Hi Robert,
Here are some of my favorite things to do in August during your road trip.
Telluride:
-
Mountain biking at the Resort or the Galloping Goose trail, which is the easier trail around the area.
-
SUP Trout Lake
-
Hiking - there are some truly incredible hikes in the area. You mentioned climbing some peaks, here are some of our fav. hikes in the area:
-
Hope Lake (you can SUP at Trout Lake on the way there or back)
-
Climbing a 14er, Mt. Sneffles
Via Ferrata in Telluride is also a great experience, it’s a great experience and we just tried it for the first time this year.
Ouray:
Ouray can get much hotter than Telluride, so I recommend doing the hikes or Via Ferrata earlier in the morning.
Via Ferrata Ouray - It’s free to go and you can rent gear for around $50/person per day.
Canyoneering in Ouray - Canyoning Colorado offers canyoneering trips in Ouray
Visit hot springs. The vapor caves in Ouray are our favorite
Hiking the Perimeter Trail is a great way to see the town from above
Moab:
Althought it may be a bit hotter in Moab, you can get in some early morning or late evening adventures in Moab, especially if you’re interested in canyoneering into slot canyons or near natural bridges.
You can find tons of canyoneering options here, just let me know if you need help picking ones for August! Moab Canyoneering Adventures - TripOutside
Mountain biking in Moab is absolutely stunning and there are some great beginner options, here is a video that goes over some of the best beginner areas.