Opening to the public in June 2026, Trinchera Reserve & Lodge stands as a living example of what’s possible when conservation, monumental landscapes and hospitality intertwine. Trinchera is one of the largest private conservation reserves in the United States. Originally two separate ranches, the Trinchera and Blanca properties were combined to form a single, vast reserve that covers 170,000 acres across Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with six distinct ecological steppes ranging from desert valley to high alpine. Guests are invited to explore a landscape that remains wild, alive and protected for generations to come.
Spanning the scale and majesty of a national park but with at most a scattering of visitors, rising abruptly from North America’s highest Alpine desert to three monolithic 14,000-foot peaks (a true Inselberg), the Blanca side unfolds across a vast expanse of high plains, forests, meadows, rivers, and ridgelines protected in perpetuity. Exploration comes to life through a High Alpine Safari—a highly personalized, guide-led approach tailored to each guest, weaving immersive outings, in-field dining, and moments of discovery, from summiting peaks to discovering waterfalls and casting for native fish—all in the spirit of conservation and the joy of adventure. With each season offering a distinct perspective, no two stays are ever alike.
At the heart of the western side, the Trinchera Lodge offers an intimate stay of just 16 rooms with inviting spaces to gather. Designed by Jet Zarkadas and Jen Wilson of Los Griegos Studio, interiors reflect a rich Southwestern aesthetic, layered with the owner’s western works of art and carefully collected vintage pieces that together create a rich history, sense of place and authenticity. From the Gaming Area to the Cocktail Bar to the Great Living Room, guests are invited to settle in and explore at their own pace. A charming local intuitive staff anticipates needs with quiet precision, creating an atmosphere both effortless and personal. Locally sourced culinary experiences celebrate refined mountain fare, from elevated dining to outpost picnics and daily seasonal offerings. Amenities include multiple libraries and the Schoolhouse, a dedicated wellness space with a fitness center, sauna, cold plunge, and hot tub.
For those seeking utmost privacy, two residences offer secluded escapes set against expansive mountain horizons. Lake House is a five-bedroom home with up close, commanding vistas of two of Colorado’s 14’ers as well as a mountain meadow with glimpses of elk, bison, wild horses over a private lake ideal for fly fishing. Trinchera’s Cat Mountain House provides a refined four- bedroom hillside retreat with sweeping panoramas across the San Luis Valley landscape, with views of both Trinchera peak on the southern side of the Sangre de Cristo range and the majestic Blanca peak (fourth highest in Colorado) framing the northern side of the longest mountain subrange in the lower 48 states.
For deeper immersion, Trinchera offers a signature outpost stay in the 11,700’ Stone Cabin (thought to be the highest sub-alpine stone cabin in North America). Only reached on foot, this spacious one-room, off-grid abode can sleep four guests seeking an overnight journey into the wild, offering rustic simplicity with quiet comfort—wood burning cooking stove, creek fed running water, sauna, and cold plunge-- inviting guests to disconnect and fully inhabit the natural world. From there an adventurous party can hike to the more austere high-alpine Guides Cabin which overlooks the Winchell Lakes—the highest lake complex in North America—where two can rest veritably on top of the North American world.
Experience a High Alpine Safari
Adventure at Trinchera unfolds across more than 200 miles of trails and 250 square miles of private wilderness, with each experience tailored to the individual. Whether seeking leisurely exploration or ambitious alpine pursuits, itineraries for families, couples, multi-generations groups or adrenaline seekers are calibrated to inspire, challenge, and delight in equal measure.
Trinchera’s expert guides bring enthusiasm and impressive knowledge to each experience. With an intuitive sense for pacing and possibility, they shape each day with a level of personalization, anticipating interests, adjusting to energy, and uncovering unexpected moments along the way.
Seasonality shapes every journey. In summer, guests may summit Mount Lindsey, fish for Rio Grande cutthroat trout in high-alpine lakes and snow-fed streams or enjoy a chef-prepared meal at a spectacular alpine cabin, surrounded by wildflowers and long golden evenings.
In winter, the landscape transforms into a quiet, snow-covered expanse. Guests can cross- country ski across untouched meadows, snowshoe to scenic overlooks, play hockey on natural ponds, or venture to remote cabins for fireside dining beneath crisp alpine skies.
Year-round, experiences extend beyond adventure to include stargazing under certified Dark Sky skies, wildlife sightings at first and last light, and opportunities to engage with local culture and fare. Conservation-focused activities offer deeper connection to the land’s stewardship, reinforcing Trinchera’s ethos that exploration and preservation go hand in hand. Throughout, a sense of warmth and belonging endures—rooted in thoughtful hospitality and a spirit of the West.
Conservation & History
In 2007, conservation philanthropist Louis Bacon purchased Trinchera-Blanca—a living laboratory where conservation is practiced daily, and guests are welcomed as participants in this ongoing stewardship. In 2012, Mr. Bacon authorized a conservation easement of approximately 167,000 acres in Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains—the largest ever received by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This effort helped establish the Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area as the nation’s 558th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System and a landscape-scale network of more than 800,000 acres of protected land stretching from Great Sand Dunes National Park to northern New Mexico—one of the most significant contiguous conservation landscapes in the continental United States.
Visiting Trinchera
Located in the heart of the vast Sangre de Cristo mountains, Trinchera borders federal wilderness and connects to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Baca National Wildlife Refuge. Transportation from regional airports is included, with San Luis Valley Regional Airport in Alamosa offering daily nonstop flights from Denver. Guests may also arrive via Taos, New Mexico, followed by a scenic drive north.
Offering a fully tailored, all-inclusive experience, rates start at $2,000 per night for double occupancy, inclusive of accommodations, all food and beverages, and daily guided experiences.
