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En el Patio

Surrounded by pines and aspens in a dramatic mountain landscape, the lodge lies west of Antonito in south-central Colorado. It’s part of a gated community spanning the Conejos River, which is only a short walk from the front door. Lots are typically 1½ acres or more, large enough to provide plenty of privacy and seclusion. The lodge borders the Rio Grande National forest and Bear Creek on the back.

This part of Colorado is not thick with resorts or close to a major population center. Instead, it’s a place that appeals to those who prefer to be close to nature, where they can walk outdoors and see hardly anything but trees and the mountains beyond. The sounds one hears are birdsong, wind in the pines and perhaps water rushing over rocks in the Conejos River in the distance. On a clear night, at 8500 feet with no air or light pollution, the stars are brilliant and breathtakingly close.

A prime area for fly fisherman, the Conejos River qualifies for designation as a Gold Medal* stream, meaning that it’s pristine and that its waters contain abundant trout. The Conejos River has abudant public access, and a four-mile stretch that passes through the Bear Creek community is one of the very few in Colorado restricted to fly fishing only.  And if fishing is not your specialty, rafting down the river is a wonderful way to see the river and its natural surroundings as you float along.

As well as the beautiful Conejos, there are many clear-running high-country creeks, streams and lakes, which are accessible by 4WD vehicles and/or by hiking to them. Trout thrive in all of these waters and just getting there is half the fun.

The subdivision contains about 141 lots, roughly half of which have homes built on them at present. The gated entry plus the presence of permanent residents provides security for homes that are only occupied during part of the year.

Though there’s the desired sense of being remote here from any big commercial enterprises, there are several ski areas and golf courses within only a couple of hours drive. Historic Taos is a 1½ hour drive and Chama is only 45 minutes away, where you can board the famous Cumbres & Toltec Scenic railroad that makes round-trips through the mountains.  Santa Fe is a 2½ hour drive.

There are simply not enough words to describe how wonderful this lodge and its surroundings really are.  And sadly, not enough space, either.


* The official criteria for Gold Medal streams are 12 trout per acre over 14" or 60 lbs. of trout per surface acre.  With over 9,000 miles of trout streams in Colorado, only 167.8 miles are now designated as Gold Medal streams. Last year's fish count showed that this part of ther Conejos qualifies for the Gold Medal designation, though it has not been so named as yet.