The Lodge and Spa at Three Forks Ranch, Wyoming: The Best Luxury Wellness Ranch You Need to Add to Your Bucket List

If a secluded luxury ranch resort on 200,000 acres of untouched natural playground on the border of Colorado and Wyoming sounds like your ideal mountain vacation, let me introduce you to an out-of-this-world destination called The Lodge and Spa at Three Forks Ranch.

 

Now, I know what you’re thinking – you guys know me by now – and we all know I’m a beach girl. Most of my favorite destinations and hotels around the world involve long stretches of sand, 80 degree heat, and sparkling blue ocean. But, I make an exception for The Lodge and Spa at Three Forks Ranch. About once a year, I like to escape to the snow for some skiing, apres-skiing, and cuddling up with red wine by a cozy fireplace. Who doesn’t?! I’m all for a winter wonderland vacation – when it’s done right. And by right, I mean luxe. 

Three Forks Ranch is best known for being one of the world’s best hunting and fishing destinations during the summer months, but with their world-class spa, endless activities, and recent wellness partnership with The Mayo Clinic (including a brand-new, drop-dead-gorgeous world-class wellness center opening in 2021), the Ranch is becoming so much more. Located just 40 miles north of Steamboat Springs on the Colorado-Wyoming border but a world away from “real life,” the expansive 200,000-acre Three Forks Ranch is Wild West luxury at its best. The resort is rich in history, art, natural beauty, and adventure, and the experience is tailored to every vacationer – the staff at Three Forks Ranch is deeply committed to providing each and every guest with a unique, unforgettable experience at the ranch, customized for them.

I didn’t even know places like this existed in this world. Which is why I was so excited when I found out about Three Forks Ranch. 

Who is the clientele at Three Forks Ranch? 

Three Forks is seriously perfect for every type of traveler. From groups of friends and couples looking for an adventurous, yet relaxing vacation together, to girls looking for a spa getaway, to families, to retirees, to young couples seeking romantic retreats. You’ll see a little bit of every type of clientele at the ranch – but they all have a lot of commonalities, and you’re likely to end up making friends with other guests at cocktail hour (5:30-7 every night at the lobby bar, th best part of the day!) because Three Forks Ranch attracts a similar type of person – and it’s the opposite clientele of a place like Aspen or Vail, because this ranch is fine, understated luxury. It’s made for the person that doesn’t feel thee need to ‘be seen’ or show off their wealth, but rather the person that wants to enjoy the finest luxuries in life. 

 

Three Forks Ranch in the Summer vs. Three Forks Ranch in the Winter

Three Forks’s highest season is in the summer – and even though a summer ranch retreat full of horseback riding, fishing, and wellness activities sounds amazing, I think it’s their winter months that are the real star. I had the chance to go this winter for a week of a blissful combination of activities and relaxation. We’d spend our days trying new things like snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, or even an aerial yoga class, and our nights eating 5-star meals and tucking into their straight-out-of-a-Western movie saloon-style bar for some after-dinner cocktails. We had the chance to cat-ski on Three Forks Ranch private mountain in fresh powder that had never been touched (Cat skiing means a big snow cat takes you up the mountain – versus a lift, and it is the ULTIMATE luxury). Since Three Forks caps its guests at about 30 people maximum at one time, each time we went skiing we were the only ones on the mountain (along with our amazing guides who knew exactly where to go)

The Guides at Three Forks Ranch

The guides you’ll have during your stay are one of the unique aspects of Three Forks Ranch. In the winter, for any activity you’re doing, you’ll go with a guide who will show you the ropes. They’re experts of the Ranch, the mountain, and all of the activities – but they really feel like friends & family on vacation with you. From downhill snowcat skiing on our private mountain, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing, tubing, and spa treatments. And in the summer and fall, they’ll take you fly fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, pistol/rifle range use, sporting clays course, on wildlife and ranch tours, cattle drives, hiking, and to the spa. In the summer and fall, you’ll be paired with one guide your entire trip, and by the end of the trip, don’t be surprised if you feel like you’re saying goodbye to family. I’ve heard many people say they plan their entire vacations around when their favorite guides are available! 

The Wellness Aspect of Three Forks Ranch

Three Forks takes wellness holistically. They want you to come out of your vacation rested, rejuvenated, and relaxed. And they go to every measure to ensure that. Yes, they are partnered with The Mayo Clinic and come 2021, you will have the opportunity to have your doctor’s visit or personal wellness plan completely integrated with your vacation (how cool is that? Welcome to the future), but wellness is core to Three Forks Ranch on a much more holistic level than just health. The Three Forks team realizes one of the biggest appeals in escaping to a luxury retreat in the mountains is escaping the stresses of your busy life, and coming back from vacation refreshed. They encourage you to completely re-invigorate yourself by eating well, relaxing, keeping active, and constantly trying new things (guides encourage you to learn things you’ve never done before, whether it’s snowshoeing, tubing, or skiing in the winter, or things like archery, clay shooting, fly fishing, horseback riding, or hiking in the summer) and it’s always such a welcoming atmosphere, you’re continuously finding new favorite hobbies you’ve never done before.

You’ll also have unlimited access to the world-class spa treatments (Yes, unlimited). I had one afternoon after skiing that my fiance Kenny and I spent the entire afternoon in the spa – getting facials with Laura (who worked wonders on my skin) and some of the best massages of our lives with Bryan. Then, we got in the hot tub and relaxed with a glass of champagne. I mean, does it get any better? 

A completely all-inclusive ranch experience at Three Forks

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR ROOM RATE? LITERALLY EVERYTHING.

Yes, Three Forks Ranch is completely all-inclusive. But I know what you’re thinking – surely that can’t mean all the activities, food, spa treatments, gratuities and alcohol too can it? Yes. It can. Oh and the food and drinks are beyond DELICIOUS (and you all know how picky I am!) 

The very best part? Three Forks Ranch is a non-tipping destination. You won’t have to touch your wallet your entire trip. And isn’t that the ideal vacation? 

Pricing at Three Forks Ranch

One of the questions I got the most on instagram when I was at Three Forks was “Ok, this place looks out of this world, but how much does it cost per night?”   And, even though the prices below are luxurious, the main thing to remember is that they are ALL INCLUSIVE. In addition to the incredible luxury lodging, ALL of Three Forks’ seasonal activities are included. Yep – you read that right. Even the spa. As many times as you want.

When you compare these prices to a weekend spent in a ski destination, with lift tickets, rentals, activity costs, etc. It is incomparable for everything you get with your room rate at Three Forks.