Telluride Regional Trail Networks
The Telluride Region has seven cross-country ski venues.
Telluride Nordic Associations maintains and grooms trails at Priest Lake, Trout Lake and the M59 River Trail between Silver Pick Road and Deep Creek.
Trout Lake and Priest Lake/ Matterhorn are multi-use trails. We encourage all users to respectfully share the track. Grooming for Nordic skiing takes immense time and resources, please respectfully preserve the quality of the skiing. Walkers and snowshoers, please stay to the outside of the classic track. Please always preserve the classic track.
The Town of Telluride maintains trails on the Valley Floor. Telluride Mountain Village maintains the multi-use trails in the Mountain Village. Telluride Ski Resort maintains the Top-a-ten Nordic trails.
Telluride Nordic Association utilizes TRAFx trail counters to monitor user days at trails groomed by TNA. Trail use data is used for trail management planning and support for grant funding.
The Priest Lake trails are located 12.5 miles south of Telluride, on the east side of Highway 145, just past the Matterhorn Campground. The trailhead is at the Forest Service facility about 500 yards past the campground entrance. These trails feature a variety of interconnected loops over rolling terrain.
Parking: Public Parking is available at the Priest Lake parking lot at the trailhead.
Dogs: The USFS has approved the designation of dog-friendly trails at Priest Lake. Dogs are welcome on designated dog-friendly trails with direct and constant owner supervision and control. Look for new trail signage at the Priest Lake trailhead and along the designated route. Please always respect other skiers and have your dog under control. Please clean up after your pet!
Multi-use: Priest Lake is a multi-use area. We ask that all users respect other uses. Walkers & snowshoers, please stay to the outside of the classic track. Fat Bikes should not be used on trails at Priest Lake.
Priest Lake
Trout Lake
The Trout Lake Railroad Grade is distinguished by consistently receiving significantly more snow than any other Nordic trail in the region. It is always the first and last trail skiable for the season.
Parking: Skiers are encouraged to access the trail from the top of Lizard Head Pass. Doing so reduces the impacts of traffic and maintenance on Trout Lake Road for Trout Lake residents. Limited parking is available at the USFS rest station at the top of the Pass. When using the lower trailhead, please remember to observe the 10 mph speed limit on Trout Lake Road.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on the Trout Lake RR Grade with direct and constant owner supervision and control. Please always respect other skiers and have your dog under control. Please clean up after your pet!
Multi-use: Trout Lake is a multi-use area. We ask that all users respect other uses. Walkers & snowshoers, please stay to the outside of the classic track. Fat Bikes should not be used on trails at Trout Lake.
Telluride Town Park
Just outside the doors of the Nordic Center, you will find three kilometers of immaculately groomed trail winding through Telluride Town Park. This is the perfect place to take a lesson. Contact the Nordic Center at 728-1144 to book lessons, schedule a tour or for information about Nordic skiing and events.
Parking: is available in Telluride Town Park lots.
Dogs: Check the map for dog friendly trails.
The Valley Floor
Skiers of all levels enjoy 15 kilometers of rolling, open terrain on Telluride’s valley floor. Trails originate at the west end of town at the corner of Mahoney and Pacific Street. There is a track specially set for snow bikes. The Valley Floor is maintained by the Town of Telluride and Telluride open space commission.
Parking is available on Mahoney Drive, or ample parking is available at Carhenge, just one block away.
Dogs: are not allowed on Valley Floor Nordic trails.
Please note the uses allowed on the different color-coded trails shown on the map. Mountain bikers, hikers and snowshoers are allowed only on the designated multi-use trails.
M59 River Trail
The River Trail follows the old Railroad Grade along the south side of Highway 145 between Silverpick Road and the highway maintenance barn at Deep Creek. The trail is groomed with double classic tracks when there is adequate snow cover. Skate skiing is not allowed on this trail.
Parking: Parking is available at the pull-out off of Silverpick Road at the west end of the trail.
Dogs: Skiers with dogs are encouraged to use Trout Lake. Marginal snow cover along the River Trails makes it much more challenging to maintain classic tracks in good condition.
TopAten Snowshoe & Nordic Area
Located at the Top of Lift 10, the Top-a-ten Snowshoe and Nordic Area offer 10 kilometers of groomed, rolling trails that lead nordic skiers and snowshoers through high alpine forests and magical open meadows. The serene trails offer breathtaking views of Prospect Bowl, Palmyra Peak and the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Advanced skiers and snowshoers can continue outside the boundary of the ski area to Alta Lakes on National Forest trails.
A warming teepee, picnic deck and restrooms are open to the public daily. For daily grooming status, find Boomerang Loop, Magic Meadows Loop and Lynx Loop under the “Sunshine Express” section of Snow Report’s Trails & Grooming tab. Trails marked with a “G” were groomed within the past 24 hours.
Parking: Parking is available in free or paid parking lots in Mountain Village.
Dogs: Dogs cannot access Top-a-ten via the chairlift.
Access: Top-a-Ten can be accessed via charlift during operating hours, a $25 pass can be purchased at any Telluride Ski Resort ticket window. Skiers are also allowed to access the resort via up-hill access on the Chair 10 terrain, excluding the Sundance run.
Helpful links:
TopATen
Mountain Village grooms almost eight miles of winter trails to create a quality surface for as many users as possible. Trails accommodate skiers, hikers, snowshoers and bikers. Mountain Village asks that foot and bike traffic stays to the sides of the trails, off the classic grooves.
Parking: Parking is available in free or paid parking lots in Mountain Village.
Dogs: Dogs are allowed on Mountain Village Nordic and Snowshoe trails.
Mountain Village’s winter trails are located on the Telluride Ski & Golf Company’s golf course. These trails reach into Mountain Village Center and extend out to the Mountain Village entrance.
Please review the Mountain Village Nordic and Snowshoe Trails Map to help navigate the trail system.
Mountain Village
