Telluride Hot Air Balloon Festival June 3-5, 2022

One of the most picturesque places in Colorado holding an event that begs for beautiful photos, sounds perfect.

The 38th annual Telluride Balloon Festival in early June will include crisp early morning launches and an evening 'glo' along Main Street. If you've never visited Telluride, believe me it is well worth your time; with this balloon festival, even more so.

The 1870's saw many taking the journey into the San Juan Mountains to find their fortune in gold and sliver. Columbia was a tent camp in the valley of the mountains that many miners used. Columbia turned into a town, and in 1878 that town's name was changed to reflect what was happening in the area at that time: the search for telluride minerals. They named the town Telluride.

TSM/Dave Jensen

Since Telluride played such a key part in the development of the west, the core area of town was designated as a Historic National Landmark in 1961. In 1972, the Telluride Ski Resort opened and that's when the town started to become the Telluride we know of today.

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When you're in Telluride, you just feel 'Colorado.' For example, if you were to send a picture of Main street to a stranger across the world, they would probably say, 'That's Colorado.' I've only visited the town once so far, but this balloon festival may have me going again.

The 2022 Telluride Balloon Festival

Friday, June 3: Static display of balloons for 5th grader participation.
6:30 a.m. launches from Telluride Town Park, on Saturday and Sunday morning.
Young Life to sell coffee, hot chocolate, juice, muffins and more.
Saturday night Main Street 'Glo' at 7 p.m.

Damien Chaudet on Unsplash

Facebook/Telluride Balloon Festival

GETTING TO TELLURIDE FROM FORT COLLINS

Depending upon how much time you want to spend on the road, you have three route options to Telluride:

Google Maps

RELATED: A GUIDE TO ALL COLORADO'S OUTDOOR CONCERT VENUES (INCLUDING TELLURIDE)

LODGING

You can go all out by trying to get a room at The Imogene, or you can go 'less expensively' by staying in lovely Ouray (they have a shuttle to Telluride,) and stay at Twin Peaks Lodge.

More Colorado Travel: The Abandoned Old Exit for Cave of the Winds

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

Popular Colorado attraction Cave of the Winds has an exit that is no longer in use and is now completely abandoned.

Colorado Quiz: Is It Colorado, or Is It Not?

I have this quiz for you to take - Colorado or Not Colorado. Below is a series of photos of places I have been to or have lived like Missouri, South Dakota, North Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, and Indiana. Your job is to look at the photo, decide if it's Colorado or not, and then scroll down to the next photo to see if you are correct. I think it could be pretty challenging, however, you may actually recognize some of the Colorado photos. Scroll slowly and take a moment to pause at each one and make your guess.

Source: Telluride Hot Air Balloon Festival June 3-5, 2022

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