This is EXACTLY the kind of place I hope to find when I'm looking for a vacation. I'm not much of…read morea "hotel" person. Mike's inn is perched on the banks of a rushing creek (and the lawn out back along the creek is pure paradise), and when you stay here, you feel welcome enough to feel like family, without all the social obligations that come with staying with family. Mike is a local legend, everyone knows him. He is the driving force behind the re-opening of the ski resort in Cuchara, and has been in the ski business his whole professional life. He is a gracious, kind host...quiet and reserved, but is happy to chat if you engage him. He's a SUPERB cook (and this is coming from a chef!), and his breakfasts are truly outstanding. The place is supremely dog friendly, with no extra charge for a pet. (A huge savings if you're staying a week.) Yes...this is an older home, converted to an inn. (Each suite has a full kitchen.) This is not The W. Don't come expecting that. We found our suite to be twice the size we expected, supremely comfy, and the price was spot-on for such a wonderful stay with breakfast every day, and an unlimited source of information about the area. Without question, we will be back!

We had a wonderful time staying with Mike while skiing Cuchara. Our room was huge with two bedrooms…read moreand a full kitchen. We especially enjoyed the wide selection of VHS tapes and cozy decor. Mike was an outstanding host with world class breakfasts each morning, top tier hospitality, and fun conversations. It truly felt as if we were right at home and part of the Cuchara family. Mike is deeply involved in the comeback of Cuchara mountain ski area and its was fun to stay with somebody so passionate about the success of this mountain town. We can't wait to visit again!

We've stayed twice now at Yellow Pine Ranch. Once 3 summers ago at "Guest House" and the second…read moretime last weekend at "Bunkhouse". The cabins are very homey and quaint. My husband and I preferred Guest House for the seclusion/Privacy. It's off by itself near a pond. The check in process is easy and the owner is very professional and nice. We had actually forgotten our checkbook (they accept cash/check only) to pay our remaining balance and she graciously allowed us to pay once we returned home. In the summer months they have horseback riding on property and chuck wagon suppers. We've always stayed in the autumn months, so haven't been able to comment on those amenities. If you're looking for a week or weekend away in the mountains, I'd highly recommend Yellow Pine Ranch.

INTIMIDATING Dog Policy…read more I understand - some previous visitors felt "intimidated" by a 50+ pound Dog so now the rest of us can't stay here as large Dogs aren't allowed. So unfortunate. Yellow Pine Ranch is where I learned about nature in the 1980s: "Cocklebur" the donkey who lived in the grassy field outside our cabin - he happily ate our hand-fed carrots. Horseback riding with my ol' friend "Taco," the great white horse with brown spots. And hummingbirds that would happily sit on your finger. My Senior Retrievers have traveled to Italy, the Texas Coast, and are possibly more well-behaved than some humans. It saddens my heart that a place nestled in what my Dad called "God's Country" doesn't welcome God's creatures. The management here could benefit from a reality check. So I don't meet their reservation requirements. I'm fine with that. SPECIAL NOTE ~ When I spoke to Diane today she could have *not noticed less* when I told her my family stayed here at Yellow Pines 40 years ago. How sad that is.

This ranch is absolutely amazing. From the accommodations, to staff, to the view and location this…read moreplace is 5 stars! I hope to be able to go back soon. Highly recommended!

From the owner: Zapata Ranch is a 103,000-acre ranch owned by The Nature Conservancy of Colorado where guests can…read moreride through and learn about our conservation herd of 2,500 bison, integrate themselves into daily life on the ranch and participate in extensive nature programs. Managed by Ranchlands, Zapata Ranch in nestled at the base of Southern Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Mountains and shares a border with the United States' tallest sand dunes: The Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.

One of my absolute favorite places!!!! Love the staff, the cabins are so quaint and fun, the lake…read moreis beautiful. The food is so yummy! And we always meet the most fun people from all over the country here! The night time karaoke and live entertainment are great. Thanks Captain Brandon for the ride!!! So much fun!

It's beautiful, but it's full of people. It's what happens when one of these places becomes popular.read more

Beautiful, quiet spot with the river a few steps from my door and a trout pond full of immense…read moreRainbows; catch & release, flies & fly rod only. Nice clean accommodations, kitchen, basic cooking & utensils, comfortable beds, and everything from 2 bdrm cabins to 5 bdrm house for rent. Fire rings, gas BBQ's and a playground for the kids outdoors. It was during the week after Labor Day so our host Jeremy was there to take care of things, and gave us some tips about the area & what to see & do. During summer season & on weekends there's a pizza restaurant open on site. Nearby is Bosque Del Oro wildlife preserve, one of the largest Elk herds in the US, Monument lake, North lake, Bear & Blue lakes, and others; trails, streams, 14'er peaks and pretty much anything you want to do outdoors. And the view! - wish I could post my pictures here! My idea of a slice of heaven!

From the owner: Vacation cabins, RV Park, Pizzeria, Hunting, Fishingread more

Wow. My husband and I were on our way home from Estes Park when the roads became too snowed on to…read morebe safe and the snow was not stopping for a few more hours. We intended to make it to Amarillo but gave up on that. I called all the standard hotel options but everything was booked up by other families on the road. Honestly, couldn't be more grateful we needed up here! I had not honestly heard of Walsenburg but we couldn't have gotten any luckier! The private loft space was SO clean. Plenty of towels left out for us. Comfortable couches to kick back on while we re-evaluated our next move. And THE BED - we stayed in Loft 1 and that queen bed was SO comfortable. We had the sweetest view of the town square from our window and the snow covering the trees was a magical touch. I can't emphasize how grateful we are for the most unexpected space to wind up in. THANK YOU so much.

So I am actually staying at Whistle Stop location, but I can't find it so I tagged The Lofts. This…read moreis amazing. Just look at the pictures. I am in heaven!

I'm a Marriott fan but after driving hours upon hours and staying at really shady hotels, we…read moredecided to splurge on our last night of driving before getting back home and we're so incredibly glad we did. Hotel was clean, employees were nice, rooms were clean AND nice. What's more to say? The main things in a room are always shower pressure, airflow/AC/heat and tidiness. And look at that! All three here excelled! The restaurant downstairs was also a great place to order food to go and go back into the room to hibernate awhile and watch some trash tv. I will say though, the area around is pretty meh to walk around in. Great food choices for a small area, but I probably wouldn't walk around by myself if I were staying here alone. Great place to stay and highly recommend you to splurge a bit and stay here.

Hilton did not disappoint! Very nice hotel and super- friendly staff! Sweet little town and nice…read morearea to walk around. I did not get a picture but there was a nice playground area in front of hotel for kids. Highly recommend! (Please note: breakfast is not included with accommodations at the Hilton.)

I made the reservation by phone on the fly as we were traveling. The manager, Kathy, was very…read morefriendly and accommodating, booking us into a non-smoking room. On arrival, check in was very easy and Kathy welcomed us warmly. Upon hearing my husband was a vet, she gave us a veteran discount before we even asked. Thank you Kathy. The Lodge is a rustic motel built in 1962, in a rural area and is charming. The room is clean and nicely decorated. There's a dog park at the back of the property and doggie biscuits at the front desk for furry friends. Had we wanted, we could have had a fire at the fire pit next to the dog park, after the office checked to see if it is a burn day, of course. The bathroom is clean, there is a coffee maker and coffee, a microwave and small fridge in the room. Dollar tree and small grocery down the street. A number of eateries as well close by. I think next time we come, we'll stay a few days to explore the rich history of the area and end the day with a fire under the stars!

This super nice couple, took me in on a late Saturday night. Even though I had mistakenly booked…read morefor the next week instead of the night of. Mind you, I was a solo traveler, but the effort they took to get me a clean room for that night I needed it needs to be mentioned! Clean and comfortable rooms.