Recharge at the Hygge Chalet nestled in 3.5 wooded acres at 9000 ft in the Rocky Mountains. This eco-friendly A-frame with a private trail is inspired by hygge (hu-geh), a Danish word for the feeling of coziness & simple pleasures. An outdoor Finnish steam sauna, 2 decks, amazing views, quality bedding, & an entirely cozy vibe complete w/ a Norwegian gas fireplace await you. Snuggle up, explore, play games, hammock, read, take day trips, make memories, refocus, rejuvenate, & relax in this intentionally curated experience.
***THIS IS A TOP 10 COLORADO VACATION RENTAL***
FEATURED ON: Condé Nast Traveler, Trips to Discover, Atomic Ranch, AFAR, Denver Post, 5280 magazine, Coloradoan, Road Affair, TimeOut, Levi Kelly's YouTube Tours, and more!
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The Hygge Chalet is located in the rural Rocky Mountains. It is only 1 hour from central Denver, 40 minutes to Red Rocks, 1.5 hrs to Boulder, and 1 hr to skiing. There is an abundance of outdoor activities nearby that make perfect day trips all year round. The home is a renovated original 70's A-Frame inspired by Scandinavian design and the concept of hygge. There is a private trail from the property that connects to the National Forest with huge aspen groves, a beautiful creek, and expansive overlooks from the saddle. From the A-frame you can hike for hours right out the front door, without ever having to fight for trailhead parking! Upon booking, our website is provided with recommendations for things to do, see, eat, and drink in the area!
HYGGE: ['hue-gah'] (verb/Danish)
To feel warmth, coziness, comfort, snug: a sense of wellbeing, belonging, contentment, togetherness, intimacy, happiness; enjoying simple pleasures, such as a warm cup of coffee by the fire, a walk in the woods, or a candlelit meal.
Whether you're looking for a cozy mountain retreat to read in the hammock and relax in front of the fireplace or to get outside and explore nature, the Hygge Chalet is the perfect place to experience hygge to recharge by yourself or reconnect with loved ones. There are plenty of mountain activities to fill your cup during all of Colorado's incredible 4 seasons!
LIVING ESSENTIALS:
The home is 1400 square feet with an open floor plan. The full kitchen has high-quality cookware and all your dining essentials. Basics such as, cooking oil, salt and pepper, spices, condiments, etc. are provided. A fair-trade and organic beverage bar with Chemex, local coffee, tea, and hot chocolate is yours to indulge in. The home is stocked with books, board games, an iPad for movies, or music, a Bluetooth speaker loud enough to fill the home, and a gas fireplace for a cozy ambiance. All high-quality linens, towels, robes, and slippers are freshly-washed right before your stay. As is customary for almost all homes at high elevation, there is no A/C due to the cool temps year-round in the evenings and mornings. We are intentional about furnishing and cleaning with local and sustainable products as much as possible.
BED & BATH:
Both the loft and downstairs rooms have super comfortable queen beds with brand new mattresses. The bathroom has a walk-in shower with body wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and hair dryer provided, plus many toiletries and extras in case you forgot something.
SAUNA:
The barrel steam sauna truly sets this place apart from all the rest. It's easy to use and allows you to sauna bathe in the traditional Finnish way by pouring water onto heated rocks to create steam. Most nights in the Rockies are clear enough to see the Milky Way and star-gazing is exceptional here, especially when taking a cool-down break from the sauna. Read printed in home instructions prior to use.
OUTDOOR LIVING:
The A-frame is located on 3.5 private wooded acres adjacent to National Forest. Relax and enjoy the stunning views from the our 2 decks with café lights, dining area, 2 hammocks, Adirondack chairs, and a high-end gas grill with a smoker.
CUSTOM MURAL:
Behind the home is a custom street art-inspired mural as a nod to Denver with an Aspen and Mandala scene created by a talented local Denver artist.
ROAD NOISE:
The chalet is located up the mountain from I-285, which is a plowed, well-maintained highway to get you safely and easily exploring year round. While the home feels private and secluded, it is still in a small, rural neighborhood. I-285 cannot be seen from the property, but sometimes can be heard. Depending on the weather and traffic (especially busy holiday weekends) the sounds from the road will vary. If you're expecting absolute silence and total seclusion, this is not the place for you. Most days you just hear the stream and birds, not the road.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BUCKET LIST:
Upon booking, you will receive our website that we created for guests filled with day-trip itineraries, recommendations on places to visit, things to do and see, places to hike/snowshoe, and local places to eat and drink. It includes a map with categories and distances from the chalet to help plan your trip! We are passionate about Colorado and dedicated to making your visit one for the books! The Hygge Chalet is the perfect place for a quiet, serene retreat or as a basecamp for your next adventure.
GUANELLA PASS:
The home is just a couple minutes from Guanella Pass, which provides an incredible mountain drive of spectacular views, other-worldy landscapes at 12,000 feet, big horn sheep, winding streams, waterfalls, lakes, and access to endless hiking. If you drive the full pass, it takes you to the cutest mountain town, Georgetown and other neat places along the I-70 corridor. Guanella Pass is a Scenic Byway and is one of the most sought-after locations for aspen leaf peeping in fall, which can be enjoyed on one of the many hikes or on the beautiful drive. Guanella Pass is a very popular place to hike in the fall and summer, plan to arrive early on weekends to get parking for your favorite trail, especially if you're going to tackle a 14er such as Mount Bierstadt or Mount Blue Sky. About 7 miles up the pass, it will close for through traffic in snowy months (late-Nov to late-May) but you can still access many trails year round up until the closure point and hike/snowshoe well beyond that point.
HOT SPRINGS:
Going over Kenosha Pass takes you to South Park (yes, the town from the TV show), Buena Vista, Salida, etc. which is an area loaded with things to do and see all year round, including 3 exceptional natural hot springs!
EXPLORING AND ADVENTURES:
The cabin is close to stunning hikes of various difficulties, world-class fishing, adventure activities (zip-line, high ropes course, whitewater rafting, etc.), cultural and historical activities (ghost towns, mining for gold, dinosaur fossils, etc.), surreal aspen leaf peeping in the fall, horseback riding, ATV, train rides, sleigh rides, snowshoeing/snowmobiling in winter, and cute mountain towns to explore with wonderful small businesses to support.
DINING:
There are several cafes and restaurants nearby where you can experience true mountain friendliness. Our favorite and the closest (just down the hill) is the Shaggy Sheep. Make sure to stop in and say "Hi!" to Sarah and Chris for the best mountain comfort food. There are many fantastic local breweries, distilleries, wineries, and restaurants in Park County in both directions from the A-frame down I-285.
RED ROCKS:
Red Rocks Amphitheater is just 40 minutes away. This is considered one of the best places in the world to see a concert and doing so should be on anyone's bucket list. Even if you can't make a show, the park is well-worth a visit to hike, go to the visitor's center with fantastic music history, or just see the amphitheater and go on stage.
SKIING/SNOWBOARDING:
The closest ski resort is Breckenridge at an hour's drive (and a beautiful one) and is a perfect day trip to ski/snowboard or just hang around in a beautiful ski town (there is a lot to do and see here no matter the time of year). Vail, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain, Eldora, Monarch, Winter Park, or Beaver Creek are between 1.5-2 hours. Note travel times are unpredictable in snowy weather.
GETTING HERE:
The Hygge Chalet A-frame is about 1 hour from Central Denver. All Wheel Drive or 4 Wheel Drive vehicle is required during winter months (Nov-Apr).
FIRES:
Absolutely NO open fires. Forest fires are a very serious threat in the dry Colorado climate. Making a fire in the fire pit or anywhere else will result in being asked to leave without a refund. It may also result in a huge fine from the county.
WINTER TRAVEL:
Our road/driveway is plowed after 5 inches or so. AWD or 4X4 is REQUIRED Nov through April; however, please understand that it can snow as early as Oct and into May.
INTERNET/TV:
WiFi is provided via a Verizon LTE hotspot, which should be fast enough for most remote work needs. However, internet speeds can vary in the rural Rocky Mountains based on weather or traffic. A 12in iPad is also provided for your use. Movie and music streaming is allowed ONLY on the iPad, which has unlimited data and plenty of apps to cover your media needs. By design, there is not a TV since we encourage unplugging to have the best hygge experience.
ELEVATION:
The A-frame cabin is at 9,000 feet. Some people experience minor to severe symptoms from the altitude (headache, sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, etc.). If you are coming from a lower elevation or are sensitive to altitude, we HIGHLY recommend giving yourself at least a day to acclimate in the Denver/Boulder area. Staying hydrated and avoiding alcohol will also help prevent these symptoms. The natural bedrock spring water direct from the sink is some of the best water in the US, so please stay hydrated during your time and always have water with you on day trips. Reusable water bottles and hydration powder packets are provided to help guests acclimate.
