LOCATION

Deer Valley Ranch is located in South Central Colorado, 100 miles due west of Colorado Springs and 130 miles southwest of Denver. The nearest commercial airports are located in these two cities. The Colorado Springs airport is 2 ¼ hours from the ranch and DIA (Denver International Airport) is 3 hours from the ranch. Even though Colorado Springs is a bit closer, more airlines fly in and out of Denver, so most guests use DIA.  We would be glad to answer your questions about travel options to our Colorado dude ranch.

Local Attractions:

Historic St. Elmo In 1881 St. Elmo was a community of some 500 residents serving the Upper Chalk Creek mining district with hotels, dining, mining supplies, and transportation and various kinds of culture. A stagecoach and narrow gauge railroad line ran through town. Over 125 years later, St. Elmo, is a ten mile drive west of Deer Valley and is one of Colorado’s best known “Ghost Towns”.

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Originally a historical stage stop, this site (just one mile east of Deer Valley), was the location of a Victorian hotel in the early part of the 20th century. Now, the natural hot springs serve as the attraction where guests can steam in the pools or even on the edge of Chalk Creek where cold and hot waters create a unique bathing sensation.

Colorado Trail and Continental Divide Trail The 440 mile Colorado Trail that runs from Denver to Durango crosses through Deer Valley property and allows access to remarkable hiking. Fifteen miles west of the ranch is a section of the newly developed Continental Divide Trail with connections to all points north and south. This is hiking paradise.

Buena Vista Ten miles north is our “hometown” of Buena Vista. Where the Ute Indians lived in the mid 1850s, the settlers and homesteaders created a town along Cottonwood Creek. Now Buena Vista (the name is Spanish, but it’s pronunciation is the anglicized, “Byuna Vista”), is a good place for an afternoon of shopping, visiting the historical museum, and making a critical stop at the world famous, K’s Dairy Delite.

Leadville A forty-five minute drive north of Deer Valley will take you to the fascinating town of Leadville, historical home of Bat Masterson, the Unsinkable Molly Brown, Wyatt Earp, and Baby Doe Tabor. Visit the historical sites, walk the Victorian main street, and stop by the National Mining Museum. At 11,000 feet altitude, surrounded by fourteen thousand foot peaks, the setting for Leadville is spectacular. Continue your drive over Fremont Pass to the Outlet malls in Frisco then south to Breckenridge before you loop over Hoosier Pass through Fairplay and back to Deer Valley. An excellent day in the mountains.

Aspen While not exactly a “local” site, many of our guests make their way over 13,000’ Independence Pass to visit the world famous town of Aspen. It is a surprisingly low key place in the summer, and you can enjoy the gondola ride up the mountain, browse the world renowned shops and galleries, or dine at a sidewalk café. Fishing and hiking are terrific in the Roaring Fork Valley.