Where to Stay in Telluride, Colorado, for a Local Experience

In the late 1800s, more than 23,000 immigrants left Trentino-Tyrol for America. Many arrived in Colorado’s mining districts and created their own small communities. Dunton Town House dates from this period and its renovation was inspired by the Tyrolean history of the area, and the owner’s personal connection to Tyrol. You’ll find a delightful mix of custom furnishings, Tyrolean antiques and fabrics and Austrian ceramics throughout this quaint house situated moments away from the Telluride & Mountain Gondola and Main Street.

With ski-in/ski-out access, you can easily immerse yourself in the outdoors at Inn at Lost Creek. During the summer, scenic hikes and bike rides are on your doorstep, since the inn is next to one of Telluride’s world-class trails. Golfers also love the inn for its direct access to the Telluride Golf Club.

A stay here means you’re a block away from the the gondola, which offers easy access to shopping and adventure. Ask a staff member about skiing along the Nordic trails or for directions to Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado’s longest free-falling waterfall. The inn has a variety of rooms and suites, plus the private Cozy Cottage.

Take advantage of the staff at the Bear Creek Lodge, who can help with tours, rentals, reservations, and experiences. Want to know the favorite ski runs or cocktail spots? Just ask and the team will have you on your way. Bear Creek Lodge also has a local guide that provides insight into outdoor adventures from fat-biking to snowmobiling.

At Timber Ridge Lodge you can end your day like a Telluride local: sat next to a fire pit, eating a complimentary s’more and gazing up at the stars as they sparkle against an obsidian sky. The team at the lodge can assist with every piece of your itinerary and can coordinate hikes, gear rentals, dinner plans, trips to alpine lakes or waterfalls, and a trip to the nearby Ouray Hot Springs and Pools.

Just steps away from off-the-map hiking trails and rugged backcountry hiking, Madeline is a great option if you’re looking for where to stay in Telluride for mountain adventure. Ask the concierge for some tips on finding the less-frequented trails that locals love, or hang around and see if you can chat with other hikers heading out themselves. If you’re extra friendly, you just might get some clues to finding Little Hawaii — a local spot where rock formations create cascading waterfalls amid towering trees.

Lumière’s luxurious boutique residences allow you to be independent like a local. Cook your own meals, come and go as you please and summon hotel services when you need them. Want dinner now? Lumière has hand-picked chefs for that. Call the front desk and book an in-residence spa treatment, or take advantage of the Black Tie ski-in/ski-out services, which fits you with gear from the comfort of your room and has you immersed in Telluride’s slopeside scene in seconds.

At Franz Klammer Lodge’s two- and three-bedroom residences, there’s a personalized service available as soon as you walk through the door. Take advantage of the pre-arrival vacation planning with the concierge team to know exactly where you’re going upon arrival. The lodge will even take care of pre-arrival grocery shopping for you and have your kitchen stocked, allowing you more time on the ground to mix and mingle.

Steps from the Telluride gondola, Camel’s Garden is a hub for locals and visitors coming off the mountain looking for a place to unwind and relax. Their restaurant, Oak, is loved for its outdoor patio for apres-ski, and serves brews from Telluride Brewing Co, microbrews, wine, and stick-to-your-ribs dishes like gumbo, mac and cheese, and pulled pork sliders. In winter for apres-ski, they also serve complimentary wine and cheese.

For more than a century, the Historic Bar at the New Sheridan Hotel on Main Street has been a favorite watering hole for locals and visitors alike in Telluride. Its mahogany bar with beveled and lead glass panels and brass chandeliers – dating from 1895 – create a cozy ambience that makes the perfect place to grab a cheap Jack Daniels or hear live music. The Historic Bar has the only commercial wood-burning fireplace in Telluride, and remains a staple for anyone planning mountain adventures.