Your guide to a luxe weekend in Colorado’s wild country

By Lexi Marshall

Camping, but make it chic. That’s the glamping dream—a weekend under the stars, minus the air mattress blues and ramen dinners. In Colorado, where mountains, meadows and wildflower-filled valleys are already the main event, luxury camping takes on a whole new dimension. From architectural cabins nestled in national forests to intimate ranch stays where you’re greeted by name, these thoughtfully curated destinations bring the best of the outdoors and indoors together.

Cedar Ridge Ranch, Carbondale

Best for: Personalized experiences and ranch vibes

Nestled near the base of Mount Sopris, Cedar Ridge Ranch offers a unique blend of rustic charm and personalized hospitality. This family-owned, 67-acre working ranch provides a variety of accommodations, including safari-style tents, a spacious yurt, a rustic cabin and a restored farmhouse.

What sets Cedar Ridge apart is its deeply personal touch. Guests are often greeted by Pam, Randy or Merrill Johnson—members of the family behind the property—who take time to chat in the barn or share stories by the fire.

Beyond lodging, the ranch offers a range of activities, such as horseback riding, alpaca yoga and farm tours. This summer, guests can look forward to homemade sourdough bread, fresh from the ranch kitchen, a nod to life’s slow, intentional pace here.

Pro tip: Don’t miss sunrise with a coffee in hand and the view of the Roaring Fork Valley lighting up gold.

Outside Design Nature Hotel, Salida

Best for: Forest solitude meets spa luxury

Just 15 minutes from downtown Salida—but a world away in feel—Outside Design offers a rare blend of seclusion and modern elegance. Set on 35 acres of national forest, the property’s 11 sleek, glass-front cabins are positioned along more than a mile of internal roads, ensuring privacy and prime nature immersion.

Each minimalist-modern cabin is a design lover’s dream: think floor-to-ceiling views, clean lines and plush beds wrapped in soft linens. But the real star of the show might be the on-site Scandinavian spa. Guests rotate between a custom wood sauna, outdoor hot tubs and a refreshing cold plunge, often while the breeze rustles the pines nearby.

“We created this place because we wanted something like this for ourselves,” says founder Ben Cherrey. “A place to stay in nature, but with the comforts of a hotel.”

Outside Design has become more than a personal vision—it’s a gentle nudge for guests to reconnect with nature’s healing power. “If we can play a tiny part in making it easier to spend time outside, that feels like a worthy mission to dedicate a life to,” Cherrey shares.

CampV, Naturita

Best for: Art lovers and stargazers

A reimagined mining camp turned glamping oasis, CampV is where Wild West meets modern retreat. Located in a certified Dark Sky Preserve in canyon country, this off-the-beaten-path spot blends artistic flair with rugged beauty.

Choose from fully furnished canvas tents, modern cabins, Airstreams or hookup sites—all designed with curated touches and cozy amenities. But it’s not just about where you sleep. CampV fosters meaningful community through site-specific art installations, lakeside lounging, live programming and plenty of stargazing.

“Our mission is to pioneer a new kind of outdoor hospitality,” says co-founder Natalie Binder. “One that fosters intentional experiences and transformative gatherings within a historic landscape.”

Here, the silence is golden, and the Milky Way puts on a show nightly.

Monument Glamping, Monument

Best for: Creekside serenity near the city

Want a glamping escape without driving deep into the mountains? Monument Glamping sits quietly between Denver and Colorado Springs, offering a surprisingly peaceful stay on a 6.5-acre parcel just off I-25.

Accommodations include five safari tents and three container cabins, all boasting queen beds, private bathrooms, propane fire pits and extra blankets for those chilly Colorado evenings. Premium units kick things up with private hot tubs or a sauna.

Simple trails lead guests to Monument Creek, where you can fish, wade, or relax by a fire ring with a bottle of homemade wine or house-brewed kombucha, complimentary from your hosts.

“I love helping guests swap city stress for creekside calm,” says Wendy Jeub, co-owner and head of guest relations. “Our goal is to make ‘roughing it’ feel like a luxury getaway.”

Dunton River Camp, Dolores

Best for: Ultra-luxury glamping and remote mountain romance

For mountain lovers with a taste for luxury, Dunton River Camp sets the gold standard. Tucked into the San Juan Mountains on a former 1800s cattle ranch, this adults-only (with occasional family-friendly weeks) summer retreat combines high-end hospitality with rugged outdoor adventure. The camp sits on 500 acres of preserved meadows, forest and riverside land, with the original farmhouse just 20 feet from the West Fork of the trout-rich Dolores River.

Guests stay in one of eight safari-style tents—each perched on a 640-square-foot wooden platform anchored into bedrock—featuring luxe amenities like en-suite bathrooms, six-foot soaker tubs, towel warmers and double vanities. Each tent also includes two mountain bikes for on-property trail cruising or leisurely rides down country roads.

Fly fish just steps from your tent, unwind in the riverside sauna, or embark on guided or solo hikes into the San Juans. And when the sun sets, guests gather around nightly campfires beneath an International Dark Sky-certified sky.

An expert chef team prepares meals using local organic ingredients, such as wild-foraged mushrooms, lamb raised in surrounding meadows and produce from the property’s farm and vineyard. Dinner is served with expertly paired wines, including bottles from Sutcliffe Vineyards and international selections from Bordeaux and Tuscany.

Joyful Journey Hot Springs, Moffat 

Best for: Soaking, stargazing and spiritual wellness

Tucked into Colorado’s sacred San Luis Valley—a high-desert expanse once revered by Native American elders as one of North America’s most energetically charged places—Joyful Journey Hot Springs is a glamping destination rooted in healing, nature and soulful simplicity. Set at 7,700 feet beneath the crimson peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this peaceful retreat offers rejuvenating soaks in mineral-rich waters, stargazing skies and serene accommodations ranging from cozy hotel rooms and RV sites to all-season yurts and authentic teepees.

The natural hot springs rise from deep travertine wells at 120 to 145 degrees and are cooled to a soothing 98 to 108 across three soaking pools and two Jacuzzi tubs. Unlike many geothermal springs, these waters are odor-free and cleaned nightly to ensure a pristine experience. One pool is whisper-only, encouraging quiet reflection against a backdrop of postcard mountain views.

Guests can wake up with sunrise yoga, walk a meditative labyrinth, book a massage or energy healing session, plus end the day with nourishing, homemade meals served in the community dining room. (Breakfast and dinner are included with your stay, with thoughtful gluten-free and vegan options.)

Tennessee Pass Sleep Yurts, Leadville

Best for: Cozy backcountry adventure with gourmet flair

Perched at 10,800 feet in the San Isabel Forest near Leadville, these solar-powered, off-grid yurts are the perfect mix of rustic charm and thoughtful comfort. Inside, you’ll find handcrafted log beds, soapstone wood stoves, a kitchenette, solar lighting and full linens, plus mountain views from the deck and skylight stargazing from the bed.

In summer, hike or bike the 1.3-mile trail through scenic meadows to your yurt. Staff transport your luggage, and the fire is already lit upon arrival. Guests have access to on-site trails, and you can pre-order provisions for cozy meals in.

For a true backcountry indulgence, pair your stay with a reservation at Tennessee Pass Cookhouse, an off-the-grid gourmet yurt accessible only by trail. Expect hearty lunches like bison burgers and steaming soup served with rustic charm. At dinner, the candlelit yurt sets the stage for multi-course meals featuring elk rack, Peruvian-spiced mahi mahi and wild game sourced from local ranches.

Whether cozying up in your yurt or savoring fine food beneath alpine skies, this mountain escape is about earning and enjoying the reward.

Colorado’s glamping scene proves that the spirit of adventure doesn’t have to come at the cost of comfort. Whether you’re soaking in a cedar spa or swapping stories over sourdough in a barn, these experiences remind us that nature can be restorative, inspiring and just plain fun when we meet it halfway.