Devil’s Thumb Ranch

Devil’s Thumb Ranch is a renowned resort and spa located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains near Tabernash, Colorado, not far from Winter Park. Known for its luxury accommodations, outdoor activities, and stunning natural beauty, the ranch offers a blend of rustic charm and modern comfort.  The ranch has many indoor and outdoor activities – including hiking, zip lining, mountain biking and horseback riding.  The ranch has a rich history dating back to the 1930s, originally serving as a private homestead. Over the decades, it has evolved into a premier resort, preserving the natural beauty and heritage of the area.

During our stay, we hiked 4.7 miles behind the ranch and looped together a number of trails on this private parcel of land – including the Meadow, Radcliff, Double Pole and Swindler trails. On our hike we passed two small ponds, a number of backcountry yurts, and had excellent views of the nearby Winter Park ski resort and the Continental Divide. The ascent to 8800+ feet is worth the time to see the surrounding area. Horseback riders and mountain bikers also use these trails – although we saw none during our hike. Hikers are asked to yield to horses if you come across them on the trail. Mountain bikers are asked to yield to hikers. For those that want a longer or shorter option – you can combined the trails in an infinite number of ways and tailor a hike to meet your needs. You do need to be a guest at the ranch to hike on their property – or at least I believe that to be the case.