Went for the Holiday weekend and had a fantastic time. Restrooms and showers were super clean…read more Staff was very friendly , the entire place was just what we expected. Even the music playing was wonderful. We will for sure be headed back soon!

Dirk is the best and the vintage trailers to stay in are incredible. You will not be disappointed…read morein this unique experience. Would and will stay here again and again.

Our next stop was Orient Land Trust (a 2000 acre land preserve) which contains Valley View Hot…read moreSprings/camp ground. It is not AANR affiliated but it boasts the same values. It is clothing optional. While there (on a Tuesday/Wednesday) we saw very few people with even cover-ups on. There were people of all ages. It's very rustic, you have to bring in all of your food & supplies. I'm from Idaho (the impetus for the trip is my high school reunion in Boise) so I knew how careful you have to be storing & disposing of food in mountainous areas with bears, mountain lions, and other wildlife. The posted rules & special bear-resistant trash cans are a necessity! It was a new experience for my husband. Luckily we didn't see any bears, but we saw lots of deer. To get to OLT, you take a long dirt road up into the foothills. Along the way, a mile or so of fence posts had shoes & boots placed on them from years of visitors to OLT carrying on the tradition of olden days when the tops of posts were coated in tar or oil, or old boots, to protect them from weathering so fast, so we found out. Bring an old pair to add to the fun practice! Any kind will do. Staff was super friendly. Bathrooms were super clean. The community pavilion was a large covered round structure with a fire pit in the middle, a functional community kitchen, and lots of tables. We brought s'mores to share over the fire. There is a bunk house (shared sleeping area like a hostel) and cabins to rent. We chose to tent. It got down to 49 degrees at night (in late July) but not a problem with lots of blankets. Some campsites offered a view of the valley while others are nestled into the wooded hillside. Be prepared to hike up & down almost never flat roads and trails to get to anything. Speaking of hikes, we chose to take the (almost nightly) guided hike to see the thousands of bats that emerge from the deserted mine right after sunset. I'm not going to lie! It was a grueling 2 miles up steep terrain but worth the views on the way up. There was a full moon so seeing the mountains across the valley & viewing the bats' flight would have been better but for the haze from a nearby forest fire, but still breathtaking. The sight (and smell, I'll leave that for you to discover on your own) of thousands of bats flying out of the mine cave was worth the trip, though I wasn't really sure about that until the next day. It was a really hard hike up and back down & I'm not in the best shape. Everyone was huffing & puffing at some point but my muscles were screaming. The guide & a few others really helped with all their encouragement. They have a yurt (used to be a tee pee) where they offer massages, body work, reflexology and such, but we didn't have time, though we sure could have used it. Now about the pool & hot springs! There are lots of hot springs of varying shapes, sizes, & temperatures. Some are nearby the central areas and others are a hike up the mountain. They have built the cutest handrails and bridges from natural materials at each of them. These are natural springs so there are uneven grassy or rocky edges and the bottoms are rocky, pebbley, & slippery...water shoes or sandals can be helpful (but also need to be good for walking up & down inclines so not flip flops). I can't even put into words how beautiful the views are from the different hot springs. At every one, we found people soaking and reading a book. Or sitting on benches around the springs reading. It's a very peaceful place and they enforce noise & nuisance rules (especially from the posted "extra quiet" hours between 10 pm and 8 am). They close the gates each night & no one can come in or out. The pool is a traditional cement pool but filled from the springs. No chlorine. They drain it every Wednesday & power wash it. There are lounge chairs & pool noodles for use & a convenient bathroom/shower & sauna connected to it. We highly recommend this place!! It's a true naturist experience. We can't wait to return & stay longer! They only allow so many day passes and overnight stays per day to preserve the land & resources so call ahead! It's about 3 hours south of Denver. We recommend stopping in Fairplay, CO on the way down. Great little lunch places & last place with a decent grocery store before you get there.

I used to love this place; the vibes were immaculate & everyone was welcoming and friendly. This…read moretime though... there were way more clothed people than nude & I got openly stared at like I was an alien from another planet (I'm a fully transitioned transmasc individual) by older people, mainly men (with their wives). There was a lot of loud conversation everywhere, including some guy who was going on about the wonders of AI... I think the clientele has shifted. No smiles, no morning greetings, the vibe was totally off. It was VERY crowded seeming too, moreso than usual it seemed, and it felt like everyone was on top of each other for things like the bathroom and pools. The meadow pool and waterfall pool also needed some cleaning, they were really thick with algae this time. The staff as always were lovely & helpful. I'm surprised at the changes here in the people, though, I may not return.

Royal Gorge RV Resort -- come for the views, stay because your kids passed out from joy…read more Right before we pulled in, a storm blew through like it was auditioning for a disaster movie and knocked out the power. I checked us in, bracing for the classic "no ETA" doom... but the staff casually said it should be back within the hour. I smiled, nodded, and mentally prepared to cook dinner by flashlight and charge phones with potato batteries. But plot twist: the power actually came back. An hour later. I wanted to hug someone. Water pressure? Think more spa mist than power washer. It was like the pipes were gently encouraging the water to make an appearance. Slightly frustrating, sure--but we're campers. We've survived worse. Our site was gravel with a fun little tilt--ideal if you like your RVing with a side of puzzle-solving. Thankfully, we had the leveling blocks (aka orange marital stress diffusers). We only had to repark three times. Bonding! The fire pit area was amazing--stone walls made us feel like we were hosting medieval s'mores night. The kids went absolutely bananas on the jumping pillow and playground, which means we got at least 27 whole minutes of peace and adult conversation. #ParentVictory We didn't have time to hit the pool (tragic), but it looked lovely--clean, blue, inviting... like it was whispering "next time." And now: the bathrooms and showers. Spotless. Honestly, tasteful. We're talking chic tile, pebbled shower floors... the kind of setup that says, "Just because you're camping doesn't mean you can't feel fancy." Did I take my shoes off in there? Absolutely not. It's a shared shower, I'm not a maniac. But it looked great. 10/10 for aesthetics and vibes. Bottom line: We'll be back. We'll recommend it. We might even take off our shoes next time. Maybe.

Sites are not level!!! Would not recommend. Campers around us couldn't get their RV's level even…read morewith blocking on the stabilizers. The unlevel site bound up our leveling jacks and we could not disconnect from the truck. Again, would not recommend.

Seeking a new place for our camping season kick-off weekend my friends and I took to Buena Vista to…read morecheck out the Brown's Creek area. PROs: ++ It's first come first serve camping. Roughly about 30 spots. ++ It's FREE! Always a plus when camping. ++ The campsites are actually REALLY spaced out. We couldn't even see another spot from ours! ++ There's access to several hikes and Mt. Princeton Hot Springs is right up the road. CONs: -- While there are a lot of trees, there's isn't much shade. -- Campsites near the creek were pretty rocky and small. Not the best for a large group. Brown's Creek is def an area that we'll keep in mind for future camping trips and hiking adventures! Love that camping life! **Pro Tip: If you're planning on heading up over a holiday weekend make sure you get there early. We went up the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend and the sites were already pretty picked over.

Now THIS is how to run a small motel! Everything is completely upfront and easy to understand:…read more They allow dogs, NO DEPOSIT or breed restrictions They provide dog beds and water bowls if you need them Their pricing is the same no matter how you book No hidden fees or weird deposits Coffee is from a LOCAL roaster Room was clean and comfortable For a room that cost $115 it was everything we needed and we'll be back. Myself, my partner and our 2 dogs slept well and got on the road early. There is also a walkway along the river very close by and the town of Salida has a lot to offer; good breweries, restaurants, dispensaries, stores and close proximity to Mount Princeton Hot Springs, amazing!

From the moment I walked in I was greeted with AMAZING service from Alicia. She was very thorough…read moreon all of the offerings they have. I am a person that loves to sleep with a fan. She said that they offer fans to the guests and quickly grabbed a box fan for me. She even offered to carry it to my room for me since I had a dog with me. They are SOOOO dog friendly and she gave some lovin's to my dog right away and offered some treats. Bed is comfortable and toiletries are great. The dispensable kind so you don't have to worry about little bottles everywhere. I would stay here again 100% and I haven't even gotten to sleep yet. I'm sure the rest of my stay will be great!! Top notch!!

We had driven down from Jackson, WY and were exhausted. We chose this hotel based on the reviews…read moreand were not disappointed. Not fancy but, clean, comfortable bed and pillows, terrific coffee and wonderful staff. We definitely will stay on our next trip.

We are traveling cross county on a motorcycle and finding quirky, non traditional places to spend…read more10 hours is a bonus. Lodge motif, cozy, loaded with eclectic art and outdoorsy flair... Brown's Canyon Inn is clean, the beds are comfy and the shower pressure is amazing. The owners are super friendly and eager to talk with visitors about Salida and beyond. Staying at Brown's Canyon Inn has been one of the highlights of our trik

The cabin had everything we needed and was extremely clean. The views are wonderful and it was…read morevery quiet. We were lucky enough to be staying during the elk rut season and saw about 200 elk run through the pasture behind the cabin one morning. Highly recommend!

The Lost Wonder hut is a magical place! We had a group that fille dthe place and were comfortable…read moreand happy all weekend. The hut was well stoked and everything we needed was clearly labeled. Would recommend!

We did a recent ski trip to the Lost Wonder Hut this January, and we were very pleased with our…read morevisit. Communication between the owners and us was excellent before and after our visit, and the hut itself is clean, well-stocked with basic supplies, and in an absolutely gorgeous location. We enjoyed the area and our stay so much that we are already planning another trip!