Why Fall is best time to visit Telluride

"Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons." This quote by Jim Bishop, cannot describe Telluride, Co. any better than it does in the fall, when the yellow aspens along the San Juan Mountains burst with extraordinary, splendid color.

If you love the Technicolor scenery but want a quieter experience with fewer people, the outdoors combined with a few fall festivals, here are a few reasons why you should plan a visit to Telluride in the fall.

The magnificent foliage, with sunny (but not blazing hot) days are perfect for a lazy drive and your favorite tunes on the car stereo. This year, meteorologists are predicting an early peak of fall colors (depending on the elevation and
specific region) in first couple of weeks in October for the southern mountains, so you might want to snag a
convertible the moment you land at Telluride airport. Here is a foliage map predictor.

A couple of incredible scenic drives are The San Juan Skyway- a stunning 236-mile loop through the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. A highlight of this trip is the Million Dollar Highway, a 70-mile long stretch of sweeping vistas and shimmering color. For a more rugged out-of-the-way drive, rent a high clearance vehicle and take the Last Dollar Road, one of Colorado’s most scenic roads connecting Ridgway to Telluride through the San Juan National Forest, with views of Wilson Peak and Greyhead. Or, grab your camera and take the free Mountain Village gondola (only open until October 21) and get incredible 365-degree views of the San Juan mountains from that vantage point.

An outdoor lover’s dream

Telluride weather in autumn provides the ideal temperatures to get in some outdoor exercise, here’s a laidback trail for leaf-peepers. The San Miguel River Trail is an easy, flat, nearly four-mile walk that follows the San Miguel River through the length of the town. Enjoy views of the box canyon or cruise along the three-mile Telluride bike path on a mountain bike, a paved path connecting Telluride to Lawson Hill. As you meander along Telluride’s valley floor, which has been intentionally preserved to be forever wild and undeveloped, you might even see a herd of deer
or elk.

Beyond the foliage, there are two outstanding film and speaker festivals to catch in October. The first-ever Original Thinkers Festival will be held October 4 through 7, highlighting artists, speakers and films. Launched by former Mountainfilm festival director, David Holbrooke, this curated festival celebrates and melds art, ideas and films into an unforgettable four-day experience with 10 shows featuring top-flight speakers and films.  For aficionados of a darker genre, the Telluride Horror Show spanning October 12 to 14, provides attendees with 20 feature films, more than 50 short films, and special programs featuring an eclectic mix of horror, suspense, thriller, dark fantasy, sci-fi and dark comedy.

As the quaking aspens seem to say when they shimmer in the wind, this is the time to take in the high-altitude mountain air, slow down, and enjoy all the beauty that the area offers.

For more great ideas on how to enjoy Telluride’s four seasons contact SilverStar Telluride Luxury Rentals at 970-728-3001 or online.