Ouray Colorado is the perfect place for an amazing winter getaway!
Of the many places to visit in southwest Colorado, Ouray, is at the top of the list. Weighing in at a mere 8 blocks long by 8 blocks wide, it is "tiny but mighty." With natural hot springs onsite, the Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs offers a great place to enjoy a Colorado vacation or a simple weekend getaway in Ouray. The Box Canyon Lodge is a premier "hot spot" for those who love Colorado natural hot springs. They offer discount hotel rooms, especially during the winter. Here is a listing of current vacation deals available.
Thanksgiving in Ouray
Enjoy two nights lodging in Ouray and Thanksgiving dinner for two at your choice of the award winning Bon Ton restaurant or the Outlaw Steakhouse. Price includes a standard room for two at the Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs in Ouray, and a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings for two adults for only $225.00, not including tax and gratuity. Package availableThanksgiving weekend, November 24, 2011.
"Ouray" for Santa!
Celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas at the Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs in Ouray, the Switzerland of America. Santa will visit guests of the lodge on Christmas Eve and deliver (small, age- and gender-appropriate) presents to children and spread holiday merriment. Parents who wish can ask Santa to carry in other gifts the parents have left outside. The guests can also take advantage of the activities in Ouray, including sledding, soaking in hot springs and more. Rates start as low as $99 for one-night accommodations, double occupancy.
Ski Purgatory at the Durango Mountain Resort Package
Visit the other side of the mountain and explore the 1,360 acres of terrain, 10 lifts, 88 trails and five terrain parks found at Purgatory at the Durango Mountain Resort. we offer 2 adult lift tickets and lodging in one of our standard guest rooms for $189+tax per night. There are no blackout dates, this package runs through the entire ski season.
The Weekday Escape (Off – Season)
Give yourself a break and unwind from the pressures of work. Bring that book you’ve been wanting to read and relax in our outdoor mineral springs hot tubs terraced on the mountainside. The room rates during the week, Sunday through Thursday, would be reduced from the standard rack rates for one night; more so for two or more nights. This applies to our suites as well as our standard rooms. Call our toll-free number or click on the "Reservation Request" button to check out our Weekday Escape rates and availability. These rates are only available 10 days before arrival and based on availability. Black out dates apply.
The "Support the Ouray Ice Park" Membership Special
Winter visitors to Ouray can enjoy the unique sport of ice climbing (if they are so inclined). An extraordinary group of locals have developed the FIRST ice park in the world, attracting sports enthusiasts from as far away as Europe, England and Japan to enjoy this exciting sport. It’s almost as much fun to watch as it is to climb. BUT, you don’t have to be an ice climber to enjoy this "Support the Ouray Ice Park" membership special during our off-season. The cost of membership is only $40. Membership entitles you to 20% off of our regular rack rate here at the Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs, plus 10% off at many of Ouray’s local restaurants and shops. This membership package not only helps you with lower lodging and dining rates, it also helps the economy of Ouray by assisting with the further development of the Ouray Ice Park. We are proud supporters of this growing sport and welcome all ice climbers to stay with us!
Whether you have been climbing for years, or just added this exhilarating sport to your "Bucket List", this package is a great way to experience the ice with friends! The package includes a half-day ice climbing lesson for two (including ice climbing equipment) and two nights lodging in a standard room for $450+ tax. The offer is good all winter from mid-December until late-March, special events excluded.
Located at 7,700 feet above sea level in southwest Colorado, the National Historic District of Ouray is surrounded on three sides by 13,000-foot peaks, earning it the nickname "The Switzerland of America." Ouray is home to several natural hot springs, including those at the Box Canyon Lodge, which is open year-round. Ouray is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, offering rock climbing, hiking, four-wheeling and mountain biking in the summer and ice climbing, backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
Thanksgiving in Ouray, the Gem of the Rockies- a perfect holiday escape!
November is here, ushering out the last leaves of fall, and welcoming the winter season with open arms. The holidays are fast approaching, even as the busy summer has ended and school just begun. What better time to take a break, and prepare for the months to come?
Escape the norm, and celebrate Thanksgiving differenty this year! Enjoy a two night stay in the most spectacular setting imaginable, and allow one of our first class restaurants to serve you an incredible traditional Thanksgiving meal!
Waken on Thursday, November 24, 2011 and begin your day with an excellent cup of coffee, soak in the 103 to 108 degree water of one of the mineral hot springs tubs at the Box Canyon Lodge & hot Springs. Enjoy a short hike or early nap before getting ready for an amazing dinner at your choice of restaurant:
Open on Thursday, November 24, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., offering a traditional turkey dinner with all of the trimmings, in addition to a selection from their regular menu. Feast on the culinary delights in a beautiful setting as the staff at the Bon Ton caters to your every need.
Open from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 24, serving a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, ham and primerib with all the traditional trimmings you might expect. Celebrate the holiday in this charming atmosphere surrounded by friends and family and music.
For those ready for a quiet relaxing getaway, there is nothing to compare to Ouray, Colorado. Saunter down Main Street and peruse the shops for unique gifts, Take a scenic drive or soak in the soothing hot springs as you survey the breathtaking beauty around you, creating a holiday experience you will not soon forget.
This package includes two nights lodging at the Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs in a standard guest room, and traditional Thanksgiving Dinner for two adults at your choice of the Bon Ton or the Outlaw restaurant for the low rate of $225.00, not including tax and gratuity.
Book your Thanksgiving Getaway before its too late!
Revered throughout history for their soothing powers, hot springs have been popular and sought out all over the world. Europe and Asia created huge bath houses dedicated to the therapeutic effects of natural spring water, and legend states the Native American people of North and South America have always deemed the land surrounding hot springs as sacred ground and avidly maintained a truce of peace while visiting the many pools across the west. Upon the arrival of settlers in southwest Colorado, perhaps the Ute Indians found some level of camaraderie through the soothing waters known and respected by both peoples.
Southwest Colorado boasts many towns and spas with natural mineral hot springs, but Ouray has the added good fortune to possess hot springs with very low sulfur content; soakers can enjoy the soothing heat of water full of minerals such as magnesium and calcium, without the distinctive odor of sulfur. Common to almost every mineral hot spring is a high content of sodium, which may explain the lightness so many bathers comment on when enjoying this natural wonder.
Bubbling to the surface at temperatures from 140 to 180 degrees, Ouray does have to cool its water to make it safe for bathing. The Box Canyon Lodge provides four redwood tubs tiered on the hillside in our courtyard for guests to enjoy the peace and beauty of the San Juans while soaking in a more private, natural setting. The temperature of our mineral hot spring water is maintained between 101 to 108 degrees varying by a couple of degrees from tub to tub.
The City Pool at the north end of town contains over one million gallons of mineral hot spring water ranging in temperature from a cool 82 degrees to a balmy 104. There is a section set apart for swimming laps and a large water slide. The Swim Shop offers everything from water toys for sale or rent to bathing suits just in case you forgot yours, to snacks. Upstairs, the newly renovated gym provides a fantastic view of the pool below as you work up a healthy sweat prior to a soothing soak.
The Wiesbaden is on the east side of Ouray. This facility has a large soaking pool outdoors; it also is home of the Lorelei, a small yet private outdoor soaking pool that can be rented by the hour, and the unique vapor cave in the basement of the hotel.
Although there are just a few known sources where the mineral water rises to the surface, evidence of the hot springs flowing beneath Ouray is all over, from steaming drainage grates, to portions of road that never seem to be quite as frozen as the rest of the ground in deep winter. Driving past Ridgway, Colorado, north of Ouray, it is not unusual to experience the sensation of driving through a cloud, as the heat from the springs creates a surreal mist across the highway near Orvis Hot Springs, a bathing suit optional facility well worth visiting if only to view the beautiful grounds and natural setting of the several tubs scattered about the property.
Just 5 miles north of Durango on US Highway 550, Trimble Hot Springs boasts warm water too. Like Ouray, the water is essentially odorless; it is high in iron and calcium. Trimble Hot Springs has two geothermal pools that are opened year round and they range in temperature from 101-105 degrees Farenheit. In April - October, they also open an Olympic-size swimming pool. Noting its proximity to Mesa Verde National Park (less than 1 hour away), it seems likely the ancient puebloans may have soaked in these waters too.
Pagosa Springs too has natural hot springs. The water in Pagosa has the traditional odor of sulphur. There are three separate facilities that cater to the public and all are in downtown Pagosa. Healing Waters (formally known as The Spa at Pagosa Springs), the Overlook, and the Springs Resort.
The Box Canyon Lodge strives to be a very green hotel. We look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet: we use geothermal hot springs to heat water for our rooms and guest use, we have insulated our buildings, replaced windows and doors with more energy efficient materials, and changed out our commercial washers and dryers for more energy efficient models. We recycled our older materials as much as possible to minimize impact to our local landfill. We continue to work on our impact. However, there are things that guests can do to help us in our quest to be green. Here are a few suggestions to help you be a greener guest during your next hotel stay:
- Turn off the A/C or heat when not in the room. Although we have sensors that help us monitor these units, it saves even more electricity if people turn them off on their own.
- When the outside temperature is not too warm, open the windows and let the fresh air in to cool the room rather than run the A/C. Choose to operate a ceiling fan or box fan if available.
- Sleep a bit cooler in the winter. Ask for an extra blanket rather than turning up the heat.
- Turn off the electrical appliances and lights when they are not needed. Unplug any battery chargers when they are not in use. Even with nothing attached to them, they draw small amounts of electricity.
- Participate in the linen reuse program; reuse your towels and sheets rather than requesting daily changes.
- Use the recycle containers and work with the property to understand what is recyclable.
- Carry your own coffee cup and ask for that cup to be filled when moving around.
- Drink from the sink. Don't buy single use bottled water. Our Ouray water is the best. It is from the City of Ouray watersupply and comes from the Weehawken Spring.
- Limit the time spent in the shower and don't let the sink water run when brushing your teeth. Water conservation is very important, even when in Ouray. Ouray is part of the vast drainage that forms the mighty Colorado River and that river provides water to very dry and very populous areas in the southwest US. No need wasting water when so many people downstream depend on it.
- Borrow our copy of the movie called "Bag It". This movie was created in Telluride, a town not too far away. It will encourage you to begin utilizing cloth bags wherever possible in your life. At the hotel, we are currently working to reduce our plastic bag use but have not completely mastered that one.
- Leave brochures, rack cards, and visitor guides in the room. We will remove them on checkout and put them in our lobby if they are in good condition so that others can use them. It saves printing and paper!
Many of these practices work at your home as well and can be applied to your conscientious lifestyle. Your wallet will thank you too!
On your next visit to Ouray, stop by the front desk and ask for a free travel mug. We are happy to give it to you for being a green hotel guest!
