Colorado’s Smith Fork RancH, A bespoke vacation experience...
Are you ready to connect with nature?
Night skies brimming with stars. A stillness broken only by nature. The comfort of thoughtfully designed luxury accommodations. Add in fine cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients, and you’ve got Colorado’s Smith Fork Ranch, an exclusive-use gem of a property nestled in the middle of the Gunnison National Forest.
By Lisa Gordon
With roots going back 100 years, Smith Fork Ranch has evolved from a communal dude ranch to a luxury vacation destination for clients and their own private groups of eight to 38 people.
Nestled high in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 2,195 metres (7,200 feet), Smith Fork Ranch is minutes from the town of Crawford, Colorado and about a 2.5-hour drive from Aspen and Telluride.
Just hours by car from Aspen and Telluride, Smith Fork Ranch is a world away from urban stress.
Mallory Cunningham, Director of Sales & Guest Experience at the ranch, said the property is an ideal setting for milestone celebrations, multi-generational family vacations and executive retreats. Customers book the ranch for a four-night minimum stay and are guaranteed exclusive use of the property.
“We work with clients pre-arrival to tailor the trip to their liking,” said Cunningham. “We arrange their preferred meals, activities and any other special requests.”
The Smith Fork Ranch promises a “new genre of luxury travel,” and that means a highly customized experience crafted and driven by the customer. In return for an all-inclusive nightly rate—determined by group size, with the starting rate assuming up to 10 people in double occupancy—guests enjoy exclusive use of the ranch and are provided with meals, drinks, guided activities and nightly entertainment. On-ranch guided activities include horseback riding, private fly fishing in a pond or river, clay shooting, archery, e-biking and hiking.
From clay shooting to campfires, there’s a lot to experience at Smith Fork Ranch.
Amenities at the sprawling ranch include six luxury residences with a total of 18 bedrooms. Recently renovated in 2024, the lodges and cabins are thoughtfully designed to deliver every comfort and convenience a guest might want after a busy day outdoors. The property also includes Elk Lodge which is a communal lounge and gathering space, a western-themed diner named The Bell, an outdoor Pavilion for dances and dining al fresco and The Roundup, where customized lockers contain any outdoor gear necessary for a client’s stay. In addition, guests can savour a sunset up the road at Hawk’s Nest, a 2,316-metre (7,600 foot) outlook affiliated with Smith Fork Ranch.
Guests can enjoy cocktails beside a cozy fire after a day in the majestic outdoors.
New for 2025 are two additional facilities: The Trout Shack will be located on the property’s biggest pond and will feature day beds, a hot tub, and a dock for swimming or fly fishing. Add in customized meal service and the Trout Shack promises to deliver a regenerative half-day or full-day experience.
The ranch is also building the Wellness Lookout at its highest vista point, an open-sided deck with stunning 360-degree views. The location is ideal for yoga and other wellness activities and offers the perfect setting for cocktail hours with a view.
Evenings at Smith Fork Ranch are as varied as the clientele.
“A guest favourite is our dark sky astronomy night, where a local astronomer guides guests through a very special celestial experience to highlight the rare night views offered here in the national forest,” said Cunningham, adding that nightly entertainment offerings have grown as clients make new requests.
Smith Fork Ranch offers guests a special celestial experience.
“We do our best to create unforgettable experiences and weave thoughtfulness into every detail. We’ve done everything from murder mystery parties, last-minute karaoke, private concerts and even theme nights with costumes flown in from an L.A.-based prop house.”
Smith Fork Ranch’s current season runs from mid-May through late October, though it may expand in the future. Fall is a particularly beautiful time to visit.
“It is an extraordinary place to be in September and October. At that time of year, when the colours are changing, we are fully surrounded by vibrant yellows, oranges and reds. We often organize hikes with day picnics among the aspen trees,” said Cunningham.
Visitors to Smith Fork Ranch could land at Montrose Regional Airport or Grand Junction Airport in Colorado, both offering services for private aircraft. Montrose is slightly closer—a one-hour drive versus 1.5 hours from Grand Junction. However, Cunningham said Smith Fork Ranch is pleased to arrange private helicopter transportation from either airport, whisking visitors to the ranch in fifteen minutes or less.
Cunningham and the property’s 30 staff members delight in delivering one-of-a-kind experiences. It’s a recipe that is also employed at the ranch’s sister property in Mexico, Hacienda Los Milagros.
“For people that travel all over the world, these properties offer something unique; exactly what you are looking for,” she said. “It’s tailored to you. There are no carbon copy itineraries and you do not hear ‘no’—pretty much ever. We really try to anticipate your needs and help create unforgettable memories for you and your group.”
She added that exclusive use experiences have become more popular in recent years.
“People enjoy having their own place exclusive to their group. It allows for super high-touch and thoughtful, tailored vacations. The feedback is consistently that our guests have ‘never felt so taken care of.”
Your jet is ready when you are.
Photos Courtesy of Smith Fork Ranch