8 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Denver, Colorado

Many visitors come to this 6,500-acre ranch outside Winter Park for unrivaled cross-country skiing, with 75 miles of groomed trails, but they wind up staying for the resort's comfort and privacy. Choose from a room or suite in the lodge built in 2008, the former lodge that's now a reasonably priced bunkhouse, or a cabin in the woods. The pet-friendly cabins range in size from 675 to 2,200 square feet, but all have wood-burning fireplaces and furnishings that reflect the resort's ranching history. In the loft cabins the beds are upstairs and bathrooms downstairs. In the lodge, upscale, Western-style rooms have some paneled walls (from lumber harvested at the ranch), pine furniture, and beds covered with colorful quilts. Some rooms have stone fireplaces. From tapping the power of geothermal springs to using trees cleared on the property to build part of the new lodge to the on-site Ranch House restaurant ($$$) that uses sustainable and organic ingredients, this resort lives green. Take in a yoga class at the full-service spa or work with cattle on a horseback ride, fly-fish, mountain-bike, and hike in the surrounding area. Hallowed Grounds coffee shop offers pastries and other quick breakfast items, and the rustic Heck's Tavern features three meals a day as well.

Next door to the Old Georgetown Railroad, this basic inn has rooms decorated with Western-style wood furniture and Southwestern blankets. A stone fireplace crowned with an elk rack greets you in the lobby, and a small indoor pool is a great place to soak after a day of skiing or exploring the high country. The three-room suite sleeps six and has a fully equipped kitchen.

Right in the heart of Golden, this hotel is a comfortable place to stay midway between downtown Denver and the mountains, where the rooms have beds covered by high-quality bedding with triple sheeting, backed by a faux-leather chocolate-colored headboard. Expect flat-screen TVs, free local calls, Wi-Fi, and bottled water in the rooms. Request a room overlooking Clear Creek. If you're traveling alone, have a drink at the community table at the inside bar, or choose the outdoor bar, with heaters for cold days. The snazzy restaurant, Bridgewater Grill, sports muted greys and browns, has a contemporary feel.

Within walking distance of downtown Evergreen, this inn has a combination of standard and luxury rooms, suites, and cottages set alongside Bear Creek, where guests can go trout fishing. Look for such amenities as flat-screen TVs, gourmet breakfasts, fireplaces, and Jacuzzis in the luxury rooms and cabins, which have even more privacy. The owners added an adult Tree House, a two-story structure with a two-person Jacuzzi on the top floor and such romantic touches as electric tea candles and a chandelier over the bed.

With its log exterior and green roof, this hotel doesn't look exceptional for the region outside, but inside it's a lovely property put together with care by local owners. An upscale feel is complete with king beds covered with duvets, flat-screen TVs, a steam shower in some rooms, and eclectic choices of furniture and art, including pieces collected during the owners' European travels. The owners often greet you with a glass of wine.

On the banks of the Fraser River, this condo-style hotel now owned by Winter Park Resort is ski-in ski-out, but it's removed from the resort's base village. Simple wood and stone details fill studios for couples and the one- and two-bedroom apartments for families. Most apartments have full kitchens and balconies with views of a grove of aspen.

Right next to the Village Cabriolet lift, the Vintage is the best value if you want to be close to the resort base, and most of its comfortable rooms look out onto the mountains. The hotel has nine room configurations, from standard rooms to lofted studios; some have gas or wood-burning fireplaces. The outdoor heated pool is open year-round. The Five Mountain Tavern is a laid-back spot for a beer and pasta or steaks.

These are all condo complexes—some with individual hotel rooms, too—that are in the village at the base a short walk from the base lifts. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom units in the Zephyr are compact but comfortable, and nicely equipped, and it's the only true ski-in ski-out property in Winter Park. The condos in Fraser Crossing and Founders Pointe appear larger and brighter, while Parrys Peak Lofts are set up like townhomes and offer equally quick access to chairlifts and shops. It's best to book these properties directly through Winter Park Central Reservations. If you book through another agency in town, the front desk might not be very helpful.