Telluride Mountain Run Hill Climb 2026: Climb Gold Hill for a Cause
Sunday, August 23, 2026 | 9:00 AM | Oak Street Plaza
Looking for a very Telluride way to spend a Sunday morning?
Start in downtown Telluride at 8,750 feet. Climb roughly 4.5 miles and more than 4,000 vertical feet. Finish on top of Gold Hill at 12,750 feet.
Easy enough. 😉
The Telluride Mountain Run Hill Climb is new for 2026, and we're especially excited about this one because the event is a fundraiser benefiting the Telluride Mountain Club and the trails we all love.
And you don't have to consider yourself a runner to participate. Hikers are encouraged to sign up too—just be prepared for a serious mountain challenge and the three-hour time limit to reach the summit.
Learn more and register for the Telluride Hill Climb.
🏔️ The Challenge: Telluride to the Top of Gold Hill
The race begins at Oak Street Plaza at the base of the gondola in downtown Telluride.
From there, participants climb ski-area service roads and two-track through the Lift 9 area before reaching See Forever Ridge. The final push follows See Forever another 1,000 vertical feet to the summit of Gold Hill.
Hill Climb Quick Facts
Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026
Start: 9:00 AM
Starting Point: Oak Street Plaza, Telluride — 8,750'
Finish: Gold Hill Summit — 12,750'
Distance: Approximately 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 4,000 feet
Time Limit: 3 hours
Aid Stations: One fully stocked station at the summit
Who Can Participate: Runners and hikers
This is short mileage by mountain-race standards—but there is absolutely nothing casual about gaining 4,000 feet in 4.5 miles.
The Finish Line Might Be the Best Part
Reach the summit and you'll find an aid station stocked with water, electrolytes, sweet and salty snacks, first aid and—perhaps most importantly—some very nice volunteers.
You'll also have those Gold Hill views.
Participants can send a small drop bag to the summit, which needs to be dropped at the starting line no later than 8:30 AM on race morning.
Definitely take advantage of it. A jacket, dry layer, gloves and hat can feel awfully good at 12,750 feet after you've just climbed there under your own power.
One Important Detail: You Still Have to Get Down
No, there isn't a shuttle waiting on top of Gold Hill. This is Telluride. 😏
After enjoying the summit, participants have two options:
Option 1: Hike approximately 3 miles down the See Forever Trail to the San Sophia Gondola Station, then ride the gondola back into Telluride.
Option 2: Take the more scenic—and considerably longer—route through Bear Creek Basin, hiking approximately 6 miles back to Telluride while cheering on the 14-mile runners along the way.
Either way, budget some legs for the descent.
🎒 What to Bring
Weather changes quickly in the San Juan Mountains, particularly at high elevation, so organizers strongly recommend carrying:
Hydration
Calories / fuel
Waterproof jacket
Running or hiking poles
High-traction footwear
Sunscreen
The Telluride Mountain Run is also a cupless event, so bring your own reusable cup if you plan to drink at the summit aid station.
Participants are strongly encouraged to download the course GPX file before race day. Courses will be marked, but route markings can disappear, and knowing where you're going in the high country is always the better plan.
View the Hill Climb course map and GPX.
Why We Love Events Like This
This is the part of Telluride that's difficult to convey in a property listing.
Yes, the scenery is extraordinary. But what makes this place truly special is a community that continually finds ways to get outside, challenge itself and give back to the mountains that make living here possible.
The Hill Climb supports the Telluride Mountain Club, an organization dedicated to advocating for, maintaining and improving access to the trails and climbing areas surrounding Telluride.
For Mountain Rose Realty, supporting our mountain community is part of what it means to live and work here.
And whether you're racing to the summit, hiking it at a slightly more civilized pace, volunteering or simply cheering everyone on, this is a pretty great excuse to spend a Sunday in the San Juans.
See You on the Mountain
Sunday, August 23. 9:00 AM. Oak Street Plaza.
Four and a half miles.
Four thousand vertical feet.
One very well-earned view from the top. 🏔️
Learn more and register for the Telluride Mountain Run Hill Climb →
At Mountain Rose Realty, Anne-Britt Ostlund believes understanding Telluride Real Estate also means understanding the community and mountain lifestyle that make people want to live here in the first place. From trails and nonprofits to festivals and local traditions, this is the Telluride behind the telluride homes for sale—and a big part of why we're lucky to call the San Juan Mountains home.
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