El Rito Retreat - Beauty and Solitude on El Rito Creek
- Minimum stay:N/A
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:Yes
- Wheel chair accessible:No
Imagine waking up in the morning and basking in the luxury of absolute silence, punctuated by birdsong or the wafting tune of the nearby creek; this is just one of many great pleasures at El Rito Canyon Retreat. Watching a thunderstorm from the view room or having dinner on the front porch as the sunset paints magnificent against the canvas of the towering afternoon clouds, stepping out into the brisk dawn for a dip in the hot tub, watching the sun illuminate the canyon ridges, you can fill your days here with splendor without ever getting in your car.
Our beautiful two-story adobe home offers 2,100 square feet of lovingly built and delightfully appointed rooms, each with its own character and appeal. In the spacious kitchen and the tranquil living rooms you will feel the distinct charm of the massive adobe walls and viga ceilings; in the sunroom you can sip your coffee while soaking in the morning sunshine, or upstairs you might recline in the view room and simply watch the sky, day or night, for hours.
Each of the two upstairs bedrooms features steep-pitched ceilings and dormer windows, a luxurious queen sized bed, and views of the beautiful surroundings. The huge bathroom sports a view that will keep you flossing much longer than usual.
Outside you might wish to sunbathe on the deck, sit in the shade of the maple tree and watch the hummingbirds, watch the stars from the hot tub, or walk down the driveway to the lush green oasis on the bank of El Rito Creek for a picnic and a dip in the water. Hiking begins out the front door, as the National Forest boundary is but a few hundred yards from the house. From the house at 7,100 feet elevation, the terrain rises from pinon/juniper and oak into stately ponderosa and aspen woods at 9,000 ft. plus elevations, offering unlimited possibilities for hiking, bicycle or auto touring, as well as fishing and hunting. El Rito Canyon is lush green oasis set in the arid highlands of northern New Mexico.
Three and a half miles downstream is the lovely little town of El Rito, featuring historic San Juan Nepomuceno church (completed in 1832, with 5-foot thick adobe walls as a fortress against Indian raids), and the world renown (hole-in-the-wall) El Farolito Restaurant (an Editor’s Pick in the 2004 Rand McNally Road Atlas). I highly recommend the Chile Verde Burrito and a couple of sopapillas with lots of honey.
The town of Abiquiu, made famous as the perpetual subject (and home) of the great painter, Georgia O’Keeffe, is but a 20-minute drive to the west, Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu reservoir a few miles beyond, and the Ojo Caliente Mineral Hot Springs Resort is 20 minutes to the east. Santa Fe, Taos, and Los Alamos, and 5 Indian Pueblos, are all about an hour away, with the great diversions they offer in easy reach.
If you are looking for a quiet place to immerse yourself in the stupendous natural beauty of northern New Mexico high-country, you simply couldn’t do better than staying at the El Rito Canyon Retreat.
Keywords: 2-Story Adobe Home, passive solar heat, garden, lawn, river, woods, shade, national forest, wildlife
Property Type
- House
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Suitability
- Non Smoking Only
- Children Welcome
Bedrooms
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 5, Beds for 5
- Bedroom 1
- Bedroom 2
- Den
Bathrooms
- 1.5 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
Kitchen & Dining
- Microwave
- Kitchen
- Ice Maker
- Refrigerator
- Cooking Utensils
Amenities
- Parking Off Street
- Linens Provided
- Clothes Dryer
- Washing Machine
- Covered Parking
Other Amenities
Entertainment
- Stereo
- DVD Player
- CD Player
Communications
Pool & Spa
Outdoor Features
- Outdoor Grill
- Balcony
Location & View
Activities
- Restaurants
- Sight Seeing
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Rock Climbing
- Mountain Biking
- Fishing
- Cross Country Skiing
- Hunting
Other Activities
Reviews
Write a review-
Great place
Great place
- Guest Betty
- Date of stay 08/20/12
- Review Submitted 08/25/12
This was a perfect get away for me and my daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons. We loved the house. When we came in one of the boys said "this is paradise!"...and they'd just been to Hawaii! It just suited us though. We loved the decor, beautiful paintings, interesting furniture and artifacts, and plenty of options for kicking back and enjoying the scenery and cool weather. Plus the kitchen and cooking venues were great. We even made yeastless bread in the horno! We hiked the draw at the house, went on a scenic drive to Ojo Caliente, through the forest, saw an awesome beaver dam along the way and the falls on the way back. Wouldn't recommend Ojo with kids if you plan to partake in spa activities. Good reson to come back with the girls. Also did a day trip to Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu and ate at El Farolito. Don't be put off by the size. The walls were covered with the awards they've won. I'll vote for their green chili rellenos! Would definitely come back.Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, pet owners, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+.
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Guest comment entered by owner
- Guest John and Barbara
- Date of stay 09/06/08
- Review Submitted 02/07/11
Thank you for creating and sharing this most wonderful place. We have so enjoyed the area, the house, the books and discovering all the art and artifacts in it. The energy you have created here is truly magical and very peaceful. We'll be back for more rest, relaxation and adventures in the forest.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Guest comment entered by owner
- Guest Winnie and Ed
- Date of stay 08/07/09
- Review Submitted 02/07/11
We had a wonderful time. This house worked so well for us. We loved the rooms, the quirky and creative construction, the marvelous art and collection of "finds" from Mexico and elsewhere. We ate outside, hiked, visited pueblos, galleries.... and just sat.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Guest comment entered by owner
- Guest Chris S.
- Date of stay 06/16/10
- Review Submitted 02/07/11
Where to begin? Our little family had an incredible stay at your lovely retreat. We have been to New Mexico many times, and this trip will always memorable and special to us, mainly because of this wonderful slice of Heaven. This home has a wonderful soul to it, and we felt it every single day.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Guest comment entered by owner
- Guest Teal
- Date of stay 06/28/10
- Review Submitted 02/07/11
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful place. We loved it! The views, the quiet, the stars, the feeling of being at home. We will certainly return - maybe two weeks next summer.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Guest comment entered by owner
- Guest Mike C.
- Date of stay 07/07/10
- Review Submitted 02/07/11
El Rito Retreat is the perfect place to engage the senses and polish the soul.... Do not miss the sunsets!Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
Rates
$180/night (3 night minimum) .. $980/week .. (1-2 guests). $25/night per adult (18 and over) additional fee ........ (3-5 guests). $75 cleaning fee for more than 2 guests
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Before paying contact the owner to confirm payment details.
Call the owner directly to confirm reservation details and pay with an approved method (credit card, check, or bank transfer), to protect your payment up to $1,000.
Calendar
Sorry this information is not available. Please contact the owner/manager for more information.
Location
Owner info
Year Purchased: 1981
About the owner: Almost from the minute I arrived in El Rito in July, 1973, at the ripe old age of 18, I knew this was where I wanted to live. After 5 years of working as a carpenter in northern California, I moved to El Rito in 1978. By 1981 I was married and I had moved into this house to raise my family, my two children, and I began what has been a 30-year adventure working on this house and its surroundings. I love being here and working on this never-ending project, and it gives me special pleasure to share the beauty of this landscape and my home with my guests. - Ted and Wendy
The Unique Benefits at this House:
What makes this place truly remarkable is the lushness of the El Rito watershed. El Rito Creek meanders along the floor of the canyon, protected from the harsh sun and winds by the ridges that form the canyon, and fed by perpetual springs far up in the high country. A band of greenery, thick jungle-like growth in some places, crowds the banks of the creek and provides a thriving habitat for all kinds of unexpected flora and fauna. I was thrilled to discover last summer wild hop vines growing among the wild plums and chokecherries. I have seen fireflies and a giant Luna moth near the creek. All kinds of interesting birds make their homes in the area, from western tanangers and lazuli buntings, to meadowlarks and magpies, and I saw a bald eagle fly over the house just last week. Elk and deer, bear, badger, coyotes, an ermine dancing wildly last winter, porcupines and tassel-eared squirrels can be seen here. I think this is one of the most beautiful landscapes in all of New Mexico and beyond.
And my house, well, I've been working on it for a long time, and between my carpentry skills and Wendy's ability to make a home comfortable and beautiful, we have made some progress here. Sitting on the porch after a thunderstorm as the sun drops behind the western ridge, the tall ponderosa pines spilling down from the ridge are backlit, and the leaves of the trees along the driveway coming up toward the house are glittering as if hung with diamonds from the raindrops still upon them, and the cool smell of damp woods and sage is in the air, and the clouds are lit up in colors that make you cry out in amazement.....
That's one, but by no means the only, unique benefit I enjoy while staying at my property.
Contact us
- Primary: (707)304-0487
Links to more information:
Photos
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Mi casa es su casa
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The Sunroom
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Coming up the Driveway
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Living Room
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In the Kitchen
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Upstairs Bedroom
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The Lawn From the Front Door
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My Aunt Judy's Rooster
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This listing was first published here in 2003.
Date last modified - Thursday, March 28, 2013
(707)304-0487