Accomodations at Shambhala Mountain Center, Colorado

The two day/one night Self-directed Retreat & Renewal we had at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado was an excellent way to begin our Colorado vacation. Seventy dollars a night per person for a platform tent set in a meadow seemed expensive until we factored in the three meals included. The peaceful atmosphere, interesting people, and amazing scenery was a bonus.

The Shambhala Mountain Center is located on 4921 County Road 68-C in Red Feather Lakes. We pulled into their parking area after a few miles journey down the unpaved road. Once we parked there was a short walk across a mountain meadow to the registration office where a friendly staffer, Mike, supplied us with a map showing where our platform tent was located. We got badges to wear showing that we were on a self-directed retreat and to use in the dining hall for meals.

Another short walk brought us to the main area of the center. The dining hall, kitchen, various meditation and study buildings, gift shop, and bathhouses were clustered around an outdoor seating area.

The 600 mountain acres of the Shambhala Mountain Center is a Tibetan Buddhist retreat that plays host to groups, large and small that come for Buddhist meditation, yoga, Qijong and more. It is also home to the largest Buddhist stupa, The Great Stupa of the Dharmakaya, in North America.

Our clean, if well used platform tent (see picture #1) was set among others at the edge of a meadow profuse with flowers. Opening the zippered screen we found wooden frames holding foam mattresses (see picture #2). No bedding is supplied so we unfolded our sleeping bags on the mattresses. The tent was well ventilated and roomy inside with clothes racks and bookshelves. Bathrooms and bathing facilities were located a short walk from the tent. You can tell that this is not a place to go to be pampered. The accommodations are clean and well maintained but a level of personal effort is necessary.

It was the meals that took us by surprise. We knew that three free meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) came with the cost of each days stay and we had no expectations but vegetarian fare. Our first meal was lunch and as we waited in line, cafeteria style we wondered what the meal would be. It was delicious. Bangers and mash. Vegetarian and meat sausages were offered along with two types of mashed potatoes, seasoned brussel sprouts, and a salad bar. Fresh fruits for dessert and there were juices, water, tea and coffee. It was delicious and filling. There was plenty of seating at outside picnic tables or at long tables in the dining hall.

Dinner that night was an outstanding Greek salad and soup combination served with garlic pita bread. We sat with strangers that quickly became friends as we talked and ate. At a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, oatmeal, fruit and coffee there was more of the same. Our compliments to the cooks at the Shambhala Mountain Center.

Your $70 gets you access to all 600 acres of beautiful mountain scenery (see picture #3), hiking trails, the 180' tall Great Stupa (see picture #4), education facilities as well as room and board. You can choose to relax and read a book, pick a spot and meditate, walk around and meet interesting people, hike among the trees and flowers of the Colorado mountains, visit the Great Stupa, or browse the gift shop. That's why they call it a self-directed retreat.

We found the Shambhala Mountain Center a great place to reenergize and refocus ourselves. The people, staff and guests were gracious, the setting awesome. There is no doubt we will return.

Information for the Shambhala Mountain Center can found at www.shambhalamountaincenter.org.