Gateway Canyons Resort

Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa sits roughly an hour southwest of Grand Junction where several dramatic red-rock canyons converge near the Utah border.

Accommodation is spread across Kiva Lodge, Kayenta Lodge and more private casitas rather than concentrated in a single hotel tower. Kayenta rooms retain adobe character and gas fireplaces, while the casitas offer a more residential retreat.

The setting is the real luxury: towering sandstone formations, desert silence and wide-open skies surround nearly every part of the resort and create an atmosphere far removed from conventional Colorado mountain towns.

Two resort pools and a full-service spa balance an unusually adventurous activity program that includes UTV tours, horseback riding, hiking, cycling and excursions into surrounding canyon country.

Gateway Canyons is best for travelers who want western Colorado as an active wilderness escape, particularly couples and families who value dramatic scenery and guided adventure over ski-town nightlife.