The Lodge & Spa at Three Forks Ranch

Situated on 200,000 acres of land on the Colorado-Wyoming border, Three Forks Ranch is a passion project turned full-blown hospitality operation aiming to take a holistic, personalized and health-oriented approach to the beloved American Dude Ranch.

• The all-inclusive nature of the property, combined with the variety of activities in all times of year
• The Three Forks Wellness Assessment (offered as an add-on thanks to the property’s one-of-a-kind partnership with the The Mayo Clinic) allowing guests a full health scan and an “in” to one of the most renowned and exclusive hospitals in the country
• The exceptional staff who, from bartender to chef to outdoor adventure guide, start to feel more like close friends with each day that passes

Dubbed “the west kept secret,” Three Forks was purchased in 1998 as a hunting retreat before a lodge was built in 2008 to create a more well-rounded Out West getaway. Over time, Three Forks built up a rolodex of loyal, repeat guests who return annually to their adored mountain oasis. In 2022, the property underwent a renovation, adding a new wellness wing to the main lodge and 12 new treehouses up the hill.

A stay at Three Forks is all about the experience, and the menu of offerings extends beyond what one might expect from a typical ranch stay. Days in the summer might include fly-fishing, horseback riding, biking and hiking (plus, hunting in the fall). During the wintertime, guests can go cat skiing on the property’s personal mountain, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, snowmobiling, tubing or ice fishing. Indoors, Three Forks has a cooking academy which hosts a nightly chef’s dinners and healthy cooking classes, and an on-site nutritionist for consults. The lodge’s Wellness Wing is home to two yoga studios, a pilates room, full gym, steam and salt rooms, a spa with eight treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy spa.

In addition to the activities, Three Forks launched the first ever exclusive partnership with the prestigious Mayo Clinic in 2018. Guests can elect to participate in a full body assessment measuring body composition, cardiovascular fitness, strength, movement and balance. Any person who undergoes the assessment has access to The Mayo Clinic for life. The partnership is the only one of its kind (and the only way into the Mayo Clinic’s exclusive patient list beyond the traditional application process). Note: This Mayo Wellness Assessment is the only offering that comes at an additional cost.

The lodge itself has soul, and with that, personality. Every piece of furniture, painting, carpet or work of art has been thoughtfully selected and tells a story. Throughout the property  a Western motif featuring artwork pays homage to the Native American tribes who once inhabited the land the property now resides on. There are also collections of Chinese ceramics and rugs (selected to honor those responsible for building the railroad systems from West to East).

The guest rooms are spacious, and most are located on the ground floor with sliding doors onto the front lawn. All but two room categories come with two double beds (the Master Suites are each fitted with one king, while the Treehouses each have two kings).

All to say, you come to Three Forks for the experience, the activities and the personal connections you make with the team along the way. As far as room product goes, guests should be prepared to lean into the property’s charm, as its quirks grow on you over the course of your stay.

Rooms to Book

Couples should book one of the lodge’s two Master Suites (the only two rooms on property with one king bed). Multi-gen families or groups of friends should consider the six-bedroom Cardinal Lodge, which comes with its own chef and offers more privacy.

Multi-gen families, couples or groups of friends looking for a property with a wealth of seasonal activities, or value the outdoors and wellness. Fly fishing enthusiasts who can take advantage of the property's 27 mile stretch of the Little Snake River. Those who are willing to overlook some quirks in exchange for friendly, personalized hospitality and a fully customized, wellness-meets-outdoors experience. Those looking for the freshest room product in the game (or for a true luxury spa retreat) should book elsewhere.

Three Forks Ranch is 40 miles, about 1.5 hours, from Haden Airport in Steamboat Springs which is for both commercial and private planes and about 30 minutes from the private Dixon Airport (open in the summer and fall only). Round trip airport transfers are included with all stays.