It wasn’t long after we checked into Chipeta Solar Springs Resort & Spa in Ridgway that my husband and I jumped on our road bikes and headed toward the Dallas Divide. The pass that divides the Dolores River and Uncompahgre River in Southwest Colorado is one of the most scenic byways in the state, if not the country, and what a way to see it.
We biked the Dallas Divide in mid-April, yet it’s important to note that this may or may not be possible depending on potentially late-season snowfall along with unpredictable spring weather. After the 20 miles of headwind and 2,000 feet of elevation gain, coming back to soak in our private hot tub at Chipeta was just perfect. The location is ideal any time of year, as Ridgway and the surrounding area is full of outdoor adventure in any season. In the winter, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing opportunities are endless, along with ice climbing in nearby Ouray; once dirt is revealed after the spring thaw, hundreds of miles of trails are just waiting to be explored.
The Chipeta property is inviting, a cozy adobe-inspired compound tucked into the end of a side street in Ridgway. It was once a cow pasture, and in 1994, was developed by Jack and Patsy Young. They still own and operate it today.
“So, we started with the first building, which is a true adobe structure,” Patsy Young shares. “That was a 12-room B&B. Then, we expanded it building by building; now, we’re up to 33 rooms, a restaurant, a spa and a little Kiva conference center.”
Among the current 33 rooms, there is a variety of accommodations from single rooms to rooms with private hot tubs and gas fireplaces, most with a view and an outside deck.
Patsy calls the spa “the heart of the resort” and offers massage, couples’ massage, aromatherapy, facials and body treatments.
Other amenities at the resort include two solar-heated pools, along with yoga and Taichi offered in the Kiva. The Kiva is a circular event space, inspired by Native American gathering spaces, and it’s ideal for hosting retreats, meetings, wedding receptions, music events and more.
The Four Corners Restaurant is open year-round to locals and the public, while the popular rooftop Sky Bar with its stunning views is open during warmer weather and often has live music. Four Corners serves breakfast daily and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Order the Huevos Rancheros if Chef Stefan has them on the menu!
We enjoyed our road bike adventure this trip, but for mountain bikers and hikers looking to have Chipeta as their basecamp, the Ridgway Area Trails (known as the RAT trails) offer miles of multi-use fun.
Chipeta was originally inspired by honoring the original occupants of the Uncompahgre River Valley — the Ute Tribe and Chipeta, wife of Chief Ouray, specifically. Nearly three decades after the Youngs opened the original bed and breakfast (Chipeta SunLodge), Chipeta Solar Springs Resort & Spa is still a nod to the heart and heritage of Southwest Colorado.
Photos courtesy of Chipeta Solar Springs Resort + Spa.
Originally published in Winter + Spring 2022-23 issue.
