If you love the isolation of the wilderness without giving up your home comforts, a hideaway-stay at The Ranch at Emerald Valley is a must to include in your itinerary for Colorado Springs.

It’s here where Spencer Rose, the original owner of The Broadmoor, came to recharge his batteries over 100 years ago – and it’s easy to see why.

Some call it glamping, but The Ranch at Emerald Valley is an experience that can hardly be mentioned in the same breath as camping. How can it, with gas fireplaces, a hot tub, heated floors, electric fans, and all the modern amenities one could need in the wilderness?

Enjoying Cowboy Coffee around a firepit to start your day is possibly the closest you’ll come to camping while staying at this ranch in Colorado. The rest of the time you’ll be relaxing in and around one of only 10 luxury cabins hidden in the Pike National Forest.

The ten rustic cabins at this exclusive Colorado ranch each have a distinct Rocky Mountain frontier touch. They come in different sizes – from one bedroom for a romantic couple’s getaway to two and three bedrooms for larger families or groups.

Needless to say, each cabin has a private bath. The smaller Cedar, Aspen, Pinon, and Ponderosa cabins all sleep two and are adjacent to each other in one building. There are also two small standalone cabins – Fir and Pine.

The Hill cabin sleeps eight and also features a full kitchen. The Copper and Lakeside Cabins both sleep four in two bedrooms. 

Not a cabin per se, but the Longs Peak Lodge Room is connected to the lodge and handicap accessible. See this plan for a better idea of the layout of The Ranch at Emerald Valley if you’re interested in booking.

Each cabin has a sitting area, stone fireplace (gas), humidifier, and small comforts like hairdryers, bathrobes, sandals, shampoo, and conditioner. Do not expect a TV. After all, you want to be in the Colorado wilderness, don’t you?

While you’ll find all the creature comforts for a great stay in your cabin, here are some things you can bring from home to make your adventure so much more enjoyable.

• Pack clothes suitable for layering. This ranch in Colorado is at about 8200′ elevation, which means it’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in one day.
• Hiking boots for the mountain trails and tennis shoes for the easier trails.
• Fully-waterproof rain jacket or suit.
• Denims and comfortable shoes with closed toes for horseback riding.
• A swimsuit to enjoy the hot tub.
• Bandana or cowboy hat and boots if you want to look the part.
• Polarized sunglasses – they don’t only protect your eyes from the sun, but also help you spot fish!
• Sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Binoculars or StarNoculars for looking for the extraordinary in the Colorado wilderness or the clear night sky.

What’s your idea of a wilderness experience? Will The Ranch at Emerald Valley fit the bill? Let us know in the comments below!