These Stunning Hotels Offer Easy Access to the Great Outdoors
The line between hotels and glamping is blurring with resorts upping their game and hotels offering amenities in, and easy access to, the great outdoors.
Thomas J. Story
It’s a great time to be an outdoors enthusiast. Gone are the days where you had to be a member of the 10th Mountain Division to be able to experience the vast beauty of the West. Now, newly opened nature-adjacent offerings are making it easier for everyone from soft adventurers to backcountry warriors to explore—all without having to schlep a single piece of gear.
From campgrounds that provide gear rentals to blow-your-mind high-design hotels outfitted with adventure concierges and everything in between, here’s how to indulge in the great outdoors, sans stress.
ULUM Moab
Thomas J. Story
Last year, Denver-based Under Canvas launched a new brand called ULUM—its most extravagant offering yet. The safari-style hotel located steps from Utah’s Looking Glass Arch boasts rain showers and private plunge pools, all situated on 200 acres of ochre desert landscape. Its contemporary lobby viewing lounge offers expansive floor-to-ceiling glass windows that open up to views of Canyonlands National Park, and Adventure Concierges connect guests with local outfitters. Locally inspired dining, firepits, and a yoga deck mean you can immerse yourself in nature without having to step off property. Plus, the resort utilized International Dark Sky standards in the development process to mitigate light pollution and preserve Moab’s stunning starscapes.
Thomas J. Story
Campfire Ranch
Shaffer Nickel/Courtesy of Campfire Ranch
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Camping gear can be cost-prohibitive and intimidating. That’s why we love the idea behind this Crested Butte, Colorado–based campground, where you can rent everything from Yeti coolers to flat-top grills and North Face tents. Situated along the iconic Taylor River, known for fly fishing and pristine natural beauty, the site comes with all the creature comforts: toilets, free firewood, and potable water, plus a concierge to help you plan your adventures. Consider it camping, just easier.
Field Station
Field Station
The latest offering from the founder of AutoCamp is a one-stop shop, including all the bells and whistles like Black Diamond equipment rentals, onsite guides, and educational programming. Great social areas are at the forefront, with a communal biergarten and café open to both guests and the local community. There’s a pool on the Moab property too, perfect for a post-adventure plunge in the desert. And a selection of rooms feature Black Diamond portaledges, giving guests the experience of what it feels like to sleep in the hanging beds used by rock climbers on cliff faces. There are storage options in-room, designed specifically for gear.
Loge Camps
LOGE Camps
Pacific Northwest–based Loge is set to open spots in Wolf Creek, Colorado; Glacier National Park, Montana; St. George, Utah; and Taos, New Mexico by the end of this year, in addition to several existing properties all over the country. Their dog-friendly motels are inspired by the laid-back spirit of the ‘70s, offering both rooms and campsites. At Mount Shasta, you can rent mountain bikes suitable for the whole family, and in Westport, Washington, you can get anything you’d need for a perfect day on the coast, including clam guns, stand-up paddle boards, and kayaks.
Trailborn Rocky Mountains
Courtesy of Trailborn Rocky Mountains
New to the scene is Trailborn, with design-forward boutique properties in close proximity to national parks and monuments. Their flagship outpost in Estes Park, Colorado, has access to snowcapped peaks, alpine lakes, and 300 miles of hiking trails. There’ll be locations in Mendocino, California, and the Grand Canyon to follow.
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