Top 12 Colorado Resorts

Colorado beckons to every type of traveler. A natural playground featuring serene and breathtaking landscapes like the towering, thickly forested peaks and cliff faces of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado is a popular romantic getaway destination. 

With amazing national parks, interactive theme parks, museums, and tourist attractions that teach kids about the fascinating history of the American Southwest, as well as relaxing retreats and traditional dude ranches for those seeking a change of pace, Colorado makes a great place for both family vacations and solo getaways, too. 

To help you plan your vacation here, we’ve rounded up our 12 favorite Colorado resorts, hotels, ranches, and luxury glampsites. Keep reading to find your next Colorado vacation accommodation. 

Colorado Resorts Quick Picks:

Best Romantic Colorado Resort:  Vista Verde Ranch

Best Colorado Resort for a Spa Retreat: The Springs Resort

Best Colorado Resort for Skiing: The Villas at Snowmass Club

Best Colorado Resort for Wildlife and Outdoor Activities: Grand Lake Lodge

Vista Verde Ranch

Vista Verde is an all-inclusive ranch in Colorado located north of the city of Steamboat Springs that’s perfect for wine lovers. Alongside the activities you would expect from a dude ranch like horseback riding, fishing, and hiking, Vista Verde Ranch has an outstanding culinary program that includes wine and beer tastings and cooking classes led by the on-site professional chefs. 

Lunchtime brings all the guests onto the deck for a lively cookout, even during the winter months (weather permitting). Dinners are mostly served family style, with an occasional formal setting. Their Dine & Dash dinners see the kids fed a quick nutritious meal before joining the Kid Wranglers for fun outdoor games while parents can enjoy a romantic dinner at their own pace. 

A scenic 3.5-hour drive separates the ranch from the Denver airport. Transportation can be arranged during the winter when the roads are more perilous. Vista Verde offers a wide range of experiences that cater to families, solo travelers, and couples, as well as packages for a romantic Colorado honeymoon. The summer Kids’ Program teaches junior cowboys and cowgirls new skills like horsemanship, archery, and fishing. 

Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa

Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa is nestled in a valley amid the cliffs of Unaweep Canyon and within driving distance of several national parks and tourist attractions in Colorado. Grande Mesa and The Arches National Park in Utah are both 2.5 hours away west and east, respectively. Mesa Verde National Park and The Four Corners Monument are roughly 3.5 hours south. The resort is also close enough to the small but abundant Grand Valley wine region to arrange a day of tastings. 

Guests of Gateway Canyons can take in the stunning and peaceful surroundings from the serene resort grounds each morning, then spend the day exploring the trails via mountain bike or UTV. Bikes and off-road vehicles can be rented from the resort, and guests can opt for a guided or self-guided tour. There are also heaps of hiking trails and cliff faces for avid mountaineers. 

Guests who want a taste of the Old West can head to the nearby Palisades Ranch for a day of horseback riding and learning about the history of the ancient grounds. When it’s time to relax after a day in the saddle, head to one of three outdoor pools or the lovely spa. 

Guest rooms are located in the Kiva Lodge near the pool and courtyard and in the Kayenta Lodge, the property’s oldest dwelling. Casitas built on a more secluded piece of land are perfect for couples and come with outdoor showers and fire pits. Some even have a second floor with stargazers’ windows installed in the ceilings. 

Sonnenalp Vail Hotel

The Sonnenalp Vail Hotel in Vail Village is a recreation of a small bed and breakfast of the same name, owned and operated by the founders in their native Germany over 100 years ago. The hotel is a staple of Vail Village, having been built in 1919 as development and tourism began to flourish in the area. The exterior, guest rooms, and many of the activities and culinary offerings at Sonnenalp are reminiscent of the hotel’s European roots. 

On-site amenities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an outstanding spa, a semi-private golf course, and a kids’ club so parents can enjoy some quality time. Apart from skiing, guests can take a scenic train ride through the mountains and drink pints of beer during the yearly Oktoberfest celebration. 

Dining options include the Swiss Chalet for fondue and perfectly braised meat dishes, Ludwig’s Breakfast (which re-opens for live jazz performances in the evenings), and Treff Cafe for perfectly brewed coffee and flaky German pastries. 

The Springs Resort 

The Springs Resort is a natural hot spring resort built alongside the San Juan River with 25 mineral pools and several hydrotherapy treatment options available. Perfect for a romantic vacation or a much-needed solo retreat, this Colorado resort is an ideal place for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. 

The Springs is a 5-hour drive from Denver through the Rocky Mountains, with lots of hiking trails and quaint mountain towns to hit along the way. Once you’ve arrived, take advantage of the daily activities offered to resort guests like aqua yoga or a hike to a natural spring for a forest bath. 

The spa and wellness center offers a wide variety of water-based therapies like sound baths, contrast bathing, and “Journeys”, which are treatment paths designed by an on-site naturopath to promote relaxation and restore health and wellness. 

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort

Surrounded by the peaks of the Rocky Mountains in the town of Nathrop, the family-friendly Colorado resort of Mount Princeton Hot Springs offers 2-day passes for a 1-night stay. Passes will give you access to the hot spring pools plus entry to fitness classes, free bikes in the summer. and snowshoe or cross-country ski equipment in the winter. 

For dining options, the nearby Biergarten offers grilled sausages, hot dogs and veggie dogs, house-made lemonade, and a variety of Bavarian and local beers (note that the Biergarten operates in the summer months only). There’s also the on-site steakhouse, juice bar which also serves small bites and sandwiches, or the Princeton Market where guests can stock up on essentials and grab a slice of pizza. 

There are guest rooms on both the cliffside and mountainside of the resort. Suites offer more space and are better for long stays. They include cozy fireplaces, large spa-like bathrooms, and stovetops for cooking. 

Grand Lake Lodge

Grand Lake Lodge is a massive Colorado resort complex outside of Rocky Mountain National Park that offers superb wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly moose, elk, and deer. Perfect for folks who love to fish, the property boasts three lakes and offers boat tours as well as private rentals for licensed guests. 

Other activities like hiking, white water rafting, snowmobiling, and ice-fishing are available on and off-site. Over 130 miles of winding gravel roads await mountain bikers at the nearby Arapaho National Forest. Guests are also welcome to spend the day in a saddle at nearby Winding River Trail Resort.

Guests who would rather observe nature from afar can find a cozy seat around the fireplace on the rooftop Deer Deck, or breathe in the mountain air from the pool or hot tub. After a day of adventuring or relaxing, enjoy delicious food and drinks at the Lodge Bar or House Tavern. 

Modern-looking half cabins come with all the comforts of home. There are full cabins available for large parties and accessible rooms for those who need them. In addition to indoor lodging, 4 jupes (pop-up shelters powered by solar energy) are just as comfortable but get you closer to nature. Reservations at Grand Lake Lodge require a 4-night minimum. 

McGregor Mountain Lodge

McGregor Mountain Lodge has had an outstanding reputation since they opened in the 1950s. Only four miles from the town of Estes Park, McGregor Mountain Lodge is a happy medium for folks who love the outdoors just as much as their modern comforts. 

Hike or bike your way around Bear Lake in the spring, summer, and fall, or strap on your snowshoes for a magical trudge through a winter wonderland. Photographers will appreciate the opportunities to capture local wildlife (bird-viewing is especially popular) and the photography workshops offered in town. 

McGregor Mountain Lodge offers packages to suit every type of traveler, including an Olde Fashioned Christmas package that spans five wintery nights. Their winter mid-week special package offers reduced rates from Sunday until Thursday each week, including the holidays. 

Families will feel right at home in one of the Columbine Cottages, which sleeps up to four guests. There is only one cottage designed for couples, the Heather Cottage, which books up quickly. 

Rainbow Trout Ranch

Far from a typical Colorado ranch, Rainbow Trout Ranch has been awarded Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence 8 years in a row. The ranch is in a stunning part of the Conejos River Valley in the heart of the Rio Grande National Forest. Centrally located, it’s near popular cities in both Colorado and New Mexico, making it a perfect stop along a Southwest road trip. 

The ranch’s horses are hand-raised on location and trained on the ranch by expert wranglers. In addition to dude ranch activities, the Rainbow Trout Ranch offers tours to historic sites containing remnants of early indigenous tribes, Spanish settlers, and abandoned railroads left over from the gold and silver rush of the 19th century. 

The historic Grand Lodge has been standing since the 1920s and serves as a gathering place and mess hall. It features a roaring fireplace and a library stocked with books and oversized armchairs. Guests can choose from two or three-bedroom cabins with fireplaces that utilize the same log-house design. 

Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch

Outside Mesa Verde National Park you will find Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch, a huge Colorado resort ranch teeming with archeological sites. Family-owned, the ranch reflects local indigenous history in the design of its five cozy rental cabins. A minimum 2-night stay is required, and long-term rentals are available as well.  

Driving less than three hours in any direction from the Canyon of the Ancients leads you to one of several tourist attractions like The Four Corners, Sutcliffe Vineyards, or natural hot springs. At the end of the day, guests gather to enjoy a family-style dinner made with fresh, organic ingredients which are locally sourced and available for purchase.  

Canyon of the Ancients is an ideal getaway for anyone who wants to unplug. The historic grounds that the ranch was built on also make it an intriguing choice for history buffs. 

The Broadmoor Ranch at Emerald Valley

The Broadmoor Ranch at Emerald Valley is a high-end palatial hotel in Colorado Springs with an impressive list of amenities including a seasonal infinity pool overlooking the Cheyenne Lake, more than 20 dining establishments, 2 golf courses, a spa, 20 retail shops, and entertainment programs for all ages such as tennis and pickleball lessons and workshops. There is also a children’s camp and nannies available to look after kids while you enjoy a romantic adults-only date night.

For active guests, the Broadmoor Adventure Outfitters are there to help you plan a fun-filled day of rock climbing, zip lining, fly fishing, and everything in between. Interested guests can even learn the ins and outs of falconry, and the guides of the Wild West Experience can help you perfect your aim by practicing archery and tomahawk throwing. 

Accommodation types include rooms and suites for short stays or intimate getaways as well as cottages, estate houses, and brownstones for large, extended family trips. 

The Villas at Snowmass Club

The Villas at Snowmass Club is a destination Hyatt residence, so reward members who reserve can receive a 10% discount for these cozy accommodations in the heart of Colorado ski country. 

One-, two- and three-bedroom villas come with full kitchens and fireplaces and are all within easy access to the slopes, the Snowmass Golf Course, and the pools and spa in the sports complex. 

Living areas offer lovely views of the mountains. In the winter, a direct shuttle brings guests to and from the chairlift of Two Creek Ski Resort. For a romantic or family dinner, Snowmass Village is home to several great restaurants. The Artisan, a nearby favorite, offers a seasonal menu paired with an extensive wine list and local draft beer.  

Dunton River Camp

A former cattle ranch dating back to the 1800s, this 500-acre property is now a luxury all-inclusive glampsite on the outskirts of the San Juan National Forest. There are only eight safari tents erected on a wooden platform, each one taking up no more than 640 square feet of space. The rest of the land is left for the cattle to graze on. 

Each tent has electricity, hot water, a comfortable bed, and even a towel warmer for those chilly Colorado evenings. There are also two bikes per tent for guests to use to explore the trails. Ride alongside the Dolores River, cast a line, or go for a swim and use  the nearby sauna to warm up before riding back for a home-cooked meal, included in the rate.

Transport to Dunton River Camp from the airport can be arranged, although most guests bring their own vehicles. It’s an excellent base for exploring the nearby national parks and forests as well as towns like Telluride, and travel planners are happy to help you put together a driving itinerary. There are also a variety of vacation packages like yoga retreats, summer solstice celebration packages, and “Wine on the Fly,” which combines fly fishing with wine tastings. 

Now that you’ve read all about our top 12 Colorado resorts, which one sounds perfect for you? Let us know in the comments! And if none of them is quite right, these other articles may help: 11 Best Colorado All Inclusive Resorts, 20 Romantic Colorado Cabins Perfect for Honeymoons, 5 Top Manitou Springs Colorado Accommodations, and 15 Colorado Cabins with Hot Tubs and Amazing Views.