A Cozy Cabin Mountain Getaway
Imagine the sweet scent of pine and the smell of a wood fire. Now envision a little cabin with logs stacked neatly by the front door and lace drapes on the windows. This escape into a quieter life can be yours this winter in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
There are hundreds of rentable cabins all over Colorado, but here are a few that I know make a wonderful retreat from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life.
Avalanche Ranch Cabin & Hot Springs is located just outside of Carbondale, Colorado, and about 30 minutes south of Glenwood Springs. My experience at Avalanche Ranch bordered on otherworldly. As I wrote on HeidiTown.com, “Sometimes I stumble across a destination that has just the right amount of history and ambiance to make it magical.”
Guests at Avalanche Ranch stay in 1950s cabins or one of three shepherd wagons. The cabins are fully equipped, so guests just need to bring groceries.
Our cabin was a studio with a bed, loft area, a full bathroom with clawfoot tub, kitchen and dining area. I felt a bit like Laura Ingalls Wilder, and the lack of Internet or phone service completed the illusion. There is WiFi and a guest phone in “The Lodge,” should you feel it necessary to plug into the world during your stay. We, however, did not.
Guests have access to Avalanche’s onsite naturally fed hot springs.
Photo courtesy of Latigo Ranch
Latigo Ranch, located near Kremmling, Colorado, is a guest ranch that opens in the winter from December 16 through March 19, for guests who enjoy snow activities such as Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. Their cabins feature fireplaces or woodburning stoves, making them extra cozy during the winter months. They do not have kitchens because guests dine in the main lodge during their stay.
In addition to outdoor activities, Latigo has a large hot tub, pool table, library, and much more.
YMCA of the Rockies has two properties in Colorado; Snow Mountain Ranch is located just outside of Winter Park, and the Estes Park Center is in Estes Park. Each property features a variety of lodging options, including cabins.
We stayed in a large two bedroom cabin at Snow Mountain Ranch last February. The cabins are dog-friendly, which was a real plus for us.
These cabins aren’t fancy, but they have everything you’ll need, including a gas fireplace and incredible views. One of my favorite winter travel memories is sitting at our Snow Mountain Ranch cabin’s kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee watching snow fall.
Whether you want to get outside and enjoy the snow or just curl up with a book next to the fireplace, a stay in one of the YMCA of the Rockies’ Estes Park or Snow Mountain Ranch cabins is an ideal winter escape.
