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Hotel of the Week: This Exclusive Wilderness Escape Brings Western Charm to Colorado’s Mountains

Nestled near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on 170,000 acres of protected terrain, Trinchera Reserve & Lodge is both an adventure-seeker’s private paradise and the ultimate wellness retreat

By Jill Sieracki
Rustic wooden living room with large windows, mountain view, pool table, guitar, antler chandelier, and cozy seating area.
The five-bedroom Lake House at Trinchera Reserve & Lodge. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE

With just 16 suites and two private villas set on 170,000 acres of protected terrain near Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Trinchera Reserve & Lodge is the epitome of getting away from it all. There, towering peaks overlook wildflower-filled meadows, alpine lakes teem with fish, and grasslands are populated with elk, bison, and wild horses. 

While nature is the resort’s greatest draw, the accommodations, designed by Los Griegos Studio using vintage furnishings and Western art, envelop guests in the charm of the American West. Guests looking for a deeper immersion into the stunning scenery can reserve one of the two property residences, including the five-bedroom Lake House, which allows for uninterrupted views of mountains and meadows as well as the majestic beasts that roam the land. The four-bedroom Cat Mountain House is nestled on a hillside with panoramas of the San Luis Valley from the Sangre de Cristo mountains to Colorado’s fourth-highest peak. True adventurers can overnight in the Stone Cabin, an accommodation reached only by foot with a wood-burning stove, creek-fed water, sauna, and cold-plunge—a total analog experience.

Mountain landscape with a forest in the foreground and a dramatic red-tinted peak under a cloudy sky in the background.
Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE
Rustic wooden hallway with decorative rugs, lamps, and shelves leading to a bright doorway at the end.
The Lodge. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE

Visitors can sample Chef Bea’s locavore cuisine in the dining room or at tables set in the field, go on hikes led by conservation experts, and unwind in the Schoolhouse, where a sauna, cold plunge, and outdoor hot tub are as invigorating as the crisp mountain air. More than 200 miles of trails traverse over 250 square miles of nature, with guides available to curate treks for all experience levels. Through summer and fall, mountain climbs and fishing expeditions sate guests’ craving for outdoor adventure, while in the winter, alpine pursuits ranging from snowshoeing and skiing to hockey on frozen natural ponds get the heart pumping. Then, more restful activities like stargazing and fireside chats mark the perfect end to a memorable day of mountain living.

Rustic bedroom with wooden walls, red bedding, and an open door leading to a copper bathtub on a deck with forest view.
The Lake House. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE
Cozy living room with leather chairs, telescope by large window, mountain view outside with snow-covered landscape.
The living room at the Lodge. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE
Rustic hallway with warm lighting, wooden walls, patterned rugs, and large map wall art. Cozy and inviting atmosphere.
The Lodge. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE
Cozy rustic library with wooden walls and shelves, featuring two chairs and a window at the end of the room.
The library at the Lodge. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE
Mountain lodge with wooden beams, surrounded by trees and a stone patio under a blue sky.
The Cat Mountain House. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE
Rustic dining room with wooden decor, large windows, antler chandelier, and mountain views in the background.
Dining room at the Cat Mountain House. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE
Rustic wooden cabin surrounded by trees and mountains under a clear blue sky at sunset.
The Lake House. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE
Stone cabin surrounded by pine trees with mountain backdrop, sunny day, rocky path leading to entrance, serene wilderness setting.
The Stone Cabin. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE
Starry night sky over a lit cozy cabin with surrounding trees and a flower pot in the foreground.
The Lodge. Photo: COURTESY OF TRINCHERA RESERVE & LODGE

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Fall Issue under the headline “Mountain High.” Subscribe to the magazine.

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