We’ve all seen those picturesque photos of western ranches with horses running in the pastures, nestled below beautiful snow covered peaks. The true western ranch experience – does it really exist? Yes! And you can find it at Devil’s Thumb Ranch! Devil’s Thumb gives you the opportunity to disconnect and soak up the beauty that surrounds this pristine destination! DT offers a multitude of outdoor activities and upgrade options to take your already luxurious get away to an over-the-top experience! It offers something for just about everybody at a luxury level. Whether you are into riding horses, mountain bikes, hiking, or just sitting at the pool or spa, they have you covered.
75 miles west of Denver and 15 minutes from Winter Park, the ranch is truly something special. At Devil’s Thumb Ranch they offer experiences that embrace the pioneering spirit of the early homesteaders while honoring and preserving the pristine landscapes for future generations. Guests are invited to participate in real, authentic ranch adventures from horseback riding, fly fishing, and cross-country skiing, to mountain biking, zip lining, and more on over 6,500 acres of Rocky Mountain wilderness. Of course, such a luxurious escape would be incomplete without refined modern comforts like their renowned spa, acclaimed restaurants, elegant lodge accommodations, and private rustic cabins. Simply unplug from everyday life and lounge by the year-round heated pool and hot tub, de-stress with stand up paddleboard yoga, or curl up by the fire, roast a marshmallow, and reconnect with the people who matter most. An authentic Colorado Ranch experience you simply can’t find anywhere else.
Devil’s was rated top 25 Resorts in the U.S. that are perfect for families! Every year for the World’s Best Awards, Travel + Leisure asks readers to rank travel experiences across the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more.
PLEASE NOTE:
Covid-19 Update: All activities and use of our trails are temporarily reserved for in-house lodging guests only. Advanced reservations are required for all activities. At this time, we are not taking walk-in guests in order to eliminate groups in waiting areas. For questions or reservations, please contact Activities (970-726-8231), Stables (970-726-3777), or Concierge with any questions (970-726-7000 ext. 716).
View all Devil’s Thumb Fall Activities here.
The Resort and Lodging
Decor is rustic, with wooden walls and ceilings and attractive barn-style ring chandeliers with a few electric candles throughout the common areas. The tone is set as you walk into the lobby, features an incredibly friendly staff, a stellar stone-stacked fireplace, wine tasting area, gift shop and a porch to relax on or take a few business calls.
There’s also a small, cozy coffeeshop on-site and two restaurants, the most casual of which — Heck’s — which serves an upscale bar food, has seating on two floors that surround an enormous floor-to-ceiling fireplace. The Ranch House has a true saloon feel to it, with a log bar and barn chandeliers. In addition, there are more event spaces around the Ranch such as John Ls’ Wine Cellar that can be reserved for private dining.
The pool area is a family favorite. Warmed by environmentally-friendly geothermal heat, the saltwater pool and hot tub are open year-round to cool off on a hot day or soothe your muscles sore from mountain activities. Like everything at Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa, Rachel’s Pool is anything but ordinary. Named after the ‘fish’ in the family, the pool is shaped like a natural pond to blend in with the landscape. Since it has both indoor and outdoor sections, on chilly days you can step in from the comfort of our activities center, and swim outside under blue skies or stars.
Accommodations include 87 guest rooms in two “Parkitecture” designed lodges, 15 ridge-top cabins which range in size from one-bedroom lofts to four-bedrooms, and two private guest houses up to 10,000 square feet. All types of lodging are spacious and nicely decorated with a log cabin feel right down to the dim lighting. Pillow-top beds are comfy and have high-end linens, elaborate quilts, and mountains of pillows that just scream a good night sleep. Each room has a balcony with a pair of rocking chairs and a stunning view of the surrounding valley floor and nearby mountains, and even the more affordable rooms have oversize bathrooms with huge wooden doors, spacious walk-in showers tiled in pebble, and separate old-fashioned tubs. Larger two-story cabin suites are available and feature living rooms with large stacked-stone fireplaces and extra sinks, perfect for large families.
Outdoor Adult Fun and Adventure
Hiking, Ziplining, Horseback riding or whatever you desire, the Ranch has it. It can be as relaxing as sitting near the pool and having a cocktail or trying your hand at archery, hatchet throwing or even the biathlon.
Kids Fun
Never once have the words “I’m bored” been said by a kid at Devil’s Thumb Ranch. Okay maybe we are stretching the truth here but it is hard to believe if it has happened.
Mountain Biking and Trail Running
Mountain biking at Devil’s Thumb Ranch is pretty much an endless adventure. Mountain biking trails at the Ranch connect to a trail system that spans over 600 miles and earned the trail system the moniker “Mountain Biking Capital of the USA.” 35 miles of bike trails are located on property and wind through open meadows with vistas of the surrounding peaks and are great for beginner to intermediate riders. TREK Rental bikes and Rudy Project helmets are available at Zach’s Mercantile as well as trail maps and snacks. Guided mountain bike tours of the property are also available upon request.
Feeling a little brave and want to go rip some world-class singletrack? Don’t worry, that is where this 600 miles of trails come into play. Talk to the locals or the folks in Zach’s Mercantile for tips on the best local trails. Many of them can be accessed with just a 4 or 5 mile “warm-up” ride.
Trail Running and hiking is a treat and can be done right on the property or you can venture off…just be sure to take water, food, sunscreen and a map. Most trails are multi-purpose for hiking, biking and running so keep an eye out for others on the trail.
Famous for Nordic Skiing
With Winter in the near future, you might want to take note of nearly 120km of trails nestled in the pristine and private Ranch Creek valley at the base of the Continental Divide, Devil’s Thumb is one of the premier Nordic centers for Colorado cross-country skiing. In fact, they were named #1 Cross-Country Ski Resort in North America in the 2018 and 2019 USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards! Whether you enjoy skate, classic or snowshoeing; it sounds like there is a trail and an experience for you.
Novices can start the day with a private or group lesson from one of our friendly instructors. And, of course, a wide variety of quality cross-country ski equipment is available for purchase or rental – including child sleds and skijoring rigs. Dogs on leashes are welcome on our dog-friendly trails. Our Nordic Center and ski trails are open daily during ski season. With a daily trail pass, you pay one rental fee that allows for skiing and snowshoeing that day.
What Did We Miss?
With what seems like a hundred and one activities at the ranch, we are sure to have missed something. Additional offerings include year-round, outdoor pool and hot tub, yoga, and fly-fishing as well as working cattle ranch programs offering interactive opportunities for guests to participate in horseback riding, skills training, wagon and sleigh rides, children’s pony rides, and petting zoo. Additional seasonal recreation offerings include zip lining, stand-up paddleboarding, ice skating, archery, and hatchet throwing. A nature-based, 18,000 sq. ft. restorative spa featuring massage, facials, body wraps, soaks, and more, rounds out the variety of options available for guests to restore and rejuvenate. For more information, visit devilsthumbranch.com or call (970) 726-7000.
