.

From Town Park’s astronomy area, you can spot the Andromeda Galaxy with your bare eyes on clear nights. The galaxy sits 2.5 million light-years away, and from June through September, you can also see the center of the Milky Way.

The World’s Highest Wine Cellar

Alpino Vino’s wine cellar lies under the ski resort at about 12,000 feet, where the natural cave keeps temperatures at 55 degrees. The cellar holds thousands of bottles from hundreds of winemakers, including rare collections of Burgundy and Bordeaux.

Support beams from an 1878 mining tunnel now hold wine racks. Monthly tastings let visitors try wines aged at high altitude, where lower air pressure speeds up the aging process.

The Challenging Golden Ticket Cliff Walk

The town’s climbing route includes a famous sideways traverse called the Golden Ticket. Unlike normal climbing routes, you have to unhook and rehook your safety lines while hanging 500 feet up, keeping three points of contact on thin steel cables.

Local climbing expert Chuck Kroger built this route in 1988 using old mining gear. Only four out of ten climbers make it across on their first try.

The Special Stage for Bluegrass Music

Town Park has a permanent curved stage that projects string music while blocking mountain winds. The stage is built from local pine trees killed by beetles within 50 miles of town.

Computer models helped design the stage to carry unplugged instrument sounds to crowds of 12,000 people without using speakers. The design works especially well for the yearly Bluegrass Festival.

The Highest Dog Park in America

Telluride’s dog park sits at about 9,000 feet and uses old mining equipment as agility obstacles. Dogs can run across old mine cart tracks and weave through timber supports from historic mines.

A spring-fed pond is perfect for dogs to cool off. Local vets helped design the park to be safe for dogs adjusting to the high altitude.

The Mine-Themed Escape Room

The old Smuggler Union Mine office now houses an escape room with real mining equipment and documents. Players solve puzzles using actual mining patents and engineering problems from Telluride’s past.

About 23% of groups solve all the puzzles, matching the historic success rate of mining claims in the area.