Fall Adventures in Telluride and Ouray: Insane Trails, Gondola Rides, & Scenic Drives
This detailed guide is designed to help you plan the perfect Colorado fall weekend in Telluride and Ouray. Explore hikes, waterfalls, gondola rides, and golden aspens in the San Juan Mountains.
We took off Friday morning and returned Sunday at noon — just enough time to squeeze in some epic fall adventures. This trip was during the last weekend of September, right at peak foliage in western Colorado, when the San Juan Mountains glow gold with aspens.
If you’re based in Denver or elsewhere in Colorado and want to see fall colors from new heights, this guide gives you the perfect starting point.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Travel day
Drive to Telluride, CO
Camp in Telluride
Day 2: Telluride, CO
Telluride Via Ferrata
Bridal Veil Falls Trail
Downtown Telluride
Telluride Gondola
Drive to Ouray, CO
Day 3: Ouray, CO
KOA Campground in Ouray
Downtown Ouray
Cascade Falls Park and Perimeter Trail
Snap a photo at the “Switzerland of America” sign
Drive home via Kenosha Pass
Telluride, CO
Where to camp around Telluride
There are several designated campgrounds and dispersed campsites along Highway 145 near Telluride.
We stayed at Priest Lake Campground (pictured above) a beautiful first-come, first-serve campground with nine free dispersed sites, picnic tables, and fire pits. At only 30 minutes from town, it was the perfect base for an early morning start.
Here are some other campsites we considered in the area:
Alta Lakes Campground (dispersed)
Telluride Via Ferrata
The main event of our trip was this Via Ferrata, which had been on my Colorado bucket list for a while.
If you’re looking for fall things to do in Telluride that take adventure to the next level, this is for you.
I booked our guides through Mountain Trip, a Telluride based outdoor adventure company, where you can choose to hire a private guide or join one of their group sessions, which is what we did.
Length: About 5 miles from start to finish. That includes the hike up to the cliffs edge and back down.
Time: It took our group of 8 people about 4.5 hours to complete
Review: If you are afraid of heights this is probably not for you. I, personally, loved it. You are quite literally on the side of a cliff, with 400 ft below you, for about 1.5 miles.
I was surprised at how long it took to get to the start of the via ferrata, about 2 miles. There were also some sections that were very exposed and you were not clipped in.
The guides were very good and kept the safety of everyone on the forefront of their mind offering instruction, tips, and guidance when needed.
This hike offers such a unique vantage point of the San Juan Mountains fall colors.
I would recommend this trip to anyone in Colorado looking for a bit of thrill so make sure you add it to your Telluride fall itinerary.
Bridal Veil Falls
During our via ferrata trip, we actually hiked past Bridal Veil Falls — the tallest free falling waterfall in Colorado.
Unfortunately we didn’t have time to stick around, since it wasn’t part of the trip, so I’d recommend setting aside time to visit.
This trail is short, sweet, and offers unbeatable views of the falls and the colorful valley below.
Length: 2 mi
Elevation Gain: 859 ft
Time: 1.5 hr
Visit AllTrails to find more information about this hike here.
Downtown Telluride
Downtown Telluride feels like stepping into a postcard — it’s like you can practically reach out and touch the mountains.
We did a lap around the main street and then ate lunch at La Cocina de Luz, a laid-back spot with hearty Mexican food and a chip bar featuring a variety of different salsas you can sample.
Telluride Gondola
The Telluride Gondola is a free, 12 minute round trip ride where you’ll glide over glowing golden aspens with jaw-dropping mountain views.
This lift will take you from downtown Telluride up to Mountain Village where you get 360 degree views of the town and the surrounding area.
It’s such a unique way to experience the fall colors in Colorado.
Would recommend grabbing a warm beverage from the Coffee Cowboy after your ride (it’s right next to the gondola exit).
Ouray, CO
Camp at KOA Campground
I wanted to be sure we got a campsite our second night, so I planned ahead and reserved a site at a KOA campground in Ouray.
This was my first time staying at a KOA as an adult, and I must say, the amenities were kind of nice.
Especially after hiking all day, it was great having a shower and real bathrooms.
Our campsite wasn’t the best, since it was directly off of the main road, but it was fine.
Cascade Falls Park & Perimeter Trail
We toned it down in Ouray after the Via Ferrata adventure.
Cascade Falls Park is a quick, family-friendly stop right in town with a stunning waterfall backdrop.
If you’re looking for something longer, the Ouray Perimeter Trail is a local favorite that loops around town with sweeping views.
Either way, don’t leave Ouray without doing at least one hike!
I hope to return and do the Ice Lakes Trail.
Downtown Ouray
Ouray is as charming as it gets, and I hope I get to spend more time there next time I visit.
Similarly to Telluride, we didn’t spend a whole lot of time downtown.
We wandered the small downtown, browsed shops, and enjoyed breakfast at Kami’s Samis.
The “Switzerland of America” Sign
You can’t visit Ouray, CO without stopping at the most iconic sign in town.
Make sure you snap a photo at the iconic “Switzerland of America” sign before heading out.
It’s located just outside of downtown off of Million Dollar Highway.
Drive Kenosha Pass
If you’re driving east from Ouray to Denver, make sure you take highway 285, which will take you through Kenosha Pass.
Kenosha Pass is a very popular destination among leaf peepers who want to get up close to the golden Aspens during peak foliage season in Colorado.
It’s the perfect final send-off to a weekend full of fall colors.
Note that if you’re driving through the pass on the weekend in the fall you will likely get stuck in traffic.
If you’re planning a Colorado fall getaway, few places rival Telluride and Ouray.
Whether you’re chasing adventure, leaf-peeping, or simply looking for a unique weekend trip in Colorado, the San Juan Mountains deliver unforgettable fall memories.
So get ready for one of the most scenic autumn weekends Colorado has to offer.
