Photography Tours

Photo Inspiration

Every visitor to our town is struck by the plain fact that Telluride is among the most breathtaking mountain settings we will ever experience. The San Juan Mountains speak to the photographer in a voice unique from any other range. Iconic picturescapes, such as Wilson Peak, Bear Creek and the view from Imogene Pass, are so numerous that they obscure the endless secrets of these mountains which unfold for the exploring photographer.

Our mission as a guide service is to reveal both the known and the unknown, to capture moments and places that occur uniquely, to guide photography enthusiasts on an unforgettable journey with knowledge that can come only from living in the mountains themselves.

Telluride through the lens of the beholder

Soaring peaks, alpenglow, waterfalls, wildflowers, aspens, historic ghost towns, rivers, canyons, wildlife and people; Telluride’s appeal encompasses all of Southwest Colorado and an inexhaustible range of subjects.

We tour from downtown Telluride to the highest mountain passes in America, the most famous historic mining camps in Colorado and through forests of aspen and fields of wildflowers. We also photograph Black Canyon National Park, the San Miguel, Dolores and Uncompahgre Rivers, herds of elk, soaring birds of prey and the trout that swim in our streams. We tour in the summer, fall, winter and spring, as each season casts unique highlights on the natural features of the land.

Special Tours in a Special Place

Themes and destinations ~ Each tour is customized to the interests of our clients. Recommended destinations include:

  ~  Telluride Alpina: Imogene Pass, Wilson Peak from “The Dairy Farm”, Lizard Head Pass, the Sneffles Range from Dallas Divide, Trout Lake, the Wilson and Yellow Mountain ranges

  ~  Telluride’s ghost towns: Tomboy and Alta

  ~  Wildflower tours to Yankee Boy Basin, Ophir Pass and Black Bear Pass

  ~  Waterfalls of Telluride: Bridal Veil, Ingram and Coronet Creek

  ~  Fall Colors tours to Black Mesa, Last Dollar Road, Alta, Ophir and Dunton

  ~  Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Two guides for the price of one

On our Telluride-based tours, you will actually have two guides, a local professional photographer and a 4-WD tour guide. Before and after your photo sessions, you’ll learn about Telluride’s colorful mining and geological history.

Ride in style

We travel in Telluride Outside’s customized 4-WD vehicles, which feature a spacious, raised seating area for our guests, configured in a horseshoe so every seat is a “window” seat. These open-air vehicles have removable canvas canopies that provide protection from the elements without impairing the view. Each vehicle seats 8 guests comfortably, but we only book a maximum of 6 guests, who ride in the seating area along with our photography guide.

Photography sessions

On each trip, we stop at length to photograph key elements of the landscape and other points of interest. Our photographer familiarizes guests with each site and provides coaching for optimizing the photography opportunity.

Review and critique

On full day tours, we split the am and pm touring times with a mid-day photo critique session with lunch at Telluride’s Ah Haa School for the Arts.

Half day sunrise or sunset tour

Sunrise tour times: approx. 5:00 am – 10:00 am spring, summer, fall

approx. 6:00 am – 10:30 am winter months

Sunset tour times: approx. 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm spring, summer, fall

approx. 3:00 pm – 7:30 pm winter

Full day sunrise or sunset tour

Spring, summer and fall: approx. 5:00 am – 10:00 am + 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Photo critique and lunch: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Black Canyon National Park or Mesa Verde tours

Full day tour $450 pp, tour times approximately 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Half day Black Canyon tour with Montrose airport pick up or drop off

$350 pp, minimum 2 guests, tour time pairs flight arrival or departure with a sunrise or sunset tour in Black Canyon National Park