Two things that legendary ski destination Telluride has no shortage of are 14,000-foot peaks and luxury vacation home options. With a first-of-its-kind gondola system connecting the historic town of Telluride to the nearby modern resort enclave of Mountain Village, where the lion’s share of fractional and resort real estate options in the area are located, many properties claim a convenient commute to downtown and proximity to the slopes among their top amenities. Helium Report touched down in the winter wonderland of the Rockies to find out which private residence clubs, condo hotels and whole ownership properties really live up to the claim that in Telluride, walking distance is the only distance.

Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge

Fairmont’s offering in the Telluride area, the Franz Klammer Lodge, is situated squarely and conveniently in the middle of Mountain Village. It’s location places it within walking distance of the gondolas to downtown Telluride, a grocery store and a number of restaurants, shops and activities such as ice skating and rock climbing.

While it is not a ski-in/ski-out property, the private residence club, which offers two- and three-bedroom units ranging from 1,400 to 2,000 square feet, provides a ski valet service that transports skiers the 100 yards from the lodge to the bottom of Lift 4, which accesses all mountain terrain. A possible downside? Though the convenience of the location is undeniable, the setting can be less than serene, as the village becomes quite crowded during ski season.

The Club at Tristant

The three- and four-bedroom log and stone cabins of the Club at Tristant, which range in size from 2,600 to 3,100 square feet and are located on the slope side of Mountain Village rather than in the town’s center, offer less access to restaurants and shops. The property is not within walking distance of much, but is a short drive to the gondola station (about two minutes) and the village center (about five minutes), with a complimentary shuttle service for transporting visitors within Mountain Village.

The advantages are its beginner ski-in/ski-out access and its location on one of the central mountain slopes. The drawbacks are a narrow passageway for cars entering and exiting the property, which can make for some frustrating traffic situations when many people are coming and going, and the fact that the Club at Tristant is located on a shady side of the mountain where temperatures get fairly chilly. For many though, the spectacular views of Telluride will outweigh these minor grievances.

See Forever Village

See Forever Village, like Franz Klammer, is located in the center of Mountain Village. This whole ownership property, which has availability in two-, three- and four-bedroom, fully-furnished residences and penthouses ranging from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet, is further from the mountain than the Fairmont property, with less convenient ski-in/ski-out options. It does however provide ski valet, boot storage and, with its position slightly off the side of the town center, a more peaceful environment with great views.

Capella Telluride

Slated to open by the close of 2008, Capella Telluride, a Mountain Village luxury resort property which will offer both condo hotel units and whole ownership options, represents the best of both worlds when it comes to ski-in/ski-out. The resort, with two to four-bedroom units ranging from 1,400 to 4,000 square feet available for whole ownership, and condo hotel options ranging from 300 square foot studios to 2,400 square foot two-bedroom suites, is located on a beginner run, but will also offer valet service to Lift 4 for greater mountain access. It’s central location in Mountain Village will keep it well within walking distance of the shops and restaurants, as well as the gondola.

The River Club

The only private residence club option in the town of Telluride proper, the River Club is located along the San Miguel River in the historic Depot District, about two blocks from the gondola station and a variety of shops and restaurants. The club, which has two- and three-bedroom units ranging up to around 1,500 square feet and available for use at several different membership levels, is not the best option for those looking for ski-in/ski-out, but is only a short walk from the center of town, and is coupled with a Telluride Ski & Golf Club membership during each stay.