Description

The Telluride Gondola is an incredible asset to the communities of Telluride and Mountain Village, providing free transportation between the two towns year-round.

It's the only gondola in the USA to provide transportation of this type.

Mountain bikers can also use the gondola for a free lift to the top of the ridge, with access to an array of fabulous two-way cross-country trails from the top of the lift. One of the most incredible rides from the top of the gondola is anchored by Magic Meadow.

But to get there, riders will first pedal up and along the majority of the Prospect Trail.

The Prospect Trail peels away from the main resort on flowy, machine-cut singletrack goodness.

Despite the ride up the gondola, this trail will still require you to work with short, steep climbs. Those climbs pay off with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, including an iconic view where the trail crosses a scree field.

Telluride is one of the most visually stunning mountain towns in the United States, so bring your camera for a few snaps! You'll peel off of Prospect to pick up the Magic Meadow trail.

After a few sweeping turns and some pedaling through the woods, you'll pop out into the magical meadows from whence this trail gets its name.

The views are unbelievable, with one of the San Juans' rocky mountain ridges towering high above.

It's hard to keep your eyes on the trail for a few minutes, but soon it's back to the trees. Magic Meadow is a true intermediate singletrack gem.

This winding, rolling trail is all machine-built flowy goodness, with endless rollers and undulations, beautiful berms in almost every corner, and many miles of perfectly sculpted singletrack.

It's pretty rare to find machine-built trail this good this far out in the backcountry. Lower down, Magic Meadow descends rapidly through a majestic aspen grove, whose trees turn a gorgeous golden in the fall.

Even in mid-summer, the beauty of the aspens is impossible to beat! The dirt is generally spectacular through this section, leaving riders raving about the traction. After crossing the highway, the stunning aspen grove continues as you descend the classic Sunshine Trail.

This trail has been an official part of the trail network for many years, and as such, retains a slightly steeper, more raw character than the trails that precede it.

It's another absolute gem of a trail with a wicked-fun descent! After Sunshine, you'll pop out onto the dirt road for a few mellow miles of gravel descending before picking up Galloping Goose on the right.

A gradual but sustained climb ensues, but it will take you back up and over to the Valley Trail and a gorgeous finish to the ride as you roll back into Telluride. **Note:** In order to access the cross country trails off the top of the Telluride Gondola during bike park hours (9am-5pm), you'll need to purchase a cross country season pass (which costs $75), a bike park day ticket (which costs $62), or a bike park season pass (which costs $395).

(All prices are current as of the 2023 season.) The bike park day ticket and season pass also include the downhill trails, whereas the cross country pass does not.

Alternatively, you can either begin your ride before 9am or after 5pm to avoid this fee on the cross country trails.