Travel Review of Blue Lake Ranch in Hesperus, Colorado

On August 3, 2008, my husband and I checked in at Blue Lake Ranch in Hesperus, Colorado, which we had selected to be our "home base" while exploring nearby Durango and the San Juan Skyway, a beautiful, approximately 200-mile loop through national forest lands.

Beside Highway 140 and marked only by a quaint mailbox, Blue Lake Ranch is certainly located off the beaten path. With a bright, cottage-style exterior and richly colored southwestern interior, the main building at this B&B is equipped with a gift shop, library, and dining area, as well as a patio complete with rocking chairs. After a warm greeting, I was provided with a quick tour of the property while my husband pulled our vehicle around to our unit, "the Cottage in the Woods."

The brightly painted cottage is surrounded by a garden thick with wildflowers. Its front porch features a pair of lounge chairs and a charcoal grill. The front door opens to a kitchenette that has a microwave, sink, mini refrigerator, basic coffeemaker, and coffee grinder. The kitchenette is stocked with microwaveable popcorn, hot chocolate, and coffee beans. The closet, which is located inside the bathroom, has an iron, ironing board, and two robes, and the bedroom has a television as well as a wide selection of books. We thought the king bed was comfortable. The only aspect of our accommodations with which I was a little disappointed was the poorly sealed bathroom windows, which enabled many insects and spiders from the garden to join us inside.

During the first day of our stay, we walked down to the "lake," which I think could more accurately be described as a large pond. As we sat beside it in white Adirondack chairs, watching the birds and listening to the grasshoppers, I felt relaxed and as though we had found a private, peaceful escape.

Breakfast at Blue Lake Ranch was equally pleasant. Each morning during our stay, the staff served a Mexican main dish, such as chicken enchiladas or tamales, in addition to bagels or muffins, coffee, juice, and an assortment of both fresh and dried fruit. The star of each meal was Blue Lake Ranch's homemade jams, which were among the most delicious I have ever tasted. Because we visited in early August, the weather was perfect for us to eat our breakfast alfresco while enjoying a view of the picturesque grounds. The experience was a great way to kick off each day of our vacation.

Driving between Blue Lake Ranch's bed and breakfast and Durango took us about 20 to 30 minutes, which did prove to be a little inconvenient at the end of a long, tiring day of exploring. However, the property is an excellent destination for those wishing for a quiet country getaway without the hustle and bustle of too many other tourists.