Winter Thanksgiving Travel

We wanted to share some local tips and tricks to make your Thanksgiving trip to Telluride seamless. And your first few runs epic.

Getting here

Most travelers arrive at one of the regional airports (either Montrose or Cortez). They’re both about an hour and a half away, and we work with our friends over at Telluride Express to arrange transportation for you. They pick you and your gear up, and place you in a comfortable van, so you can enjoy the views on the way into Telluride. Of course, if you’re arriving at night, there won’t be views. But, there will be the safety and security provided by someone that’s familiar with the roads. So, either way, don’t worry. They’ve got your covered.

If you plan to drive to Telluride on your own, that’s a great option too! Parking can become more challenging in town during the winter months, since certain areas are reserved for snow storage and removal. But, don’t worry. We know all about it. So, give our office a call, 970-728-8838, if you have questions about parking.

What to bring

Your ski gear. If you don’t want to drag all your equipment from home, check out the gear rentals section of our website. We have several trusted partners in town. They also offer Latitude 38 guests a discount. So, when looking for skis, boots and poles, you don’t necessarily have to bring everything with you. Lighten your travel bags, and rent some equipment while you’re here.

And, lastly — bring your comfortable winter clothes. Proper winter footwear is a must. So, pack your waterproof, warm winter boots. You’ll need the tread to get around town, and, plus, you won’t want to slip while doing the snow dance.

Get out early

Then it’s just a matter of getting on the hill. Remember, Telluride is located at an elevation of 8,750 feet. So, we’re up high – with Mountain Village being even higher! The best way to prepare for the elevation is to stay hydrated. Unfortunately, elevation is an equal opportunity offender, so it may affect you this time when it didn’t in the past, or vice versa. Just drink lots of water, and avoid alcohol upon your arrival. Of course, we aren’t doctors, but that tends to be the local advice.

Wake-up early to take advantage of early Opening Day / Thanksgiving Day runs. Although folks have the best intentions of getting out on the hill early, few succeed. So, the best way to get in some fresh tracks is to get up early. The lifts start spinning at 9am. So, you’ll see some of the die-hards in line by 8:30am. With a turkey dinner with all the fixin’s on the menu for later, you probably want to start your ski day early and finish early. Because, after all, you don’t want to miss out on the good snow…or your turkey dinner!