Home to Telluride Gay Ski Week during the last week of February and into early March (the dates this year are February 22 through March 3, 2013), breathtaking Telluride Ski Resort rises sharply above the historic village for which it is named. This challenging mountain with 115 runs and a 4,500-foot vertical drop (highest point is 13,150 feet) is one of western Colorado's world-class facilities. And it's in a laid-back, upscale, gay-friendly town with a number of stellar restaurants, inns, and shops. During Gay Ski Week, accommodations are at two main official host hotels, the Hotel Madeline and Inn at Lost Creek; the swanky Mountain Lodge Telluride is also a partner and is offering special rates for ski-week goers. Telluride buzzes with activity all winterlong but is also a beautiful spot for hiking, fishing, and camping during the summer months - visit the Telluride Tourism Board's website for more information.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Telluride during Gay Ski Week.
Ski Week consists of a nonstop of parade of festivities. Many parties, including apres ski drinks and breakfasts, take place at one of the town's coolest lounges, SMAK Bar, inside Hotel Madeline. Other events take place at Tomboy Tavern in Mountain Village, Gorrono Ranch on the Mountain, Crazy Elk Pizza, 9545 in the Inn at Lost Creek, the Sheridan Opera House, Honga's, and a few others spots. This year is also the 10th anniversary of Telluride Gay Ski Week, and Reichen Lehmkuhl will be hosting a special party in honor of this occasion at Hotel Lumiere on Monday, February 25. You can purchase tickets and passes for Telluride Gay Ski Week events here.
Telluride has no shortage of gay-friendly accommodations, including the official headquarters of Telluride Gay Ski Week, Hotel Madeline Telluride Hotel; gay ski week's official host hotel, the Inn at Lost Creek; and the partner hotel, the Mountain Lodge Telluride. A few others I personally recommend include the Peaks - a Grand Heritage Resort & Spa, and the charming and historic New Sheridan Hotel, a beautiful property with a fantastic restaurant, too. For condo and ski-home rentals, look to Telluride Alpine Lodging.
Telluride is in southwestern Colorado. You can fly right into the town's small airport directly from Denver on Great Lakes Airlines respectively, or to nearby Montrose (a somewhat more reliable choice, because it's less likely to be hit with bad winter weather) from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, Oakland, and Phoenix, on Allegiant, Delta, United, and American.
