24 Hours in Telluride

[GoodKent]

I'm heading out on a whirlwind of a vacation and plan on being in telluride for the festival with a buddy of mine. I will be arriving in the area at around 12am Friday morning and will be leaving early Saturday morning. I have friday tickets for the festival but have a few questions.

Where to stay? I wont be getting a 4 day pass so camp sites appear to be out of the question.  I will have mtn bikes with me so I dont mind a pedal in. I have a jeep and don't mind sleeping in it. Is there anywhere within a short drive/pedal (within 1 hr away) where I can camp and not need a pass?  Is there decent parking available in telluride during the day of the festival? If I happen to party to much and pass out in a lawn chair at the festival do I get the boot?

Also I plan on doing at least one of the mountain passes ,either black beer pass or imogene pass to ouray. Does this festival block access to these trails at all? Or any other concerns?

Thanks.

[Ron N Deb]

Here is a listing of Campgrounds around Telluride
Telluride Camping

Hope this works for ya
 

[Hooch]

Black Beer Pass??? Hahaha!  Actually it's Black Bear Pass and it's one-way into Telluride (starting south Ouray up on Red Mountain Pass).  Imogene is blocked from entry on the Telluride side during the festival.  Try Ophir Pass if you are heading out of Telluride and want to get to Silverton or anywhere south of Ouray.

[Capt. Telluride]

sleep in the tarp run line

[Bevin]

sleep in the tarp run line

I'll second this suggestion - no better way to experience all the excitement of the Festival than hanging out all night with the hard core line people.  Then you'll (a) be ready and in the Fest first thing when the gates open, (b) have lots of new friends from the get go, and (c) have no need for an expensive hotel room or distant campground and the complex parking/shuttle logistics that go with getting from sleep to tarp (not to mention getting into the Fest late in the A.M. as a result). 

Park at Mtn Village, ride the gondola into town around midnight, set up your festival chair in line and don't forget the warm clothes.

Captain Telluride has been to this rodeo before....

[UselessJo]

Black Beer Pass??? Hahaha!  Actually it's Black Bear Pass and it's one-way into Telluride (starting south Ouray up on Red Mountain Pass).  Imogene is blocked from entry on the Telluride side during the festival.  Try Ophir Pass if you are heading out of Telluride and want to get to Silverton or anywhere south of Ouray.

Are these routes for bike or 4 wheel vehicles? 

[Hooch]

Black Beer Pass??? Hahaha!  Actually it's Black Bear Pass and it's one-way into Telluride (starting south Ouray up on Red Mountain Pass).  Imogene is blocked from entry on the Telluride side during the festival.  Try Ophir Pass if you are heading out of Telluride and want to get to Silverton or anywhere south of Ouray.

Are these routes for bike or 4 wheel vehicles? 

4-wheeled vehicles.  And bikes if you are a real badass mofo.

[Cindy Lou]

Serious 4WD over Black Bear, short wheelbase is best.  You can camp up on Ophir Pass. You can camp up near Lizard Head to the west on the north road to Dunton; there is a great area by the Calico trailhead with amazing views of Sheep Mtn, Yellow Mtn and the others that are behind Trout Lake. You might even find mushrooms if the conditions are right.  You can also take Barlow Creek Rd 578 to the east off Hwy 145 and head over Bolam Pass which passes Graysill Mine and comes out in back of Purgatory.  Check with the FS though to see if roads are open or still closed.  578 should be open by now if it's not still snowy or too muddy. Like Hooch said if you want to come out near Silverton take Ophir (oh' fur).
Gorgeous country all over up here, you won't be disappointed no matter which route you take.
Oh, and don't count on leaving TOO early on Saturday.  You may just decide to stay another day.  You say Friday 12 a.m so does that mean you will be there at midnight? or do you mean noon?  If you mean noon, then there won't be a tarp line. It won't start THAT early for Saturday.

[phusion]

Hey all, there is still a lot of snow up in the high San Juans.  Check this page:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/conditions/roads/passes.shtml

You can also call the FS San Juan office at 970-247-4874