Explore The Non-Skiing Recreational Activities At Telluride Gay Ski Week
Not just for skiers, Telluride Gay Ski Week invites everyone to celebrate the magic of wintertime in the San Juan Mountains. Home to activities like ice skating, snowshoeing, fat tire biking, horseback rides, snowmobiling and more, the world famous mountain town has something for every type of outdoor enthusiast. Not a fan of the outdoors? Try a cooking class with Bravo TV’s Top Chef Eliza Gavin, a spa treatment at the award-winning Peaks Resort, a historical walking tour led by a longtime local expert or a shopping trip through downtown Telluride. Explore the non-skiing activities and join us for a fun winter experience in the heart of the Rockies.
Cooking Class With Bravo TV’s Top Chef Eliza Gavin
Learn her cooking techniques, trade secrets and sample amazing appetizers. Wines of the world will be paired with the appetizers to allow a full understanding of the delicate balance of wine pairing.
Wednesday, February 28 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm at 221 S Oak Restaurant
Learn how to cook appetizers, finger foods and canapes and pair them with wine. The classes feature a minimum of 12 dishes and 10 wines—usually it’s quite a bit more. The fee for the class is $250 per student (prices may vary with the busy season). Please email Eliza at 221southoak@gmail.com to sign up for this course.
Free Historical Walking Tour
Step into the celebrated and storied past with the Telluride Historical Museum
Wednesday, February 28 from 2:30 - 4:00 pm
The Historical Museum will host the walking tour allowing attendees to explore the unique history of this charming mountain town. Attending the tour and exploring the museum is great way to discover the rich mining, Ute Native American, ski and festival history that has earned the town the designation of a National Historical Landmark.
Interested in participating? Reserve your spot now! Participants are encouraged to arrive to the Museum at 2:30 pm ready to explore the museum for a half hour and then do a few blocks of walking and about an hour of standing.
Ashley Boling
Ashley Boling has lived in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado since 1990. He is an active skier, paddler, mountain biker, hiker, camper, and loves all outdoor sports. Ashley has worked for many nonprofits in various capacities and is very involved with many Telluride festivals. He is a DJ with local radio station KOTO, has been a morning television show host, appeared in television and film, and has acted in numerous stage productions. He traveled behind the Iron Curtain: when there was one.
Lava Flow Yoga Classes
This infrared-heated class is vigorous, challenging and fun!
All levels are welcome to this 60-minute practice!
Infrared panels set to about 95 degrees provide a wide range of benefits including, detoxification, pain relief, reduction of muscle tension, relaxation, improved circulation, skin purification, boosted immune system response and lowering of blood pressure. A powerful vinyasa flow will bring balance and strength to the entire body and mind.
Adam Cudoc
Adam’s exploration into yoga began in Rock Creek, Ohio with the most basic versions of the asana that soon became part of his lifestyle. As he discovered yoga, he learned about himself; changed his lifestyle and embraced healthy living with gusto! Adam completed his 200 hour teacher training at Telluride’s Mangala Yoga and ever since has been busy with teaching and continued training. Join Adam for a joy-filled, playful and intentional lava flow practice - all levels welcome.
Snow Shoeing
Explore hidden areas of the resort!
Save 30% and book over the phone to explore the local flora, fauna and captivating natural world with an expert naturalist.
When the whole gang wants to go for a walk in the woods, don’t let the deep powder stop you! Snowshoes offer the freedom to explore many snow-covered places. Easy to learn and fun to do, snowshoeing is an activity for all ages. Choose between a leisurely sightseeing outing or an uphill trek for the perfect cardio workout. Guided adventures are available from outfitters.
Tours are designed to accommodate all ability levels. Please meet your guide at the bottom of the gondola stairs in Mountain Village across from Chair 4 at 9:45 a.m. They will be wearing a green jacket near our snowshoe rack and should be hard to miss!
Group Tours depart from the meeting area at 10am sharp, and return at approximately 1:30pm.
Nordic/Cross Country Skiing
Need a break from the downhill? Cross country skiing offers a change of scenery and a great workout.
Need a break from the downhill? Cross country skiing offers a change of scenery and a great workout. Try the groomed tracks in Telluride Town Park, on the Valley Floor, on the golf course in Mountain Village, at Trout and Priest Lakes and on the ski resort.
Telluride Nordic Center in Town Park is a great resource for trail conditions, lessons and gear rentals.
Ice Skating
Lace up your skates and do your best Michelle Kwan or Wayne Gretsky impersonation ice skating at high altitude!
In Telluride Town Park, there’s a professional-grade indoor hockey rink as well as an outdoor rink. Or head up to the Madeline Hotel’s delightful outdoor rink in the Mountain Village Center. Ice skate rentals are available at both locations. Admission and Skate Rental is $15 for the day. Free if using your own skates.
Snowmobiling Tours
Get your motor running on an extensive network of trails and explore stunning landscapes, ghost towns and relics from Telluride’s mining days.
Save 10% off with discount code: GaySkiWeek
Get your motor running on an extensive network of trails that has created a snowmobiler’s paradise. Explore stunning landscapes, as well as ghost towns and relics from Telluride’s mining days. Telluride Outfitters offers half-day or full-day tours for all abilities. Half-day, Full-day and advanced opportunities are all available.
Spa Day
Take a break from the slopes and relax your muscles with spa treatments, soothing, heated pool, steam room and a hot tub.
To make a spa appointment at The Peaks, call (970) 728-2650
Unwind, pamper yourself and relax your muscles at Colorado’s largest spa and fitness center, The Spa at the Peaks Resort where you can discover an unmatched variety of treatments and ways to relax, recharge and reconnect before the next TGSW event!
Fat Tire Biking
Fat tire bikes enable cycling enthusiasts to purse their passion year-round, even in snow.
The Valley Floor: The 3-mile stretch of open space at the entrance to town contains the only trails with a groomed track set just for fat bikers. Social bikers can exit at the far west end for a stop at the Telluride Brewing Company or Telluride Distilling Company in the Lawson Hill neighborhood, before a mellow pedal back to town.
Telluride Golf Course: The undulating groomed trails that ribbon over the golf course in Mountain Village are multi-use trails open to dogs, bikes, hikers, snowshoes and Nordic skiers. Enjoy the view of the San Sophia ridge to the north and Wilson range to the west as you catch your breath between the dips and climbs.
Horse & Sleigh Rides
Slip on your cowboy boots and Stetson and enjoy a sleigh or horseback ride in the winter wonderland of the San Juans.
Ride under a cobalt blue sky or bundle up and star gaze during a dinner sleigh ride, all while embracing the spirit of the Wild West.
Located on the historic Aldasoro family ranch, Telluride Sleighs and Wagons offers guests an experience unlike anything before.
The Aldasoro Ranch was established in the early 1920s. Originally from the Basque Country in northern Spain, our family immigrated to the San Juan mountains to supply lamb and wool to the nearby mining camps in the high mountains in Telluride. Over the following decades, our family continued to live and ranch in the area while Telluride went through major changes. From booming mining town to near extinction, and finally rejuvenated by the creation of the ski area, the Aldasoro family has stayed an important part of the community.
Since the Aldasoro ranch began development in the early 1990s the Aldasoro family maintained the core of the large property exclusively for the family. This land with its spectacular views and rich history is being opened up to the public for the first time through our own version of the Sleigh Ride.
Fishing
Visiting Telluride in winter doesn’t mean leaving the rods and reels behind!
In late February and all of March, the San Miguel River often provides excellent fishing opportunities, while farther afield the Uncompahgre River fishes well all winter. Or try ice fishing on the area’s lakes and reservoirs.
In Telluride, we define “winter” as the months in which the San Miguel and Dolores are covered with snow. From March through mid-November all of our rivers are fishable, but December-February are good times to fish the the Uncompahgre River tailwater (about one hour north from Telluride by car).
The Uncompahgre provides excellent winter fishing with low, clear river flows and trout that remain responsive to midges and small mayflies. Sight fishing for potentially large trout is a distinct attraction.