Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado: The Ultimate Getaway

My husband Mike and I recently had an absolutely amazing stay at Vista Verde, a luxury dude ranch in Colorado that ranks among the best all-inclusive resorts in the U.S.

Vista Verde itself considers its Colorado ranch resort “a little bit luxury, a little bit Old West, a place for adventure, and a place for rest”—but that doesn’t do it justice!

You at least have to throw in Vista Verde’s top-notch cuisine, breathtaking scenery, and wholesome heartfelt hospitality to even scratch the surface of what makes this Colorado dude ranch a one-of-a-kind gem! But even that is not the whole story.

Come with me and let me explain what made Vista Verde Guest Ranch so much better than typical dude ranches in Colorado and the perfect choice for our unforgettable getaway!

A couple of the gorgeous horses available for trail rides at Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado

What Is Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado?

While Vista Verde is indeed a luxury guest ranch ideally situated in the Elk River Valley of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, it’s the awesome beauty of the great outdoors in which it is found that first strikes you when you arrive, no matter what time of year you visit.

We arrived in this Colorado ranch resort just an hour from Steamboat Springs in early March, and the property was in full winter wonderland mode. Waist-high snow bordered impeccably cleared paths, with the surrounding hills and mountains blanketed in deep white.

As we checked in at the Main Lodge, we were welcomed by the roaring flames in the impressive fireplace of the Great Room, informed of the sumptuous meal that awaited us that evening, and given a calendar of the diverse program of activities that would be available during our stay. We were then escorted to our luxurious accommodations.

The Main Lodge at Vista Verde, the ideal pick for an amazing Colorado ranch vacation

What To Expect During Your Vista Verde Stay?

It’s hard to pick which facet of the finest luxury dude ranch Colorado boasts is the most impressive—but luckily you don’t have to choose. The rustic elegance of the lodging, the awesome natural beauty, the impressive variety of activities, and the mouthwatering cuisine are all part of the pleasure-packed program.

Vista Verde Accommodations

The wintry wonderland of Colorado’s Vista Verde as seen from the back deck of a cozy cabin

There’s nothing like the ambiance of a private cabin when staying in the mountains. So, it’s no surprise that Vista Verde offers 12 cozy log cabins spread out over its Colorado guest ranch. They range in size from 1 to 4 bedrooms.

Each features handmade log furniture, lodge pole pine beds, a mix of antiques, and western-themed art. No matter the size, each cabin comes with a master suite and a living room warmed by a wood-burning stove or gas fireplace and offers the right amount of space no matter the size of your party.

Rustic elegance with a view exemplifies the top-notch accommodations at Vista Verde Ranch.

In addition, each cabin boasts a private hot tub on the deck for refreshing soaks while soaking up the gorgeous scenery. Back inside, the living room is equipped with a wide variety of board games, a snack bar is stocked with plenty of goodies, and the fridge features an array of complimentary drinks, including plenty of adult bevvies. Bathrooms provide spa robes and oodles of fine toiletries.

Spacious lodge rooms are also available in the Main Lodge. While each features the same type of appealing décor and furnishings of the cabins—and, of course, a private bathroom—Gilpin is the only deluxe lodge room with its own hot tub on a spacious balcony.

It’s easy to unwind at Vista Verde with your own hot tub on your deck.

We stayed in the North Fork Cabin, which in addition to being incredibly charming, inviting, and spacious, featured a back deck that faced directly onto the winter horse pasture.

We spent plenty of time out there soaking in our hot tub while gazing out at the nearly 100 horses assembled in their paddock as they enjoyed their hay, frolicked in pairs, or gazed back at us while their breath made miniature clouds that rose up above the snowy backdrop they stood before.

Some of the nearly 100 horses at Vista Verde taking a break in their winter pasture

Vista Verde Activities

While it’s nice to have luxury ranch accommodations to get back to at the end of every day of adventures at Vista Verde, it’s also amazing to have such an abundant selection of diversions to dive into each day of your stay.

Among Colorado dude ranches, Vista Verde is the rare guest ranch to feature equestrian options in the winter months as well as in summer, with horsemanship clinics held in both the indoor arena and outdoors, and trail rides offered even in the snow. However, a wide variety of other activities are specifically tailored to whatever season is at hand.

Winter Activities at Vista Verde

The natural beauty of Vista Verde Ranch is just one of its many attractions.

Winter activities take full advantage of Vista Verde’s splendid location amid local mountains and hundreds of acres of national forest. Backcountry touring on special skis gets you out into the wilderness, exploring Aspen groves, frozen lakes, rocky outcroppings—whatever’s around the next bend.

In addition to backcountry skiing, there are more than 15 kilometers of groomed trails for cross country skiing. If snow shoeing is more your style, that’s available too. So is snow tubing on groomed hills, ice fishing, and horse-drawn sleigh rides. Fat biking on snow-packed trails is another wintertime trail riding option gaining a new following. Gear for all of these activities is available as part of the all-inclusive price of your stay.

Cross country skiing along some of the 15 kilometers of groomed trails at Vista Verde Ranch

If downhill skiing or snowboarding is more your style, Vista Verde will be happy to shuttle you to and from the slopes of the nearby Steamboat Resort and even send you off with a specially prepared lunch made fresh for the occasion. You just pick up the tab for your lift tickets; everything else is on Vista Verde.

If all that is not enough for you, supplemental over-the-top adventures are also available for an additional fee. These include snowmobiling, dog sledding, and powder cat skiing.

A relaxing horse-drawn sleigh ride through some of the scenic beauty of Colorado’s Vista Verde

Summer Activities at Vista Verde

Summer activities include not only the aforementioned horseback riding and horsemanship clinics but also mountain biking, paddle boarding, hiking, and fly fishing. While indoor yoga is offered in the winter, the summer months bring outdoor yoga too. Archery is also offered during both seasons.

In addition to providing expert help selecting the right equipment for any activity, VVR staff expertly train and guide participants in all the disciplines offered.

In addition to all the sports activities, there is also a photography workshop and instruction in leather work and other crafts that vary with the season.

Childrens’ Programs at Vista Verde

While children are free to join parents for all activities, there is also a specially designed children’s program tailored to specific age groups. These include the highly popular tots, kids, tweens, and teen programs.

Adult-Only Times at Vista Verde

An after-dinner whiskey tasting warms up a winter evening at Vista Verde Ranch.

On the other hand, if kids aren’t your thing, or you’re just looking to enjoy some grown-up alone time, Vista Verde offers special adult-only times at the ranch starting in mid-August and lasting throughout the fall.

Vista Verde Cuisine

We love the restaurants in Boulder, the dairy block eateries of Denver, the foodie breweries of Golden, and now we have added Vista Verde to our list of top picks for best foodie destinations in Colorado.

Keeping fueled up for all of the activities offered at Vista Verde is just as enjoyable as the activities themselves! The talented chefs do an amazing job of providing gourmet meals every day of your stay for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Generous portions of incredible food are a hallmark of Vista Verde meals.

Meals are served in the Main Lodge’s dining room and alternate between fine dining affairs featuring delectable options chosen from an everchanging menu and gourmet meals featuring a cornucopia of incredible buffet offerings.

Whether a formal dinner with menus or sumptuous buffet, evening meals are always impressive and preceded by a happy hour offering creative hors d’oeuvres and showcasing special wines and beers.

A delicious Vista Verde version of Steak Oscar was one of the many memorable meals of our stay.

As if the decadently delicious desserts at lunch and dinner aren’t enough of a treat, freshly baked cookies are also available in the Great Room in the afternoon. These are genuinely some of the best cookies I’ve had in my entire life, and new flavors appear every day!

For further gustatory exploration, Vista Verde also offers cooking classes and weekly wine tastings that are both informative and lots of fun.

Chef shares his pan sautéing technique during a cooking class at Vista Verde.

All the meals we had during our stay were exceptional. These included such Colorado famous foods as locally sourced and perfectly prepared filet mignon, a lobster roll even better than anything I’ve had in Boston, and a crème brûlée that would have been right at home among the best foods of France.

The simple truth is this: Day or night, at meals or in between, if you love great food, you’ll love Vista Verde.

Savory sesame ribs get things started at a Vista Verde Happy Hour.

Vista Verde Ranch Rates

My husband and I had an amazing time at Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado. We stayed in a wonderful cabin, participated in exhilarating activities, were awed by epic scenery, feasted on mouth-watering cuisine, got spoiled with hospitality, and met incredibly interesting people—both staff and fellow visitors. It’s no wonder that both “Travel & Leisure” and “Forbes” rank Vista Verde among “The Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the U.S.”

As you might expect, staying at the finest luxury dude ranch Colorado has to offer and one of the best all-inclusive resorts in the United States is not cheap, but the pricing is quite simple and when you add it all up, reasonable.

The first-rate accommodations; the amazing meals, snacks, treats, free-flowing wine, beer, and soft drinks; and all the exciting activities, necessary equipment, and instruction are included in the price of your stay. The over-the-top adventures that are offered at an additional fee are clearly spelled out. There are no surprises.

A perpetually stocked snack bar in every cabin is a welcome touch at this luxury dude ranch in Colorado.

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind family adventure, romantic getaway, or reenergizing escape from the ordinary that’s top notch in every respect, Vista Verde definitely delivers with its all-inclusive vacation packages—you just have to decide whether the price is right for you.

How To Get to Vista Verde

No matter when you arrive at Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado, picture postcard views await you.

If you’re looking to visit Vista Verde, it’s nice to know it’s pretty easy to get to.

In the winter, the easiest way to reach Vista Verde is to fly into Yampa Valley Regional Airport, where a VVR staff member will pick you up for the complimentary hour drive to the ranch. There are plenty of flights available in winter because Yampa is the same airport used by visitors going to nearby Steamboat Springs.

In the summer, Yampa is still your best bet, but there are fewer flights. Denver Airport is also an option, but Denver is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Vista Verde. The drive, however, is easy and you get a great preview of the beautiful Colorado countryside on the way.

The important thing is that no matter how you get to Vista Verde, you can rest assured that a wonderful experience awaits you!