Man we got high near Telluride!
At 9,500 feet in elevation, the Matterhorn Campground just south of Telluride, CO was the highest place we've overnighted yet on this Great Roadtreking Family Vacation of 2013. Son-in-law, Dan, noticeably felt the effects of the altitude and all of us noticed a bit of dizzyness on exertion, especially when hiking.
The Matterhorn Campground is just off Colorado Highway 145, about an hour and a half's drive from our stay at Mesa Verde National Park. Run by the USDA Forest Service, it has 28 spots and we chose two offering full hookups for Wendy and Dan and the granddaughters in the travel trailer and Jeff and Aimee in the Roadtrek SS.
Jennifer and I put the eTrek in one of the dry camping spots.
The campground also has showers and flush toilets, though the showers were a bit challenging, bursting out blasts of scalding hot water for 20 seconds, then abruptly shutting off until you waited six seconds and then pushed the button again. When I say scalding hot, I mean hot enough to make you howl if they hadn't shut off when they did. Man, too hot is just as bad as too cold
We loved this campground, nestled in a valley and surrounded by panoramic views of the mountains in all directions. On the day we arrived snow had fallen on one of the mountain tops to our east. Right from the tent area of the campground runs the Galloping Goose Trail, a 15 mile trail great for hiking. The trail features over 20 footbridges, winds past historical landmarks and through the deep gullies of Uncompahgre National Forest—some of Colorado's most beautiful scenery. And the famed Lizard Head Wilderness is only about 3 miles away.
The big attraction in the areas is the nearby town of Telluride, described by locals as “the new Aspen.” To get to Telluride, we are advised by the campground host to drive up 145 to the nearby Mountain Village ski and golf resort community and take the free gondola ride into town. Since that was the only place I could get a solid Internet connection, I opted to stay in the Roadtrek in the parking lot while the rest of the family rode the gondolas.
It's a pretty cool service, free transportation that is supposed to take 13 minutes. Wendy and Dan took their Goldendoodle, Charley, the youngest of our three dogs and an energetic ball of energy that is game for anything.
Sequouia, Jeff's 120 pound part St. Bernard and partMalamute, is 12 and with, Tai, our 70-pound Norwegian Elkhound, opted to stay with me in the air conditioned Roadtrek.
While I cranked out work on a fast 4g signal with the two dogs, the others found themselves stranded. Their gondola just stopped and hung there, swaying in the wind 6,000 feet above the valley leading to town and sweltering in the sun. While the adults and kids groaned, Charlie's long tail thumped out a happy rhythm as it hit the side window of the gondola. He was with all his favorite people and all close together. What gets better than that? Maybe a little breeze but, hey, Charlie was happy anyway.
They stayed like that for more than a half hour getting hotter and hotter. The first I learned about it was when I saw Wendy and Jeff updating Facebook about their plight.
By the time I reached them on the phone, I offered to drive into Telluride and pick them up in the Roadtrek for the return trip. Jeff, Jennifer and Aimee readily agreed. Once on the gondola was enough for them.
Wendy, Dan and Rachel considered it all a grand adventure and, with Charlie, took the gondola back to the village, where they had left their car. Hua Hua rode back with us in the Roadtrek.
The town is very dog friendly so we brought all three of ours and even had them sit with us while we ate in the patio of a little restaurant area used by a nearby Mexican and Middle Eastern restaurants on Colorado Street. Our dogs looked downright shabby compared to the oh-so-upscale dogs of the well heeled Telluride residents. The “in” dog in Telluride is the massive Burmese Mountain Dog. If you have to ask how much such a pooch costs, you cant afford it. A puppy of average pedigree starts about $1,500.
Telluride is a former silver mining camp on the San Miguel River that has great winter skiing and is a very popular Blues and Brews Festival each fall. Lots of Hollywood types have made their way here and have no problem shelling out $3 million for a vacation home on the edges of the box canyon that the town is built in.
We walked the streets, stocked up on groceries and headed to the northern end of Main Street for a look at the spectacular 365-foot Bridal Falls.
Then it was back to Matterhorn and quiet night beneath a stunning star canopy that takes your breath away, though at that 9,500-foot elevation, there was not much breath you could get. But even if you weren't at such an altitude, those Colorado stars will get you high all by themselves.
This is why we RV.
87 Responses to “Getting high near Telluride, CO”
Comments are closed.
May 20, 2014at11:42 pm, Tracy Lynn Gutierrez said:
Adam Dyer I left tx came to Colorado never went back to tx and would NEVER go back.
May 20, 2014at11:40 pm, Tracy Lynn Gutierrez said:
Been there.. my mountain pic on my time line was taken on the way there.
May 20, 2014at9:40 pm, Jeff Heigl said:
Climbed the wall in the middle back in the day.
May 20, 2014at9:19 pm, Colorado Native said:
Awesome !
May 20, 2014at5:38 pm, Adam Dyer said:
Man I can’t wait to get the hell out of texas!!!! 10 months till Colorado bound….
May 20, 2014at11:57 am, Janice Lively said:
We are looking for a good small 25ft or less to buy, so we can go when we want, and my Honda crv will pull, or my ford f150. Ready to travel.
May 20, 2014at9:31 am, Buddy Dearborn said:
Beautiful spot we visit frequently, but not frequently enough.
May 20, 2014at8:48 am, Vivienne Juraszek said:
Wonderful and beautiful.!!!!
May 20, 2014at8:40 am, Jack L Gillespie said:
Beautiful. Rocky Mountain High!
May 20, 2014at12:31 am, Carrell Frazier said:
Pretty picture, love it!!!
May 20, 2014at12:08 am, Wayne Seebach said:
Beautiful creation!!- Thank You God.
May 19, 2014at11:13 pm, Owen Davids said:
Black Bear Pass…..you don’t have to be crazy. but it helps !! 😉
May 19, 2014at10:53 pm, Timothy Tracy said:
When I was a fulltime I was here, but forgot where it was?
May 19, 2014at10:39 pm, Angelina Anderson said:
BEAUTIFUL 🙂
May 19, 2014at10:31 pm, Ralph Gomez said:
been there ..loved it..
May 19, 2014at10:16 pm, James Lucas said:
Beautiful country
May 19, 2014at10:16 pm, Sandra Wayne Dew said:
Pat Graham Barron check this page out!
May 21, 2014at2:55 am, Pat Graham Barron said:
Looks like a great place to make a trip to in a motorhome. 🙂
May 19, 2014at10:01 pm, John Rogers said:
well kris slape….. im not sure what you all mean by a ” green room” but … this is my definition 🙂
May 19, 2014at9:53 pm, Judi Chapman said:
LOVE LOVE LOVE Colorado.
March 01, 2014at7:49 pm, Judi Jerdee said:
A favorite spot of ours!
February 28, 2014at11:12 am, Marjorie Stewart said:
That is high too !!! /*
February 28, 2014at11:07 am, Jim Amador said:
Telluride is an awesome place
February 28, 2014at10:58 am, Judy Powell Pittman said:
Really enjoyed Telluride!
February 28, 2014at10:42 am, Chuck Shackelford said:
That’s the exact spot I will be in July 2014.. Black bear pass..
February 28, 2014at10:07 am, Cheryl Mcclure said:
Beautifulness!
February 28, 2014at9:44 am, Kathy Baugh said:
Beautiful
February 28, 2014at9:41 am, Jack L Gillespie said:
Looks beautiful!!!
February 28, 2014at9:36 am, John Best said:
Nice I would love living like that if I had an RV I would hit every national park in the US . Change the view at will my friend
February 26, 2014at8:15 am, Jerome Newood said:
Love Telluride been there many times !
February 25, 2014at10:31 pm, Renee Abbott Killian said:
Love being and biking there!
February 25, 2014at9:32 pm, Matt Tammy Maxwell said:
Awesome !
February 25, 2014at8:37 pm, Kathy Baugh said:
Beautiful
February 25, 2014at5:31 pm, Mary Currie Stevens said:
Pretty!!
February 25, 2014at3:26 pm, Colin Erb said:
One of our favorite Towns. We visit almost every summer.
February 25, 2014at3:26 pm, Colin Erb said:
One of our favorite Towns. We visit almost every summer.
February 25, 2014at3:01 pm, Cheri Dochnal said:
I love Telluride…
February 25, 2014at3:01 pm, Cheri Dochnal said:
I love Telluride…
February 25, 2014at2:42 pm, Claudette Lyons said:
Was this pic taken from Imogene Pass Road?
February 25, 2014at2:42 pm, Claudette Lyons said:
Was this pic taken from Imogene Pass Road?
February 25, 2014at2:17 pm, Paul Bulgier said:
My 1998 Roadtrek 190 Popular has been slightly higher, up to 10,000 feet in the Sierras of California.
http://www.hikespeak.com/campgrounds/horseshoe-meadow-campgrounds-golden-trout-wilderness/
February 25, 2014at2:06 pm, Josh McCarthy said:
4 is to many, I took my ktm adventure 990 their it is pretty rough
February 25, 2014at2:05 pm, Brenda Huey said:
Love this area of Colorado. Fresh Air. Sunshine. And Mountains. Its just breathtaking.
February 25, 2014at1:54 pm, Victoria Hoselton said:
Absolutely beautiful Scott Hoselton, wanna go?
February 25, 2014at1:45 pm, Josh McCarthy said:
Dont get it could of took any rv their
February 25, 2014at2:04 pm, Roger W Spencer said:
Not if you come over the top. Experienced 4 wheelers please. Been there, done that. Bridal Veil Falls, beautiful!
February 25, 2014at2:14 pm, Paul Bulgier said:
“… could have taken…there…”
February 25, 2014at1:40 pm, Cathy Rawlins said:
Wow…just wow.
February 25, 2014at1:37 pm, Brenda Biggs said:
Beautiful!
February 03, 2014at10:35 am, Janice Ries said:
Love it there!!!
February 03, 2014at1:53 am, Rita Iber Gower said:
I have been there and it is beautiful!
February 01, 2014at7:09 pm, Trish Craft said:
I saw the water fall beautiful .
February 01, 2014at7:09 pm, Trish Craft said:
I saw the water fall beautiful .
February 01, 2014at1:45 pm, Cindy Wiley said:
Beautiful
February 01, 2014at1:38 pm, Shari Price said:
I would love to go there.
February 01, 2014at5:55 am, Susan Cupstid said:
Miss seeing this,maybe one day.
February 01, 2014at4:28 am, Douglas Henthorn said:
Beautiful !
February 01, 2014at12:45 am, Randy Martin said:
Awsome
January 31, 2014at11:30 pm, Roger W Spencer said:
Bridal Veil Falls… we 4 wheel Jeeped over the pass above the falls, fantastic!!!
January 31, 2014at11:24 pm, Melanie Carlisle said:
We were there this past June. Beautiful scenery. Also visited Ouray, Silverton & Durango. It was definitely worth the side trip!
January 31, 2014at10:58 pm, Dan Mcnatt said:
Love that part of the country. But very expensive.
January 31, 2014at10:10 pm, Michael Boston said:
Stayed a few nights there a few years ago enjoyed every breathless moment
January 31, 2014at10:05 pm, Tim Brown said:
I so miss this area.
January 15, 2014at9:06 am, Teresa Dodrill said:
Love every inch of CO !!!!
January 15, 2014at4:28 am, Peggy Clark Carper said:
Been there, done that, LOVED TELLURIDE!!
January 14, 2014at11:16 pm, Joyce Klug said:
freedom
January 14, 2014at10:21 pm, Gene Grayson said:
Bin there several times
January 14, 2014at8:13 pm, Betty Moseley said:
Some roads?
January 14, 2014at7:56 pm, Joe D Phillips said:
Watch out for stoned marijuana drivers!!!!!
January 14, 2014at7:27 pm, Nick Wright said:
Did you really just say “getting high” in Colorado?
January 14, 2014at8:36 pm, Campskunk said:
Mike swears he goes there for the scenery, honest…
January 14, 2014at5:00 pm, Pamela Taylor said:
Beautiful
January 14, 2014at4:57 pm, Daniel J Diller said:
I went from Durango to Telluride in February of 05, the road was open and they just had an 8′ snow a couple days before, everybody was excited because the drought was over, back there 5 years later, drought was back
January 14, 2014at4:42 pm, Jamee Vaughn said:
Here we come!!!!
January 14, 2014at3:49 pm, Donna Hull said:
Telluride is a beautiful area. So glad that you discovered it. The Telluride area also offers great 4-wheel drive trails. Trailer your own car or book an excursion (usually out of Ouray).
January 14, 2014at1:58 pm, Mary Currie Stevens said:
So much to see and so little time for most people to enjoy before they realize its to late. So take time to smell the roses every chance you get !!!!!!!!!!!
January 14, 2014at1:46 pm, JanetA said:
When I first saw Telluride it looked much different than it does today.
The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is a once in a lifetime adventure that I won’t soon forget. I made my way in and out of town on the Gondolas. I love that way of traveling.
I was tent camping all the way then.
January 14, 2014at1:43 pm, Craig Moore said:
We were just there. Rent a Jeep a see the back country! The trail between Telluride and Ouray is amazing!
August 19, 2013at4:41 pm, Beth said:
Thanks for sharing your journeys! My husband and I are “homebound” this summer do some relatives’ health issues. Your adventures have been one of my escapes during this time.
August 17, 2013at9:50 pm, Bill Sprague said:
I hope you don’t mind the extra 260#. I’m really enjoying the ride!
Thanks, Mike & Jenn
August 17, 2013at9:55 am, Mike Wendland said:
It’s hard to believe I visited a lace that Campskunk didn’t. We’ve basically made one big circle around Colorado. It is a huge an amazing state with so mch ore to explore. We’re headed to the Rocky Mountain National Park today.
August 17, 2013at12:43 am, Campskunk said:
i have never been there – i am always over across the ridge in silverton/ouray on 550. there’s a lot of colorado left for us to explore.
August 16, 2013at4:49 pm, Lisa said:
😉
August 16, 2013at2:58 pm, Cheryl said:
Sounds like so much
fun!
August 16, 2013at1:25 pm, Rolland Lawrenz said:
Really awesome article, thanks for bring all of us along.
August 16, 2013at12:28 pm, Linda Matthews said:
Bernese Mountain Dogs are beautiful. I’m glad you liked Telluride and I agree it is the new Aspen. That’s why I avoid both. The smaller towns like Silverton, Ouray, and even Breckenridge farther north seem much more like real Colorado. I’ll be interested to see where the rest of your travels take you.
August 16, 2013at12:18 pm, Laura H Postema said:
Thanks for the update. It sounds absolutely wonderful. Your family will have memories to cherish…forever. Continued safe travels.