Hiking Trails Overview Chances are you can the type of trail you are looking for in Telluride. Trails leave in every direction and there is a wide variety of terrain, making it easy to find a hike to suits your needs. The scenery is always outstanding in Telluride, but most trails pass a waterfall, lake or river, and all reach spectacular scenic overlooks. Jed Wiebe Trail Trailhead: The trailhead starts at the north end of Aspen Street. • Distance: 3 miles round trip • Elevation Gain: 1,420 feet • Difficulty: Moderate • Trail Type: Loop The Jed Wiebe trail, named after a Forrest Service Recreation Manager that passed away in 1986, transverses the north hills of Telluride and has great views of town, the ski area, Bear Creek and the Wilson Range. It begins with a steep climb but mellows out into wide meadows and shady forest …a staple of Telluride hiking. Due to the steep ascent and the lack of available drinking water, this hike may not be suitable for young children or dogs. To simply reach Cornet Falls, go straight (instead crossing the bridge) and follow the creek .25 miles to falls. Deep Creek Trail • Distance: 6.5 miles • Elevation Gain: 1,940 feet • Difficulty: Easy to Moderate • Trail Type: Out and Back • Time: 4 – 5 Hours This is a good trail for early and late season hiking due to its southern exposure and lower elevation. There are some steep sections on either end of the trail. It is located almost entirely in aspen timber with a few scattered spruce and fir stands. The trail has panoramic views of the ski area and the San Juan Mountains. Waterfalls can be seen along the east end of the trail in the Mill Creek Basin. To get to the eastern trail access from Telluride drive west 1 mile on Highway 145 to Forest Service Road 637 (Mill Creek Road) near the Shell gas station. Turn right on Mill Creek Road and follow it approximately 1.5 miles to the Telluride Town reservoir. This is a high clearance road not recommended for passenger cars. There is parking near the reservoir. To get to the western access for this trail from Telluride drive west 2.5 miles on Highway 145 to Forest Road 638 (Last Dollar Road). Turn right on Last Dollar Road and follow the road for about 3 miles. Turn right to enter the trailhead parking lot. This can be access via Jed Wiebe a couple in from the Aspen Street Trailhead entrance. From the Jed Wiebe, the trail will take you west and end at Last Dollar Road. This trail receives heavy bike use. Hikers use caution. Bikers please yield to hikers and horses. Open to: hikers, horses and mountain bikers. Galloping Goose Trail • Distance: 16.5 miles one way • Elevation Gain: • Difficulty: Easy to Moderately Strenuous Sections • Trail Type: Out and Back Most of this trail follows the old Rio Grande Southern Railroad from Lizard Head Pass to Society Turn near Telluride. This route once had over 140 bridges and trestles, of which only one remains today. Incredible views of mountain peaks, old historic structures and scenic lakes and streams await those who venture out on this trail. Portions of this trail share forest and county roads. Other sections have steep grades and get light use. The trail is marked by the Galloping Goose logo beginning at Lizard Head Pass. This popular mountain biking trail can be done in sections or in its entirety. It offers a challenge without being overly technical. Most Telluride visitors will access Galloping Goose Trail near Lawson’s Hill just off of CO145, which is 3 miles west of town. There is an undeveloped parking area available. Just follow well marked signs. To get to the trailhead at Lizard Head Pass from Telluride drive about 3 miles to Highway 145 (Society Turn). Turn left heading south for about 11 miles to Lizard Head Pass. There is a rest area and interpretive site on the right side of the highway. The trailhead is on the left side of the highway on Forest Service Road 626. Open to: hikers, horses and mountain bikers. Sneffels High Line Trail • Distance: 12.7 miles loop • Elevation Gain: 3,380 feet • Difficulty: Strenuous • Trail Type: Loop This trail is one of the most challenging and rewarding day hikes in the area. It climbs up into the high country of the Mount Sneffels Wilderness above timberline. It passes by old cabin ruins, mines and streams. When planning this hike, get any early start to avoid afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. The eastern access for this trail is from the Jud Wiebe trailhead at the top of Aspen Street. Follow the Jud Wiebe uphill as it crosses a bridge and swings west ascending on a broad track. As you climb views open to downtown Telluride and the ski area across the valley. In 0.8 miles (670-ft. gain) go left at the Deep Creek (#418) trail junction. (Jud Wiebe turns right.) Cross Butcher creek and in about 300-ft. arrive at a second junction signed for the Sneffels Highline (#434) and Deep Creek (to the left). It is recommended to hike counter-clockwise, going right (north) at the Highline trail and returning via the Deep Creek Trail. While initially steeper, you will get over the high point in the trail early in the day before the onset of afternoon thunder storms, a frequent occurrence on summer afternoons in the Rockies Cornet Falls • Distance: 1.8 mile loop • Elevation Gain: 530 feet • Difficulty: Easy/Moderate • Trail Type: Loop Visible from Telluride's gondola, the 80-foot Cornet Falls is the town's most accessible cascade. Get a closer look at this photogenic landmark on a 0.9-mile hike north of downtown. Begin by heading north on Aspen Street to the Jud Wiebe Trailhead and continuing north on the right (east) side of Cornet Creek. Skip the left turn for the Jud Wiebe Trail and follow the narrower path alongside the creek, climbing a set of rock steps and several switchbacks that gain altitude faster than the creek itself. Cliffs on both sides of the ravine close-in at trail end where a great view of the water spilling over the rocky shelf awaits. Though the pool is small, a few hundred feet of scrambling over the scree field to the right will land you at the base of the 80-foot shower. If the water volume isn't bolstered by spring melts—or choked by summer heat—spend a minute cooling down underneath it before you turn around and head back to town. Bear Creek Trail This is one of the most popular Telluride hiking trails for people and their pups. The trail is wide, the grade is mild and there’s a dazzling waterfall to cap it off. Most people just walk this trail as an “out and back”. It is not uncommon to see young children on the trail, but you’ll likely need to take several rest stops along the way. Approximately ¾ of the way, you will come across an area where visitors and locals have created rock monuments, or Cairns. Consider grabbing a sack lunch from “The Brown Bag” café and eating at the waterfalls. Be sure to bring water. “Little Hawaii” Detour There is also a secret unmarked trail that the locals refer to as “Little Hawaii”. Approximately ¾ of mile into the trip, the trail will meander back to the edge of Bear Creek where you will find a high cliff overlooking a small canyon created by the creek. It will be past the map marker, but before you enter the first mountain meadow. Look back for a steep trail that leads down to the river. A hiking pole is recommended due to the slippery and steep trail. Walk up the river (and prepare for wet shoes) until you find a cascading waterfall and overhang carved out by the creek. Trailhead: Starts at the south end of Pine St • Distance: 2.5 miles one-way • Elevation Gain: 1,050 ft. • Difficulty: Easy to Moderate • Trail Type: Out and Back • 2 hours round trip Mystic Falls Mystic Falls is one of the hidden gems of Telluride located near the community of Ames. See driving directions in the Off Road – Self Guided section in the previous section. Take the trailhead to the left, which will wind behind the first unnamed falls about 100 yards and then you will find yourself on top of Mystic Falls on top of a narrow canyon. The hike down the canyon is well worth it and considered moderate/challenging, but manageable for most adults and older kids. Walking/Hiking sticks are highly recommended given the steep terrain. The trail will down the canyon and then fork off towards the river basin. Be sure to bring water, snacks, hiking poles and shift hiking shoes. Wasatch Trail • Distance: 12.3 miles (round trip) • Elevation: 8,800-ft. - 13,050-ft. • Elevation Gain: 4,250-ft. • Difficulty: strenuous Many people hike beautiful Bear Creek Canyon to the waterfall. Fewer continue beyond, up canyon on the Wasatch trail. The steep hike to the upper part of the canyon and into the Wasatch Basin is worth the effort. On the lower section of the Wasatch hikers are rewarded with dramatic views of the sculpted and highly eroded walls of the Bear Creek drainage. The upper section traverses beautiful flower-filled alpine meadows nestled in a narrow cirque beneath Wasatch Mountain and the San Joaquin Ridge before climbing to a 13,050-ft.