Don't miss the 32nd Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival this weekend!
A 3-day celebration of the best in Blues and....Brews! Although, if you have ever visited you know it's so much more than that: a great music scene, delicious cart style food options, fall colors, fashion scene, dancing, kids' zone, VIP section, backstage access, comedy stage...Check it out at: Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
Telluride Blues & Brews began in 1994 as the Telluride Brewers Festival, when just 18 breweries gathered on Main Street to share their craft. More than three decades later, it has grown into one of Telluride’s signature festivals, bringing world-class music and craft beer together for three days each September.
What makes this festival truly special is the setting. The main stage sits in our Town Park at the end of the box canyon that so famously frames Telluride, surrounded by towering peaks and the first golden aspens of fall. Over the years, the festival has welcomed legends including B.B. King, James Brown, Etta James, Robert Plant, Willie Nelson, The Allman Brothers Band and Bonnie Raitt, while expanding beyond traditional blues to soul, funk, rock, gospel, roots and more.
Today, Blues & Brews is about much more than the main stage: craft beer tastings, intimate late-night “Juke Joint” shows around town, campground performances, yoga, food, family activities and outdoor adventures all contribute to its distinctly Telluride feel. It’s the combination of incredible live music, great beer, crisp fall mountain air and an intimate small-town atmosphere that keeps people coming back year after year.
Local tip: Bring layers! September in Telluride can deliver beautiful sunny afternoons and chilly mountain evenings—all in the same day.
Hope to see you this weekend!
The Imogene Pass Run: Running Through Telluride History
Every September, runners gather in Ouray, Colorado, for one of the San Juan Mountains’ most iconic challenges: the Imogene Pass Run.
The course sounds simple enough on paper—start in Ouray and finish in Telluride. The mountain standing between the two towns makes it anything but simple.
The 17.1-mile route climbs from roughly 7,800 feet in Ouray to the top of Imogene Pass at 13,114 feet, before dropping into Telluride. Along the way, runners travel through spectacular high-alpine terrain and remnants of the mining history that helped shape both Telluride and the surrounding San Juan Mountains.
For visitors to Telluride, the Imogene Pass Run is an incredible athletic event. For locals, it is also a trip through our backyard—and through an important piece of Telluride history.
From a Training Run to a Telluride Tradition
The Imogene Pass Run began in 1974 with a single runner.
Ouray mountain runner Rick Trujillo decided to run from Ouray to Telluride over Imogene Pass as a training run. Trujillo was preparing for the Pikes Peak Marathon and, remarkably, made his first trip over Imogene after finishing a day's work at the Camp Bird Mine.
That first run sparked an idea. The following month, the first organized race was held with just six runners. Trujillo won in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 18 seconds.
What began as a tiny mountain race grew into one of Colorado's best-known running traditions.
Today, runners tackle approximately 10 miles of climbing to Imogene Pass, gaining more than 5,000 vertical feet before beginning the roughly seven-mile descent toward Telluride.
And what a finish it is.
After hours above treeline and on rugged mountain roads, runners descend Tomboy Road and finish in downtown Telluride, where spectators line the final stretch to welcome them home.
But Imogene's Story Started Long Before the Race
To really appreciate the Imogene Pass Run, you have to understand the road beneath the runners' feet.
Long before it became a bucket-list running course and legendary four-wheel-drive route, Tomboy Road and Imogene Pass were part of Telluride's mining world.
From Telluride, Tomboy Road climbs dramatically into the mountains above town. The road winds past waterfalls, steep drop-offs and rocky slopes before reaching the remains of the former Tomboy mining community, roughly 3,000 feet above Telluride. Continue higher and the route eventually reaches Imogene Pass before descending toward Ouray.
Today, the journey feels remote.
Imagine making it more than a century ago.
The Town of Tomboy
High above Telluride once stood a thriving mining community.
At its height, Tomboy was home to nearly 1,000 residents. This wasn't simply a handful of miners living beside a mine. It developed into a true high-altitude community serving the people working in and around the mining operation.
Eventually, the ore—and the town's reason for being there—declined. The Tomboy Mine closed in 1927, and the community disappeared. What remains today is one of the fascinating reminders of Telluride's mining era.
You can still see mining ruins scattered across the mountainside when traveling Tomboy Road.
Standing among them, surrounded by enormous San Juan peaks, it's hard not to wonder what daily life must have been like here: long winters, heavy snow, difficult transportation and mining operations conducted at elevations where today's visitors can feel winded simply walking uphill.
Tomboy Road: Telluride's Road Into the Mountains
Tomboy Road begins right from Telluride near the north end of Oak Street and quickly leaves town behind.
The rugged road climbs toward the old Tomboy townsite and eventually Imogene Pass. Historically, it served the mining country above Telluride and provided a mountain connection toward Ouray. Today, it has become one of the area's best-known high-country routes.
Traveling it also gives you a completely different perspective on Telluride.
Look back down the canyon and the town becomes smaller and smaller beneath you. Continue climbing and the trees eventually disappear altogether, replaced by rock, alpine tundra and seemingly endless views across the San Juans.
It is beautiful—but it is still a rugged mountain road, not an ordinary scenic drive.
Imogene Pass Today
Today, Imogene Pass attracts runners, hikers, mountain bikers and experienced four-wheel-drive travelers.
At 13,114 feet, the pass provides extraordinary views of the surrounding San Juan Mountains and connects the Telluride and Ouray sides of the range during the relatively short high-country season.
Conditions in this terrain can change quickly. Snow can linger well into summer, afternoon storms are common in the mountains, and road conditions vary from year to year.
If you're planning to drive Imogene Pass rather than run it, make sure you understand the current road conditions, vehicle requirements and local regulations before heading up. This is not a route for an inexperienced driver in an ordinary passenger vehicle.
The 2026 Imogene Pass Run
The 2026 Imogene Pass Run takes place Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Runners start in Ouray at 7:30 a.m., climb to the 13,114-foot pass and then descend into Telluride. Imogene Pass Road will be closed to vehicles while the race is underway, with closures on both the Ouray and Telluride sides.
If you're staying in Telluride during race weekend, head downtown to cheer on the runners as they finish.
Even if running 17 miles over a 13,000-foot mountain pass isn't your idea of a vacation activity, watching the finish is a great way to experience one of Telluride's longstanding mountain traditions.
More Than a Race
The Imogene Pass Run captures something we love about Telluride.
It's adventurous. It's a little crazy. It's incredibly beautiful. And beneath it all is the history that made this place what it is today.
The runners following the road into Telluride each September are traveling through the same mountains where generations before them built roads, mines and entire communities in some of the most challenging terrain imaginable.
That's part of what makes exploring Telluride so special. The hiking trail you're following, the old road you're driving or the ruin you encounter in the mountains often has a story behind it.
At Basecamp Management, we're fortunate to call Telluride home. We love helping our guests experience more than just a beautiful place to stay—we want you to get outside, explore and discover the history, trails, mountains and adventures that make Telluride unlike anywhere else.
Whether you're coming to Telluride to run Imogene, cheer from the finish line, explore our mining history or simply spend a few days in the San Juan Mountains, make Telluride your basecamp for the adventure.
Looking for the best way to get to Telluride?
Check out the direct flight map for Montrose (MTJ) and Telluride (TEX) airports from all over the country - some exciting new flights for the 2025/2026 winter season!
New Inventory Alert!
We have recently had the pleasure of expanding our rental inventory with some amazing properties!
Don't forget to check out South Oak Retreat, Bear Lodge, Vista Haus at Country Club and The Veranda at Trails Edge!
Make sure to check out all of our incredible rental homes HERE!
New properties alert!
Check out our website for some great new homes in our rental inventory! Whether you are coming to Telluride just for the weekend or a longer trip - even a month or two - we've got you covered!
Our properties range from a cozy and convenient studio in Telluride with everything you need, to downtown or ski-in/out condos - all the way to private homes ranging from 4-6 bedrooms in size!
Let us help you with your vacation rental plans in Telluride! Contact us today and we will find your perfect rental for you and your party.
Contact@BasecampTelluride.com
970-729-0491
Check out our vacation rentals in Telluride and Mountain Village!
We've got friends in HIGH places!
One of our friends working on the gondola towers took this photo the other day - a unique view from above the gondola!
Photo credit: Larry Forsythe
Annual avalanche mitigation on Ajax in Telluride!
There she goes!
The annual avalanche mitigation of Ajax mountain in Telluride took place yesterday February 12, 2024 and as always it drew a big crowd in town. This incredible work performed by Helitrax is always a really cool experience and this year was no different. It's crazy to think of all the preparation needed for this important work. When the triggered slide comes down it also always, at least for me, draws your thoughts to the old mining days and the mule trains going up the mountain. Imagine something like this happening then, which it did during the mining days (something you can learn more about at the Telluride Historical Museum). If you haven't been, please make sure you visit next time you are in town!
For now, please enjoy the video of yesterday's mitigation work.
Snow, snow and more snow - followed by sunshine!
With back to back amazing snow storms over the last week, skiing is ON POINT! Last weekend saw up to 2 feet of fresh powder and over the last 48 hours we were blessed with another 14". That puts us at 39" of fresh snow in the last week!
If you haven't booked your stay in Telluride with us yet for the winter, we still have some great options open for some dates in February and March!
Book your stay via the link below and put in promo code "DIRECT" for an extra 10% off!
https://www.basecamptelluride....
Picture perfect day on the slopes!
After some new snow (and more on the way!), Telluride was blessed with a great weekend and some perfect bluebird days on the slopes! Up at High Camp restaurant, by Prospect Lift, a popular local's Telluride tradition - for those who dare - is to feed the camp robbers little oyster crackers. After enjoying a bowl of hearty chili, we had some crackers left and sure enough, the camp robbers came right in for the treat!
New snow!
We received a much anticipated snow refill over the later part of the weekend and into MLK Day! Telski reported 14" of fresh snow in the last 24 hours. So soft up there!
Walk through The Residence on South Oak with us!
This 4BR/4.5BA private home undoubtedly has the best location in Telluride!
One of few homes facing directly onto South Oak Street, this home is steps to everything Telluride has to offer.
Check out our curated inventory of vacation rental homes in Telluride and book online at BasecampTelluride.com!
Walk through Bachman Village #9 with us!
This comfortable home sits in the popular and family-friendly Bachman Village neighborhood in Telluride, steps to skiing and downtown!
It has a backyard, great for summer gatherings and winter snow play.
Check out our curated inventory of vacation rental homes in Telluride and book online at BasecampTelluride.com!
Oak Street Dining "Crawl"
Actually, it's much more of a sophisticated, yet relaxed, straight up walk, but anyways...
This is one of our favorite dining experiences in Telluride because you can customize where and how you spend your night - and get a slightly different experience every time!
Most people think of main street in Telluride as the place with the best dining options. It definitely has several of our favorites too, however some of the side streets in town also have some great options for dining in Telluride and Oak Street is one of the best. Oak Street runs north to south, from Tomboy Road (which is the access for Imogene Pass and the Jud Wiebe trail) down to the gondola station in town and lift 8.
Down by lift 8 is locals' long-time favorite OAK (the New Fat Alley). This restaurant has been a town staple for over 25 years. Originally located a bit further north on Oak Street (where MountainFilm now headquarters), it originally got its name from the alley between Colorado Avenue and Pacific Street (Fat Alley). OAK is open for lunch and dinner and specializes in BBQ - REALLY GOOD BBQ! If you are used to good BBQ from home you will not be disappointed here!
221 South Oak - or just 221 for short - is a higher end restaurant with an intimate setting in a refurbished historic home. The restaurant has indoor dining as well as outdoor, including a large patio, in the summer season. Start with a drink at the bar or go for a full dinner. 221's menu changes quite often, and has something for everyone including sausages, pastas, elk meet, fish and seafood, salads and soups etc. The key for this restaurant is homemade!
Uno, Dos, Tres Tacos & Tequila - Located at 123 South Oak Street, just below Elk's Park and the Ski Tree is this casual taco restaurant. With a fun and creative twist on traditional tacos, Uno Dos Tres features apps, all types of Mexican food items and margaritas.
Below we have listed our favorite "itinerary" ideas for a night on Oak Street - mix and match as you please!
Where to stay when the night is over? The Residence on South Oak of course!
This 4 bedroom/4.5 bath home is the perfect place for a stay with family or friends. The home has everything you need for a comfortable stay, including high-end linens and towels, board games and a private hot tub! Best of all - the location, right on South Oak Street!
Oak Street "Itinerary" Ideas
Option 1:
Start your evening with a margarita and 123 Tin Can Nachos at Uno, Dos Tres Tacos & Tequila. After the filling app, walk up north towards main street to look at the Ski Tree in Elk's Park or (for summer) watch the alpen glow on Ajax mountain from main street. Take a short stroll down to 221 South Oak for dinner. With their variety of menu options it's easy to pick something, lighter or heavier, depending how hungry you are. Finish your meal with a dessert like the chocolate brownie and ice cream or pecan pie at OAK.
Option 2:
Although technically not on Oak Street, COSMOpolitan restaurant is close enough. Located right by the gondola station in Telluride, this cozy restaurant has excellent street views and the best happy hour in town between 4-5pm. Start with a cocktail and half priced apps. Walk over to OAK for dinner and end with dessert at 221 South Oak.
Option 3:
Start with apres ski at OAK. This place is always happening after skiing - soak up the last rays of sun from the outdoor patio! Walk home to shower and change - a piece of cake if you are staying at The Residence on South Oak or Penthouse # 2 at DiamondTooth! Even walking home and back from Bachman Village #9 is no biggie!
Grab dinner at Uno, Dos, Tres Tacos & Tequila, followed by an after dinner flatliner (and maybe dessert?) at New Sheridan Chop House. Technically located on main street, the Chop House is just steps from Oak Street and well worth "the hike". End the evening next door with some music at the historic Sheridan Opera House!
How To: Noel Night!
One of our favorite nights of the year, Noel Night, is happening tomorrow Wednesday Dec 6.
Noel Night marks the beginning of the holiday season in Telluride with the lighting of the ski tree, lots of events happening around town (go meet Santa!) as well as discounts at local retailers. Some discounts are drawn from a hat or bucket to be deducted at check-out - or why not show how many pull-ups you can do for a deeper discount like at Jagged Edge? The more pull-ups, the deeper your discount!
Noel NIght also features great dining specials and locals' deals, such as the Happy Hour at COSMOpolitan restaurant (Cosmo for short), inside the Hotel Columbia by the gondola station in town. Starting in the afternoon they will offer their signature drink, the Cosmo, at a discounted rate, as well as sushi and steak bar deals.
Allred's is doing a locals' prix fixe menu deal - what is not discounted? The view overlooking Telluride of course!
One of our favorite spots is also the Parlor bar at the Sheridan Chop House. Order Telluride's favorite drink, the flatliner, and sit back and enjoy some people watching from this cozy spot.
With all this shopping, dining and running into friends all night, how do you manage to do all your Christmas shopping you ask?
Pro Tip:
Retail discounts are offered ALL DAY! Take the time to do all your holiday shopping during the day - then all you have to do at night is have fun!
Walk through Penthouse #2 at DiamondTooth with us!
This beautiful condo in downtown Telluride is available to rent at select times through us at Basecamp Management.
Check out our curated inventory of vacation rental homes in Telluride and book online at BasecampTelluride.com!
Pre-Opening Day Snow!
We saw some great snow on Thursday night Nov 30 and all day Friday Dec 1 this year, right in time for Opening Day on Saturday Dec 2! Big, fluffy flakes came down all over town!
Who's ready for more skiing - and don't forget, Noel Night on Wednesday Dec 6! Pro tips on "How To Noel Night" coming up in our blog and on social tomorrow, Dec 5!
December and Holiday Happenings in Telluride!
 | Holiday Prelude Get in the holiday spirit all December, starting with Noel Night and the lighting of the ski tree in Elk’s Park on Dec 6!
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 | Holiday Concerts Holiday season is concert season in Telluride! Whether you are looking for music from the Telluride Choral Society or major recording artists, it’s all happening in December. Check out the Michael D Palm Theatre and Sheridan Opera House holiday schedule to find your favorite. |
 | Torchlight Parade and Fireworks The best viewing spot is from Mountain Village core, however the New Year’s Eve parade will also come down Telluride Trail to the base of the gondola in town. Fireworks to follow the New Year’s parade can be viewed from Mountain Village. | |
 | New Year’s Eve Parties! Sheridan Opera House hosts its annual New Year’s Gala, this year with an allstar Motown line-up. Telluride Arts District is hosting aSilver Ball New Year’s Eve party and adjacent AhHaa offers a New Year’s Eve dinner with Chef Brendan Kelly. |
Opening Day of Telluride Ski Resort announced as Saturday December 2, 2023!
Traditionally, the Telluride Ski Resort will announce its opening day as Thanksgiving Day with donation day (a day with all proceeds of lift tickets going to the Telluride Ski & Snowboard Club), being the day before Thanksgiving. In recent years however we have seen warmer temperatures and therefore a slightly later opening day. This year the resort is opening this Saturday December 2, 2023.
Opening day will see lifts 4 and 1 (the chondola) open with terrain access to Village Bypass to Lower Boomerang, access in and out of Gorrono, Upper Misty Maiden, the Meadows, both Magic Carpets, and ski-in/out access from the Village parking garage via Double Cabins.
Gorrono Ranch, ski school and Cubs Camp will also open December 2.
Although opening day typically only means a few runs being open, it's one of our favorite days of skiing. Everyone is happy and excited for the upcoming ski season - and stoked to be back on the slopes!
Here is a Thursday Throwback video of us sledding at the resort for Thanksgiving a few years ago!
Our wonderful elk herd running wild on the Valley Floor in Telluride.
Common views from one of our vacation rental homes; Basecamp at Valley Floor.
Get excited for winter!
Check Out Telluride Ski Resort's winter teaser for the 2023-2024 season!
Basecamp project updates!
Property management and construction project updates include setting story poles for a potential new build in West Meadows, deck replacement in Mountain Village and deck refinish in downtown Telluride.
Deck and steps replacement work at home in Mountain Village
We just launched our new website at BasecampTelluride.com!
Our website features our mission, our experience, who we are and our services. In addition to our property management, maintenance and construction we have done since 2006 we also just added vacation rentals in Telluride to our expertise! Headed up by Jenny Carlson, who just joined the Basecamp Property Management and Vacation Rentals team, bringing her expertise after 18 years in Telluride vacation rentals, working for ResortQuest and Alpine Lodging. Her most recent position was as Sr VP of Sales & Marketing, heading up the sales and marketing department, where she specialized in maximizing revenue for homeowners, increasing sales and analyzing vacation rental market trends in Telluride.
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