Boulder Mountain Lodge

Although I have lived in Utah most of my life, I had never been to Boulder Utah until just a few weeks ago.  I was headed to Cedar City for some meetings and decided to take a little detour to check out that part of the state.

I was thrilled by the view on the way in Dixie National Forest. The forest is one of the highest plateau forests in the United States and filled with flora and fauna.  The road climbs so high that you would expect to be in the peaks of tall mountains. The drive has several viewpoints that allow you to look over Capitol Reef National Park; it is an amazing scene. 

While traveling through Boulder, I went to Boulder Mountain Lodge.  This small, yet attractive, property was different and quaint.  It is just off the main “highway,” and so is easy to find. Yet, it’s in its own little world.

One of the most breathtaking and beautiful parts of the grounds was the vast bird refuge right behind the property.  You could look out the back window of the room and see hundreds of birds in an eleven-acre marshland refuge.  Even with the breathtaking views and trails around Boulder it was nice to sit and relax watching the diversity of birds, it is a real bird-watching haven.  In fact, they have a hot tub that sits just beyond the bird refuge which allows you to lounge any time of year and enjoy the view at the same time.

The whole property sits on fantastic grounds with a large grassy area where they just had a large concert the week previous to my visit.  They set up volleyball nets and have a large fire ring for those who are visiting and want to stay close to the lodge.

Yet to get the most out of the visit to Boulder I would suggest going on one of the countless drives, hikes or biking trails that surround the area.  In each direction you can find some of the most breathtaking and beautiful trails in Utah.  I didn’t have a lot of time so I just took a quick drive up the Burr Trail.  I found one of the many slot canyons and took a short hike.  It was a totally different world than the one I had been in Dixie National Forest on the high plateau.  The diversity was incredible in that area. Only a few miles down the road I had a fantastic view of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  

At the lodge they offered a distinctive service for travelers unfamiliar with the area.  Small hotels and lodges like Boulder Mountain don’t usually have a concierge service, and it is often difficult to find some of the local attractions that you read about before visiting.  The Boulder Mountain Lodge had a unique way of managing that problem.  I, along with all of the guests, was invited to attend an evening tutorial about the town and the area.  I was given insights into all of the local trails, eateries, shops, museums and events.

I decided to take a tour of the Anazazi Museum just up the street.  I was very impressed with the collection of artifacts as well as the full size replicas of the Anazazi dwellings out back.  Although small, the museum had plenty to offer about the community that used to reside in the area.

If you go to the Boulder Mountain Lodge you cannot skip Hell’s Back Restaurant.  Known around the country for their fresh and unique meals made from the produce grown on site at the lodge, the restaurant lived up to the hype.  It was a fine dining experience in the middle of what might otherwise be the middle of nowhere.

After my visit I hit the road again, this time headed south on my path to Cedar City.  I took Highway 12 south and drove over the Hogsback. It was one of the most incredible drives I have ever taken in my life.  I was amazed at the view as I drove down a two lane road with large cliffs on both sides; it was an amazing experience, one I hope to repeat again soon.  Perhaps, I will soon need another trip to Boulder.

The University Inn at Utah State University.

I had the chance to take a quick trip to Logan recently.  I love Cache Valley for the quite feel that you get when you drive into the valley as well as the beauty of the national forest and mountains.  I also love Logan and particularly love Utah State University and all of the wonderful memories I have from visiting there.

This trip was no different.  The valley was covered in snow but it still carried that quite feeling and was as beautiful as ever.  And I was able to make a new memory at Utah State University unlike any I had had before.

I was invited to attend the Utah State Men’s Basketball game.  They were playing Hawaii.  Because the game would go late I stayed at the University Inn on campus.  The Inn sits right on campus and is actually the only hotel near the campus.

I parked in their covered parking and checked into the hotel.  I have always been impressed with their staff and how welcoming they were.  This trip was no exception.

It was a five to ten minute walk from the University Inn to the Spectrum.  In fact I think that I had better parking in the covered parking lot provided for guests of the hotel than most people going to the game.  They had to scramble for on road parking after the much too small parking lot was full.

The game was fantastic and the crowd was all that I expected.  With the entire student section packed with blue clad Aggies the atmosphere was intense.  It helped that USU came within two points of scoring one hundred and beat Hawaii by over forty points. It will be one of those great memories of USU that I add to my collection.

The room I stayed in at the hotel was fantastic.  It had beautiful décor and a very classy look with large wood cabinets and wood paneling.  There was a feeling elegance about the room, certainly a place full of class and history.  The branded fireplace mantle reminded you that you were in the land of the Aggies and were experiencing part of a rich heritage created by educators and students at the school.

The next morning I sat at breakfast in the hotel looking out the fifth floor window which looks over much of the campus.  I watched as the students who had chanted and cheered and roared just the night before hurried to class in the snow. It was a great trip to Logan.

Big Horn Lodge, Moab

I love Moab; I love the national parks nearby and the hiking and biking trails that can be found in any direction. I have spent a lot of time in the area over the years and have ridden many trails and hiked countless bluffs. Regardless of where I hike and where I bike, I always play hard. and after a hard day of playing there’s nothing I look forward to more than a good night’s sleep.

Last time I was in Moab, I stayed at the Big Horn Lodge, a great hotel right on bustling Main Street in the Heart of Moab.

The Big Horn Lodge is a great place for the adventure traveler. They have taken every chance to accommodate the needs of bikers, hikers and other adventure travelers. For example, if you are taking three days to go down the Colorado River, you can spend a night at the Big Horn Lodge and leave your luggage locked up in their storage area while you go rafting. When you get back, they will have it waiting for you in your new room.

I think it is that type of service and consideration for Moab vacationers that makes the Big Horn Lodge so special. They understand that we come to Moab to play and they do everything they can to help us play hard without compromising a good night’s rest.

The rooms are very clean and comfortable. They are not huge, but there is enough space to store your bikes in the room. Of course if you don’t want your bike in the room with you, you can always use the bike storage that is offered to all guests.

The pool is not huge so I don’t suggest lap swimming, but it is perfect for soaking and relaxing in after a long day of hiking. If you need a bit more for your relaxation, you can also head across the street to their sister property where, as a Big Horn Lodge guest, you can soak in their hot tub.

The other benefit of the sister property is the laundry facility. You can do your laundry while you kick back in the hot tub and get the best of both worlds.

The Big Horn Lodge is right across the street from a grocery store, which makes replenishing your supplies very convenient. When grocery food doesn’t hit the spot, you can eat at the affordable Smitty’s Golden Steak Restaurant, which is part of the lodge.

When I stayed at Big Horn Lodge, I was very impressed with how knowledgeable the staff was about the area and the trails nearby. They were also helpful in providing an overview of the area restaurants when I checked in, and even showed me some of the locals’ favorite places to eat. Their extra efforts helped me feel far more comfortable with venturing out into the city for the evening.

Overall I was impressed by my comfortable stay for such an affordable price. The Big Horn Lodge is a great place to stay while you are playing in Moab.

To learn more about the Big Horn Lodge visit http://www.moabbighorn.com/.