1 Day in Telluride With Your Dog: How to Plan Your Trip

After two nights camping near Aspen at Maroon Bells and a full day driving the Million Dollar Highway, we ended our fall San Juan Mountains road trip in Telluride the week of September 21-24. We only had one day and one night here, and it was enough to make Telluride our favorite mountain town in Colorado. If you are planning a trip, give Telluride at least one full day, but we quickly learned that two days is even better. One day in Telluride let us see the highlights, but a second day would have given us time to hike Bridal Veil Falls, explore other trails and slow down in town. Trust us, you will wish you had more.

Our 1 Day in Telluride at a Glance

• Morning: Bridal Veil Falls viewpoint
• Late morning: Free gondola to every stop
• Afternoon: Downtown shops with Tira
• Heading home: A stop in downtown Ouray

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Visiting Telluride in Fall

Fall is one of the most beautiful times to visit Telluride. The aspens usually start turning in mid September, peak around the last week of September and fade by the second week of October, though the timing shifts a little every year. Check the Visit Telluride fall foliage updates before you go.

We did not quite catch Telluride at its peak. Most of the aspens were still green, but seeing some golden aspens mixed in was still so nice, especially with fog rolling over the mountains. If you are chasing full color, aim for the last week of September.

For easy fall views with your dog, ride the free gondola up to San Sophia Station, which climbs over aspen covered slopes, and take your time on the Dallas Divide on the drive into town.

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Getting to Telluride

Telluride sits in a box canyon surrounded by peaks on three sides. From Ouray, head north to Ridgway, then take CO 62 over the Dallas Divide and CO 145 into town. The drive takes about an hour and 15 minutes, and the Dallas Divide views are worth a pullout or two.

We came in after driving the Million Dollar Highway from Ouray to Silverton and back. We skipped Ophir Pass because of the weather, but the paved route through Ouray was beautiful anyway.

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Bridal Veil Falls Viewpoint

We got up early and drove to the Bridal Veil Falls trailhead parking lot, just past the end of town. You can see the falls from the lot, with the historic Bridal Veil Power Station sitting right at the top. The power station was built in 1907 and still generates electricity for Telluride today. It is private property, so enjoy it from a distance. On the drive in, look up and to the left of Bridal Veil and you can also spot Ingram Falls, spilling out of a basin more than 2,000 feet above town.

We opted out of hiking this time. It rained the night before, and we did not want to risk a muddy or slippery trail. Instead, we took in the views and photos right from the parking area.

Tip: Get there early. Parking is limited, and as we were leaving, a line of cars was pulling in looking for spots. We also wish we had started even earlier, since we still wanted time for the gondola and town. Next time we are in Telluride, we are hiking to the base of the falls for sure. Want a guided option instead? Browse Telluride tours on GetYourGuide.

If you want to hike: The hike goes to the base of the falls, about 1.2 miles one way with a steady, rocky climb. You cannot hike to the top of the falls, since the power station up there is private property. The trail is dog friendly on leash. Start in the morning, since afternoon storms are common in the mountains.

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Where to Park in Downtown Telluride

After the falls, we drove back into town and found metered street parking on a side street near the Telluride sign. Meters in the downtown area allow up to three hours, which was just enough time for the gondola and shopping. But if you need more time you can always extend your reservation

Parking tips for downtown Telluride:

• Downtown meters take cash or cards and are enforced from 8am to 6pm, so parking is free in the evening.
• For free all day parking, use the Carhenge Parking Lot at 700 W Pacific Ave on the west end of town. It is about a 10 minute walk to downtown, or you can hop on the free Galloping Goose bus.
• Take the first spot you find. Downtown parking is limited, so it is not worth circling the block for a closer one.

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Riding the Free Telluride Gondola

The Telluride gondola is free, and it is one of the best things to do in town and especially in the fall. It connects downtown Telluride with Mountain Village and runs daily from 6:30am to midnight for most of the year, with short closures in spring and fall for maintenance. In 2026, summer service runs through October 25 and winter service starts November 20, so check the schedule before you go. We were curious, so we got off at every stop:

Telluride Station

 The base station at the top of Oak Street, just a short walk from downtown.

San Sophia Station

Our favorite stop. San Sophia is the mid mountain station, sitting at 10,540 feet, with a lot of hiking trails starting right from the station. A short, easy path leads past the Nature Center to the San Sophia Overlook, which is where we took photos of downtown Telluride and the peak in front of us. Fog was rolling over the mountains while we were there, and it was so beautiful. The aspens were not at peak yet, so only a few were golden, but the views were still amazing.

Mountain Village

We did not realize the gondolas were connected, so this was a fun surprise. Mountain Village has its own plazas, shops and restaurants, and it is worth getting off to walk around. You can also stay in Mountain Village as an option, with the gondola taking you right into town.

Market Plaza

From Mountain Village Station, a second, shorter gondola continues to Market Plaza. This stop has the Mountain Market grocery store, a parking garage and Town Hall. It is handy if you are staying in Mountain Village, but you can skip it if you are short on time. We stopped here out of curiosity and thought the idea of taking a gondola to pick up groceries was pretty cool.

Riding the Gondola With Your Dog

Dogs are welcome on the gondola in the pet cabins, which have paw prints on the outside. Just look for the paws as the cabins come around.

Tip for nervous pups: Tira was a little scared of getting on, so one of us hopped in first and he followed right behind. If your dog is unsure, try the same thing. Having their person already inside makes a big difference.

Exploring Downtown Telluride With Your Dog

After riding the gondola back down, we spent the afternoon exploring downtown. Telluride is one of the most dog friendly towns we have visited. Most shops welcomed Tira inside, and there are water bowls along Main Street.

Dog friendly shops we loved:

1. Sit, Stay, Shop!

A thrift shop run by Second Chance Humane Society, with curated clothing, jewelry, art, sporting goods and collectibles. Every purchase helps support local animal welfare programs, which made it extra special to shop with Tira.

2. Telluride Toggery

The longest standing store in town, family owned since 1972. Stop here for clothing, Telluride souvenir tees and sweatshirts, and vintage Telluride apparel you will not find anywhere else.

3. Dirt Dawg Co.

A local pet shop on Colorado Avenue with food, treats and gear for mountain pups, plus grooming and a self serve dog wash. We picked up treats for Tira here, and the dog wash is handy if your pup gets muddy on the trails.

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Heading Home Through Ouray

There was so much more we wanted to see in Telluride, but we had a long drive ahead of us, so we said goodbye and hit the road. On the way home, we took a short detour to Ouray. We had already hiked the Ouray Perimeter Trail on an earlier trip, but this was our first time actually exploring the town, and we loved walking around downtown. It is a charming little town with historic buildings and mountains on every side, and a perfect place to stretch your legs before the long drive.

Ouray is small and easy to explore on foot with a dog. The Shaggy Coo, a tiny shop full of curiosities, was so welcoming to Tira, and the owners were really nice. Not every shop in town is dog friendly, though, so ask before walking in with your pup.

Need a restroom stop? Use the Ouray Visitor Center or Fellin Park, both on the north end of town near the Ouray Hot Springs Pool.

Want to stay in town? Ouray makes a great base for the Million Dollar Highway and nearby hikes. Find pet friendly stays in Ouray: Expedia | Vrbo

On the way out, we did some thrift shopping at the Second Chance Thrift Store in Ridgway, run by the same humane society as Sit, Stay, Shop! in Telluride. Jam found a few things, and it was another easy dog friendly stop.

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What We Would Do Next Time

One day in Telluride gave us a taste, and we are already planning a return trip. Next time, we want to:

• Hike to the base of Bridal Veil Falls
• Explore more trails from town and San Sophia Station
• Spend more time shopping and eating downtown
• Time our trip closer to peak fall colors

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Tips for Visiting Telluride

• Give it at least one full day. Two is even better if you want to hike.
• Start early. Popular spots like the Bridal Veil Falls parking lot fill up fast.
• Check the weather. Rain can make trails muddy and slippery, so have a backup plan.
• Bring layers. It is much colder at the top of the gondola than in town.
• Bring your dog! Telluride is one of the most pet friendly towns in Colorado.

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