Ultimate Winter Getaways

From backcountry huts and wintertime glamping to poolside lounging and hot spring soaking, we’ve found more than 20 places in Colorado (and beyond!) that you should visit this season.

 

Gateway Canyons Resort • Gateway, Colorado / $$$ (For the Adventurer)

Although this Western Slope resort was initially opened by Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks in 2005, Gateway Canyons Resort finally became exactly what Hendricks originally envisioned after a $130 million expansion that began in spring 2012. Located in the mesa- and canyon-lands near the Colorado-Utah border, the adobe-walled resort reflects its stunning geographical surroundings—and takes advantage of them with a variety of winter activities like snowshoeing in Unaweep Canyon and guided trail rides through the frosty scenery. Or, if you’re jonesing to downhill ski, make a reservation with the resort’s Air Tours, which will pick you up in a helicopter and whisk you to Telluride for a powdery day of in-bounds schussing or heli-skiing. End the day in the spa or with a late meal of Colorado lamb at the resort’s Entrada restaurant.

Who It’s For: Adventure-seekers with healthy wallets and curious minds.

Get A Room: The signature rooms with hot tubs in the Kiva Lodge are near the pool, have gas fireplaces, and offer stunning views of the mesas. 

The Best Part: The resort is infused with Hendricks’ love of…well…discovery and intellectual pursuits. You’ll find that educational movies are often running in the resort’s high-def theater; there are multiple resort-prepared but self-guided walking tours on the property; and Hendricks’ auto museum is worth an afternoon of wandering.

Book It: Ask about the Gateway to Romance package (starting at $399 per night), which includes a night of accommodations in the Kayenta Lodge, $100 of resort credit, a bottle of local wine, and discounts on other resort amenities; gatewaycanyons.com; 1-866-671-4733

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The Saguaro • Scottsdale, Arizona / $$ (For Hipsters)

Sometimes a winter escape is more like an escape from winter. If Colorado’s cold begins to wear on your sunny outlook, book a weekend at Scottsdale, Arizona’s, newly remade, 1970s-era motel, the Saguaro. Manning a corner in the center of Old Town Scottsdale (the trendy restaurant, bar, and shopping district), this five-decade-old, 194-room building got a $10 million facelift courtesy of California-based Joie de Vivre hotel group. The bright color scheme of oranges, pinks, purples, greens, and yellows is supposed to imitate the hues of Arizona’s vibrant desert flowers. We’ll admit it takes the eyes a few minutes to adjust, but the cheerfulness of the design quickly wins you over, as will the modern Mexican menu at Distrito, the spa, and the reasonable price tag for a room.

Who It’s For: Although the Crayola-box-gone-wild look might suggest child-friendliness, the Saguaro definitely has a swank factor that might not be compatible with, say, a screaming toddler.

Get A Room: The normal guest rooms are a little tight; book a king-bed suite for a bit of extra space.

The Best Part: The location. The Saguaro is just blocks from everything: galleries, restaurants, bars, shops, and even Scottsdale Stadium—making it a great home base for Cactus League baseball.

Book It: Rooms start at $189; thesaguaro.com; 1-877-808-2440

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OPUS Hut • Near telluride, Colorado / $ (For Skiers)

Balanced on the southern face of 13,661-foot Lookout Peak, the OPUS Hut (the acronym stands for Ophir Pass Ultimate Ski) looks like it’s straight out of the high Andes. Not just because of its wooden exterior and sharply angled roof, but also because of the surrounding jagged peaks, the unbelievable snowfall, and the isolation. Owner Bob Kingsley built the cabin after years of backcountry hut experience working in Colorado’s 10th Mountain Division hut system. His cabin, however, is a serious step up from most huts you’ll find in Colorado. In every way, OPUS Hut is a backcountry skier’s dream. Of course, with an option to have a “hutkeeper” who will keep the fireplace stoked and hot meals on the table, available hot water, and indoor toilets, anyone can enjoy a stay at this 11-month-old lodge. In the summer, guests can hike into OPUS; in the winter, skis or snowshoes will be necessary to reach the solar-powered hut. The 3.5-mile journey is an intermediate-level ski (of the alpine touring variety) or a difficult, deep-powder snowshoe.

Who It’s For: Powder hounds, tree skiers, and anyone else who loves to play in untracked snow.

Get A Room: Guests can reserve a single bed in the Bunk Room ($35 per night), choose a private room ($105–$175 per night), or reserve the entire hut ($560), which can accommodate up to 16 people.

The Best Part: The terrain here is epic and wonderfully varied, but having a morning cup of coffee on the deck—drinking in the unparalleled views of the San Juan Mountains—is beyond compare.

Quick Tip: Kingsley says a good time to visit the hut is from late October through mid-December; any later than that and the snowpack can become unmanageable for beginner skiers and sometimes dangerous due to unstable conditions.

Book It: opushut.com; ophirbobk@gmail.com, 970-708-0092

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Pioneer Guest Cabins • Crested Butte, Colorado / $$ (For Skiers)

We have extolled the virtues of this cluster of cabins near Crested Butte in the past, but the lovingly restored accommodations are just too cozy to pass up. Originally a part of the base area for the old Gunnison-Pioneer Winter Sports Area, the eight historic log structures are sprinkled throughout the seven-acre property that lives inside Gunnison National Forest. Complete with wood and/or gas stoves, fully equipped kitchens, and adorable rustic cabin decor, these compact living spaces have everything guests need for a romantic getaway or a ski weekend with friends. From the front doors of their cabins, guests can hop on snowshoe and cross-country skiing trails that wind through frosted spruce and fir trees. In early winter, deer and elk are sometimes spotted along the paths. For the downhill skiing inclined, Crested Butte Mountain Resort is just a 15-minute drive away and offers beginner slopes as well as a huge amount of lift-accessible extreme terrain.

Who It’s For: Ski-weekenders who might not be quite as enthused with your typical ski town condo rental.

Get A Room: The Alpenglow, Doubletop, Oh-Be-Joyful, and Cottonwood cabins are closest to the trails. 

The Best Part: The solitude. Crested Butte is only eight miles away, but it might as well be a thousand. 

Bonus: In 2011, Crested Butte Mountain Resort opened an on-mountain Zip Line Tour, which is one of the few winter-available zip lines in the state.

Book It: Rates range from $131 to $171 in the winter; pioneerguestcabins.com; 970-349-5517

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Adobe & Pines Inn • Rancho de Taos, New Mexico / $$ (For Couples)

Romance is not dead. It’s just hiding out at a bed-and-breakfast in a tiny town outside of Taos, New Mexico. Built around a 178-year-old Spanish hacienda, the Adobe & Pines Inn exudes warmth and charm, and through the smallest of details—private hot tubs, wood-burning fireplaces, candles everywhere—nurtures a dreamy ambience that’s ideal for a weekend away from the kids. And while you’re away from the everyday grind, take advantage of the inn’s feather beds and the utter silence and sleep in—until about 9:15 a.m. At that point you’ll want to throw on some clothes and make your way to the dining room for a full breakfast of homemade biscuits with peach and rosemary jam or a veggie frittata with feta. Fully sated, you and your significant other can spend the day exploring the hacienda, the nearby San Francisco de Asis Mission Church (you’ll recognize it from Georgia O’Keeffe paintings), and the galleries and bistros in Taos.

Who It’s For: This little B&B welcomes families, but has a decidedly adult ambience.

Get A Room: Puerta Rosa has a private entrance from the courtyard, a candle-burning kiva fireplace, and a two-person soaking tub.

The Best Part: Sitting around the fire ring, taking in the view of this historic hacienda, is one of the more peaceful settings you’ll experience.

Book It: adobepines.com; 1-800-723-8267