We figured since this was our second summer in Silverton we needed to go to Telluride. Now you can take highway all the way to Telluride but it is about 70+ miles each way. Or you can take the mountain road, over Ophir Pass, through the "town" of Ophir and then to Telluride. Total distance the second way is about 25 miles. Time is about the same (2 hours or so) but the shorter way is much more scenic.
Below are some of the pics we took along the way. We had a delightful time in Telluride. Weather was perfect, there are free gondola rides and free parking to and from Mountain Village. And we enjoyed a few minutes of a free Taj Majal Trio concert (the blues that make you smile). Couldn't stay long as it was dark by the time we got home anyway and I didn't want to be on the mountain roads any more than necessary in the dark.