Rustic Cabin Rental on Conejos River in San Juan Wilderness, Colorado

Conejos County makes for a superb glamping location with its sublime natural beauty and a variety of outdoor activities on offer. Guests can explore the 180 miles of unspoiled trails in the San Juan Mountains either on horseback or with a backpack and trek through the lush forest. The incredible Great Sand Dunes National Park is around an hour’s drive away from the property and, there, guests can sandboard down the dunes, swim in the Medano Creek, or marvel at the stars on a clear night. Zapata Falls can be reached by a half-mile scramble over rocks and streams next to the Rio Grande National Forest where visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the 30-foot drop cascade. For a more relaxing way to take in the Colorado landscape, guests can enjoy a railroad ride in a steam locomotive on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad and pass through forests, gorges, and rivers. About the Area The South San Juan area is special for its rugged scenery, large expanses of forest, and high altitude trails that offer a sense of remoteness difficult to find elsewhere. High ridges, pinnacles, and deep canyons, carved by the headwaters of the San Juan, Conejos, and Blancos rivers characterize the geography of the wilderness. Pristine spruce, fir, and ponderosa forest make the South San Juan wilderness a sanctuary for deer, elk, bear, and other wildlife that thrives unmolested by human activity. It comes as no surprise then that it was in this place that the last Colorado grizzly was shot in 1979. Biologists speculate that if any Colorado grizzlies remain, it would be in this remote wilderness. Nearby attractions include the town of Antonito, just 15 miles away, where guests will find the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Another beautiful spectacle is the Cano’s Castle, a folk art wonder of wire, hubcaps, grills, screen doors, window casements, bicycle reflectors and beer cans. The oldest church in Colorado, Our Lady of Guadeloupe Parish Church dedicated in 1863, is located just north of Antonito. Guests can venture to Alamosa, Colorado, just 42 miles away. Here, guests can also enjoy time at Zapata Falls, where hikers can wade through chilly waters and maneuver over slippery rocks to Zapata’s hidden falls a short half of a mile from the parking lot. Views of the Great Sand Dunes National Park are spectacular. Great Sand Dunes National Park, the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad and the San Luis Brewing Company are popular spots here. Guests can head to Platoro, just 35 miles away. This winding dirt road, FR 250, follows the Conejos River up the canyon to Platoro Reservoir and the headwaters of the Conejos. Platoro started out as a boomtown in the late 1800’s following the discovery of large deposits of gold and silver in the area. Even today, guests can still find plenty of gold and silver in the Conejos River valley. Salida is just 125 miles away, where guests can enjoy some spectacular whitewater rafting! The upper Arkansas River offers some of the best rafting in the state. Philmont Scout Ranch is 134 miles away and offers the Philmont Scout Ranch, which is the Boy Scouts of America's largest national High Adventure Base. Its 34 staffed camps and 55 trail camps provide an unforgettable adventure in the high country along hundreds of miles of rugged, rocky trails. Drop the kids off for their trek and head on over to their own wilderness adventure. Fish the river right outside of the cabin across the private park or in over 30 smaller streams and tributaries in the county that offer some remarkable fishing for Rainbow and Native Brown Trout. The season generally runs from May through October – with July, August, and September being prime months for dry-fly. If hunting is guests preference, this property makes a great base camp. While hunting is not allowed on the property, hunt for deer, elk, bear, and antelope all within a short 30-minute drive. Artists and photographers, mountain bikers, hikers and backpackers can find over 180 miles of trails in the wild and rugged San Juan Mountains of Colorado that stretch from southwestern Colorado into northern New Mexico. Here the San Juan Mountains remain yet untouched by man and where the wanderer can find solitude from the crowded avenues of the city. The best backpacking in the state is here, some would argue. In the autumn, the area is popular with hunting parties looking for trophy elk. But outside of the autumn hunting season, solitude can be more readily found here for the soul who is willing to seek it out. If trains are guests passion, the historic narrow gauge Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad is just down the road in Antonito, Colorado. Take the train from Antonito to Chama for an unforgettable experience. Or head north to Alamosa and catch a ride on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad. The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad is the highest and longest route on standard gauge rail. Choose from a daytime ride over historic La Veta Pass with steep grades, wildlife sightings and narrated tales of railroad and mining history, a weekend train ride to a mountaintop concert, or a sunset dinner train to make a vacation truly unforgettable. Shoppers will delight in Taos, NM a short one and a half hour drive away. In the summer, rafting is also available in Taos. Don’t forget to stop at the Chili Line Depot in Tres Piedras, NM on the way for one of the best burgers around and great home-made desserts.