Telluride Spring Ski Trip... March 14th, 15th, & 16th.

[Tonyr]

Resort or Ski Area

Telluride

Date

Mar 14, 2026

Snow Conditions

1. Packed Powder
2. Slush or Spring Snow

We've been to Telluride a few times in the summer but have only skied here on one occasion during the winter time about 5 years ago, a week before Christmas, when only 55% to 60% of the terrain was open. Had a blast back then but have always wanted to ski here again when more terrain was open.

Since we all have the Epic pass this year Crested Butte and Telluride were both resorts we wanted to return to and when Crested Butte was showing much worse conditions at this point in time, we made the quick pivot and came back here instead.

It's always a nightmare getting to Telluride and I won't go into those details on this trip but we ended up at the mountain today at 1pm and skied until 3.30. My son and I started out on the Telluride side and lapped the new Plunge lift a few times with the highlight being the unmarked trees on both sides of Kant-Mak-M...



Today was perfect spring conditions, sunny and 50 degrees, the snow was packed powder and we didn't hit any patches of ice. The mountain was over 85% open too but there were still lots of bald patches in certain areas of the resort.

We ducked the rope on Buzz Glades and should not have done that. Had to pop our skis off and slide down some rocks on 40 degree plus, pitched terrain...


The plan will be to stick to the Mountain Village side over the next two days. I wasn't incredibly impressed with the Telluride side other then the views. That side has a long sustained steep pitch but the layout of the glades on the Telluride side of the mountain is awkward.

It feels to me like a watered down version of the Temerity section at Aspen Highlands and in my opinion the Temerity lift and the surrounding terrain is superior to the Plunge lift terrain.

In any event we finished off our last run today on what I think is the best Intermediate trail in the United States, See Forever. The views coming down that run are stunning. This is how the views looked the first time we skied it 5 years ago in December...

And this is how the views looked today...

The photo was much better 5 years ago with more snow!

 

[Tonyr]

One other interesting note to add. I've been told that the inspiration for the Coor Light mountain on it's can/bottle was this particular mountain range seen from the Mountain Village side of Telluride...

Do you see the similarities?...

 

[Tonyr]

Yes Ed, I had the same problem with photo uploads. In the last year or so Google started making it's photo images larger and this site couldn't upload the bigger data. I downloaded and bought this app for around 20 bucks and it solved the issue....



It takes an extra step or two to upload photos here using that app but it will solve your issue. I create a Google photos album of the pictures I like for the day then compress them all before I post here. I hope this is helpful.

 

[jimk]

I did a dirt walk like that at Red River, NM one time. Don't remember ducking a rope, but son and I started down what looked like great coverage and after 500 yards turned into steep and 50% dirt trail. But I think you're situation topped mine

 

[Tonyr]

I did a dirt walk like that at Red River, NM one time. Don't remember ducking a rope, but son and I started down what looked like great coverage and after 500 yards turned into steep and 50% dirt trail. But I think you're situation topped mine

Well either way, we were all lucky not to get hurt. Once you start sliding down steep rocks it's very hard to stop. We used this little section of snow to slow us down, below that area became skiable again...

Definitely going to be very careful the next two days jumping into things. There are rock patches all over the place on the steepest terrain here along the ridge between the Gold Hill Express and Apex lifts.

 

[Tonyr]

The weather stayed below freezing overnight and throughout the morning so we got a late start hoping the snow would soften up but it didn't. We were out from 11 am until 2 pm, the ungroomed snow was crusty and the groomers were bulletproof.

Based on our experience yesterday, we cautiously did a few runs in the trees off the Gold Hill Express lift...


Hit the Revelation Bowl which felt like a skating rink so that was a one and done...

Then mostly stuck to groomers the rest of our time out today. It's supposed to be a little warmer tomorrow so hopefully the snow softens. Here are the rest of my better photos, it was an East Coast conditions day in Telluride on the 15th...

 

[jimk]

Tony I see very low trail traffic, that's a plus. You've got a major resort all to yourself.
For snow comparison, look at this photo I took in early April 2019 from Gold Hill Chute #1:

 

[Tonyr]

Tony I see very low trail traffic, that's a plus. You've got a major resort all to yourself.
For snow comparison, look at this photo I took in early April 2019 from Gold Hill Chute #1:
View attachment 68346

True and I like the positive attitude, although I've never waited in line skiing at Telluride! This is how Gold Chute 1 looked today from the top of the Revelation lift...

Early April 2026 is going to look much different from 2019! Interestingly enough, Alpino Vino has been impossible to get into the last two days. We are going to take our third and final shot at it tomorrow.

 

[Tonyr]

Finished up our last day in Telluride on March the 16th. The snow was firm but much better today versus yesterday. Got out from 11 am until 1.30 and made our way directly over to the Prospect Express lift which was really the last area of the mountain we haven't skied outside of all the hike to terrain.

We started out by doing the less then 5 minute hike towards the first 3 chutes on the hike up to Palmyra Peak....


I give anyone a ton of credit who hikes up to the top of Palmyra Peak which is the peak pictured in front of my skis. We were out of breath within the first 5 minutes. I couldn't imagine doing this hike for an hour and a half to the top!

We instead dropped into the Crystal Chute which is the second run up the hike and that was good enough for us. Looking down the Crystal chute, you can see the Gold Hill chutes across the way, they are toast for the season...


We did a few more laps off the Prospect lift in some marked and unmarked trees which were great...

Then made our way over to the Apex lift which is one of my favorite sections of the mountain to do some laps. The lift is slow but the terrain in this area is great. The trees to the skiers right of Giants Steps are the best...


We ended the day skiing down the frontside into the town of Telluride...

The weather wasn't perfect over the last three days but we had a wonderful time nonetheless. When Telluride is firing on all cylinders snow wise, this is one of the best places to ski in North America. I hope you enjoyed the report!

 

[abc]

Well, this kills whatever remaining of my motivation to head out west for Easter.

(I have the time off. But the snow condition out west doesn’t warrant the expense. I can ski “firm” condition and rock slides in the northeast)

 

[Tonyr]

If you have the Epic pass, Stowe or Whistler looks like they will be the places to ski over Easter Weekend...

 

[Tonyr]

Also we struck out on Alpino Vino during our trip. Skied up to the restaurant 3 times over our 3 day visit and they were fully booked each day we tried for a seat. We never waited in line for a lift the 3 days but couldn't get a seat here!

This is the highest full service restaurant in the United States, and definitely worth a visit if you can get a spot, Alpino Vino is accessible off of the Gold Hill Express lift...

 

[zaragoodwin]

One other interesting note to add. I've been told that the inspiration for the Coor Light mountain on it's can/bottle was this particular mountain range seen from the Mountain Village side of Telluride...
View attachment 68316
Do you see the similarities?...





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View attachment 68317

Great photos, bro. Hope you're having a great time!