Outbound Collective logo

The Best Backpacking in Telluride

Looking for the best backpacking in Telluride? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Telluride. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top backpacking spots in and near Telluride

  • Telluride, Colorado

    Sneffels Highline Trail

    12.32 mi / 4432 ft gain
    Sneffels Highline Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Telluride, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Telluride, Colorado

    Bear Creek, Wasatch, and Bridal Veil Trails Loop

    15.12 mi / 4390 ft gain
    Bear Creek, Wasatch, and Bridal Veil Trails Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Telluride, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Telluride, Colorado

    Alta to Sunshine Trail

    7.42 mi / 1808 ft gain
    Alta to Sunshine Trail is an out-and-back trail located near Telluride, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Ophir, Colorado

    Columbine Lake via Oscars Pass

    8.54 mi / 4003 ft gain
    Columbine Lake via Oscars Pass is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Ophir, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Telluride, Colorado

    Blue Lakes Trail

    5.0
    8.81 mi / 2635 ft gain
    Your adventure begins at the Blue Lakes Trailhead, elevation 9400’, in Uncompahgre National Forest. Take CO-62 from Ridgway toward Telluride, turn left onto Ouray County Road 7, and follow it into the national forest to the end of the road. Just past the trailhead, the trail splits; be sure to ...
    Read more
  • Ridgway, Colorado

    Running to Grizzly Bear Mine

    Bear Creek Trail, which leads to Grizzly Mine, is located just 2 miles outside of Ouray, Colorado on Highway 550 immediately following the first tunnel. There's two parking lots, a large one and a small one, the trail leads from the small parking lot over the tunnel and highway. There are no bath...
    Read more
  • Durango, Colorado

    Explore Clear Lake

    5.0
    The road to Clear Lake offers wonderful views of the South Fork Mineral Creek, and the San Juan Mountains. Some people make the 9-mile round-trip hike with 2,600 feet of elevation gain, others drive as far as their vehicle will allow and hike from there, and some make the drive all the way up. It...
    Read more
  • Durango, Colorado

    Ice Lakes Trail to Island Lake

    5.0
    7.75 mi / 2690 ft gain
    Just north of Silverton, CO, lies the South Mineral Valley which is reachable down a well maintained, and paved dirt road and ends in the South Mineral Campground. The hike starts out with a sweat generating 1500+ feet of gain over its first two miles. However, there are numerous spots to stop a...
    Read more
  • Durango, Colorado

    Climb Fuller Peak

    3.0
    Begin by hiking the Ice Lakes Trail for 3.5 miles, which will take you to Ice Lake. From here, you can identify the obvious, delta-shaped mountain to climber's left, known as Fuller Peak (13,761ft). Hike cross country, directly toward the base of the North Ridge (right skyline), walking past Full...
    Read more
  • Durango, Colorado

    Backpack to Island Lake

    5.0
    8 mi / 3000 ft gain
    From the Ice Lakes basin Trailhead, this 8 mile round trip trail with 3000 feet of elevation gain will bring you to the Ice Lakes Basin with an abundance of beautiful lakes, especially Island Lake and Ice Lake. We camped on a little shelf above Island Lake, but you can camp anywhere you find a ni...
    Read more
  • Ouray, Colorado

    Backpack to Dragon's Back via Horsethief Trail

    5.0
    16 mi / 3520 ft gain
    The Uncompahgre Wilderness stretches out through the mountains and forests of southwestern Colorado, with worn trails lingering beside abandoned 19th-century mines and crossing old alpine sheep pastures. Dragon's Back is the unofficial name for Point 12,968', a small but beautiful summit at the b...
    Read more
  • Durango, Colorado

    Camp at Little Molas Lake

    5.0
    1 mi / 40 ft gain
    Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook. Pro-tip: there is also another campground nearby called Molas Lake Park & Campground, so it's important to distinguish which you are hea...
    Read more
  • Durango, Colorado

    Hike the Colorado Trail: Little Molas Lake to Lime Creek

    5.0
    10 mi / 755 ft gain
    To hike this section of the Colorado Trail, you'll begin from the Little Molas Lake Campground at around 10,895-ft. Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook, which is just South of S...
    Read more
  • Durango, Colorado

    Crater Lake via Crater Lake Trail

    5.0
    11.73 mi / 2077 ft gain
    Reaching this trailhead actually begins off of Andrews Lake - you will see signs for Andrews Lake off HWY 550. I will provide directions from both Durango and Silverton at the end.  The trailhead is extremely well marked the entire way. The mileage from Andrews lake to Crater lake one way is 5.5...
    Read more
  • Silverton, Colorado

    Highland Mary Lake Trail

    5.12 mi / 1447 ft gain
    Highland Mary Lake Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you past scenic surroundings located near Montrose, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Silverton, Colorado

    Colorado Trail: Segment 24

    21.63 mi / 3533 ft gain
    Colorado Trail: Segment 24 is a point-to-point trail where you may see local wildlife located near Silverton, Colorado.
    Read more