Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In ski season Montrose Regional Airport (
Click here
)
, 65 miles north, has direct flights to
and from Denver (on United), Houston, Phoenix and limited cities on the east coast.
Gondola
(S Oak St; 7am-midnight; )
The world's most beautiful commute, this free gondola
takes a 15-minute ride up to the Mountain Village through aspen trees.
Telluride Express
( 970-728-6000;
www.tellurideexpress.com
)
Shuttles from the Telluride Airport to
town or Mountain Village cost $15. There are also shuttles to Montrose airport (adult/
child $50/30); call to arrange pickup.
Telluride Regional Airport
( 970-778-5051;
www.tellurideairport.com
;
Last Dollar Rd)
Commuter aircraft
serve the mesa-top Telluride Airport, 5 miles east of town on Hwy 145. If weather is poor,
flights may be diverted to Montrose, 65 miles north. For car rental, National and Budget
both have airport locations.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ridgway
POP 900 / ELEV 6985FT
Ridgway, with its local quirk, zesty history and scandalous views of Mt Sneffels, is hard
to just blow through. On top of that, the town also served as the backdrop for John
Wayne's 1969 cowboy classic,
True Grit.
It sits at the crossroads of US 550, which goes south to Durango, and Hwy 62, which
leads to Telluride. The downtown area is tucked away on the west side of the Uncompah-
gre River. Through town Hwy 62 is called Sherman and all the perpendicular streets are
named for his daughters. Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce has a lot of information
about local activities.
Sights & Activities
Ridgway Railroad Museum
( 970-626-5181;
www.ridgwayrailroadmuseum.org
; 150 Racecourse Rd; 10am-6pm May-Sep, reduced hr Oct-
Apr; )
Ridgway was the birthplace of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, a
narrow-gauge rail line that connected to Durango with the 'Galloping Goose,' a kind of
hybrid train and truck that saved the struggling Rio Grande Southern for a number of
years. This museum is dedicated to the plucky rail line.
MUSEUM
