Mountain Layout—Skiing

Telluride has a very user-friendly trail rating system: It's divided into six categories instead of three or four. One green circle is easiest, then double greens-a bit more challenging, then single blues, double blues, single black and double black.

Here's a larger, more detailed main trail map and the Prospect Bowl trail map.

Expert, Advanced: Ask locals where to head first and you'll get a split decision: Some recommend the front face that drops into town, which put Telluride on the skiers' map in the first place. Others steer you to Gold Hill and Prospect Bowl, newer terrain that guarantee hoots and hollers.. Wherever you start, you'll end up skiing it all and having a ball, so it really doesn't matter in the end. If you start on the front face, The Plunge and Spiral Stairs will make you or break you. This duo is as challenging a combination of steep bumps as you can find anywhere. The best part is your audience on the chair above. The Plunge is normally split-groomed, creating one of the steepest and most daringly exciting snow highways. If your knees give out you can bail.Whatever you do, don't let the jaw-dropping view into town distract you. The face is swathed in other double- and single-diamond trails, most with VW-sized bumps, so, if you can, go ahead and give those knees a real workout. If you prefer more of a backcountry experience, Gold Hill and Prospect Bowl will suit you just right. The 450 acres of glades and above-timberline skiing on Gold Hill are sure to please. Do laps on these double-diamond runs by riding the Gold Hill lift, which dumps you off at the 12,260-foot mark, Telluride's highest lift-served terrain. If it's a clear day take a moment and a picture to admire and remember the magnificent view before dropping in. In Prospect Bowl, the expert terrain is off Prospect Ridge and Bald Mountain, and it's all hike-to but within bounds. On a powder day, the blues back here are delightful even for more accomplished skiers and riders. Ducking in and out of trees alongside the runs is way fun play. For those who are properly equipped with Pieps and other safety equipment, Telluride also has backcountry access points off the top of the Gold Hill and Prospect Bowl chairs. [TOP]

Intermediate: There are several lifts that are pretty much dedicated to intermediate terrain. On a powder day, confident intermediates should make a beeline to Prospect Bowl. It's a lift-served backcountry experience including Sandia, Magnolia and Stella that will let you rock 'n roll down the middle of the bowl with sections of glorious glades to explore. See Forever—Telluride's aptly named signature run—is a giddy glide down the mountain, almost 3 miles top to bottom. If you're tired, it seems like it takes forever, but there's plenty of superb spots to stop and enjoy the view. On a clear day you can even see the Utah mountains. The terrain off the Palmyra and Village chairs can keep you happy all day long. With names like Peek-a-Boo, Misty Maiden and Butterfly, you've just gotta let 'em run! If you want to try your luck in powder, Prospect Bowl is about as good as it gets. If the single-diamonds on the front face have been groomed, they are acceptable for strong intermediates. If they haven't been groomed, the moguls make these steep runs really tough and you'll want to stick to the blues instead. [TOP]

Beginner, First-timer: Telluride is one of the top spots on the continent for beginners. Ute Park—the learning area in Prospect Bowl—has trail names that tie into the resort's mining past, like Galloping Goose, May Girl, Nellie and Little Maude. The Sunshine chair serves terrain that's a great ego booster once you've learned to link your turns. The runs are long and very gentle, allowing you to meander back to the lift. For first-timers, the Meadows is about as perfect a novice area as you can find. The lift here is a Chondola, a hybrid high-speed quad with gondola cars also on the cable. [TOP]