Today, Telluride is known more for its ski resort and fine dining restaurants, but once upon a time our mountain town was known for its wildlife, much of which still thrives in the relatively untouched areas of wilderness that surround us. There is a unique thrill that happens when you encounter something wild unexpectedly, and many of our Accommodations in Telluride guests have experienced that thrill, while many more have not yet but would love to soon. We have created this ultimate guide to Telluride wildlife watching, allowing our favorite people the ability to walk on the wild side—in between schussing down the slopes and sipping the night away at après ski, of course!
Telluride Wildlife Watching In All the Usual Places
Your best bet for spying wildlife will occur during hikes and drives through the countryside, costing nothing (except for the cost of gas if you drive) and offering everything your soul has been begging for. A Telluride visit, with or without the wildlife, is one best spent outdoors, no matter what the season, but because the cold weather can hinder your chances of spotting any animals, it is best to conduct your search in the places we listed below to the summer months.
A Hike Along the Telluride River Trail
Seeing wildlife in its natural habitat also means you will get to experience the finest of Telluride’s most pristine countryside, and a hike along the Telluride River Trail is our first suggestion for capturing your first peek at Mother Nature’s most vulnerable creatures. Running alongside the Telluride River, as you might expect from its name, the trail is an easy one, extending out about 4 miles with very little gain in elevation, something you would not expect from a hike in our mountain town.
You may come across a mix of wildlife during your hike, as this area provides a home to some of our more elusive riparian wildlife, including river otters, beavers, and muskrats. You may also catch sight of a herd of mule deer or elk, and if you keep your eyes trained on the sky, you may see swallows, osprey, or a couple of different varieties of chickadees.
The San Juan Scenic Byway
The San Juan Scenic Byway is a 236-mile-long scenic loop that will take you through some of Colorado’s most breathtaking landscape, (Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to drive the entire 236 miles; you can turn around at any time!) offering many more opportunities to see the creatures that call this part of the world home. If you are driving, you won’t be able to freely watch your surroundings (eyes on the road please), but it is often reported that bear sightings tend to happen along the drive, and you can always pull into scenic outlooks and look for other animals, including elk and some sly but beautiful foxes. And just like at the river, don’t forget to look up, because this area is known to be home to eagles, and they are certainly a sight to see when soaring through the air.
The Bear Creek Trail
Obviously, the best way to see wildlife is to get out there and hike, and the Bear Creek Trail, leading to Bear Creek Falls, is one of the most popular hiking trails in the area. Part of its popularity is due, of course, to the breathtaking beauty of the falls, offering a natural phenomenon that makes you feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Standing at its base, the water creating a mist like veil as it tumbles over the rocks, will become one of your favorite memories and is worth the 2.5-mile hike (and nearly 1100 feet gain in elevation) alone, but there is more that you will fall in love with during your hiking adventure. We are, of course, talking about the wildlife you will encounter, including elk, beaver, mule deer, and marmots (animals that look similar to a beaver but don’t have that wide tail and actually are a member of the squirrel family).
Natural and Protected
The best places to see animals in their natural habitats will be in some of the areas preserves and sanctuaries, and although Telluride is a little more cosmopolitan these days, there are at least a couple of these wonderful and protected places in the area. Below, we have listed some of our favorite places to hike, explore, and “talk to the animals,” and we are pretty sure you will find exactly what you hoped for during your own explorations.
The San Miguel River South Fork Preserve
The first spot on our list, the San Miguel River South Fork Preserve, is sure to offer a thrill a minute and more than a few peeks at the wildlife within as you hike and explore its wilderness. Managed by the Nature Conservancy, the preserve is on the smaller side, offering just 67 acres of protected land, but in that acreage, there is a large variety of wildlife calling it home.
The 180-foot boardwalk and its elevated viewing platform found here is the perfect place to watch the animals and is also popular with bird watchers. Peregrine falcons, eagles, and hawks call the skies in the preserve their home, and on land it is entirely possible you may encounter foxes, coyotes, and even some fluffy bobcats. The latter may look cute and cuddly, but they are anything but and we suggest you view them from a distance!
The Valley Floor
While not necessarily a preserve, the Valley Floor is a protected area of open land that covers about three miles in area, and we are quite proud that we have been able to preserve this patch of land. Developers are always looking for new places to build, but our town leaders understand the importance of protecting Mother Nature, and the Valley Floor is popular with sports enthusiasts (Nordic skiers and snowshoers in the winter months and hikers and bikers in the summer months) and nature lovers of all kinds.
The animals you might see during your exploration of this naturally beautiful spot include the more common elk, badgers, rabbits, and deer. Bears have occasionally (very rarely) been seen in the area and mountain lions are rumored to inhabit this area, but sightings are even rarer than sightings of bears.
With an Eye to the Skies
Although not as prevalent in the winter months, bird watching is quite popular in Telluride, and if bird watching interests you, booking a tour with the Birding Co is a tour company that specializes in bird watching in the Telluride area. Offering half-day custom tours that last between four to five hours, and full-day custom tours that last about seven to eight hours, and a two-hour Telluride River Trail tour that may be just right for travelers with younger children accompanying them on the trip.
Your guide on these trips is an experienced naturalist, having spent much of her life working in the wild bird realm and is someone who has forgotten more about birds than you will ever know! Birds are the passion of the Birding Co’s Katie Triest, and amateur birdwatchers will be able to learn a lot from her, perhaps catching her enthusiasm for the winged creatures as well.
Would You Consider Fish Wildlife, Too?
Fishing, especially fly fishing, is a very popular activity in this part of the state, and if you consider fish wildlife, well, we guess we should include some fishing adventures in this guide! Late spring and summer are considered prime fishing season for the San Miguel River that runs through our mountain town, offering the chance to catch your limit of a large number of trout varieties, including rainbow, cutthroat, brown, and brook trout.
If you don’t count fish as wildlife (although we don’t know why you wouldn’t), it is still entirely possible you will come across otters, beavers, mule deer, and elk, and if you go further up into the high country, you may even spot a moose or two. Fishing is a relaxing activity that will bring you joy and a calming peek into the habitat of the wildlife that frequents the area, and you won’t want to forget your camera, as there will be plenty of photo opportunities!
From the Deck of Your Accommodations in Telluride Sanctuary
Your walk on the wild side won’t be complete until you have taken a seat on the deck of your Accommodations in Telluride sanctuary, especially in the early morning or late afternoon hours. It is quiet, peaceful, and offers ringside seats to Mother Nature’s finest creations! Maybe you will see a timid doe and her cute little fawn stepping out of the trees, seeking something delicious to eat, or maybe you will laugh at the antics of the squirrels racing up and down the trees as you sip your favorite beverage and ask yourself how it took you so long to get to this spot right here.
Bird watchers will be in heaven as they keep track of how many magpies, crows, woodpeckers, or chickadees they spot as they submerge themselves in the hot tub on a sunny summer afternoon. The skies may be alive with bald eagles in flight, or perhaps you will notice hawks and peregrine falcons swooping down for their meals. Fall visitors may hear the call of an elk seeking a mate during rutting season, and the lucky ones may actually spot herds of elk or mule deer roaming through the wooded areas that surround their rentals.
Relax on the Mild Side with a Stay in Our Naturally Beautiful Rentals
Although naturally beautiful, other than some wildlife pictures hanging on the walls, the interiors of our private rentals in Colorado are calm, sophisticated, and not wild at all. Your wildlife adventures are going to bring you all over our mountain town, and as you hike along trails surrounded by trees, fish in the San Miguel River, or simply find yourself driving with no particular destination in mind along the San Juan Scenic Byway, you may not be altogether present in the moment.
Instead, you may notice that your thoughts occasionally turn to the memories of how warm and cozy you felt falling asleep to firelight in your primary retreat or wondering if there is enough wine left in the wine refrigerator to allow you to go straight home and relax. You might notice that ache in your calves and wish that you were already submerged in the hot and bubbly waters of the hot tub or maybe, you will wish that you had an hour or so free to soak in that deep tub with a good book, a glass of wine, and music playing softly! Our luxury rentals in Telluride will be your newest obsession even as you are obsessed over the speckled fawn you caught a glimpse of following behind her mother on the trail ahead.
Wild Movies You Can Watch at Home with Accommodations in Telluride
Finally, after all the above, maybe you will find yourself snuggled in a leather recliner in one of our home theaters, watching movies about wildlife as you relax. The movie Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon, follows the journey of the main character as she hikes along the Pacific Crest Trail. Families might want to stream the movie “We Bought a Zoo” starring Matt Damon and offering a plot about a widowed father buying a zoo. For those who prefer drama and jump scares, The Revenant, starring Leonardo di Caprio, offers that pivotal scene in which the bear attacks. Feeling like you are a part of the action on the screen can be a bad thing in the latter movie, but that doesn’t stop us from providing state-of-the-art televisions with the clearest of pictures!
Every attention is paid to every detail when it comes to ensuring that your vacation in Telluride is the one you compare all others against for years to come. Contact us to reserve your favorite Telluride vacation home today!
