Fabulous Ranch Retreats Colorado

Encompassing more than 500 acres in the Routt National Forest just outside Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Vista Verde ranch resort offers a luxurious escape,  and an opportunity to advance your horsemanship skills. 

Specialized clinics focus on horsemanship theory and cattle work, and even beginners can learn how to be a “horse whisperer,”  learning the unspoken language of horses.  The choice for cowgirls who prefer not–roughing-it, Vista Verde’s log cabins and lodge rooms offer sophisticated interiors with antiques, western art and, in many cases, hot tubs on private decks.  Made-to-order “cowboy cuisine” features hearty breakfasts, al fresco lunches and gourmet dinners paired with fine wines.  The grand lodge—an homage to the Great Lodges of the American West—is a memorable place to relive the days adventures and enjoy the incomparable Rocky Mountain ambiance. All-inclusive means just that—including wine tastings, photography workshops, cooking classes, fly fishing and winter activities such as ski lessons, sleigh rides, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

www.vistaverde.com

DEVIL’S THUMB RANCH

Sweeping meadows, meandering creeks, the rustle of pine boughs.  You sink deep into a leather armchair in front of the crackling fire and wonder why you’ve not been here before.  Since 1938, cowboys and poets, ranchers and city folk as well as Nordic skiers have escaped to Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa.

Something about the way the Continental Divide looks down on the unfettered land draws people to this 6000 acre sanctuary at the foot of the Continental Divide.

Or maybe it’s the spa treatments? Nestled among the rolling hills and rugged mountains of the Ranch Valley Creek near Winter Park, Colorado, is an award-winning, environmentally friendly year-round ranch resort destination offering rustically elegant accommodations, sustainably-focused “from the earth & sea” dining and an array of winter and summer outdoor mountain recreation from horseback riding to cross-country skiing.

devilsthumbranch.com