Lostfork Basecamp: A Mountain Getaway Near Denver

Disclosure: Lostfork hosted our stay. As always, all opinions and experiences shared here are my own.

One thing about living in Denver: Sometimes getting to the mountains can be more stressful than actually being in the mountains. Between I-70 traffic, weekend crowds and trying to time everything just right, a quick Colorado getaway doesn’t always feel particularly quick.

That’s one reason we were excited to check out Lostfork Basecamp, a relatively new collection of modern cabins tucked along Geneva Creek in Grant, Colorado, near the base of Guanella Pass.

And here’s the important part: You don’t have to take I-70 to get there!

Lostfork is about an hour from Denver via Highway 285, making it surprisingly doable for a quick mountain escape. Bryan and I headed up for two nights during the week, laptops in tow, with plans to mix a little work with a lot of mountain air.

📷 Here for the photos? Jump to the gallery.

Lostfork Basecamp in Grant, Colorado

Lostfork sits right along Geneva Creek, surrounded by pine and aspen trees and the mountains around Guanella Pass. The property currently includes modern cabins, A-frame cabins and RV sites, along with shared outdoor spaces and amenities.

The location is probably one of its biggest selling points. Grant is small – and I mean SMALL – which is part of the appeal. You’re not heading to a busy mountain resort town. You’re heading into the mountains.

At the same time, Lostfork isn’t exactly roughing it.

Our Cabin at Lostfork

We stayed in one of Lostfork’s modern cabins, which give you the cozy Colorado cabin experience without giving up the things that make a getaway comfortable. Ours was the perfect size for two people, with a warm, modern design and everything we needed for our two-night stay.

The kitchenette had a convection microwave, mini fridge and sink, along with dishes, utensils and the basics for preparing simple meals and snacks. The cabin also had comfortable bedding, a private bathroom with a hot shower and our own hot tub outside. A covered porch gave us another place to sit and enjoy the peaceful setting along Geneva Creek.

The cabins sit close to the creek and each other, but are positioned with privacy in mind. Ours made a great home base for a couple of days, with enough space for us to pull out our laptops and get some work done when necessary.

Then, when work was finished, we could step outside and immediately be back in the mountains.

Sauna, Hot Tub and Creek Time

One of the more unusual amenities at Lostfork is the pair of Finnish-style dry saunas overlooking Geneva Creek. The warmth was incredibly relaxing, especially with the sound of the creek and the mountain setting just outside.

Guests can heat up in the sauna and then, if they’re considerably braver than I am, use the creek as a natural cold plunge. I was perfectly happy enjoying the heat without that particular part of the experience.

There are also hammocks and places to hang out along the creek, a community gas fire pit, grills and other shared spaces around the property.

Our cabin also had its own private hot tub tucked alongside it. It felt secluded and was easily one of the most relaxing parts of our stay. Sitting in the hot tub surrounded by trees was exactly what we wanted after exploring the mountains.

Exploring Guanella Pass

Lostfork sits near the southern end of Guanella Pass Scenic Byway, so there’s plenty to explore without having to go very far.

We took advantage of the location to drive up Guanella Pass, stopping along the way to enjoy the mountain views. The landscape changes quickly as you climb, with winding roads, wide-open views and plenty of places where you’ll want to pull over for photos.

We were also there just a little too early for peak fall color. A few leaves had started to change, but I can only imagine how beautiful this drive must be around the middle of September, when the aspens turn bright yellow. Lostfork would make a great base for a Colorado leaf-peeping getaway, especially since you can enjoy the scenery along Guanella Pass without first battling I-70 traffic.

When the seasonal road is open, you can drive the fully paved Guanella Pass Scenic Byway all the way from Grant to Georgetown. From there, you can return to Denver via I-70, creating a scenic loop through a completely different part of the mountains. We didn’t make the full loop this time, but our drive gave us plenty to see.

A Colorado Getaway That Works for a Weekday

One thing I especially liked about Lostfork was how realistic it felt as a short getaway from Denver.

You don’t necessarily need to take a full vacation or commit to a long weekend. We went during the week and were able to get some work done thanks to the strong WiFi, then close our laptops and actually relax for a while.

That said, Grant really is in the middle of nowhere, which is part of its appeal but also something to prepare for. The closest restaurant is The Shaggy Sheep, and Casa Sanchez Mexican Restaurant is about 15 minutes away. There aren’t many other nearby options for meals, groceries or liquor… so pick up food, drinks and any other supplies before you arrive. We ended up having to drive back out to stock up and wished we had planned that part of the trip a little better.

Once we had what we needed, though, it was a super easy getaway. Lostfork is a great option for people who work remotely, couples looking for a quick escape or Denverites who simply want a couple of nights in the mountains without spending half their trip sitting in traffic.

Weddings, Groups and What’s Next for Lostfork

Lostfork is also developing into more than a collection of individual vacation cabins.

The property has already hosted weddings, retreats and larger gatherings. The owners told us they recently purchased neighboring property along the creek, with plans for additional A-frame cabins and a permanent covered or indoor event space for meetings, receptions and other gatherings.

The A-frames offer a smaller, simpler and more affordable alternative to the larger cabins. The five A-frames sit near Geneva Creek and include access to Lostfork’s shared amenities, including the saunas, creekside cold plunge, showers, laundry and camp store. They’re a good option for couples or solo travelers who mainly want a comfortable place to sleep while spending their time outside exploring.

Lostfork also has four spacious RV sites with full hookups, including water, 30- and 50-amp electricity and sewer connections. RV guests have access to the community building, bathrooms, laundry facilities and the property’s outdoor amenities. The sites can accommodate RVs of different sizes and are also pet-friendly.

We’ll Be Back!

By the time we left Lostfork, Bryan and I were already looking at dates when we could come back.

It was close enough to Denver to make a two-night stay completely practical, but far enough into the mountains that we actually felt like we had gotten away. The comfortable cabin and peaceful setting made it incredibly easy to settle in and relax.

Now we want to return when snow is falling, settle into the hot tub and watch the whole place turn into a winter retreat. That sounds like exactly the kind of Colorado getaway we’ll need once the colder months arrive.

Lostfork Photo Gallery

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Greeblehaus is a Denver-based blog sharing travel stories, practical tips, and real experiences from the road, along with a long-running focus on live music.