Mustang Monument Makes its Debut

tipis at Mustang MonumentI was so moved by the webinar on Mustang Monument, I was ready to buy myself a horse and giddy up like Yosemite Sam! Set on 900 square miles of wilderness in northern Nevada and home to more than 750 wild mustangs, Mustang Monument is the pet project of wildlife enthusiast and philanthropist, Madeleine Pickens. A 3-hour drive from Salt Lake City or 5-hour drive from Las Vegas, Pickens has been working diligently for more than 5 years to preserve this land from encroachment, so that America’s largest group of wild horses can always run free. You’ll ride alongside the pack on horseback, or choose to rock climb or go cruising in ATVs. The recently opened property (June 1-September 30 only) is all-inclusive and the highlight are the lodgings, 10 cottages and 10 tipis. Embodying the indigenous spirit of Native Americans and authentically designed, the tipis offer ample living space appointed with leather and plush chairs, hardwood floors, and authentic Native American textiles. They measure 26 feet in diameter and 26 feet tall with 300 sq. ft. of living space and a detached luxury bathroom nearby. Madeleine assured us that they just hired a fantastic chef who takes full advantage of their sustainable farm. There’s also yoga, beading, and a spa in a tipi under a large tree. This is the Wild West with a serious dose of luxury.

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Broadmoor’s Wilderness Gem, The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Reopens June 24th

The Ranch at Emerald ValleyAnyone planning a driving trip out West this summer should consider a lengthy stay at that classic resort, Broadmoor, in Colorado Springs. It’s not just the championship golf courses, ziplining, tennis courts, and hiking in the Rockies that entice. Broadmoor also runs two lodges nestled deep into the mountains that were once owned by the resort’s founder, Spencer Primrose. I had the pleasure of checking out both lodges on an Austin Adventures trip back in 2017. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, ringed by 11,000-foot peaks, is a bucolic slice of heaven. Indeed, it’s hard to tear yourself away from the vista of pasture, trout ponds, and towering peaks. I could have easily spent the day on the pond throwing out my fly and seeing if luck was in my favor. But I’d be foolish not to take advantage of the horseback riding routes that lace the outskirts of the property.

The Ranch at Emerald ValleyI hopped into a saddle on a stallion named Lady Bug and off we went on a 90-minute ramble through dense forest high atop a ridge peering at the craggy summit of 10,073-foot Mount Vigel. Many of the trails we rode that day were created by mules and workers to lay down a pipeline built in the 1930s that once brought water from a nearby reservoir to Colorado Springs. After a full day of hiking and horseback riding, I returned to Emerald Valley to soak my weary body into a cedar-lined hot tub while snacking on a favorite dessert at the ranch, peach-filled donut holes.

The Ranch at Emerald Valley’s 13 one-, two-, and three-bedroom cabins are ideally suited for social distancing. Please contact ActiveTravels if you’d like us to check availability.