From whiskey-sipping at Colorado’s tiniest bar to high-elevation yurts and luxury lodges—Arapaho Valley Ranch is one of many wild places to stay and play in Grand County.
When you can walk to a remote trailhead from your cabin (or campsite or yurt or tepee), and then choose from multiple routes into the wilderness, you know you’re onto something. That’s the main draw of Arapaho Valley Ranch (AVR), a rustic guest ranch on the southeast corner of Lake Granby, surrounded by National Forest, and with direct access to the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Continental Divide Trail.
I visited AVR in early spring, when County Road 6 was still gated off and covered in snow, and it was nearly a mile walk from my cabin door to Monarch Lake Trailhead. But it’s a perfect spot for a weekend getaway, or even a midweek overnight if you’re passing through the area, any time of year—mainly for how close it gets you to several trailheads.
I was there to hike the 3.9-mile loop around Monarch Lake, where I found myself the only human being who had decided to go for a walk that day. In warmer months, you’ll most certainly find more company out there—when the trails are dry and lined with wildflowers.
Arapaho Valley Ranch, a 40-acre, off-grid, 80-year-old historic guest ranch, is open year-round, but truly comes alive when the snow melts. Picture campsites, tepees, decked out glamping tents, family-friendly cabins, and live music weekends (Country Music Weekend is June 20-21 and Bluegrass Weekend July 18-19), with wedding and reunion possibilities.
I capped off my hike at AVR’s Red Dog Saloon, a.k.a. “Colorado’s tiniest bar”—sitting on one of four bar stools, whiskey sour in hand, and a stuffed bear overhead.
For info and booking: www.arapahovalleyranch.com (campsites from $49, cabins from $175 plus resort fee, but rates vary widely depending on season and accommodation).
More Unique Lodging Options in Grand County :
Since before the 1915 creation of Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand County has served as a basecamp for explorers and travelers. Generations of Colorado families have made their way to this side of the Divide, seeking solitude, campfires, and canoes. With summer just around the corner, now’s the time to pick a spot and book it, as places fill up faster than melting snow can crash into the headwaters of the Colorado River. Here are a few more unique and varied places to stay and play:
Grand Lake Lodge: Stay in a historic Sears and Roebuck cabin just above the town of Grand Lake, with amazing views down the valley (https://www.grandlakelodge.com/, from $159).
Snow Mountain Ranch, YMCA of the Rockies: 24 yurts, 41 campsites, 53 cabins, and several grand lodges. In addition to on-site activities and trails, there’s a new aerial challenge course (https://www.ymcarockies.org/snow-mountain-ranch/, yurts from $129/night)
Grand County Hut System: Reserve a night at Broome Hut on the west side of Berthoud Pass, part of the famed 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, but reserve well in advance (https://grandhuts.org/, $50/person).
Devil’s Thumb Ranch: This is your luxury option with a world-class spa, boasting 6,500 acres, 87 lodge rooms, 15 cabins, and access to Meadow Creek Reservoir and Columbine Lake hiking trails (https://www.devilsthumbranch.com/, rooms from $349, cabins from $539/night).
