Telluride Tourist Visitor Website for Telluride and Mountain Village, Colorado

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Telluride, Colorado! Our mining (festivals) town is wedged in a picturesque glacial canyon at the base of the dramatic San Juan Mountains. Once a remote mining area, today Telluride has become a destination (and home) for artists, skiers, celebrities, second homeowners, hippies, and just about any other human type you could imagine.  But that’s what makes it so special.  A restored Victorian main street is delightful for shopping, munching, and people-watching; you can sign up for a walking tour at Historic Tours of Telluride, or guide yourself with a map available from the visitor’s center. Make sure you include a visit to the 1895 New Sheridan Hotel, which in its refurbished state, accepts overnight guests. The Telluride Historical Museum is also a good resource for a quick history lesson on mining to the ski boom trivia.

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Skiers and snowboarders dreaming of a ski vacation can turn dreams into reality with lodges like the Mountain Lodge in Mountain Village, Resort Quest Telluride, the Mountainside Inn and the historic New Sheridan hotel. Fill out this accommodations contact form for great lodging rates.

NEW! Telluride Adventure Desk- Guide Services- Flyfishing, Jeeping (4x4), Hiking, Camping, Rock Climbing, Motorcycle Rentals, Whitewater Rafting, ParaGliding, Glider Rides and More...

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Telluride History

A restored Victorian main street is delightful for shopping, munching, and people-watching; you can sign up for a walking tour at Historic Tours of Telluride, or guide yourself with a map available from the visitor’s center. Make sure you include a visit to the 1895 New Sheridan Hotel, which in its refurbished state, accepts overnight guests. The Telluride Historical Museum is also a good resource for a quick history lesson on mining to the ski boom trivia.

Almost any outdoor adventure is at your fingertips here, although because of the rugged and steep terrain, many opt for popular jeep rides rather than mountain bike spins. One hair-raising route is Imogene Pass to Ouray where you’ll pass an old mine and fort. A hike every visitor should consider is the one straight out of town to 425-foot Bridal Veil Falls (Colorado’s largest). Stream fishing is good along the Dolores or San Miguel Rivers. Of course, world-class skiing is available “up the road” or via a connected gondola at the Mountain Village and ski area; lifts run in the summer, too.

Telluride has been coined the “City of Festivals,” but the mocking title at least guarantees that any summer weekend you’re likely to stumble on some happening. This mountain community’s most famous fest is the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, which draws national acts to the outdoor amphitheater each June.

Population less than 2,221, with summer festivals we can have more than 10,000 in the two towns. WOW!  Historical Perspective/Buildings of Telluride

With over 1,700 skiable acres closely divided between beginner, intermediate and expert terrain, a 10-acre snowboard park, and not a lift line in sight, Telluride is a paradise for winter adventurers.  Location: 364 miles southwest of Denver on Colorado145.

One of the only true ski-in, ski-out destinations in the Rockies, Telluride provides guests with a level of convenience as distinctive as the breathtaking 360 degree mountain views. Both historic downtown Telluride and the European-styled Mountain Village border the slopes and are connected by a free Gondola. The resort also offers over 50 restaurants ranging from gourmet to barbecue and nightlife just minutes by foot from most Telluride lodging. At 8,750 feet, Telluride, Colorado, combines the relaxed, western spirit of winter in the mountains with an unparalleled sense of ease.

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On-Mountain Winter Adventures in Telluride, Colorado:

• Free, guided snowshoe tours into Prospect Bowl

• Free guided mountain tours of the ski and snowboard terrain

• NASTAR race course available for individual party rental

• 733 spectacular new acres of terrain in Prospect Bowl

• Extensive ski school and childcare opportunities

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Off-Mountain Winter Adventures in Telluride, Colorado:

• The only heli-ski operation in Colorado

• Over 30 kilometers of snowshoe and Nordic trails

• Sled dog, snowmobile, horse and sleigh rides

• Ice skating, shopping, and a variety of spa treatments

• Hot springs located a scenic 40 minutes away

WINTER
In the winter, much of the San Juan Mountains' wildlife hibernates or retreats to lower elevations. Birds such as dark-eyed juncos and mountain chickadees remain. They seem as comfortable and active in winter as they are in summer. Gray jays (camp robbers) work the ski area crowd, readily accepting handouts. The white-tailed ptarmigan molts its granite-colored plumage and turns a snowy white, while the snowshoe hare's coat turns the color of milk. Beneath the snow pack, voles and pocket gophers create a network of tunnels stuffed with grasses and forbes, creating a microclimate that allows them to stay active throughout the winter. The winter-white ermine with its black-tipped tail digs into the snow pack to hunt this elusive prey. The quiet observer can watch as its cousin, the chocolate-colored pine marten, or a quill-covered porcupine work their way through the evergreen treetops. On a full moon night, coyotes call to each other across fields of incandescent snow. Honor these winter residents' need to conserve energy in this cold and fragile environment and don't disturb wildlife.

Winter in the San Juan Mountains is also a recreation haven. Outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds venture into the backcountry to experience the abundant snow and shimmering blue skies that have made this area famous.

When traveling in the winter, respect the awesome powers of nature that have created this rugged landscape. Winter storms can be fierce and unpredictable. Sunny, warm mornings often give way to fast-moving cold fronts and fierce snowstorms. Temperatures drop quickly. Blowing snow reduces visibility and is disorienting. Whether in a vehicle or on foot, be prepared for winter travel.

Telluride's towering peaks wear a facade of gentle beauty. Keep your guard up. Many an unwary backcountry enthusiast has witnessed the power of an avalanche. Outfitters and guides can take you to safe terrain that will allow you to experience and enjoy the backcountry safely. For a report on regional conditions, call the avalanche recreation hotline at 970-247-8187.

Long winters and deep snowpacks create an environment that bursts to life each spring in a short but spectacular growing season. Still, the tundra, mesas, peaks, forests and riparian habitats are surprisingly vulnerable mountain ecosystems. When enjoying the backcountry, minimize your impact. Enjoy the San Juans - and please tread lightly.

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Mesmerizing Summers in Telluride, Colorado
To visualize Telluride, Colorado, in the summertime, picture the vibrant hues of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and amethysts. No, these aren't the gems that drew 19th century miners high into the surrounding 13,000-foot mountains. These are the colors of Telluride when the snow melts and the region explodes into a vivid landscape abounding with recreational and cultural opportunities.

Whether you prefer to hike or mountain bike through wildflower meadows, take a jeep tour up to the historic mines, or spend a tranquil afternoon fly-fishing the San Miguel River, Telluride provides adventures suitable for every age and inclination, making it the ultimate summer destination in the Rockies.

SUMMER
Located at the southern tip of the Rockies, the San Juans are one of the West's most beautiful mountain ranges. Rugged yet inviting, challenging yet accessible ... a world of wonder awaits you.

The Ute Indians cherished the Telluride valley and the San Juans as sacred lands. The mountains held vast riches: healing springs, game, timber, medicinal plants and replenishing waters. Long winters and deep snowpacks create an environment that bursts to life each spring in a short but spectacular growing season. Telluride's towering beauty wears a facade of impenetrable strength, but the tundra, mesas, peaks, forests, and riparian habitats are surprisingly vulnerable. High-altitude environments are particularly susceptible to erosion and pollution. When enjoying the San Juans Mountains, minimize your impact - tread lightly.

The most abundant wildlife you will see throughout the region are mule deer (named for their long, mule-like ears), elk, marmot, pica, chipmunk, squirrel, porcupine, beaver and a large variety of birds. Mountain chickadees and song sparrows dress the woods with their songs. Bear, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, weasel and even the recently reintroduced lynx are found here. As with any wildlife, keep your distance, don't frighten or feed them, and stay away from their young. A young deer lying in the grass may appear abandoned, but its mother is probably not too far off, waiting for you to leave before she returns to her fawn.

Additional Summer Adventures in Telluride, Colorado:

• A championship 18-hole golf course just minutes from Telluride via the free Gondola

• Renowned festivals such as Bluegrass, Jazz, Wine, Film, and Blues & Brews

• Guided fly fishing, horseback, jeep, and river rafting trips

• Thousands of acres of national forest and wilderness areas (much of which is accessible from either downtown Telluride or Mountain Village) for hiking, biking, and rock climbing

• Hundreds of miles of old jeep and mining roads to explore

• The tallest free-falling waterfall in the state just minutes from downtown Telluride

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The Ute Indians first inhabited San Miguel Park. For Centuries every summer and fall they would live by the San Miguel River and fish. They hunted for deer, elk and mountain sheep in the surrounding mountains. In the winter when the climate was harsh they would head for the safer desert canyons.

Spanish explorers named the San Juan's in the latter 1700's. It wasn't until gold was found in the San Juan's that the San Miguel Valley started to prosper. The mountains were rich in zinc, lead, copper, iron, silver and gold. This began the mining boom. Telluride was founded in 1880 and was originally named "Columbia". Conflict with an already existing Columbia, California and for the town to have a local post office branch they changed the name to Telluride. The name "Telluride" is derived from tellurium, which was never found in the San Juan's, but is a non-metallic mineral deposit associated with gold.

In 1877, with the railroad, advertisements, pictures of the mountain ranges and the "gold rush" proved to bring many walks of life to the valley in search of mining and the like. Telluride's main street, Colorado Avenue had many first businesses; grocery stores, a law office, hardware stores, a general store, meat market, lodging house, post office, bakery and the American House to name a few. Even before churches were built, Telluride had many saloons and the famous red-light district from which those houses are still standing today.

Butch Cassidy and his gang robbed their first bank - the San Miguel County Bank in 1889. The Owner of the bank and his posse went in pursuit of Cassidy's gang. The thieves escaped en route via Trout Lake with around $24,000 and none of the stolen money was ever retrieved.

After the beginning of World War I, Telluride's mining came to a halt with prices of precious metals declining. Not until the 1970's did a new era come upon Telluride - skiing. The community came together to sculpt a ski area, which helped to revitalize Telluride's economy. Founder Joe Zoline installed the first chairlift in 1974 and in 1978, Ron Allred and his partner, Jim Wells formed the Telluride Company and bought the ski area.

The Telluride ski season operates from mid-November through mid-April. Average annual snowfall for the region is 300 inches. In November 1996 the Gondola opened, which was the first of its kind in the United States, providing both ski access and public transportation, taking tourists, commuters, skiers and bikers from the Town of Telluride to San Sophia Station to the Mountain Village in just a 12-minute ride.

Summer, spring and fall are wonderful seasons with a wide range of festivals and celebrations. Mountain Film, Steps to Enlightenment, Annual Balloon Rally, Wings over Telluride, The Hang gliding Festival, The Telluride Ideas Festival, The Bluegrass Festival, The Wine Festival, The Fireman's Fourth of July, The Wild West Fest, The Sunset Concert Series, Theatre in the Park, Hard Rock 100, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Mountain Bike Classic, San Miguel Basin County Fair, The Jazz Celebration, The Chamber Music Festival, Tech Fest, Ah Haa Art Auction, Playwriting Festival, KOTO Duck Race, Mushroom Festival, Mudd Butts Theatre, The Telluride Film Festival, Imogene Pass Run, The Blues & Brews festival and more.

Festivals in Telluride, Colorado

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Mountain Film is an annual festival hosted on Memorial Day weekend in the high-mountain town of Telluride, Colorado. The core events include the Moving Mountains Symposium and three full days of film, gallery exhibits, concerts, lectures, and round-table discussions. The event covers a diverse selection of outdoor, adventure, sport, wildlife, environmental, and cultural topics. We bring filmmakers, renowned scholars, environmentalists, and artists from around the world to MOUNTAINFILM, where cultures mesh, reunions happen, and knowledge is shared. As the preeminent American outdoor film festival, many artists, writers, and cinematographers premier their work at MOUNTAINFILM, and others attend for inspiration and ideas for future work. Book a Telluride Hotel Here

Telluride Bluegrass Festival  With 30 years under our belt (and yours) we are more enthusiastic than ever about the future of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. In a time when our country, indeed our world needs the unifying force of music to step in and clarify, we at Planet Bluegrass are working once again to make that a reality you can depend on. The 31st annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, on the weekend of the summer solstice, will be worth the cold, dark months of winter. Without disclosing details, we can safely promise four days of outstanding music, inspiring friendships and astonishing scenery. For those of you who missed the festival this summer, and for those new to Planet Bluegrass, we hope you will stay posted to this site and spread the word. Book a Telluride Hotel Here

Telluride Jazz Festival  Since 1977 Telluride’s majestic perch - high in the spectacular San Juan mountain range in southwest Colorado - has been the site of a musical odyssey combining the finest of nature and art. Each year the Telluride Jazz Society produces one of the most memorable festivals in the country if not the world. Its intimate format and opportunities for pleasure beyond the superb music - hiking, mountain jeep tours, visits to mining ghost towns, biking and more - bring an audience of up to 3,000 per day to this historic, one-of-a-kind Victorian town seen by most Americans only in TV commercials and snowboard ads. Combining both outdoor stages during the day with theater and club shows running all night long, this festival is not to be missed. The Telluride Jazz Celebration is the perfect family getaway. Book a Telluride Hotel Here

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Telluride Chamber Music -After a fabulous celebration of our thirty years with Chamber Music in Telluride, we begin our 31st season this summer. Preliminary plans call for a Russian theme to our concerts with a possible surprise appearance by a musical great!  Our Artistic Directors, Roy Malan and Robin Sutherland, are planning another great festival for our enjoyment. Roy is Concert Master with the San Francisco Ballet and Robin is Principal Pianist for the San Francisco Symphony. More information on the final concert program will be forthcoming soon, so keep checking our website.

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Telluride Tech Festival The Telluride Technology Festival is a Celebration of the Past, Present and Future of Technology. The Tech Fest is based on the historical fact that in 1891, Nikola Tesla, George Westinghouse and Telluride's own L.L. Nunn built the world's first commercial grade AC power plant in Telluride. The intimate mountain environment of Telluride, Colorado continues to be an ideal environment for discussion and reflection. Book a Telluride Hotel Here

Telluride Mushroom Festival Everything you want to know about shrooms-and more. That's what you'll find at the Telluride Mushroom Festival.  Set in the unbelievably beautiful San Juan Mountain Range of southwestern Colorado, the Festival includes daily forays into the nearby woods. Here, you'll generally find not only the world's best gourmet mushrooms-like porcini, chanterelle, lobster, matsutake, and many more-but also a spectacular array of poisonous and inedible species for study. Sandwiched around the mushroom forays are lectures and workshops about edible, medicinal, poisonous, and psychoactive mushrooms. Topics include mushroom identification, cultivation, cooking, nutrition, medicine, journeying, and more.

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Independent Film Fest While the Telluride Film Festival is the best of its kind in the world, it is *not* an independent film festival. As well - it requires 'premieres' of selected films. Telluride IndieFest showcases the best *independent* films and screenplays in the world and does not require films to 'premiere' at its event.  What This Means to the *Independent* Artist: There will be an even *larger* audience - and more Hollywood 'industry professionals' present.  Telluride IndieFest:  Dedicated to the spirit and advancement of independent filmmaking and screenwriting worldwide! Book a Telluride Hotel Here

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Telluride Film Festival Each Labor Day weekend, the tiny mountain village of Telluride, Colorado
triples in size. Swells of passionate film enthusiasts flood the town for four days of total cinematic immersion, embarking on a viewing odyssey, blissfully spending entire days in flickering dark rooms. With only an appreciation of celluloid to guide them, these devotees flock to the show, year after year. Why? Blind faith. We don’t reveal the program until everyone lands in town. Yet the Telluride family trusts that a unique experience will unfold. Book a Telluride Hotel Here

The Telluride Film Festival is not just a picture show. It is tributes to luminaries who’ve pushed the medium forward; it is discussions with a film’s creator or the historian who champions it; it is running into filmmaker guests and sharing your thoughts; it is engaging in lively debate with a fellow passholder on the street or in line. Our audiences were the first in the world to partake of MY DINNER WITH ANDRE, to visit TWIN PEAKS, to witness THE CIVIL WAR and to learn the secret of THE CRYING GAME. We resurrected the silent epic NAPOLEON, and highlighted the genius of animator Chuck Jones. Book a Telluride Hotel Here

We take great pains to remain not a competition, but a celebration of the best in film -- past, present and future -- from all around the world. One weekend immersed in an unabashed carnival of film: viewing, breathing, eating, and talking cinema. Or, as we like to call it: The Show. Book a Telluride Hotel Here

Wild West Fest A week long celebration of Western arts, culture and customs, the Sheridan Arts Foundation?s (SAF) Wild West Fest (WWF) celebrated its eleventh year in 2002! Each summer, the SAF brings local and national performers and events to Telluride, Colorado, as a week-long benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Book a Telluride Hotel Here

The Wild West Fest rewards inner-city, disadvantaged and Native American youth from across the country by bringing them to Telluride for a week of cultural and educational activities. Working with caring, nurturing mentors in non-competitive Mentorship Programs in WWF C.A.M.P. (Chip Allen Mentorship Program), the youth learn through hands-on activities, gain new skills, and make new friendships. Out diverse selection of Mentorship Programs includes Drama, Flyfishing, Golf, Horsemanship, Native American Dance and Trick Roping. Book a Telluride Hotel Here

Telluride Arts Festival -Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities. TCAH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to championing the arts in Telluride and building connections within Telluride’s visual and performing arts community and the general public. We believe that a creative cultural environment is essential to Telluride’s well-being, and we focus to promote programs that integrate the arts into all aspects of Telluride living. We are proud to produce Stronghouse Studios and the Small Grant and Artists Fellowships. TCAH was established in 1971. Our mission- TCAH is a community-based arts organization that exists to encourage creativity by developing a flourishing cultural environment in Telluride and the region.

The building is a Telluride Historical Structure, dating from 1892, with the original stone and masonry. It was previously used as, among other things, the local newspaper offices and a French restaurant. For more information on the historical nature of the building, contact the Town of Telluride's Historic and Architectural Survey.
 

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Telluride Camping

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Most Popular Town Park (open middle May to middle October)
Town Park is the popular spot for a picnic lunch and some time in the sun. Children will enjoy the playgrounds, fishing ponds, and the swimming pool. Tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, ball fields, a skateboard ramp and festival grounds are free to visitors. The San Miguel River Trail starts here, so a short hike after lunch is in order. Broomball, ice skating, sledding, and cross country skiing are some of the winter activities in Town Park.
Location: East end of Telluride. Right at Town Park bridge 

Fees: $12, $6 seniors
Facilities: 25 vehicle sites, 5 primitive sites, 7 day limit. Restrooms, showers, water (NO RV hookups).
Contact: Telluride Parks and Recreation, 728-2173 for information, sites are available on a first come-first served basis only.
Note: For information on camping during the Bluegrass Festival or the Blues and Brews Festival, please call Planet Bluegrass at 1-800-624-2422 or Blues and Brews at 1-866-515-6616

• NO RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!

• 25 vehicle campsites & 5 primitive area campsites

• Opens mid-May & Closes mid-October

• $12 per vehicle campsite & $10 per primitive campsite

• Seniors, ages 59 and up, are only $6 per vehicle or primitive campsite

• Cash or money orders only please, payable to the Town of Telluride

• Sorry, personal checks and credit cards will not be accepted

• Check out time is 11:00 a.m. daily

• 6 person / 1 vehicle / 2 tent limit per vehicle campsite

• 4 person / 1 tent limit per primitive campsite

• $4 additional charge for a 2nd vehicle, if space at site allows

• 7 day maximum stay within a 30 day period

• Sorry, no electrical hookups or RV dump station on site

• RV dump station located near impound lot on South Mahoney Drive

• Limited campsites for RV's up to 30 feet in length

• Showers and toilet facilities are available on site. Showers are coin operated. Six quarters gets you five minutes of hot water. Cold water is free!

• No wood campfires permitted

• Charcoal cooking permitted in designated grills only

• Dog leash law is strictly enforced

• Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. daily

• For assistance with complaints after hours, call Dispatch at (970) 7...

Alta Lakes
Location: 13 mi. SE of town, or hike Boomerang Trail. Campground at 11,000 feet. Snow-free in mid-June.
Fees: Free
Facilities: Undesignated sites, one pit toilet.
Contact: U.S.F.S., 327-4261

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Cayton
Location: 18 mi. S of Telluride, past Lizard Head Pass. Opens end of May.
Fees: $8
Facilities: 27 sites, water, pit toilets, dump station.
Contact: U.S.F.S., 970-882-7296
 

Popular Ilium Campground
Location: Ilium Valley, 6 mi. W of Telluride.
Fees: $6
Facilities: 8 walk-in sites (sheep corrals), toilet.
Contact: U.S.F.S., 327-4261Mary E. (in Ilium)

 

Popular Matterhorn
Location: 10 mi. S of Telluride on Hwy. 145
Fees: $12-16 depending on site, $6-8 extra vehicle fee.
Facilities:28 Sites, 3 walk-in sites, 8 RV hook-up sites, water, showers, toilets
Contact: U.S.F.S., 327-4261

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McPhee Reservoir
Location: 65 mi. SW of Telluride near Dolores.
Fees: $12-$16
Facilities: 72 sites, hookups, restrooms, showers, dump station, boat ramp.
Contact: 800-500-CAMP

Miramonte Reservoir
Location: 40 mi. NW of Telluride near Norwood.
Fees: Free
Facilities: Picnic sites, boat ramp, pit toilets.
Contact: 970-297-1192
 

Priest Gulch RV Park, Cabins & Lodge
Location: 30 mi. S of Telluride, Hwy. 145.
Fees: $18-$23
Facilities: Playground, TV, Laundry, Store, Dump Station, Fire Rings w/FREE firewood.
Contact: Priest Gulch: 970-562-3810
 

Popular Priest Lake
Location: 14 mi. S of Telluride, Hwy. 145.
Fees: Free
Facilities: Undesignated sites, no facilities.
Contact: U.S.F.S., 327-4261

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Popular Ridgway Reservoir
Location: 46 mi. NE of Telluride between Ridgway and Montrose.
Fees: $7-$12
Facilities: 268 sites, hookups, showers, restrooms, dump station, laundry, marina, food.
Contact: Colorado State Parks, 800-678-2267  Book Ridgway State Park Online Here
 

Popular Sunshine- Open Middle May- Middle June
Location: 7 mi. S of Telluride on Hwy. 145.
Fees: $12, $6 extra vehicle fee.
Facilities: 14 sites, water, toilets.
Contact: U.S.F.S., 327-4261
 

Woods Lake
Location: 21 mi. SW of Telluride, up Fall Creek Rd.
Fees: $16, $7 extra vehicle fee.
Facilities: 41 Sites, designated sites, toilets, fire rings.
Contact: U.S.F.S., 327-4261

Not interested in camping? Book a Hotel or Condo Online

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