Having a nice gondola is not so unique, most big ski areas have been using gondolas to efficiently transport skiers and riders up hill for decades. But in Telluride, the gondola is one-of-a-kind as it serves not only as a lift for skiers and riders but also as a means of transportation between Telluride and Mountain Village. This free and environmentally conscious public transportation system is the first one of its kind in North America.
The gondola hours of operation are between 7 am and midnight during the winter and summer seasons. The station in the town of Telluride is located on Oak Street near Chairlift 8 and TelSki ticket office. From there after 1,750 feet of elevation gain, the gondola brings you to San Sophia mid-mountain station sitting at 10,500 feet above the sea level. This station is a perfect gateway to skiing, hiking and mountain biking it is also right at the door steps of Telluride's famous Allred's Restaurant and San Sophia Nature Center. The next stop of the Telluride free gondola is Mountain Village Station. The last leg of the gondola ride starts at Gondola Plaza in Mountain Village and takes the rides to Station Village Perking, which is conveniently located near the free parking garage, Mountain Village Town Hall, the post office and Mountain Market grocery store.
Needless to say, Telluride's free gondola is one of the town's most popular attractions. The 13-minute ride provides breathtaking, 360-degree views of the San Juan Mountains, Telluride canyon and the nearby mesas. This gondola ride provides visitors with a true front row nature viewing experience as wildlife is often spotted from the gondola cars. Deer, elk, different species of birds and even bears are frequently seen, especially early in the morning and at dusk.
Telluride's gondola is more than a tourist attraction. Moving with about 11 miles per hour, it provides an efficient way for locals who live in Telluride to go to work, saving them on gas, helping with the perennial ski town problem of parking, and also helps keep exhaust levels down in the canyon.
A view from the Telluride gondola as it ascends toward Mountain Village. Photo by Terry Foote, CC BY-SA 3.0
