Vista Verde Ranch is equal parts dude ranch and luxury resort all rolled up into one amazing experience.
This post was sponsored by Vista Verde Ranch, all opinions expressed are my own.
Located just north of Steamboat Springs, this luxury dude ranch is the perfect getaway destination for families, couples, or even solo travelers. Offering amazing outdoor adventures, fine dining, and a down home atmosphere that you can practically feel hugging you the entire time you're there, Vista Verde Ranch makes an amazing getaway that you won't soon forget.
Absolutely Beauty at Vista Verde Ranch
There's a lot to love about the ranch, but perhaps the biggest draw of all is the natural beauty that you'll find there. Vista Verde offers some of the best views to be found anywhere in the country. From the moment you arrive until the time you leave, you'll enjoy panoramic views of the rustic wilderness of the area including scrubland, tall trees, blue skies, and of course, mountain views.
You really won't find better views anywhere. Reese and I were awestruck by the countryside on which the resort sits. If you can forget for just a second what time period you're living in, you'll almost feel like you've been transported back in time to an era when Mother Nature still ruled in all her beautiful glory. It's truly breathtaking.
A Gem in Summer or Winter
Vista Verde Ranch is absolutely gorgeous any time of year. Whether you choose to take a winter trip or visit in the summer, you'll find tons of things to do, amazing views, some of the best staff to be found anywhere at any resort, and good times around every corner.
Summer
Vista Verde's summer season runs from June through late October, with the first part of the summer designed for family vacations and September and October seeing the resort's famous adult-only weekends.
During the summer months, you'll enjoy everything that warm weather in Colorado has to offer. Fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, paddleboarding, and the simple pleasure of just relaxing on a porch in the sun are all waiting. They even offer things like archery and kids programs, as well.
Winter
The winter season runs from December through March. Christmas and New Year's are primarily for families, but from early January until mid-February, Vista Verde Ranch is an adults-only playground.
Whether you go as a family, a couple, or a solo traveler, winter at Vista Verde Ranch is exactly what you'd expect from a Colorado Resort but with a personal touch. It's located just outside of Steamboat Springs, which puts it in close proximity to the world-renowned Steamboat Ski Resort.
Hit the slopes for skiing and snowboarding, try fat biking or ice fishing, or do some tubing. You'll also enjoy snowshoeing, winter horseback rides, sleigh rides, a wintertime kids' program, and more.
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Wonderful Weather
One of the best parts of Vista Verde Ranch is something that they didn't even do. It's their weather, you guys. Summers are nice and warm, but not searingly hot, and their winters are cold but not sub-arctic. It's weather that is nice and even-keeled throughout the year, and I love that. I'm not a fan of melting in the heat or becoming an ice cube in the winter!
Summer
The summer months at Vista Verde Ranch tend to be very pleasant in their area of the state. June averages highs in the 70s and lows in the 30s, while July and August have warmer, but not uncomfortable highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s. Of course, highs can hit the 90s from time to time, but it's not a prolonged thing.
Winter
Vista Verde's area might see about 300 inches of snow per year, but that doesn't make it unbearably cold. In fact, this area of Colorado sees more blue sky days than anything. Although winter temperatures in the area can take great swings, typically, you'll find daily temps in the low 20s to 30s on some days. The night temps can drop to below zero at times, but that's okay. You'll be snuggled up in a cabin, after all.
Getting to Vista Verde Ranch
Reese and I flew from PHX into Haden where the ranch picked us up. You can also fly into Denver and then drive or take a shuttle to the resort. Go Alpine is an excellent shuttle service if you plan to go that route. You can also take advantage of Vista Verde's pick-up option, as well, the way Reese and I did.
Luxury Cabin Accommodations
Vista Verde Ranch makes every part of your experience fun and quirky, even your accommodations. Their cabins are the perfect combination of old-school log cabin charm and modern amenities. They're furnished with a combination of antiques, western art, lodge pine bed, and handmade log furniture that make for a super cozy feel that is incredibly comfortable, as well.
Each cabin offers either a wood-burning stove or gas fireplace, a hot tub on the deck, complimentary drinks, and amenities like a coffee maker, hot water kettle, hairdryer, robes, and more. What you won't find is a phone, TV, or WiFi, but that's the charm. You can, of course, enjoy WiFi at the main lodge, but when you're in your cabin, it's all about getting away from it all – literally.
The cabins come in sizes ranging from one to four bedrooms, and they are all incredibly well done. Reese and I stayed in the Big Agnes. It was incredibly comfy and cozy, and I have to say that Reese and I never missed the TV or the internet at all. We loved walking into the cozy cabin and discovering a variety of drinks and local snacks like beef jerky and yogurt pretzels. Reese was also excited about the Moose plushie named Willy that the staff hides along with a special treat. She had tons of fun looking until she found them both. They get VERY creative with their hiding spots!
All-Inclusive Fun
When Vista Verde Ranch calls itself all-inclusive, it means it. Almost everything is included in the price of your stay from food and drink to activities. While we were there, Reese and I did some skiing, took a sleigh ride, fed the horses, did some horseback riding, tubing, and even tried ice fishing and archery.
The Kids Club
The Kids Club at Vista Verde Ranch definitely gets a section all its own. I'm a single mom, so I like traveling to places that have great kid programs so I can get away while I'm on my getaway. Reese and I do just about everything together, so a great kids club is a nice way for her to branch out on her own a bit and for me to be Courtney for a while and not mom. Vista Verde's kids' program is AMAZING. Reese absolutely loved it. I love that they even had a kid-friendly dinner that allowed parents to enjoy “formal night” dinner along while someone else took care of the kids.
Dining
Vista Verde Ranch makes everything amazing, and that goes for their dining, as well. The meals are served in the main lounge, and they are five-star quality. It's so, so good. Meals are rotated so Reese and I never had the same thing twice throughout our entire stay. Here's a great example of what you'll find. This was one of our days at the resort.
For breakfast, we had French toast and hot cocoa with house-made whipped cream. Lunch brought us a hand-pressed chuck and short rib burger and red Kuri squash soup with cocoa whipped cream. Finally, we had lobster risotto with bison prime rib for dinner. Fancy right? That's just some of what the ranch has to offer.
You'll also find a variety of drinks, spirits, and wines, along with breakfast options ranging from continental to corned beef hash, lunch options from a salad bar to hot sandwiches, and dinners with delicious offerings like potato gnocchi withs short rib ragu, butternut soup with mushrooms, and much more.
Vista Verde Ranch – Get There
I don't know what else to say. Just get there! The place is just gorgeous on every level, the staff is amazing, the attention to detail is top-notch, and every single experience you have there will be a memorable one. Reese and I thoroughly enjoyed our time there, and I think you will, too. If you're single, a couple, or a family, there's something at Vista Verde Ranch for you.
Vista Verde Ranch is equal parts dude ranch and luxury resort all rolled up into one amazing experience.
