of winter, the state’s ski resorts boast more than 40,000 acres of skiable terrain. And the skiing is take-your-breath-away good. The incredible quietness of the slopes affords you the freedom – and, admittedly, relief – of
not having to dodge the people around you. Skilled instructors offer group and one-to-one lessons, priced from $145 (£93) a day. But if you want to go back with bragging rights, head away from the manicured trails to explore cross-country tracks. Equipment rental is from $29 (£18) adults, $19 (£12) junior.
OFF-PISTE ADVENTURES For a truly magical
time, take part in a Moonlight Snowmobile Tour. The guides at Telluride Snowmobile Adventures will shepherd you through the snow-dusted trees up to Alta Ghost Town, a historic mining camp, in time to gaze out over a mesmerising sunset. A sense of calm descends as darkness falls. It’s just you, the mountains and the wildlife – which, with bears as a native inhabitant, you hope will keep its distance! Then your engines start once more as you weave down the mountainside, creating a misty parade of light. (telluridesnowmobile.net)
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A GLIMPSE OF HOLLYWOOD Telluride boasts homes of the
famous – Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey included – and each summer the Telluride Film Festival attracts Hollywood’s finest. If you prefer a bit of old Hollywood, visit the Mahr Building, formerly the San Miguel Valley Bank, which Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid robbed in 1889 before riding off into the sunset with their loot.