Telluride Ski Resort is North America’s favorite ski area – at least by one unscientific measure.

According to a poll conducted by Condé Nast Traveler, the ski area, about 2½ hours from Durango, is No. 1 for the second year in a row.

Condé Nast’s Readers Choice Survey included votes from 20,000 skiers.

Colorado areas dominated the top 20, taking half of the slots. After Telluride comes Aspen Mountain at No. 5, Beaver Creek at No. 6, Vail at No. 7 and Aspen Highlands rounding out the top 10. Telluride was the lone Southwest Colorado area on the top 20.

Daily lift tickets are $69-$106 (depending on time of season) and lodging is certainly not cheap in Telluride, but if you take the economic plunge, you will be rewarded with fantastic vistas, generally good conditions and a wide variety of terrain.

One reader described Telluride as “a little slice of heaven in a gorgeous box canyon.”

No argument there.

Herald Staff