*This listing is for the Couloir Cabin at Dripping Springs Inn*
Step outside your door to the peaceful sounds of the river and birdsong. Our boutique, historic hotel is designed to bring you a sense of peace, relaxation, and connection to nature. Located near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, it's an easy basecamp to hundreds of trails and activities.
Couloir Cabin is a two-bedroom, two-story private cabin located within a cliffside duplex. Enjoy a full kitchen, living room, three bathrooms, two well-equipped bedrooms, pullout sofa, TV, gas fireplace (indoor), fire pit (outdoor), private balcony with an outdoor dining set, private back deck space, grill, and hot tub. Perfect for up to 6 guests.
Guests have full access to their cabin or suite, as well as our grounds, private riverfront (for catch and release fishing), communal fire pits, and decks. Enjoy!
We’re available by message and phone any time to help with questions about trip planning, area recommendations, or anything you may need during your stay. Beyond that, we give you the space to enjoy your cabin and the surrounding Rocky Mountain nature in peace.
We’re located about 4 miles west of downtown Estes Park and about 8 miles west of Rocky Mountain National Park. With easy access right off Highway 34, our grounds are private and all-natural, with our own cliff features, mountain vistas, wildlife visitors, forests of ponderosas, Doug firs, and aspens, and a winding (and highly fishable!) stretch of the Big Thompson River.
*Estes Park: 8 minutes
*Rocky Mountain National Park: 15 minutes
*Lake Estes: 4 minutes
*Bear Lake Corridor: 35 minutes
*Boulder: 55 minutes
*Denver International Airport: 1.5 hours
Getting around: We find that guests are best able to explore Estes Park and the surrounding areas by vehicle. Ride-hailing services are sparse in the area, but be sure to check out the Estes Park shuttle bus services during your stay.
Parking: Ample, free parking is available for each unit.
Winter driving: Our region is subject to heavy snowfall and icy conditions throughout the winter (and occasionally in the fall and spring), making for unpredictable driving conditions. While 34 remains open and plowed, if you’re planning to visit during the winter, consider snow tires, snow chains, and any other supplies you may want for winter conditions. Trail Ridge Rd and other routes over the continental divide close seasonally every year, so guests will not have access to Grand Lake or other areas on the western side of the park during these closures without rerouting through I-70 to the south (which adds about 3-4 hours to the trip).
Before you book, read on to learn about a couple of property quirks to make sure we’re the right fit for your outdoor adventure:
When we say "historic,” we mean historic. Our digs stretch back a century, and sometimes, our “old-school” shows. This can mean drafts in the winter, hot summers, and you may see an occasional four-to-eight-legged friend around the property or grounds. We like to think of ourselves as an extension of the Front Range ecosystem, so it’s all part of the fun!
While we do offer WiFi, the speed of our internet *may* take twenty years off your life (although we promise the restorative power of nature will put those years right back on). While we can assure you we’ve spent countless hours with every single ISP in the area and offer up the best we possibly can, don’t expect to Zoom into meetings or (or much of anything, internet-wise) while you enjoy your stay in the great outdoors. Please also note that weather can impact satellite TV strength in the area.
Cellular service is extremely limited on the property at this time. We encourage guests to pull up their cabin and check-in instructions before arrival at the property. For the best cell phone service, visit our check-in area and courtyard. We also have a landline available for guest use outside of our check-in office.
For the safety of our guests, we maintain outdoor security cameras to monitor wildlife visits, fire risk, hazardous elements, and other safety protocols.
Winters are intense here. Snow shedding from the roof, as well as icy/snowy walkways, can be dangerous and difficult to pass, particularly for people with ambulatory issues. We’re also subject to mountain snowstorms that can occur early in fall and well into the spring. Research or reach out to us about road conditions, road closures, and other safety provisions in advance of your winter visit.
Fire season typically falls between summer and early fall in the area, so air quality may be unhealthy during this time, particularly among sensitive groups.
Fishing on our private stretch of the Big Thompson River is catch and release. Make sure to grab your Colorado fishing license before you wet a line. Happy fishing!
We hope you enjoy this neck of the woods as much as we do. Welcome to the Rocky Mountain region!
To respect our community, fellow guests, and neighbors (plant and animal neighbors included!), we ask that our guests agree to a few house rules during their stay. Give us a holler with any policy questions or concerns you may have!
Pets: Our pet fee is $20 per dog per night (for up to the first 3 nights, then after your third night, dogs stay free!). We can accommodate a maximum of two dogs (and dogs only at this time), but get in touch with us if you have a special circumstance. Let us know if you plan to bring your furry friend(s) along, and we’ll share our full policy.
Leave No Trace: Respecting public lands and waters, Native and local communities, and our property is important to us. Please leave what you find and dispose of waste properly.
Garbage and Food Storage: Estes Park is active bear habitat! Please secure the bear-proof dumpster latch and secure your trash and food items to prevent wildlife break-ins (which put both your life and the animal’s life in danger).
Fire Safety: Your cabin is located in a region extremely susceptible to wildfires, so we take fire risk very seriously. To prevent catastrophic wildfires, injury, property damage, and strain on our local fire departments, we have a few rules: no fireworks on the grounds, absolutely no bonfires during periods with fire bans, properly control and extinguish bonfires (drown using a bucket of river water, then use the stir-mix-feel method), turn off grills after use, do not leave grills or fires unattended, and obtain fire permits for any bonfires created on surrounding public lands.
Quiet Hours: Quiet hours begin at 10 pm and end the following morning at 8 am.
Extra Guests: We don’t permit extra guests beyond what’s listed in your cabin’s capacity max. If you plan to invite non-guests on site for any reason, please have your plans pre-approved with a member of our team.
Events: At this time, we don’t allow guest events (such as weddings, parties, and so forth) at the property. We’re happy, however, to book your larger-sized group in multiple coinciding rooms at the hotel as long as you maintain respect and capacity numbers in each unit, keep noise levels to a minimum, and respectfully share communal spaces with guests outside your party.
Smoking: All of our units are non-smoking, but if guests need to smoke, we ask that they abide by a few rules. Please get in touch with us for our policies covering where to smoke, marijuana guidelines, cleanup, and violations.
Early Check-In and Late Check-Out: At this time we’re unable to accommodate early check-ins or late check-outs, but please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have a unique situation.
Cancellation: Please contact us for more information on cancellation policies and refunds.