Telluride with Kids – 8 Ways to Experience Telluride as a Family
Telluride is the Perfect Place to Visit as a Family
By Lisa Blake
Once you discover tucked-away Telluride’s box canyon magic, it keeps sprinkling whispers, calling you back for more serene seclusion and eye-popping outdoorsy goodness. If you have children, you know that wanderlusting magnetism is something that begs to be passed down.
Here, our quick guide to returning to Telluride with the kids. (And keeping that contagious mountain town awe alive!)
8 Ways to Experience Telluride as a Family
1. Soar on a Gondola Ride
Catch it from town or from Mountain Village. Either way, Telluride’s free gondola system is a visual treat. Each cabin floats through the air on a cable at 11 mph fueled by wind-powered electricity for 12 minutes of jaw-dropping scenery. Up for a challenge? Ride the gondola from town and then hike back down.
2. Hit Town Park
Grab picnic provisions (try Counter Culture or Baked in Telluride) and head to Town Park for the playground, sports fields and relaxed afternoon nap vibes. The river trail follows the San Miguel River, providing soothing spots to sprawl out while the kids play.
3. Hike Until Their Legs Give Out
Arguably the best way to take in this isolated corner of Colorado is by foot. Telluride is smattered with kid-friendly trails that deliver waterfall and valley-wide eyefuls. Bring snacks, sunscreen and lots of water and trek along Bear Creek Trail, an easy, scenic walk that ends at a waterfall, or the Jud Wiebe Trail for more of a challenge.
4. Visit the Telluride Adventure Center
In summer, the Mountain Village ski area transitions to a playground of choose-your-own-adventure outdoor activities. Kids love ziplining, rock climbing, and the bungee trampoline. Mountain biking, archery and fishing day camps are also available for kiddos ages 8 to 14.
5. Eat Your Way Down Colorado Avenue
Telluride’s main thoroughfare is lined with colorful shops and restaurants (and that iconic box canyon backdrop). Must-visits include Brown Dog Pizza for delicious slices and old school Pac-Man, The Butcher & The Baker for artisan baked goodies and a memorable Sunday brunch, and La Cocina de Luz for their chips and salsa bar and yummy tacos.
6. Hit a Fam-Friendly Festival
Introduce the kiddos to cinema, mushroom foraging, bluegrass and more at one of Telluride’s legendary festivals. You name it and there’s probably a festival surrounding the hobby or style of music. Fam favorites with interactive kids’ areas include the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the Telluride Balloon Festival and the Telluride Jazz Festival.
7. Visit the Telluride Farmers Market
The Telluride Farmers Market operates Thursdays June through October and is lined with smiling vendors selling everything from pies and flowers to heirloom tomatoes and Thai tea. Bonus: You can feel good about truly shopping local — everything sold at the market is produced within 100 miles of Telluride.
8. Discover All the Waterfalls
Telluride is surrounded by breathtaking waterfalls, and kids love exploring these natural wonders and feeling the mist on their faces. Make a day of it and hike or drive to Bridal Veil Falls (the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado), Cornet Falls, and Tomboy Falls.
We have loved discovering Telluride with our kids. It is a beautiful place to visit as a family and hope you find these tips helpful as you a plan a perfect getaway in this spectacular mountain town.
Stay in touch so you can make plans to visit one of our incredible communities and their exciting events: CLICK HERE
SPONSOR
MTN Town Media Productions | Celebrating the Colorado mountain lifestyle for over 14 Years
Copyright ©2025 MTN Town Media Productions, all rights reserved.
