Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Telluride

Rio Grande Southern

Rio Grande SouthernPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
2.3 mi
distance
156 ft
climb
7,908 ft
high point
Easy
difficulty
Jun–Jul, Sep
best months

Rio Grande Southern is an easy cross-country skiing route on Bureau of Land Management land in Colorado's Uncompahgre Field Office, about 2.3 miles long with a climb of about 156 feet from a low of 7,744 feet to a high of 7,908 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 2.1 miles in, with a 13% grade. Winter is the natural season for this outing. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Telluride show January highs around 36°F with lows near 0°F, while June and July run in the low to mid 70s by day. Several other spots sit within a few miles. The River Trail mountain biking route is about a mile away, and the Telluride/Norwood climbing area is about 1.5 miles off. For overnight stays, Secret Campsite is about 2.1 miles away and Mary E Campground about 2.3 miles.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Secret Campsite

    Campground

    Campground · 2.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Tunnel

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 6 mi
  • If it rains

    Telluride Arts District

    Gallery

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Telluride

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Jul, Sep

    Best time to visit Rio Grande Southern

    Best months: June–July and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      36° / 0°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 5°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      44° / 13°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      51° / 22°

      9 wet

    5. May

      60° / 29°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      73° / 34°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 41°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 40°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 34°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 23°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 13°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      36° / 2°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Telluride 4wnw, CO, 3.3 mi away at 8,646 ft. The station sits about 700 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

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Silverton MountainPhoto: Zach Dischner, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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BoulevardPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors