Stay and Play in Southern Colorado

Itineraries & Lodging To Guide Your Trip
Hillside, CO cottages cozy interior.

We can't wait to have you join us!

The Wet Mountain Valley of Colorado: A paradise for rest and relaxation that you didn't know existed.

Nestled among the Rocky Mountains, the quiet valleys of Southern Colorado offer the perfect respite for those seeking a true mountain vacation experience—far from the bustling 1-70 corridor, but close enough to be easily accessed from Colorado’s Front Range. Discover SoCo can help you find the perfect southern Colorado vacation rentals and suggest things to do and places to go. Whether your idea of a perfect vacation involves relaxing in a natural hot spring or scaling one of the many fourteeners that populate Southern Colorado, there are no shortage of options for visitors to the region.

How to get here.

The heart of South Central Colorado is closer than you may think: It’s a scenic 2.5 hours from Denver, 1.5 hours from Colorado Springs and 1 hour from Pueblo. And the farther you go, the more you are rewarded… As the traffic from the Front Range thins out around the hour or so drive into the heart of Southern Colorado, a majestic landscape unfolds: There are towering, jagged mountains dotted with hiking trails. Rivers carve their way through the land, carrying adventurous whitewater rafters. Warm water bubbles up from the earth, soothing weary travelers throughout the year.

Stay. Play. Explore

With so much to do, Southern Colorado deserves to be more than a day-trip—especially when you consider the region features the only internationally designated “Dark Sky” community in all of Colorado thanks to Westcliffe’s world-renowned starry nights. Choose a southern Colorado vacation rental near the Smokey Jack Observatory, and enjoy night skies ablaze with more stars than you’ll see in the city in a lifetime. Rent a cottage or stay in a Centrally located in the Wet Mountain Valley, Westcliffe and Hillside offer quick access to hiking, biking, fly fishing, rafting, and even skiing at Monarch Ski Area.

Two of the most unique Southern Colorado lodging options are located in Westcliffe and nearby Hillside: The Lamp Post Lodge is located within walking distance to downtown Westcliffe for quick access to quaint shops and restaurants. Just down the road is Hillside Colorado, which features five beautifully renovated private cottages and a restored historic event venue. Explore both of these options through the links below.