Gateway Canyons Resort allows you to experience one of the most dramatic, little-known landscapes of the American West in luxury and style.
The Atmosphere
Located in far Western Colorado, the resort is nestled on the floor of the stunning Unaweep Canyon, formed by rivers cutting through the soft red sandstone of the Uncompahgre Plateau. The view to the east is focused on a towering sandstone monolith called the Palisade and towards the west it is framed by the towering La Sal Mountains in Utah.
Gateway Canyons Resort is the brainchild of Discovery Communications founder John Hendricks, who fell in love with the region while traveling with his father and turned what was a private family retreat into the luxury getaway it is today. The resort’s low-profiled adobe buildings blend perfectly into the landscape and let the panoramic views speak for themselves.
The Experience
The resort’s excellent adventure program lets you explore this unique landscape under your own steam or with a guide. Hike through the surrounding canyons and climb high into the surrounding Ponderosa Pine forests, or let a rock climbing instructor guide you up the Palisade to be rewarded with jaw-dropping panoramic views. High in the La Sal Mountains lie remote lakes with free rising trout that can only be reached by 4 x 4 and, if two wheels are more your thing, there are miles of great single track in the surrounding area.
Where Gateway Canyons Resort really stands apart is its in-house vehicle and flight program. Not only does John Hendricks display his classic car collection at Gateways, which comprises sixty of the most prized and impeccably preserved historic cars in the country, but guests also have access to their fleet of modern luxury vehicles, including a Bentley Continental Supersports and Ford GT. With the ability to meet you at the airport with one of these dream machines and the stunning Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic Byway as the only way in or out, Gateway Canyons is the perfect luxury road trip destination.
Your Room
The majority of the guest rooms are spread between two large adobe lodges set around the pool and central courtyards but we’d opt for the pretty casitas, tucked away in a quiet corner of the grounds, with private decks, firepits, and outdoor showers.
Eat & Drink
There are several great restaurants dotted throughout the resort, from the fine dining Entrada, to the more laid back Paradox Grille, or the poolside Cantina. Breakfast on the terrace at Entrada under the shadow of the Palisade is the perfect way to start your day.
