BACK TO BASICS: DUNTON HOT SPRINGS
Dunton, Co.
When hardscrabble ore miners settled in the remote San Juan Mountains in the 1880s, they probably didn’t expect their frontier camps would one day become a leisure resort. Located between Durango and Telluride in a secluded corner of Colorado, this former ghost town—the mines’ life span was less than 30 years—feels like a trip back in time, but with all the modern comforts. The sprawling Relais & Châteaux property offers 12 original 19th-century cabins and one luxury tent surrounded by nothing but wilderness. Fly-fishing, hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing and heli-skiing are just some of the activities. Think of it as a miniature dude ranch with personalized service—and no phones.
There’s a reason those miners chose this spot: Six mineral hot springs bubble up, which they used to heal tired muscles after a long day’s work. You can soak inside the original bathhouse, which has been restored and outfitted with both an indoor and outdoor spring. Four other mineral pools dot the property, including one inside a guest cabin.
The resort features a library, a dance hall and a saloon, which serve as the communal spaces. With a focus on world-class dining, Dunton Hot Springs maintains an organic farm that supplies the menus. And the resort partners with Sutcliffe Vineyards, about an hour’s drive south, to provide exquisite local wines.
Starting rate: $630 per night
Contact: [email protected], 877.288.9922, duntonhotsprings.com
