MountainVillagevacationrentals.

Mountain Village sits above Telluride on the other side of the ridge, built into the slopes of the Telluride Ski Resort. It is newer than the historic town below, but that is part of its appeal. Mountain Village was designed around the mountain itself — ski runs, lifts, pedestrian plazas, hotels, restaurants, and homes all connected without needing to get in a car.

In winter, this is the convenient side of Telluride. Depending on where you stay, skiing can begin almost outside your door. Lifts 1, 4 and 10 serve different parts of the village, while the gondola connects Mountain Village directly with the Town of Telluride. You can ski during the day, ride the gondola into town for dinner, and be back in Mountain Village that night without ever driving.

The Village Core is the center of things. Around Heritage Plaza and Mountain Village Boulevard you'll find restaurants, bars, coffee, shops, ski rentals, and access to the lifts. During winter, skiers move through the plazas throughout the day. In summer, the same spaces become gathering places for concerts, festivals, dining outside, and families spending an afternoon in the mountains.

The biggest difference from staying in town is space. Mountain Village opens outward rather than closing in. Instead of the steep walls of Telluride's box canyon, there are long views toward the San Sophia Range, Wilson Peak, and the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Homes and condos spread through stands of aspen and spruce, and many properties offer larger floor plans, garages, decks, hot tubs, and direct or near-direct ski access.

Summer here is just as easy. Hiking and mountain biking trails run throughout the ski area, the gondola carries bikes and pedestrians between Mountain Village and Telluride, and afternoons can be spent outside without ever really leaving the mountain.

Mountain Village and Telluride are only a gondola ride apart, but they offer two very different ways to experience the same place. Telluride gives you historic streets, restaurants, and the intimacy of the box canyon. Mountain Village gives you elevation, views, room to spread out, and immediate access to the ski mountain.

For families and groups who want the mountain to be the center of the trip, Mountain Village is hard to beat. Put on your boots, walk to the lift, and ski.

Our Mountain Village vacation rentals include Cassidy Ridge, a ski-in, walk-out home off the Village Bypass run, along with Crystal Ridge and Winterleaf. Each one is inspected and prepared in person by our local team before you arrive.