We had a great 3.5 weeks at the Hideaway and enjoyed every minute of it. Snuggled in the Wet Mountains just outside of Westcliffe, the Hideaway is a great balance between being away from crowds of people but having easy access to everything you need. Westcliffe is a short hop for all of your grocery, gas, and essential needs. Salida - which has a great mountain town feel with many shops and restaurants - is also an easy drive if you feel the need for a bigger town. We made many trips there and it is an easy and beautiful drive.

Although the larger Sangre de Cristo mountains receive the bulk of the attention, don't overlook the Wet Mountains for recreational opportunities. National Forest land is less than a mile from the Hideaway, with great hiking/walking/mountain biking trails. Two nearby trails worth mention are the Stultz trail and East Bear Gulch trail. Both are a challenging workout but will leave you with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Of course, the big mountains on the other side of the valley offer unlimited potential for recreation and are an easy 40-50 min drive to many of the trailheads. The Arkansas River Valley is also an easy drive with many opportunities for sightseeing, wildlife watching/birding, rafting, rock climbing, etc.

The Hideaway itself is the perfect retreat. An extremely well-stocked kitchen, comfortable beds, and a nice spacious layout will not leave you wanting anything should you decide to spend a day or two inside just reading and relaxing. We spent countless hours walking around the property, taking in the wonderful smells, and looking forward to the parade of mule deer through the forest each evening. Numerous species of bird are found right on the property, and flocks of wild turkey often trotted right by the front porch.

We are already looking at our calendars to plan our next trip to the Hideaway. If you seek a quiet retreat in the mountains that still has easy access to everything this part of Colorado has to offer, look no further. Five stars is not enough to rate this wonderful property.