Unwind After Your Mountain Adventures at These 5 New Hotels

Colorado has no shortage of places to rest one’s head, whether you prefer a Michelin-minted hotel or a tentless night under the stars. But we always welcome new additions—especially in remote mountain towns that have been limited to chain accommodations without a lot of personality.

These five new hotels, from Trinidad to Grand Junction, all serve as base camps for adventure, so you can get some solid shut-eye before you tackle your next summit.

1. The Hotel Melrose, Grand Junction

• Distance from Denver: 244 miles
• Opened: October 2023
• Price: Starting at $210 per night

Grand Junction’s first downtown boutique hotel is a beaut: The Hotel Melrose’s jewel-toned palette and sleek furniture bring an air of sophistication to what was a historic 1908 resting spot. Inside the 16 suites, each boasting a kitchenette, gold accents contrast with Prussian blue walls to give the space a posh persona—but the Hotel Melrose hasn’t lost touch with its Western roots. You’ll find subtle odes to the region sprinkled throughout the property, including outdoor fire pits, antler art, and a turn-of-the-century menu at the house bar (more on that below).

Why Vacay in Grand Junction: The River City has it all—Colorado National Monument, Grand Mesa (the largest flattop mountain in the world), Rattlesnake Canyon (desert mountain biking!), and some of the state’s best wineries just a short drive away in Palisade.

Must-Visit During Your Stay: You can’t miss Melrose Sprit Co. since the bar takes the place of the front desk (you’ll check in from your phone), but you wouldn’t want to anyway. The lounge and outdoor patio are prime spots to swill modern takes on classic cocktails like a coconut-infused old fashioned or a spirit-free Negroni while listening to record-spun tunes.

2. Shorehouse Hotel, Buena Vista

• Distance from Denver: 123 miles
• Opened: May 2024
• Price: Starting at $300 per night

Buena Vista isn’t exactly bursting with boutique accommodations, but the summer activity hub recently added a new option: the locally owned Shorehouse. It brings four sun-filled, homey suites—think: wood floors, full kitchens, and locally owned bath products—to the main drag. All of the rooms have mountain views and feature art curated by local creatives.

Why Vacay in Buena Vista: Welcome to the highest concentration of 14,000-foot peaks in the country. Buena Vista blooms with thrill-seekers in the summer, who come to raft the Arkansas River or hike those towering mountains.

Must-Visit During Your Stay: Raft guides Megan and Brad Kingman own the Shorehouse (Megan’s dad, architect Steve Carr, actually designed the hotel), and the new location of their CKS River Supply store is attached to the hotel, making it easy to rent river-ready gear.

3. The Drift, Pagosa Springs

• Distance from Denver: 275 miles
• Opened: December 2023
• Price: Starting at $195 per night

Upgrade from tent to tiny home at the Drift. Thirteen modern cabins—all with a king bed and twin bunk bed combo—offer privacy and community thanks to in-unit kitchenettes and bathrooms, plus a central courtyard with gas fire pits. Fun fact: Pagosa Springs’ ultradeep aquifer provides the geothermal energy to keep your accommodations warm via in-floor heating.

Why Vacay in Pagosa Springs: Because hot springs. The Springs Resort’s big expansion—20 new hot springs pools, a geothermal spa, more hotel rooms, and a greenhouse-to-table restaurant—won’t be finished until 2025, but there’s still plenty of room to enjoy the soothing waters coming from the Mother Spring, the world’s deepest hot spring.

Must-Visit During Your Stay: The Drift’s king-and-twin room layouts are designed with families in mind, and kids will love visiting the nearby Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park. Along the quarter-mile trail through the zoo, you’ll spot mountain lions, grizzly bears, bobcats, and more (in enclosures). Join the feeding tour at 3 p.m. to catch all the animals out and about in anticipation of their mid-afternoon meal.

4. The Hoffmann Hotel, Basalt

• Distance from Denver: 176 miles
• Opened: February 2024
• Price: Starting at $289 per night

You don’t need to stay in the heart of Aspen (bye, paycheck) to experience the best of the Roaring Fork Valley. Situated in a mixed-use development, the Hoffmann makes you (and your four-legged family members) feel like you’re part of the community. There’s ski and bike storage, laundry so you don’t have to pack those sweaty clothes, and the on-site Hoffmann House restaurant, where a casual Italian menu is best enjoyed on the waterfront patio.

Why Vacay in Basalt: Avoid Aspen’s crowds but still gain access to the Valley’s incredible array of trails, Gold Medal rivers, rock climbing sites, and spots to play in the water. Plus, the Rio Grande Trail can connect you to Aspen via a pleasant bike ride.

Must-Visit During Your Stay: Kodiak Ski Lake is just beyond the Hoffmann’s doors, offering plenty of ways to cool off from that high-elevation sun, including waterskiing, tubing, and stand-up paddleboarding.

5. The Well Hotel & Taproom, Trinidad

• Distance from Denver: 197 miles
• Opening: August 2024
• Price: Starting at $160 per night

Introducing Trinidad’s first boutique hotel—a much-needed place for visitors to lay their heads in the increasingly popular southern Colorado town. With lofts, retractable roofs for stargazing, and a Southwestern vibe, the 12-room, top-floor hotel—situated in what was once late-1800s lodging—will bring just the right blend of modern and Victorian style when it opens later this summer.

Why Vacay In Trinidad: To avoid the crowds, obviously. Besides the downtown creative district and fascinating 1800s architecture, nearby Fishers Peak State Park opened an eight-mile trail to the summit of its namesake mountain in November.

Must-Visit During Your Stay: Pour yourself as generous of a pint as you please at the 18-tap, self-pour taproom and restaurant in the Well’s lobby, which is already open. The best part? Knowing your room is refreshingly close if the bartender develops a heavy hand.