|

Telluride Hot Air Balloon Festival Couple’s Session

The Hot Air Balloon Festival in Telluride is one of the town’s smaller festivals, but it is one of my absolute favorites! For this sunrise photography session in Telluride, we had to wait around a bit to wait for the hot air balloons take off from the town park. And we did a bit of chasing them as they floated throughout the valley. It was a fun challenge shooting this couple’s session at the Hot Air Balloon Festival! This couple came up from Montrose in the dark before sunrise so we could catch the balloons.

Also be sure to read more below for the 2022 Hot Air Balloon Festival & some tips on visiting! And if you’re looking for great places to stay in Telluride, check out my friends at Vivid Vacation Rentals.

Tips for Going to the Telluride Hot Air Balloon Festival in 2023

Where: Telluride Town Park & Downtown Telluride

When: June 2, 2023 – June 4, 2023

Cost: FREE!

Tips for going: The Telluride Hot Air Balloon Festival is an annual event that takes place every year in the mountain town of Telluride. The event consists of two sunrise ascensions that will take place on June 4 & June 5 during sunrise of this year. You’ll also want to catch the Main Street Glow on the evening of June 4 at sunset! The best spots to view the balloons are right in the town park & then along the trail that follows the San Miguel River through town. If you go to the west side of the Beaver Pond in Telluride, you can also get some great views of the launching balloons with some reflections in the water. Be sure to get there in advance of the different events! Parking in Telluride is hard enough but it gets even busier with a festival in town.

For complete details of events & updates, visit the festival’s website.


Malachi Lewis is an adventure elopement photographer at Shell Creek Photography.

Malachi Lewis

Photographer