Guided Hiking Tours in Telluride, Colorado

Top three reasons to go hiking in Telluride

Explore the remnants and ghost towns of an old mining outpost
A unique trek through diverse landscapes rich in history and wildlife
Experience the best of Colorado’s natural beauty in a remote setting

Tucked up a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains and surrounded by 13,000-foot sandstone walls, Telluride is a place oozing with character. Once a renowned mining outpost established by fortune-seekers in search of precious metals, this small town used to house more millionaires per capita than New York City. But with the downfall of the mining industry, Telluride turned into a ghost town of shuttered mines and empty streets. It wasn’t until the 1970s that people discovered a way out in the form of another natural resource—the mountains. Finding a new lease on life, Telluride transformed into a world-class ski resort and coveted hiking destination. Its hanging valleys and alpine ridges invite outdoor lovers to explore the tremendous views, wildflower-dotted hills and lingering remnants of the area’s mining history hidden deep in the landscape!

Season September through October	Nearest city Grand Junction is 2.5-hours away
Duration 1 day	Skill level Intermediate to advanced

Choose how you spend your day

This half-day trek through Telluride’s wondrous mountain landscape is designed to give visitors who don’t have a lot of time on their hands a real taste of Colorado hiking. Enjoy the scenic trails that begin in this historic town and unravel deep in the enchanting bosom of San Juan!

A full day of hiking in Telluride is the best way to experience the astonishing natural beauty of the San Juan Mountains and the fascinating history woven into the fabric of this former mining town. With a local guide versed in the area’s rugged terrain at your side, this enthralling trek will sweep you off your feet!

Meet your guide

Mountain Trip

Mountain Trip has a lot of experience leading teams of climbers on the Seven Summits. Their professional certified guides are thoroughly familiar with each destination. They’ve been guiding climbers in Denali and the Alaska Range since 1973 and were one of the original permitted concessionaires for leading guided expeditions in the Park, and they’ve grown to help more climbers ascend Denali than any other guide service!

Reviews (4)

Best help we found in telluride!!

Sarah M. about Mountain Trip on Tripadvisor

Todd was great and helped us Florida tourists out with questions about the area’s mountains and trails. You can tell he is very knowledgeable about hiking in the area. He got us hooked up with the right gear and was too kind to us. I would definitely recommend to anyone to go to see Todd at Mountain Trip in Telluride.

Telluride Via Ferrata

Aleah K. about Mountain Trip on Tripadvisor

We did the Via Ferrata in Telluride. Our guide was Jeff! He is incredible. Jeff was professional, had so much knowledge about the area and we felt safe hiking with him. He was encouraging, helpful, and easy to talk to! Highly recommend booking your Mtn Trip with him. The Via Ferrata itself was an amazing experience. The views were unreal with the yellow aspens and overlooking Telluride.

Thanks again, Jeff! We had a great time!!

A fantastic hike up Wilson Peak with Eric

Nicole about Mountain Trip on Tripadvisor

We did a hike up Wilson peak with Eric as our guide. He was a phenomenal guide and made sure we were safe and secure the entire way up and down the route. We had a great day! It was our first 14er and we could not have done it without his expertise. We highly recommend mountain trip and Eric as a guide.

Beautiful experience in Telluride on the Via Ferrata

April H. about Mountain Trip on Tripadvisor

Had a wonderful hike and Via Ferrata experience with JC. Bridal Veil Falls was gorgeous then onto the climb. Had my 17 and 20 year old daughters with me. It definitely wasn’t for the faint of heart!

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Telluride please refer to the official San Miguel County COVID-19 Information & Resources website.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get on this adventure:

- An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- A half or full day of hiking depending on your chosen itinerary
- Snacks for full-day trips
- All necessary protective equipment
- Unlimited pre-trip access to Mountain Trip’s office resources

What’s not included:

- Transportation
- Food and drinks
- Hiking clothes
- Accommodation

The best thing about hiking in Telluride is that there are incredible options for all skill levels. For beginner hikes, if you can walk for four to six hours with little elevation gain, you are good to go! Intermediate hikes will see a little more change in elevation and hikes will start to increase in length, hiking anywhere between four to eight miles. Advanced hikes are full day treks with steep descents and challenging switchbacks. Keep in mind, the weather in summer can be very hot and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
- Spare clothes for layering
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and prices:

- For the private adventures, the usual client to guide ratio is 4:1.
- The cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to hike with friends and family!

Hiking in Telluride can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Telluride is a very remote town, so the quickest way there is flying. Only a few airlines fly directly into town, while others usually offer flights to nearby Cortez and Montrose. It’s a 1.5-hour drive from both towns to Telluride, while Grand Junction is only 2.5 hours away.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

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