Camel’s Garden

About Camel’s Garden

By the ULTIMATE Ski Resorts Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Camel’s Garden is a boutique hotel and condominiums at the base of the gondola in the town of Telluride, the only hotel, it says, within the ski resort’s base area in town. It has 30 rooms and suites, condominiums of one to four bedrooms, the Aveda Telluride spa, a 25-foot outdoor hot tub and a lively barbecue restaurant.

At the foot of the gondola

Camel’s Garden stands at the base of the gondola and the ski resort’s access lifts in the town of Telluride, by the San Miguel River and steps from the restaurants and shops. You ski back to the door, and the gondola takes you up to Mountain Village. The second-floor lounge has large windows onto the ski resort, the gondola and the river.

Spa, hot tub and sauna

Aveda Telluride spa, in the lobby, offers massages, facials, body treatments, manicures and pedicures, waxing and hair services; appointments are recommended. The 25-foot outdoor hot tub is the place for Telluride’s famous alpenglow, and there is a sauna. A continental breakfast is included.

The only true ski-in/ski-out hotel in Telluride, in the hotel’s words, with direct gondola, lift and trail access.

Rooms and condominiums

The 30 rooms and suites are all pet friendly. Standard rooms average 385 sq ft with an oversized tub; Select rooms 465 sq ft with decks and fireplaces; Deluxe rooms 590 sq ft with two queens; and suites 842 sq ft with a sleeper sofa, deck and fireplace. The condominiums have full kitchens: a one-bedroom of 930 sq ft over the river, a two-bedroom of 1,027 sq ft, a three-bedroom of 1,978 sq ft over the Gondola Plaza and a four-bedroom penthouse of 2,800 sq ft facing the box canyon.

Eating, drinking and gear

Oak, The New Fat Alley, on the main level, serves barbecue and has one of the town’s liveliest après patios. Telluride Sports, on the base level, and Christy Sports across the street rent skis and bikes, with a discount for hotel guests, and the hotel has a ski and boot room and gear lockers.

Our advice: book a Select or Deluxe room with a fireplace, ski straight to Oak for après, and take the hot tub at sunset.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Camel’s Garden before you go.