Piney River Ranch Reviews

The road to PRR is 95% gravel and the last leg of it Is in desperate need of grading. We were in a sedan and bottomed out several times. The mountain view over the lake is fabulous. Although the trail to the waterfall is relatively flat, it seems more like 4 miles instead of the posted 2.5. We were grateful for the snack shop and flushing toilets at the end of our hike. We got an extra reward of seeing a bull moose at the edge of the lake. There are canoes for rent ($20/hour).

really great hike up the mountain from Piney Lake.

Tucked away in the beautiful Piney River Valley, two valleys north of Vail, this rustic, bordering on spartan, ranch is a gem in the Rockies. It is located on the edge of the Eagles Nest Wilderness & not in a National Park which was erroneously reported in an earlier review. Currently under reconstruction, all facilities are operating. New cabins & yurts are currently being added to the already established facility. This destination spot is for the outdoorsman or one who simply wants to experience ultimate relaxation in a true mountain setting.

Piney Lake is a natural R&R area for all the cut throat & rainbow trout that make their way down from the upper lakes via the swift moving Piney River. The main trail leading into the wilderness is maintained for a good three miles from the ranch until down timber & slight trail diversions come into play. This being said, it is possible for a strong party to achieve the seven miles necessary to reach Upper Piney Lake, one of the two lakes draining into the river. There are very scenic stops are along the way. Backpacking into this somewhat pristine area allows the individual to truly experience this "Beautiful Little Area in Colorado" in the manner it should be experienced.

Wilderness areas are for human & horse travel only even though I didn't notice any evidence of horses on this trip. Fishing is good in the upper & lower lakes. Due to the swift moving current, river fishing is both discouraging & frustrating.

This report is from 7/19-23/2011.

Best day riding horses at Piney River Ranch! The guide, Nunu (I’m guess at the spelling) was WONDERFUL! She matched everyone’s personalities and comfort level to the horses beautifully. The two hour ride was fun, picturesque , and interesting-fun time for our entire family!
The ride up to Piney River is definitely an adventure as well! Not for the faint of heart or a low riding car. We enjoyed the adventure and loved the beautiful lake and trails at the top. Had lunch there as well. I will definitely visit Piney River Ranch again!

Fun! This place is definitely beautiful. The road in/out is not as bad as others have said, but it is not easy either. The lake, surrounding mountains, and fall colors were truly spectacular. We stayed in one of the lakeside glamping tents. They really need to update that description as they are not only not lakeside but actually situated behind the cabins.

Other than that, the place is great. Nice lodge with decent selection of gifts to take home, decent food - although a little pricey, and great service from the two ladies running the show.

We attended a wedding. First - as others have said - the ride in and out is rough. We were in shuttles and it was a rough ride.

But so worth it. We had rain, snow and sun all the same day. A beautiful place for the wedding. Oh and a moose came down for a look !!

Piney Lake Ranch is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Don't be put off by the comments regarding the drive - it is, after all, remote and that is the point. We had 4 children with us: they and parents stayed in the tepees and I stayed in one of the cabins. The children loved the trails and the swing sets. Their only complaint was the cold during the night. (They are from Florida). The cabins are simple, elegant and well appointed with an automatic coffee maker and a toaster. It was clean, cozy, and the bed was comfortable. The cabin was on the lake, the view incredible. A grill with propane is provided along with a fire pit for roasting marshmallows. Don't miss this if you are in the Vail area.

Piney has always been one of my favorite places to go until today. With family in town we decided we would go to piney to hike, canoe and stay over night in one of their teepees. The hike was great as always, the dock was closed so no canoe rental and the teepees were a complete joke. Broken cots in each teepee, two of the teepees might as well have been on the sewer plant as they were right next to the horse stables and the last teepee was 20 feet from the dust bowl parking lot. This is 4th of July week and the place looked like it was just opened after a long hard winter without any maintenance whatsoever. The staff was nice and helpful once you were able to find anyone but you really had to search to find anyone. Not sure what the story is but needless to say we left without staying the night and will not recommend to anyone for more than a day trip. Very disappointing!

As we went up the mountain, we saw several outfitters and their hunter clients camped to the side of the road, so we knew it would be a place to view the wilderness.

Its a 10.6 mile drive on a dirt road with lots of rocks and pot holes. I ended up with a flat tire. But I'm sure that's not too common since I didnt see anyone driving with doughnuts! We went to the Ranch but only to walk through the gift shop and use the bathrooms. There was a wedding going on there and I'm sure those pictures are beautiful. They had canoes available to rent and horseback riding from what I could see. The view of the lake is beautful. Worth the drive!!

We had lunch at Piney and spent the day up there. It was awesome. The food was delicious, staff were amazing. Super helpful when it started raining. Would go there again any day!!! Love it!!!

I went to this trail in the beginning of August and it was fantastic great views, pictures and hikes.

I was a little nervous about the drive, given all the discussion from other reviewers about gravel roads, 4 wheel drive, etc. Yes, the road is rough - gravel and not well-kept. So, you just need to go slow and I wouldn't take a high-end car or anything low to the ground. It will indeed take about 40 minutes to get there.

Once there, you can enjoy the lake or enjoy all/part of the hike. The trail gradually ascended, making it pretty easy and enjoyable for all in our party.

I would suggest going early in the day so you can hike and enjoy lunch or a snack a the resort and maybe a cone ride. Note, they close at 6pm.

I might also suggest staying toward evening in hopes of seeing resident elk and moose - we saw a lot of tracks so they are around. We just weren't there during the right time of the day to catch a glimpse.

Fun way to spend a summer or fall day in Vail.

This is a special little hide gem and worth the short but bumpy road drive. Be sure to look at the map on their website prior to going, we did take a wrong turn. Keep to the left when there is a fork in the road.
Beautiful lake with canoes, stunning views, hike and a great place to grab lunch or an early dinner, I was really surprised with how delicious the food tasted. You can bring your own food and eat at a picnic table away from the restraunt.
Do bring a little of everything to wear in your car. Rain can come in and out quickly and make the temperatures rise and fall just as quickly.

Not easy to get to, but worth the trip. A nice place to hang or do a number of activities. Nice that you can drive right up to where you want to be and be in wilderness for the most part

We did not stay here, but just visited for the day. Don't attempt to get there unless you have an SUV or similar vehicle. The road is quite rocky, but the setting is worth it. We thoroughly enjoyed hiking and taking in the views. There were just enough people around to not feel totally isolated, but we also had enough privacy to feel like it was just "our" experience. The snack bar/restaurant is a nice place to rest, get a bite to eat and take in the local flavor. If you're into souvenirs, you can find shirts, caps, etc.

Nice view but new owners won't let you picnic there. You have to buy their horrible food to enjoy the lake and mountain view.

My husband and I camped at the Piney River Ranch on August 14th on our way to Moab. At the request of our daughter who was there in June, she wanted us to see this beautiful mountain lake. We were not disappointed. Even though we could only spend one night. The staff at the ranch were very friendly and kind. The gave us a heads up about the resident moose and told us were we could tent. It was so peaceful there and because it was getting toward the end of the season, we had the tenting area to our selves. I think all the cabins were full but didn't really see any people. The drive to Piney Lake is not as scary as people say but it doesn't hurt to have 4 wheel drive. It's a bit bumpy but that is half the fun getting there. I would recommend this place as a spot to relax, and hike or ride horse. They have horses and a guide to rent. Hiking to the water fall is a must. It's an easy three mile hike. We didn't get a chance to eat there and they don't serve breakfast but he restaurant looked like a nice place to share a meal. I'd definitely return to the Piney River Ranch

You are rewarded with amazing views after a 30-40min drive on an unpaved and pocked dirt road. No bathrooms in the cabins but this is part of the experience of glamping. Bring a coat because it will get into the low 30s in the summer nights!

I have traveled all over the world and happened upon this beautiful place during our trip to Colorado this year. The beauty of this little spot on Earth must be seen with your own eyes. We spent 2 full days here hiking and fishing. We ate at the restaurant one of the days and really enjoyed the BBQ food. The fishing was really great especially if you hike up the river from the lake. The scenery will be imprinted in your mind for the rest of your life. If you happen to be in this area during the summer do not miss out on spending some time enjoying the beauty at Piney River.

Went to a wedding on a spectacularly gorgeous day, unfortunately the service didn't match. Tables weren't cleared, glasses not filled for the toast, food at buffet was not replenished, a bit of rudeness, and unfriendly bartenders. This was the consensus of any guest I spoke to. Despite this, I had a great time, especially since the band that was brought in saved the day. Eventhough the setting is incredible, I would not hold an event there.

The location is truly spectacular! Worth the drive. The trails are beautiful and good for kids.

But don't expect much from the owners. They have no interest in welcoming or serving their guests. We felt like an incredible inconvenience. If you go, make and needed reservations well in advance and don't be late. And just go for the location.

Great place for a day in the mountains with the family. Beautiful scenic view of the mountains. Nice lunch in cafe an accommodating staff

First of all, make sure you KNOW where you are going when you start out on your adventure to find Piney River Ranch. We Googled it and set off on the map it had suggested...and luckily we had pulled off to re-think this before heading down the trail with our rental SUV. A truck came from the other way...and said they were following Google and the trail they were on was more of a horse/ATV trail. Definitely NOT the correct way to go. We did another search and found the actual "road" and set off on that route. This one is still a dirt road, very bumpy, and those 13 miles feel like a lot longer than 13. But...it is SO worth it when you get to the other end. What a lovely setting with the camp sites, cabins, tee pees and yurts! Someone on the gondola in Vail had suggested this as a great place to canoe, hike and just take in the lovely scenery...and they were absolutely correct. We pulled into the parking lot and went into the "lodge" to ask about a map of the hiking trails. Unfortunately, we were told they were out. But, the woman at the counter gave us good directions and off we went. (Note: We were in the small, main parking lot and offered to move our car before we left...and were told it was no problem and to just leave it. We bought a couple bottles of water and away we went...) The trail out to the falls is not very steep and a pretty easy one. About three hours to get out and back...going along the lake, the creek and through the trees. Really a lovely hike with great views.

Beautiful! I didn't find out about this place till my last day in Vail, They close around 6pm and by the time i got there it was like 5:30 so i didn't have time to do anything. It is amazing location, nice lake, you can rent a canoe, paddle board, fish etc beautiful moutains as the backdrop, hiking trails, horse rides. It is amazing area wished i had discovered it sooner!! The only downside is a dirt road bumpy drive 10 miles up the mountain (seems like you will never arrive) but it is worth it!! You might even see some wildlife on the way up. I was actually told about this location from a tour guide up on vail ski moutain, so glad he did. If you have a free day, it is a great way to spend the day for an outdoor adventure. They have a restaurant so you can have lunch. They also have a few cabins right on the lake that you can rent ( i didn't check into that but i would like to) if you are an outdoor person all about nature i am sure it is a wonderful overnight stay, beautiful, quite, location.

This is quite an experience. You get to drive for almost an hour over the nastiest dirt road I've ever seen. Then its "Right, who's here ? There's your horse, any questions?"
I kinda liked the out back, rough n ready setup. But if you've had any experience riding horses whatsoever don't pick this one. The horses may have well been tied to each other. Its a trial ride with beautiful scenery and an excellent guide. But if you were thinking of getting a gallop on, look elsewhere.
Perfect for beginners. Even though a little pricey.

We recently visited Vail and decided to take the kids on a guided snowmobile tour with Piney River Snowmobiling. We had a good time, mostly due to the great location and scenery. One word of warning though, the guides (especially the one we had) are particularly rude and lack even the faintest sense of humour. I say this as they have a tendency when you arrive to ask "shall I put a $40 gratuity on your bill whilst you're paying?". Fortunately I declined, wishing only to tip if we received genuinely good service and how can you judge that before the event. In retrospect I'm pleased I did as the service from the guide was poor and often quite aggressive. Suffice to say that they received no tip from us. My advice would be to look at other operators who offer a similar service and I hope that your search reveals much friendlier service.

This is a hidden gem. We only heard about the trail from some other people vacationing and came to check it out and found the ranch. The view is so worth it we will be back. We hiked which was amazing for 3 hours along a moderate trail. You could just do the first half of the trail with perfect views that would be much easier. We had a few beers. Talked to the staff who were very interesting. Ate. Met the guy who takes care of the horses. We want to go back to ride the horses with the guide, canoe, and rent a paddle board. The views are what you think of as a perfect mountain view!

Visited 25 years ago but this time it had quite the physical change. A restaurant, cabins, bathrooms, gift shop, a place to have a party, etc. There were going to be 4 weddings there that night. They must have had spectacular views! Hubby and I did the canoeing on the lake while our daughter did her own paddle boarding. So much fun. The entire staff (gift shop, canoes, and restaurant) were all helpful and happy. We did not do the 3 mile one way water falls hike but probably will next time. We were told the hike was mostly flat and worth it. We will definitely go back a 3rd time!

We had an excellent horseback ride today at Piney River Ranch. The views were incredible and the two hour ride was relaxing and fun. Our guide Nunu was excellent and matched us all with the right horse for our levels. The ride up to the ranch is definitely bumpy but well worth the trip. Make sure to spend extra time and get in a hike or canoe/paddle board on lake.

Absolutely stunning views and peaceful surroundings. We were the only ones there. We were surprised by the above average cafe at the ranch. Was a pleasant surprise to have a place to sit and have a snack and they had real restrooms. I will go back in spite of the 10 mile trek over rough terrain.

Yes, it's true the drive takes about 45 minutes on a windy, rut-filled packed dirt road up the mountain. But it is totally worth it! The views with the lake, mountain backdrop and meadow flowers all around make for an incredibly beautiful setting! We did not do the hike to the waterfall because our 3 kids were not up for it so they tried paddle boarding for the first time and loved it. You can also rent canoes and fishing gear. The employees working there including Ethan were so friendly and helpful. We had drinks and fries in the restaurant. The fries were delicious and looked and tasted homemade! The icing on the cake that made me love Piney River Ranch even more was when we called after arriving back at our condo and asked if there was any way to get 3 stuffed Monty the Moose for our kids which they sell in the gift shop. To our surprise and delight, the woman we spoke to said that the owner John could bring them down the mountain and deliver them to us! My kids were ecstatic and my husband and I were so appreciative. This is a must see place if you love beautiful places and amazing customer service!

I had my wedding here and cannot reccomend it enough! The manager Monique is the consummate professional. Everything was easy and gorgeous. THe food was phenomenal, the staff was lovely, and the venue is the most gorgeous place in Colorado. Worth evewry last penny. I highly highly reccomend!

Piney River Ranch is located in a majestic setting. The views are incredible and well worth the scenic drive to get there. You can choose from a multitude of activities from horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, etc. We chose to hike up to the waterfall which is about three miles up. Not only is the hiking beautiful upon our return we went and had lunch at Piney. The food and staff are fantastic! The Aussie staff in particular are amazing! Friendly and warm but with a sense of humor that kept us all grinning! From the experience to the people this is a must! You can't go wrong!!!

Living in Vail for 30 years now I have seen 1st hand how piney has evolved. In the last 5 years this Little gem has gotten very popular. A few weeks ago it was the busiest I have ever seen it, but even that can’t away from how preaty the views are and how well the management has provided all of us a 1st class experience. Monique and her staff have put a lot of effort in to making it a grand experience for all that visit.
Spend a night there To really take it all in after all the day trippers have left.
Follow it up with a early morning hike up to the falls and a nice lunch before going home. There is a family of moose that frequent the southern part of the lake.( please respect their privacy as moose are very unpredictable creatures that are massive in size.)

The concierge at our hotel recommended this to us. The drive there was a little bumpy but once we got there we were not disappointed. We were greeted by Monique and she immediately told us all about Piney Ranch and what we could do there. What a lovely lady!! We really enjoyed talking to her. We rented a canoe and paddled to see the moose that was on the other side of the lake. Then we came back and had a wonderful lunch. We then hiked to see the waterfalls and it was a great hike. Took about 3 hours. On our way down, we saw 2 moose - Incredible!
All in all, a great day!!!!

Hiked the Piney River Trail to the cascading waterfall & stopped @ the Piney River Ranch for snacks on the trip down. Salsa & chips were delicious! Fresh tomato salsa with 3 color chips.

A pure treasure at the base of the Gore Range. Rent a canoe, have lunch, ride horses...beautiful location! Bring your best camera and prepare for erratic weather. Could be hot, cold, rainy, snowy...bring sunblock and hoodies/raincoats. Wear sturdy shoes too.

This was probably our favorite hike during our time in Vail. The bumpy dirt road (45 minute drive) is slow to navigate but we were able to do in my SUV. We hiked the Upper Trail which had awesome views the entire hike! We returned to see two moose on the far side of the lake. The staff was very friendly and allowed my elderly parents to wait on the porch/restaurant while my husband and I hiked for 3 hours.

Absolutely amazing horseback riding tour through the mountains to see out to Gore range! Wonderful, knowledgeable guides who treat their horses and riders amazingly! Would 100/10 recommend this activity if you’re in the area! Be sure to book in advance though! They fill up quickly!

The approach brings "trail ride" to mind.After a 30 minute super bumpy (unpaved) drive one is rewarded with a spectacular panorama.The (lunch only) menu is limited but tasty and well priced.The staff couldn't be more friendly and welcoming.Several great hikes available and it's rumored that there are trout in the lake,although on our visit the wind outperformed our talent.

The new leasee of Piney River Ranch was rude. We were told we could not fish the lake even though the lake is not owned by them but last I knew Denver Waterboard owned it. Told by another fellow camper the man with the wierd mustache told him and his son if they went back they would be shot as it was private property. Have never been treated that way in all the years we have been going there!

The ranch and restaurant were actually closing at 4pm on a Friday in October when we visited, but worth 40 minute dirt road drive just to see the lake. You can still get out and hike on public land even when the ranch is closed. So beautiful!

Dangerous Road - worse road ever - we were told it was bumpy, but we found out it is dangerous - not worth the drive to see a lake!!! Deep Potholes, rocks everywhere, your tires can “spin” Folks need to know in advance - the road is not safe!!! You drive 5 mph, for approx 12 miles one way, and then do the same thing driving back. And, pray you don’t get a flat tire or run out of gas!! You’ve been warned., I do not recommend this drive. No lake is worth putting your life in danger. Not sure why this road remains open in this condition.

This was a great experience, After driving up a dirt road for 8 miles and gorgeous scenery, we arrived at Piney River Ranch. It was a different world. A beautiful lake that you could canoe on, log cabins you could rent, and even a neat little restaurant. We decided to hike almost 3 miles up to the waterfall. What awesome scenery. Probably one of the most enjoyable hikes we have been on, We are not advanced hikers, only beginners, You need to allow at least 3 hours to hike up and come back down. It was probably one of the best days we have had in Vail. If you are looking for something beautiful and different, I would suggest you consider driving up here. The rode is very bumpy and like a washboard in many places. It takes about 45 minutes from I-70 to drive up there, even though it is only 8-10 miles total. I would dedicate a whole day to enjoy the entire experience, Definitely worth it.

Ranch is gorgous, yet the food for wedding was terrible. It all came out of a can or bag. Too bad, everything else was great.

Best thing to say is have your adventure and try it out for yourself. I found it beautiful, nice trails and decent food. A LOT of fun! It's a long slow drive though. Took us about 45 minutes on the dirt road.

Free access to the ranch! With lots of the hiking trails. Bumpy road on the way down but worth it to get to the lake. My only complaint was the upper pine trail was NOT worth the time. The waterfall and view at the top was underwhelming. The best views are at the bottom and the by the lake.

This is a great place to get away from the summer vacation crowds. Beautiful lake filled with hungry pan-sized Brook Trout. They love a size 14 Renegade dry fly!

Good food at the restaurant.

It is a very nice hike up the valley beyond the lake. Scenic views are awesome!

My mom and I had the opportunity to meet with Piney's new GM, Monique to discuss our August wedding details--she was nothing but fabulous!

Monique could not have made me feel more prepared or excited for our upcoming wedding event at the ranch. She came organized to discuss everything from our vendors to decorations and food for the event.

Monique is an incredibly valued asset to Piney River Ranch!

We took our 3 boys, ages 3, 5, and 7, up to this ranch. We did part of the hike, canoed, and fished. It was reasonably priced for everything we did. The road up wasn't bad, but we have an SUV. There are parts where a car might not do so well over the rocks.

My daughter recently moved to CO and fell in love with this place. When you see the view, no explanation needed. It's breathtaking. We were able to stay in the small cottages they have for one night. Monique checked us in. She's a doll. Super friendly and accommodating. The cottages however need some updates. For the $160 a night the carpets need a super cleaning or replacing.
The bedding needs to be tossed as well. Not quite sure how often this is washed, but please, let's update. It's the little things that will keep people coming back and getting 5 star reviews.

Piney has horses, fishing, canoes for rent and great hiking trails. The drive in can be 4WD only if it has rained recently, but it can be worth the effort to get away from the crowds in the valley during summer.

Our two senior adult couples had a great day trip to Piney Lake and the ranch. Yes, the 45 minute drive up the dirt road is tedious, but can be easily handled by passenger cars. The reason it takes 45 minutes to go 10 miles is... You can drive it any faster without busting something! But as others have said, the destination is worth the effort. We were pleased at how many families with very small children had come to visit. The rental canoes came with life preservers and seemed very popular. We saw a couple that had paddled up to the lake headwaters and well into and up the Piney River that meanders through the upper valley. Saw some modest efforts by some at fishing, but it didn't seem productive today. The servers in the store/restaurant were quite friendly, despite the reputation that earlier reviewers have given them. We hiked about 45 minutes up the trail. The first 30 minutes are in a meadow with no shade, but the trail then enters a cool Aspen forest en route to the falls further on. It's an easy hike that small children can handle. Overall, this is a beautiful venue and a great day trip from Vail or Avon.

The listing of Piney River Ranch's phone number is incorrect on this website, and the phone number listed on their facebook page and website do not work either. Not impressed, especially if you need to contact them to book a wedding for next summer.

NuNu our wrangler was excellent and the horses were very well trained. We chose the 2 hour ride and it was great. Excellent views. The road to Piney Ranch is roughy. We made it in a Camry, but it wasn’t an easy drive. If we had an SUV, no problem.

The drive up is best in an SUV. Rocky uneven road surface on a 12 mile dirt road with potholes everywhere. BUT, the views of the lake and mountains once you get there, are truly worth it. We did the Upper Piney Lake Trail, which starts out easy thru a meadow and moves to moderate once you get into the trees. Beautiful area, beautiful views, great overall experience. The road however is a challenge so be prepared.

If you want to hike or just relax around beautiful scenery, visit Piney Lake. The wildlife is active and sometimes you can find moose hanging around the lake. Its a great place for a wedding, but its a fairly long dirt road drive up to the lake.

While being in the Vail resort is nice, I enjoy going out to see more wild side of things. So visiting Piney River was one of our plans. Driving on the unpaved forest road itself was the experience and every turn offered you a different scenary. The ranch offered beautiful views, and we canoed on the beautiful clear lake. We spent only one morning there, but you can spend the whole day hiking and horseback riding, or just enjoying the scenary.
Although it took 40-50 minutes from Vail, our 4-cylinder rentacar could handle the road without any problems and it sure was a trip you should not miss!

Many kudos to the wonderful staff at Piney River Ranch. If was my first time riding a snowmobile and my son as well. He is 14. The mountainside was absolutely beautiful. The road is somewhat winding, as you get through the mountains. Once your get to the "pit" there is a raceway like track for the faster speed demons. The log cabin with its 2 fireplaces and horse saddle bars stools is a wonderful place to relax for a little and have lunch. We had the pulled pork and coleslaw and I highly recommend it. No skimping on the pork here.

I drove to Paradise last week…while visiting Beaver Creek my family and I drove up to Piney Lake in the Gore Range of Colorado. It was by far the best part of our vacation.

Entering the wilderness area is a rare opportunity to leave behind the developed culture and see the Rocky Mountains, and that part of America, in an untouched state. The view on the ride up is perhaps unchanged in thousands of years…and nothing could improve it!

The Lake area is pristine and perfect. We experienced the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, on a short walk from the car park. There were humbling views that were accessible by an easy walk around the lake. Walking just a little further, and a little further more, opened mountain vistas that defied usual definition. The whole experience was heightened by the crisp, dry air, the smell of mountain pine, the chirping of birds and the grand Gore Range. It affected our family, who realized that this was way beyond “a walk in the woods”!

The visit to the charming and “funky” (my daughter’s term) lodge was a highlight of the trip. The staff was beyond charming and helpful, they truly cared that we had the experience of a lifetime. The caring, informative and honestly friendly staff cemented our high opinion of this special place.

We drove silently back to Beaver Creek , all of us reliving the awesome experience of our visit to Piney Lake.

To start, you have a several mile drive up a fairly steep "manicured" dirt road. Was it worth it, heck ya. As you pass some majestic views on the way up, you will eventually make it to the ranch. If you had a thought in your mind as to what the Rockies look like, this is it and it is breathtaking Now, moving on to the infamous waterfall at the end of a +-2.5 mile hike. Was that worth it, nope. Although you see several snow melt waterfalls several miles away, the end doesn't justify the means because when you arrive, all that you can see is the top of the waterfall and unlike Booth Falls, because of the vegetation, you can't look over the edge. Is it cool, yeah but in my most humble opinion, it wasn't worth it.

The drive up from Vail was beautiful too. The last 3.8 miles was all bumpy road. I missed the fall leaves this year. Came a little late in the season. We had a dry summer. The water level is low. But the hike was still nice. The ranch must did good advertising. So many people here on the weekend. There were a lot of parking, so it wasn’t a problem.

Maybe the most beautiful place I've been in CO. While the summer time is great for a stay in one of their very nice and natural feeling log cabins (or even a teepee for the more adventurous) the winter time might be the best oppurtunity to be blown away by the natural beauty of the National Park.

Speaking of the fact that its a National Park, it is important to note that the National Parks Service is responsible for maintaining the roads and other maintenance aspects like clearing fallen trees despite what previous reviews may have eluded to. The staff that operates Piney River Adventures should not be held responsible for the Park service's less than stellar effort of late. And really, who are we kidding? The beauty does not hide despite this lack of maintenance and the excellent service more than makes up for any slight inconvenience this may (or may not!) cause. Like the last reviewer mentioned, Justin is who you should ask for. He was who helped us both times we've visited... he guided us on snowmobiles this last winter and was also extremely helpful with anything we needed during our summer cabin rental in June for a few nights. Again, what a great place to visit and I can't wait to go back. Such a great place to escape the normal city life.

Nothing spectacular. Food could of used some improvement. I agree with the road, it should be repaved. We went last winter and plan to come back in a month or two. Not a top list of to-do's on our return.

The road was awful: dirt road, one lane, bumpy, and no guard rails. For someone afraid of heights. . . not good. But then most of Colorado isn't a great place for an acrophobe. Going up was worse even though we were hugging the mountain for most of the way. I tried not to look on the way down.
Once there, we hiked the long hike back to the falls. It took us around 4 hours for the entire trip. It wasn't easy for a Floridian getting acclimated to the altitude. The trip back was mostly going down and was much easier. Beautiful views. Some areas were not clearly marked near the end. I realize the trail continues on to Upper Piney Lake but some sort of signing with mile markers would be beneficial. Upon our return we were thankful for the free water in the restaurant. But there was definitely a lack of signs or customer service. We didn't know whether to sit ourselves down or wait. We sat down regardless because we were exhausted. No one brought us menus so we got them ourselves. I had to wave down a waitress to take our order. I watched many customers do the exact same thing and say exactly what we did. But, after the 6 miles of hiking, it was the most delicious burger I'd ever eaten!

Expansive & Incredible views of mountain range and lake. If you want to "get away from it all" this is the place. Take the hike to the falls it's worth the trek. A little challenging but folks from 8 to 80 were doing it. Great staff and Ty the horseback guide was awesome. He is the real deal cowboy and very knowledgable about area and history with a dash of humor. Bring warm clothes and extra blankets, it is 9,350 ft up and nights are cool. Very refreshing. We will be back.

Piney River / Lake offers beautiful mountain views and a great hiking trails but getting there on a long, unpaved and very bumpy road is challenging.

We went there 2 times during the 5 days we were in Vail. It is an awesome, somewhat white knuckle drive up to the lake, but the beauty is well worth it. The lake is beautiful, and we were fortunate to get great pictures of the moose Montie both trips. The horse riding trip could not have been better. Ty was so informative, and really took time time to make sure everyone was prepared and comfortable. I had a wonderful adventure, just a bit out of my comfort zone, but exactly what I was looking for. I Loved this Place!!! And hope to be fortunate enough to someday return. Thanks to all that work there. You are truly appreciated.

Beautiful place.
Staff is outstanding.
Took a hike and canoe trip and saw Monty the moose.
Bumpy road but worth the journey.

Went up here with a group of photographers and the views did not disappoint. The drive, to the top is a bit of a bumpy road and I was thankful someone else was driving, don't know how my little car would have faired on it. Saw tons of wildflowers, birds and even a marmot. There is a cafe at the top but check on hours and if it will be open, there are a lot of private events held up there.

What a fantastic find!!! You drive a 12 mile dirt road which is driveable in a rental car if you pick and choose your route carefully. It took me about an hour but was well worth the ride. You will have to run your car through a car wash before you return it due to the collection of dust. The aspen trees and views while driving out had me stopping to take multiple pictures. The ranch itself had a beautiful lodge with nice gifts. It also had 4 cabins which I did not stay in but they looked very appealing. The outdoor fire pit looked like a great place to sit at night. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Very homey! We went to hike in the White River Forest and it is accessed through the ranch. It has a small lake and streams. You were so far away from everything it was amazing. The staff told me there was WIFI by the boathouse and phone service in the lodge. I would love to go back and escape from the hustle and bustle of the world.

We had a good hike to the falls. My 5 and 7 year olds did it. Saw moose along the way. Great family activity. Restaurant was good too.

One of the most beautiful places in the world. Rough road to get there, but worth it. The kids loved the stream and looking for fish

down a dirt road for 10 miles - normal car can make this in @ 45 mins off I70.

bring lots of bug spray - mosquitos are bad.
trail intersects with an older trail in @ 5 places and you can easily get off course.

trail leads to the Piney river falls - little view and payoff.

skip this and go to BOOTH FALLS instead - easier drive and trail with much better payoff.

We attended Piney River Ranch in August of 2010. This is the third summer in a row that we have visited the Ranch. We love the scenery and enjoy the lake. This summer was quite different from prior years. While the scenery is the same and the lake is wonderful, the Ranch and the road accessing the Ranch are clearly not up to reasonable standards. We have been to the Ranch about 6 times over the years and the road this year was horrible. It is rough and really not safe unless you have a heavy duty truck. I would not make the trip again in our SUV in the current condition. The Ranch itself looked as if the economy is taking its toll. There was little or no help. The kid running the canoe rentals was inattentive and low in the motivation department. No one seemed to be running things. A number of trees around the Ranch have been cleared which changed the atmosphere. Once we made it up the road, rented the canoes and were on the lake, we had a good time. However, our family unanamously agreed that things are not the same in the restaurant and around the Ranch.

This is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Don't be put off by the crazy, bumpy, rutted 12 miles of dirt road you'll have to drive to get there. It's worth it. The hiking there is unbelievable, with a range of difficulty to suit every member of the family. And while you're hiking you'll be watching some of the most spectacular mountain & woods scenery ever. If you're not interested in the hiking, the lodge has horseback riding available, as well as fishing and some boating. My kids also loved the little gift shop and cafe offerings. Although the menu was quite limited, the food we had was certainly adequate for our ambitiously busy outdoor adventures. The horseback riding, in particular, was quite an adventure & so much fun with the trail guide who was a real-deal cowboy with a string of great stories to keep everyone entertained. Get the official Vail Valley hiking guides and look up the variety of trails around Piney River Ranch. Unforgettable.

It's a very bumpy, never ending gravel, rocky road to Piney River Ranch. The view is breathtaking! Great place to hike or fish. The service left a lot to be desired. Only sit where the owner tells you or you will not be serviced. Bad attitude! I know we won't go back. Limited menu, but food was good.

We loved the idea of camping in a tent. Unfortunately, though we asked several times about showers we never actually had access.

However, the views are amazing and the kids loved running around and exploring the grounds. The lake and trails are great.

Next time we'll do a day trip for the hiking.

Piney River Ranch is one of my favorite places on Earth. I started coming to the Ranch In the mid-1970's as a little girl to ride horses. Today, if you can handle the INCREDIBLY bumpy ride, (note: this is NOT a drive for your little Honda Accord! Low-riding cars will bottom out on some beautiful Sandstone rocks and ruts that are part of the ride up!) then you are in for one of the most spectacular views in the Vail Valley. Any time you make this journey you will be rewarded with amazing scenery, but to do the drive in the Fall is a canvas of amazing Aspen colors!

Everything supplied by nature was perfect. Everything supplied by the ranch was sub-par. Our greeting consisted of "your room is over there". We stayed in one of their "glamping" tents. The view from the tent (and all of them) is the back of cabins. The mattress was extremely cheap with an unpadded metal frame around the edge. We stayed 2 nights so were there for most of 3 days. During that time, restrooms were not maintained at all. In the men's room, one toilet had backed up/overflowed which was never cleaned up. The other had no toilet paper for our entire stay. Sinks were full of dead bugs in both men's and women's. I preferred to use the porta-potty to the restrooms. Food was OK (nothing special) but very expensive. Staff had loud (read that as "probably drunk") visitors come by yelling about the party.

All-in-all, I felt that the staff was very unprofessional, the accommodations were mediocre, and the service was poor. I would recommend visiting for a day, but would never suggest staying there.

In summer time, this is a great place to visit. 40 minutes away from Vail with different walking trails and wonderful views. Excellent place for picnics and family/friends gatherings.

The view from this venue is stunning. But EVERYTHING else is a complete mess. If you are just desperate for a venue because they are one of the few venues open during COVID, just beware that it will be expensive and you will be disappointed.

Here is what was missed on our wedding day. And this was after a special trip to PRR to meet with Brittany, (sales and event manager) to go over again, the details. However, Brittany was ill, so one of the owners and manager of the facility, Monique Busold, was in charge the day of my wedding. I have not spoken to Monique, nor did she ever reply to single email I sent with the same details.

*The bathroom on the hill was dirty and no toilet paper. Asked for it to be cleaned, never was. We were promised a closer bathroom to the event; it was not there.

*It was moved to a different room, which I guess was ok but far too big for 20 guests.

*I asked for snacks and drinks to be in both changing rooms upon arrrival.. ..there were none. The coordinator I hired separately was able to get me a glass of wine; no one else received anything but water.

*My signature drink, a cosmopolitan, which is a martini, I did not have a martini on the day of my wedding. I had a seabreeze or some version of…. (martini glasses were rented, no communication with the bartender). Apparently, the bartender told the wedding coordinator that a martini is a shot and could not be served on property and refused to use to the glasses.

*I did not have a single appetizer, heard from others they were delicious.

*The meal was supposed to be served buffet style, why we technically needed more space and it was moved. We wanted and requested buffet to mingle with the group, so people could choose what food they prefer, for covid purposes to self serve and so their food would be hot. (I also had menus printed, for buffet style). The vegetarian meal was served even though Josh’s sister was not present at the wedding; numbers of those attending were updated via email. Communication was poor.

*Instead the meal was plated, was cold, over cooked and FAR TOO much food on the plate, honestly… it did not look presentable or appetizing. I would give the meal a 0.

*I asked for the remainder of the cake to be wrapped up, since everyone had their cake slices taken, no one even had the chance to try it. Where is communication? sense of service? We had 2 slices packaged and put in our room. The remainder of the cake should have been frozen.

*The flu was broken in our tent (honeymoon nite) so the tent was full of smoke or freezing. There is no one on staff to help.

*Apparently an event order is supposed to be on site to run through the details of an event for all to follow. We did not have one.

WE spent in all around 26K (probably more) for a wedding from 4-8 pm. The view was incredible but the service and food were deplorable. Honestly, I don’t know what would have happened had I not had the wedding coordinator I hired there to do her job and the ranch’s job as well.
The ranch's response: Sorry and a $200 credit for food we did not eat and they did not serve.

Piney River Ranch is a beautiful spot. HOWEVER the ridiculous drive up which is about 45 minutes each way, makes the trip not worth it. WHY The dirt road you need to navigate to get there is in RIDICULOUS condition. I am talking a jolting, bone jarring, suspension damaging, nerve rattling experience. If you have.a jacked up Jeep Rubicon ok- head on up. Or a rent car you don't care if you take years off of the suspension. Head on up. Otherwise there are too many beautiful places in the Vail Valley that you would be better off visiting.

Our family enjoyed an amazing stay at Piney River Ranch. The rustic and primitive, yet well appointed yurt was our accommodation of choice. We'd love to come every year. The view is beyond words, the fishing is very fun, the quiet is priceless. Thank you for making our 24th anniversary very special.

We try to go there every time we're in Vail but the road has gotten a bit difficult for our little subaru sedan. Best to travel the dirt road with a car that's got more clearance.

We love the horseback riding, the canoeing and the food I'd delicious. But don't go without a camera.

After about a 45 minute drive up a dirt road we reached the Piney River Ranch. After visiting the gift shop and loading up on a few snacks we headed down to the stables to meet our guide Ty. A true Cowboy with a big heart and a true love of horses. He spent quick a bit of time with each rider going over safety and skills that can be used for a lifetime when riding. For many on this trip it had been a while since they had been on a horse (three kids involved). After mounting our horses we headed up the mountain trail. Not ten minutes into the ride, we spotted a moose about 100 yards away which was very neat since the girls at the front desk told us to be on the lookout. Then about 20 minutes later we ran into a mule deer. That turned out to be a bit of a scare as one of the horses spooked with the deer spooked and threw one of the ladies from her horse. Although she was able to hold on long enough to fall without injury. Nevertheless, it put a bit of fear into a few of the other riders. Ty was quick to make sure everything was okay and gave a few pointers to everyone in the event something like that happened again. His knowledge of the land was excellence as he educated all of us on what the land provided along the trail - edible plants, natural plant sunscreens, how to spot bear marks on trees and various other interesting subjects including how to spot an old Indian campground. When you get to the top of the plateau the views are spectacular. Bonus was on the way back to the stables we came upon a moose about twenty yards from us. A bit nerve racking as horses and moose don't really mess well, but with the exception of my horse freaking out a bit, it was great. I would give the rating a five except for the one incident of our friend falling off and the horses being a bit skidish. Overall, I would do this ride again in a heartbeat. And the best part was all of the kids horses were exceptional. Very much worth the extra $15 to do the 2 hour ride.

We came to the highest alpine lake that you can drive to as a suggestion of a family member. The drive in 10 miles of dirt roads, scenery beyond belief and animals galore. We saw moose, deer and fox on our trip into the park. We took a leisurely canoe ride and a nice little hike before the weather moved in and forced us to leave.

They have a restaurant, which we didn't get to experience due to it not being open for the season just yet.

I got some gorgeous photos and would definitely return for the dining experience.

The 11 mile trail is an adventure. The views from the ranch were stunning. Proprietor friendly and interested in his guests. Food was fresh and delicious. Picturesque, rugged, beautiful.

25 minute drive on a bumpy dirt road, we did it in a Kia rental. Less traffic dust on a weekday. Moderate hike past a beautiful lake. Colors peaked a few days ago, but still plenty left

Drove up to do a day hike and what an amazing view. We did go into the Ranch store/restaurant to use restroom and bought the kids some snacks/ice cream. Pretty rustic up there; seems like it would be a cool place to stay overnight. The view out across the lake is amazing. Did a little trout fishing in the Piney up above the lake.

Piney River Ranch is worth the drive! It's 10 miles of dirt road but you wont be disappointed. Spend the day, take a hike, have lunch in the restaurant or stay the night in one of the cabins. You can't beat the views!!

I was there to attend a wedding. It's a very beautiful venue. Very rustic indeed! Ladies be careful in high heels as they sink right between the plank flooring. The restrooms are a bit of a walk up a hill from the celebration area. The 12 mile ride was worth the time. Beautiful scenery. My daughters hiked during the day and said it was awesome. Can't wait to go back and paddle board on the lake.

Very windy dirt road that takes about 45 minutes to get 12 miles up to the top but it is beautiful if you take the time. We went fishing and canoeing at the top and it was well worth the long ride up!

Piney Lake is well worth a visit. The road is a bit rough, but passable in any car. The Lake is in a beautiful setting. Lots of water craft can be rented. People fish there, although i've never seen anyone catch a fish - but the setting is hard to beat! Excellent lunches are served with a surprisingly wide choice of items.

We were hesitant to go, as it's so far out of the way, but were glad we did. The road is rough. I'd strongly recommend an SUV or crossover of some type. Lots of ruts and large rocks. We did see some regular cars, but you need to be very careful. The place is beautiful. And a nice hike towards the back of the lake. Mosquitoes, however, were terrible. Particularly near the lake. Nice place for fly fishing, if you don't mind Mosquitoes.

The drive up to the ranch is totally worth it. The snow capped mountains behind the lake make for amazing photos! I can see why it is also a wedding venue. A+

My familty and friends have gone to Piney River ranch for the past 4 summers. It is definitely a "must do" for our family every summer. The first time was just a visit, lunch and playing in the river. The past 3 years we have taken friends or family along. This always results in several canoes being rented and a glorious day on the water. My boys (now 11 and 9) absolutely love going up river from the lake rowing and hauling the canoes up and over the beaver dams and identifying the trout that dart under the boat. You never know what you might see around the next bend. We usually picnic and sometimes go fishing too. A great place to capture a photo for our next holiday card as well! A great day spent enjoying what God has made for us. Yes it is a 45 minute drive up and only 30 back, but it is worth every second. Don't forget to watch for the moose in the valley too.

We drove to Piney Lake right at sun down one night. Saw tons of wildlife and an amazing sunset. It is a 45 minute or so drive on gravel from Vail. We did it in a Subaru Outback and it handled the road fine, but a 2 wheel drive car or mini van would be a bumpy slow ride for sure. We liked the view and lake so much we went during the day another day and had lunch at Piney River Ranch. The food was amazing! And then we sat and just took in the view. This would be a good 1/2 day trip and rent canoes or paddle boards or full day trip and hike to the falls. Very family / kid friendly.

What an absolutely beautiful location for a wedding. The facility is rustic but well done. The lake and the mountain made a beautiful setting. The road up is a bit treacherous but well worth the ride. The food was excellent and even had a flushing bathroom. Wonderful day for all.

Just outside Vail down 10+ miles of narrow gravel road is a slice of heaven. This is the kind of place you see pictures of but are so much more spectacular in person.

We booked 1 night based on the reviews here. Driving our F-150, not needing 4x4 at all, we made it through the very bumpy road to the ranch. We followed a couple of minivans in and I have to guess they were sweating a bit about their undercarriage. NOT for a low riding vehicle. I am kind of glad its hard to get to so there aren't a million people.

We rented a canoe and standup paddle board on the lake and had dinner in the cafe. Once they closed for the night we had amazing solitude with just the few other campers. We starmyed int he tent, and the warning about gettimg cold at night is no joke, although we did not need the sleeping bags we brought.

At 2am we woke up, stepped outside and stared in amazement at the starry sky.

Up early to here moose across the lake and see a magnificent bald eagle. Then off on a hike to Piney Falls.

Truly a highlight of our trip to CO. The owners were wonderful, helpful and knowledgable. Worth every penny.

Had the best day ever Susan was amazing set us up for horseback riding.Susan recommended the hike to the falls, we took the 2 hour horse ride we did canoeing on the lake made for a full fun day. Came back exhausted but was worth every minute .. Can't wait to come back.

The scenery and setting is beautiful. The facilities and restaurant are adequate but nothing special. The service from the staff was great with the exception of the manager Andy Berst who should get out of a service-related business immediately. It is easy to have a great experience in a beautiful setting but the measure of a business isn't when things go right, it is how they are handled when things go wrong. Mr. Berst is smug, rude, arrogant, condescending, lacks empathy and common decency.

Three in our party went on a horseback ride which was supposed to be an hour but it was cut a half-hour short due to an afternoon storm. We asked if any refund, rain check or discount was available and Andy Berst rudely and aggressively stated that, "they don't have to give refunds and that it was the risk was on us because we came in the afternoon when storms happen more often." He reluctantly gave us $20 back but because of his negative, smug, and arrogant attitude he left us never wanting to return.

If you go to Piney River Ranch take some pictures and enjoy a hike but pack a lunch as I would not recommend supporting the businesses. I would never book an event (especially a wedding) or conference or stay in their cabins because, if you have a problem, Mr. Berst will most certainly make it worse. I personally do not recommend going there until they get a new manager

Perhaps one of the most beautiful locations in Colorado, Piney Lake requires a 45 minute drive over a rough red road. The drive is worth the view. Day hikes to a stunning waterfall invite. And there are canoes waiting to be paddled across the lake. Or visitors can sit on shore and absorb the calm.

It is possible to rent one of three cabins, a yurt, a teepee or a spot to put up a tent. This allows visitors to enjoy the quiet for a longer period of time and perhaps see a moose swim the lake.

Weddings up here are stunning, though guests will want bug spray. The arbor backs up to the view of lake, National Forest and mountain peaks. Rough benches provide space for guests and there is even a rustic, covered reception area.

The only drawback was the headache we received driving back across that bouncy red road! Suggest visitors make certain tires are in good condition. Of course a Jeep or 4-wheeler makes it good fun...

We visited Piney River Ranch for a 2 hour horse ride up. Our trail leader TY was quite the story-teller! He lead us up through a trail of beautiful Aspens, wildflowers and pine. The horses were gorgeous. Definitely good for a beginner as they handled easily. The view of the lake and mountains was breathtaking. You can fish from the shore or rent canoes. Everyone we dealt with was extremely nice. Only down side is the ride up and down from the ranch. Getting there will take you 45 minutes on a winding, uphill rocky-dirt road. Make sure to leave while it's still light for your whole trip down. Regardless of the road, the trip up was definitely worth it!

Whether you're spending a day, a week, or anything in between, you won't be disappointed!!! This is an incredibly rustic place set in the most amazing place - shooting stars, double rainbows & moose included!!! There is no running water or refrigeration within the accommodations (Yurt, Teepees, Tent Camping or Bare Minimum Cabins), however, bring your own camping supplies and ENJOY!!!! There's ice that's available and provisions for outdoor cooking along with hot & cold running water close to the cabins, yurt and teepees. While we were "camping" in one of the cabins, "Monty" the moose dined in the lake and along the grasses for about a day - his presence thrilled us all (including a beautiful wedding party!). The staff were welcoming and accommodating. This is a magical place..... WELL WORTH THE HOUR LONG DRIVEWAY!!!!

We were just riding around like children who were finally allowed outside to play. We drove until we happened upon the Piney River ranch. We chose not to go into the national park even though we had lifetime pass owners with us. Instead we kept pulling over and taking pictures. There were elks grazing and then we saw deer in the middle of the road. When we stopped to take their picture, they looked at us and then took off. It was awesome to see nature against the backdrop of snow covered mountains. Well worth the wandering drive.

Best chance of seeing a moose is early morning or dusk. Road is bumpy but a car can do it fine just take it slow. Nice horseshoe pit so among other mentioned activities you can have a couple beers and a bite from the lunch counter, listen to country music and enjoy the stunning views. Make it like a happy hour and leave around dusk to see some moose if you get lucky.

What a beautiful place to explore! You feel “Welcome” as soon as you arrive! Had the most awesome trail ride with “Nunu” the Wrangler. She carefully fit riders to horses, and had so much energy and knowledge along the trail. Fantastic Experience all around!
Worth the Bumpy ride to get there !!

Visited late in August 2017, and the place was crowded - we did not even try to get in. Rather, we took the Piney River Falls Trail, which is nice thogh quite busy.

I traveled all the way from Texas in search of an amazing mountainview wedding venue. I had fallen in love with Piney River Ranch and its view while researching online. The drive up was longer than expected, an hour plus--- only because of the car we were driving. I suggest in taking a truck if you will be visiting! I really didn't care about the drive and the bumpy, dirt road. That wasn't such the bother. It was when we arrived and the service that was offered to us. Yes, the view is breathtaking. The venue is amazing. But the leasee, Monique has no professionalism or order in presenting this amazing venue. She had no brochures or printed information to give me. We had a casual talk. She said she'd email me with a sample contract and would be confirming if the date I had chosen would be available.This was early July, the month is almost over and still no email. What a shame! Although, I really like the venue and the view, I decided to not do business with Piney River Ranch. They don't deserve it and I don't deserve the poor service for all the money I'd be forking out. NOT WORTH IT.

Piney Lake is not entirely private as the claim from Piney River Ranch suggests. If you find a local map you will see there is US Forest Service property on part of the lake, and this allows for public access. There are a number of fish stocked in the lake by the resort, and there are wild fish and state stocked fish, as well. If you visit Piney Lake, please respect the resort boundaries and stop in if it suits you. Otherwise, enjoy YOUR federal land and state fishery resource!

This is the very best Vail summer destination in Vail. Bring your camera as you cannot take a bad picture when you are surrounded by this much beauty.

Piney River Ranch is only open during the summer and accessible by a steep and winding road. It is a rutted road so the ride is rough and bouncy. Drive slow not to bottom out your car. A four wheel drive is not required, but it would make the trip easier. Be on the lookout in the dense tress for a resident moose and its baby which is seen on occasions.

Come prepared. At the ranch you can rent canoes and go hiking. Take a picnic and plan to spend the day. Bring layers to wear as it is colder than Vail at this elevation. Where durable shoes and bring ponchos in the event of rain (which may come and go).

Our daughter got married on the lakeside deck outside the rustic wedding venue at Piney. With the water and mountains behind them, the setting could not have been prettier. The views from inside the spacious timber dining room were gorgeous. The room was warm, comfortable and perfect for dancing to the great Denver band, FUNKIPHINO. The food was delicious and the service was terrific.

I was really excited about this “glamping” experience with the kids. Once we got there, all you can fiend is a crappy tent, cheap sheets, nasty blankets, LOT’S of hair on my bed (pretty sure they didnt wash the sheets). A grill that is falling apart is just left there. During the night we nearly froze to death. We used 3 packs of wood to keep the tent from freezing. My husband had to wake up every hour to check on the wood and make sure we had enough to make to the morning. All the guests on the tents next to us left before 8am because we all had the worst night ever. There is NO atmosphere. Everything is cheap but the $400 you spend to go. SO overrated. Save your money, go for a day trip and leave. You’ll thank me.

The views are magnificent but the ride in is awful. You must drive on a dirt road for about 9 miles and you cannot drive more than a few miles an hour due to the poor condition of the road. If you get car sick, stay away. Recommend using an suv vehicle or pickup truck with 4x.

45 minute dirt road trail that is very dusty and you have. To go slow due to small rocks on the road. After this trip you come to a lodge with a mid sized lake with an amazing backdrop. We took the kids out on the lake in a canoe they rent there and it was nice. We had lunch and it was pretty good. Service is good. They have real bathrooms there. Avoid the portables as they are gross. You can hike past the lake up the valley. I could have spent the who.e day there but we had to get back. There is a shop with reasonable priced tourist stuff that was better priced that what we found in Vail village. We did not see Monty the moose but left with two stuffed versions of him that the kids adore. Oh and you have to go home on that dirt road, you do not require a 4x4.

Piney river Rach is a must go to destination for fun and relaxation. The customer service was excellent, It was fun, affordable, and the accomodations were fantastic. I highly recommend. We thoroughly enjoyed all the activities including canoeing and horseback, and the staff was very hospitable.

We did this trail last week, with 10 and 13 year old boys. We did not visit the ranch. We stopped at the falls.

As mentioned previously, the road is rough and bumpy, but we easily made it in a rental four door sedan. Do plan for the 10 miles to take 45 minutes. You will lose cell service when the road turns to dirt, so make sure someone knows your plans, and you have tools in case you get a flat! If you do not visit the ranch, then be sure to bring water as there are no services.

The first third of the hike to the falls is super easy and beautiful! It would be accessible to anyone. The trail is well worn, but the side vegetation is slightly overgrown, so pants would have been more comfortable than the shorts I wore.

The middle third starts to gain elevation, but is still an easy hike as the trail gently climbs through aspens and evergreens. You start to see some mosquitoes here, when you stop for breaks. I wish I had used bug spray!

The last third is slightly more steep, with some small streams to cross on rocks, and a few spots of careful foot steps. There is enough water towards the end that at first, we were not sure if we had reached the falls. However, once we got there, we were sure! The falls are not step, but long and beautiful, and you will not just step over them! There is lots of standing water near the falls, so mosquitoes are thick.

We were fast on the way back, as it started to rain. We were three hours out and back, but would definitely been longer had we sat and enjoyed the falls (did not due to mosquitoes), or stopped for more pics (did not due to rain).

This hike is absolutely beautiful, but I may not return soon simply due to the time spent on the dirt road, and other, more accessible hikes in the area.

The dirt road was little rough, but a normal car should make it. I would not try it with a low clearance vehicle.

The views were awesome. Canoes for rent on the lake. The hike to the falls was beautiful.

Lovely views, you can hike around the lake, you can stay in a cabin without access to tolets, it is cute and we saw a Moma Moose and her baby at sunset and a herd of elk probably 67 in the distance on our way up.
Great photographs.

Monique, the new GM up there, has really, really turned this place around! Our wedding was amazing- beautiful, great food, tons of fun, great support from the staff, most amazing photo background. I can't say enough great things about Piney since Monique took it over. Of course it is rustic, it's a ranch, but we had 120 people up there and everyone raved about the place and the unique wedding experience. We had 50 friends stay the night up there after the wedding and we had a great bonfire and the accommodations were perfect for our group (nothing fancy but affordable and a unique experience in a teepee/yurt). We love Piney and are so happy that it will always be apart of our history!

We just spent a night in one of the cabins at Piney River Ranch and I was pleasantly surprised. All of the staff was very friendly and accommodating. The cabin was very clean and nicely decorated. If you don't want to cook your own food the food at the restaurant was very good. The bathrooms were clean and a short walk away. We hiked to the waterfall and rented a canoe. It is definitely one of the most beautiful lakes I have seen in Colorado. While we were there we saw three moose which were just amazing to see! I now understand some of the reviews about the staff yelling at people. They had to also do that while we were there because some people were very ignorant when it came to the wildlife and how close they should get and it was for their own safety. Chances are if you got yelled at it was because you deserved it!

Definitely off the beaten path (took us over 45 min to get there on mostly dirt road up the mountain) but it was definitely worth the trip! The wildlife was just off the road on the way up (moose and mule deer!) and the lodging, while rustic, appeared nice.
We hiked the 3 miles in to beautiful views of the waterfall - water levels have been low this season but it was still beautiful! Not too dangerous for the novice hiker! Then to have the restraunt open upon our return for a snack was an added bonus -
NOTE: take snacks and water on your journey!

Might be a bumpy road to get there, but it gives you a true taste of Colorado from the comfort of your car! Great views the entire drive, and the end location is worth it! No hiking necessary to get to such an incredible location! They have a kitchen for lunch, canoe rentals and a trail to venture around on. And every once in a while you will see a Moose! You Truly feel like you are visiting the Colorado Rocky Mountains when easily driving to this Epic location!

Piney River Ranch is a beautiful spot. Long drive to get there up a rocky dirt road but beautiful scenery all the way. Sad that the pine beetle has killed so many of the trees. We did the 2 hour horseback ride. Our guide, Ty, was adorable and very entertaining. Personally, I like a more active ride that has opportunity to "get up and go" and this was just nose-to-tail. Enjoyable anyway. Had a nice lunch afterwards with view of pretty lake.
Good day and we loved TY!!

This a place that you visit for the view and don't expect more than that.

I was there last summer again and the facilities are not bad, just "rustic". After all you are out in the middle of nowhere. From what I hear a new owner took it over in the past few years and compared to when I visited in 2000, it shows signs of improvement.

The main issue is that the access road from Vail is absolutely brutal in some spots. So bad, I've actually had people that were with me, start laughing because it's so bad it's funny. I do not recommend that you try to bring your Ferrari back here. Regards, mountainstar

My family loved the view. The drive there was very pretty. Kids loved the road that takes u there. We rented canoe there and that was a huge hit with kids. We would go back there again in a heartbeat.

Awful bumpy rocky roads which damaged car. Beautiful scenery is tainted by the commercial operations and large crowds. Tourists everywhere enroute concerned about their cars and confused by the driving directions. No cell service. Ranch is not wiping down boats or boat equipment to prevent COVID.

We went up to Piney to do the hike. It's a fairly easy hike that ends at a waterfall. Roundtrip it takes about 3 hours. The ranch itself is located by a lake surrounded by wonderful scenery. We stopped into the restaurant for lunch after the hike. The food and ambiance were both great. If you are looking for something to do for a few hours while in the Vail valley I highly recommend going up to Piney. One warning, If you are just going up to hike you are not allowed to use the ranches facilities.

We drove out to Piney Lake after doing another hike in the area. The road is very bumpy out but worth it. We had a short visit, enjoying a picnic near the lake. It was windy the day we were there, but it would be a great place to kayak or paddleboard.

The drive to Piney River Ranch was fun and beautiful in itself. The hike was was beautiful and peaceful!

Really beautiful location, far from the highway. Super hikes all around. Bit of a bumpy dirt road drive to get there (which we think is fun, but may not be for everyone). Amazing wildlife. Fun to canoe and snowmobile.

We enjoyed the canoeing and paddle boarding. The staff was very helpful and informative. We also ate lunch at the restaurant there. It was very good and offered a lot of variety. The only drawback is the bumpy, dusty road to get there, but it really is worth it.

Lower Piney is a beautiful lake, surrounded by the Gore Range. The trail up the north side of the lake goes to waterfalls and, ultimately, Upper Piney Lake with moose and beaver along the way.

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Absolutely GORGEOUS. wonderful customer service; make sure you rent a kayak/canoe and take it up the river. can't say enough about our trip there. the views are breathtaking. I would recommend getting there early when the morning sun is the most beautiful. Also, be prepared that the road is very much a "mountain" road; some areas have major potholes but we drove up in our ford fiesta and it was totally fine.

Amazing views from the Gore Range the is a great ranch to take the family, hiking horse riding and great hiking trails be sure you have a good car to there very bumpy roads but it worth it

Charging $20 per rod to fish an alpine lake is a rip especially when alpine lakes are a dime a dozen in the mountains! Also, we were only allowed to park close in (despite having a handicap person with us) if we promised to buy food, drink, or apparel from their shop. It's a beautiful area, but would only go there to hike. The Aussie lady was rude and very pushy about how she was there to make money. It wasn't that way in the summer of 2012!

Long drive on gravel keeps so many away and allows the regulars to have a nice and uncrowded day. Really beautiful views. It is a shame to miss this one.

The place is beautiful. The scenery is great and our family saw a moose. The food is wonderful and the horseback riding is just as good. The people are very nice and make the ride more fun. Our family completely recommends Piney River Ranch.

We took a ride to the ranch, about 10 miles of unpaved roads but the lake at the end was very pretty and peaceful. We had lunch, watched them set up for a wedding and took the ride back.

Unbelievable oasis hidden in the mountains above Vail but below Gore Range. The adventure starts once you leave North Frontage Rd above 70.

Our family did the 2 hr horseback riding experience with Noona and she is super passionate about the horses, environment and customers. I swear driving up to the Ranch was like a movie or postcard that looks like this view could not be real.

The lake has trout where you can adventure out on one of the canoes or paddle boards or you can adventure like me up the creek channel to catch some really cool Brookies.

Restaurant tacos, beer, blueberry lemonade was perfect to recharge after the horse ride. Horse ride was excellent with lots of interesting things to see that Noona points out including the amazing views.

I highly recommend this as a must see excursion. We saw Mule Deer along our travels and epic scenery. Road is rocky but not bad for a rental car.

Finally, clean bathrooms, excellent hats and shirt designs to choose from and great staff.

During our stay in Vail, the valet staff at our hotel suggested we take the SUV up a long 8-mile dirt road, high up into the mountains to see wildlife. We started out at 5:30am and sure enough, got to see a black beer and several large Moose. It was well worth the trip up there and I was able to take a few great photos of our adventure.

Our family of 20 thoroughly enjoyed the day at Piney River Ranch. We have been there many times with different groups of people. It offers a variety of activities for the whole family. The hike to the falls can be done by novice hikers. We also enjoyed fishing, boating and eating. Great place to spend the day.

My husband insisted we visit here with our teens after his trip with his parents 35 years earlier.
I was skeptical of the drive, bumpy and long, but so worth it. The beauty of this cannot be described well enough. We rented canoes(paddle boards also available) and had the best time. A moose sighting, three separate times. Trails around to walk and a in the ranch to eat lunch.
You can rent cabins on the lake- wish I rented one. We only stayed for the day, but it was so worth it.
Canoe and walk the trail- then go to gift shop for a souvenir. We loved this place so much!!!

Just lovely. Green, water, wet forests, thick Alpen Birch glades. Easy hike. Trail is well maintained and easy to navigate.

My husband and I took a two-hour trail ride; it's a fun way to enjoy the scenery in this gorgeous area, and a viable option for those who may not be ready to hike at higher elevations.

Our ride included a multi-generational family of six, the youngest of whom was about 11, and our wrangler (Nunu?) matched each of us with the right horse for our size and skill level (she clearly loves the horses and knows their personality quirks and mannerisms well). She also patiently made sure we were safe & comfortable in the saddle before we headed out.

Once on the trail, she paused frequently to point out scenery, or tell us about the local flora and fauna, while checking in to see if anyone needed help. Notably, she encouraged us to actually ride the horses instead of simply sitting on board while they walked the trail, so we picked up speed here and there and that was fun!

We stayed for lunch and took some photos before heading back. I'd happily head back to hike, canoe or paddleboard, and just chill by the lake.

Oh, and that dirt road is bumpy but perfectly navigable. Just look up the directions on the web site before heading out.

An 11 mile ride over a bumpy dirt road brings you a world away from the glitz of Vail. Hike along the lake and perhaps rendezvous with a moose on your walk back to the ranch store and restaurant for a filling lunch of real "cowboy" food. Great place for weddings and parties as well. Don't miss this place.

Only open to the public during the day. You can rent stand-up paddle boards, canoes, etc.
There is a trail to a waterfall.

Wow what a view and you get an extra bonus when the mouse is there. Food is good and the view is breathtaking. A wonderful family experience.

We live locally in the Vail area and have enjoyed numous day hiking trips to Piney River Ranch. Absolutely love it. Well worth the 45 minute dirt road adventure. We have a Jeep but have seen numerous standard two wheel drive vehicles making the trip. No problem really. Kust more comfortable perhaps in a truck, SUV or Jeep.

We decided to replace our day hike with a two hour horseback ride and it was great. Highly recommend thevouting if you wish to jump into the saddle. No experience needed really ss the horses are virtually on auto pilot .

Loved visiting Piney Lake with some friends during off season. The view is absolutely worth the very bumpy,, long drive up the mountain-you forget all that once park the car and catch a breath of the air and a view of your surroundings. We brought a picnic lunch and had a wonderful afternoon.

We drove our 2016 Honda Odyssey Minivan to Piney River Ranch mid-morning on Monday July 10th. Yes, it was bumpy, but no damage to our vehicle at all. We saw several other low clearance vehicles maneuvering the road without apparent difficulty as well. I think some of the other reviewers are without experience in driving on dirt roads---don't get in a hurry and you will be fine!

The views are breathtaking. We enjoyed canoeing and stand up paddle boarding, and appreciated the laid back and helpful staff. We brought our own snacks, and were welcome to sit at one of two picnic tables, or on a blanket, AWAY FROM THOSE TABLES AT THE RESTAURANT. This was very obvious to us----of course you don't take your own food into a restaurant! Additionally there were plenty of spots to stop along the road for a picnic on the way up.

Definitely worth the drive and a must-see experience for visitors to the Vail Valley.

Piney River Ranch is a fun dirt road drive about 30 minutes from vail, and it is quite worth it! The views are amazing, and you get perfect camp vibes with the creature comforts for adults. There is canoeing, and amazing hiking through the beautiful valley into Eagles Nest Wilderness.

After a long bumpy car ride you find a beautiful view with spectacular hiking that makes the ride totally worth it. We ate lunch outside and the chili, Chicken Wings and the fried pickles were delicious.

We have visited Piney River Ranch several times in both the fall and the winter. In the fall, it is a nice, but bumpy and long windy road to the ranch. You can walk around the lake and enjoy lunch in the cabin. During the winter we have taken a snowmobile ride up to the ranch. Such a beautiful place!

Great area, gets busier in the afternoon summer days but if you go in the morning it's excellent. You can hike and paddle board. Cute cabins even though we didn't stay in them.

This is my favorite lake in all of Colorado. No, I haven't been to that many but I do love this one. The scenery is beautiful, a lake surrounded by snow capped mountains is just what you imagine when you think of Colorado. Highly recommend the trip out (you have to travel about 10 mile on a long dirt road).

With less than 10 days to our daughter's wedding, we had to relocate due to Colorado floods. We emailed Monique and within an hour she had a wonderful menu planned and was ready to do whatever we needed. Our guests are still talking about THE best wedding food they've ever had! Monique was absolutely wonderful. She and her staff helped with everything; set up, clean up, suggestions of vendors for the last minute. All the while she was so calm, kind, and reassuring. We could not have pulled off this wedding without her. The best part is, it turned out to be our daughter and son in law's dream wedding. Everything was perfect! Thank you, Monique and the Piney staff!!

Be sure to have a car with high clearance. This is a wonderful place to take the family! Easy (6 mile round trip) hike to a water fall. Lots of activities on site. You can rent canoes, SUP boards, horses... There is even a place to eat. Highly recommend making the trek.

If you love postcard scenic beauty, you'll love this place. A placid lake, greenery, and the beautiful mountains as a back drop...what more could you ask for?

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Piney River Ranch. Yes, the road is bumpy, and yes, it really takes 45 minutes to make the 8 mile trek up the mountain. When you arrive, the views are worth it! The hike to the waterfalls is well-traveled and quite busy. We LOVED renting the canoes and meandering down the river a bit.

My only complaint is with the restaurant. They charge Vail prices ($10+ for a kid's meal) for subpar food. I got a salad, and while it was good, it was TINY for the nearly $20 price tag. Some other people we were with got the barbecue sandwich and a quesadilla, and both were pretty disappointing with very little meat. We understand the high prices because of the remote location, but better quality food and better service would have brought this review up to a 5/5!

Arriving at the magnificent ranch is not for the faint of heart but wow when you experience Piney! We met mule deer, bears and lovely staff. This is like re-living you childhood camp days with horseback riding, canoes, delicious camp food and fun service. Cannot compare it to hotels - why would we? Love the restaurant server Toby - the kids thought he was wonderful. He also gave us great scout fishing tips for catching brookies and rainbows! Attended a wedding too, with Mia treating the guests like royalty! Great young, vibrant attentive staff gor sll activities!
High clearance SUV is a must to arrive

Piney River Ranch is simply amazing. We recently had our wedding there, and the new GM, Monique Busold, is amazing! Extremely professional, helpful, and there to answer any questions we had - even though there is very limited service and reception. The day of couldn't have gone any better. We decided on a S'more pit, (highly recommend!) and the ranch hands were a huge help with that and all the heavy lifting and set up. (The little kids all left wanting to be cowboys when they grow up!) Monique gave us the perfect mountain wedding experience we wanted, and we are go grateful that she is now the GM of Piney River Ranch. If planning a wedding in the Vail Valley, Piney River Ranch is definitely a MUST! All of your guests will be in awe upon arrival, and the magic of the place will leave you feeling overjoyed.

We went horseback riding and had an amazing experience. Nunu was our guide and was one of the best tour guides I've ever experienced in all of my travels. She was extremely laid back and made sure that each horse fit each person's personality and experience. The only downside to this tour is the 10 mile unpaved sandstone road, but the struggle to get to the ranch was well worth it.

Have been going to Piney Lake to fish with my father first when I was little, and now with my own kids, so a total of 25+ years. There was never any problem with fishing the lake with the previous owners. Now they claim that the lake is completely private and only catch and release.

However, upon doing some research and talking to the Forest Service, the Upper Piney River Trail is owned by the National Forest Service and you can use it. The lake is only private on the North shore, unlike the claim made by the new leasers.(Denver water board actually owns the lake and leases it.) The South shore is National Forest property and you can fish from there and keep the fish as the state stocks fish there with tax money (according to the representative I talked to.) Disregard the resort's claim that they are the only ones stocking the lake.

Do some research before going here so that you know where the property lines lie and then AVOID the new owners and their greedy ways. We used to go up and drop at least $200 into the restaurant and gift shop there every year, now I wouldn't be caught dead giving these awful people my money!!

Hello all adventure seekers and those who share a passion for the out doors. My husband and I had a fantastic tour with Piney River Adventures Snowmobile outfit this past week. They took us into the White River National Forest and up to a lodge only accessible by snowmobile. The views where spectacular and the guides where fabulous. We have done other tours in the past, but this one had it all, different terrain, stunning views, and magnificent company. Our guide had great stories about the history of the ranch, and we meet the new management team. A young married couple took the ranch over in October 2007, and has made great strides to put a solid, fun product out there. We appreciated the trip and felt like family. We will definitely come back.

A must see!! The views are spectacular. Very relaxing walk, hikes, boating and picnicing. We will definitely be back.

This hike is easy for young and old alike. We didn't go all the way to the falls because of threatening rain. We did have lunch at the restaurant. It was a beautiful setting.

We just had our wedding there and flew in family from Eat and West coast! What an amazing place to show people the mountains. Peaceful, beautiful, a real gem in Vail.

Piney River Ranch is the perfect venue for people who want a rustic Colorado wedding. Monique is super helpful and customizes your event to fit your needs. Even though my husband and I live in the Vail valley, we are both transplants from other states. We really wanted our guests to experience Colorado in the non-tourist way. This venue was the perfect spot for our needs, it was very private, outdoors, yet an indoor spot with heater lamps and safety from the rain. Our friends were able to stay the night for a little post reception fun, while our family/other guests were able to head back down the mountain. The food was great, actually better than the tasting. All of our guests left saying "best wedding ever". I highly recommend Piney River Ranch to all futures couples.

I had the pleasure to meet with the General Manager of Piney River Ranch, Monique Busold. WOW! What a professional. If you are planning a mountain event in the Vail Valley you MUST put Monique and Piney River Ranch on the top of your list. Monique has a wealth of information from years of experience in planning events in the Vail Valley, suggestions for vendors is only the start of her knowledge, if you ask the question she will most likely have the answer or you will receive the information needed by the end of the next business day.

Monique increased our excitement level for our event. We have it booked and could not be more excited for our guests to see and experience Piney River Ranch. A beautiful venue for an outdoor event in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. If you are looking for Colorado Mountain experience Piney River Ranch should be your 1st choice!

FYI… the below comment about the “wrong” phone number….. ALL telephone numbers have been corrected and we had no problem contacting the General Manager, Monique.

When visiting the Vail area it is a must for you to visit Piney River Ranch for at the very least one day. Many activities for all ages from horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, or more skilled backpacking. Visiting to simply sit in a chair and take in the views is allowed. You must have a vehicle that can traverse the very, very rough red sandstone road. A sedan won't cut it. Mount Powell is a heavenly gift you will want to embrace. Head out there and don't forget to take your Christmas card picture with a stunning backdrop. Great food there too!

We didn't want to do another hike since we wanted a relaxing day, so we researched other recommended places to visit close to Vail. The drive is basically on a rocky road and takes about 40mins to finally get to the ranch. It's a beautiful spot and there was a wedding happening that day. There is a hiking trail, but we didn't do it. We bought a couple of drinks from the restaurant which are pricey. But the view was nice and we even got to see a moose on our way out.

Piney Lake is a beautiful place, we rented canoes, had a picnic, took pictures. We did not have time to hike up to see the falls p, but definitely worth the trip.

I lived in Vail for a ski season 30 years ago. Piney River Ranch is the most beautiful spot in that area in my opinion. You have to travel a rocky dirt road that twists and turns for 11 miles to get there, but the view is worth it. We saw 3 moose on the far side of the lake. The view of Gore Range over Piney Lake is stunning. It looks so much like a postcard that it almost looks fake. On the way back down, the views of Vail Mountain were also impressive. The fall colors in Vail were better than anywhere else we saw in Colorado (Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Golden).

We stopped here while hiking to the waterfalls. We canoed & SUP'ed. It is beautiful! The staff is friendly and the facilities are clean. This was a highlight of our trip.

Best advice: download the directions from Piney River Ranch website before you go! The drive is bumpy, but well worth it. Just take your time and enjoy the views along the way. We were able to take a last minute horseback ride up the mountain, and loved it! The views are stunning, and sitting outside at the restaurant overlooking the lake was perfect!

Piney River Ranch is a great place for a day trip or a longer stay. Their manager Justin was super accommodating. He helped us plan which hikes to do, and set us up with canoes to paddle around the lake. The property is gorgeous and the staff is incredibly helpful. Although it was tempting to stay in one of the tepees, we rented a cabin and relaxed in the hot tub after a long day's hike. They have different accommodations to fit any budget, so definitely stay the night. It's worth it.

Do:
Canoe on the peaceful lake.
Hike around the area, by the lake or around the mountains.
Have a relaxing meal while admiring the beautiful views.
Rent a tepee or a cabin and stay all night!

I live in the area, so I'm here several times during the summer. It's my favorite place to be whether I'm hiking solo or entertaining f/f from out of town. You don't need a 4x4 to get there and best to avoid weekends. Decent food at their on site restaurant, although a bit pricey. It's my happy place and highly recommend it!

A visit to Piney Lake is the perfect way to "get away" from the
resort life of nearby Vail. Serene, room to explore, diverse terrain where you can hike, fish, row a kayak or boat on the pretty lake.
BBQs, camping and other amenities.

You like wildflowers? Possibly waterfalls? A serene lake with a moose hanging out nearby? Yup - this is Colorado at it's most beautiful. What could be better??

Piney River Ranch is dear to my heart. However, the pine beetle situation there is horrible and it has changed everything about the area. First of all, you can't camp there and then the Piney River Ranch ownership has changed so often that it is not what it used to be. Hopefully they will make it fun again because last year, it was to worth the drive!

I proceeded to Piney Ranch w/a group of interns with great trepidation as it is pretty far off the grid! What I realized after the 11 mile drive (that was by the way breath taking) is that being off the grid is the secret to keeping it a beautiful, pristine, quintessential Colorado experience! My interns spent the summer working long hours and I wanted to treat them to the perfect day of Colorado fun which is exactly what we got! When we arrived we were greeted bt a friendly staff - 2 incredibly friendly women from Australia! We wasted no time jumping on the stand up paddle boards and loading into canoes for a gentle paddle across the lake to see the resident moose Monty! We took a gazillion photos and then heAded to the restaurant for a quick bite before they closed (at 6pm)! The menu is simple and deliscious and reasonably priced! We settled in for the night and all loaded into the yurt which was clean and comfortable and the beds were already made! I had one of the best nights sleep I've had in a while - seriously considered swiping the pillow from my bed! The next day the handsome, kind and extremely gentle resident cowboy took us for a gentle trail ride on the horses so we could really soak up the amazing landscapes! Looking forward to my next trip back to Piney!

As a Vail local for 14 years, my husband and I made a quick getaway up to Piney for the evening and it was incredibly wonderful! We were greeted and checked in by the lovely Australian hostess who gave us a full tour of our cabin on the lake. The accomodation was rustic yet comfortable... Upscale camping.... If you are looking for 5 stars, skip the drive and stay at the Four Seasons and not 13 miles into the wilderness. We loved the experience of the campfire and lake in the evening.

We rented a canoe and paddled around the lake, a fun experience as we had not been canoeing for years. Lunch was fantastic and we had a great selection of snacks and beverages to purchase for our outing.
They have made some updates since I was last there 7 years ago, but it still maintains the charm and off-the beaten track adventure that we were looking to experience, while still providing all the basics to make our evening special and comfortable. Plus the views at sunset and first thing in the morning were unbeatable.

We were a little worried after reading some of the other reviews, but realize that perhaps those people need to stay put in their suburban oasis and leave the rustic beauty of the catered wilderness to those a little less critical & high maintenance.

Thanks for a great visit, we will definitely return soon!

Brittany was such a pleasure to work with and has become a friend after having our wedding at the one and only, beautiful Piney River Ranch. She was always quick to respond to all of our inquiries during our planning process. It is always great to work with someone you WANT to work with. From the moment we met her on our first trip up to Piney, to the evening spent tasting food at Cowboy Catering, all the way to and through our big day, she was there to help and guide us through the process. Always willing to go the extra mile to make sure our wedding day was perfect and exactly how we envisioned it being, she came through every time! We look forward to seeing Brittany every time we are back in Vail! Brittany gets 5 stars! Piney River Ranch, although a trek to get to is more than worth the drive! I would recommend it to anyone and everyone looking to get married in the Rockies!

BEAUTIFUL!!!!! What a gorgeous setting. We enjoyed a family day and even saw a moose with two babies. Well worth the drive

We rented a four wheel vehicle because we didn't want to take our regular car on the dirt road to the ranch. We were no disappointed in any aspect of the day. The road was a bit rough but very passable. The lake was beautiful as was the entire setting. Short to long hikes were available as were kayak rentals. We took a short hike and did rent a kayak for a amazing day.

What a gem of a place this is! It's worth the 12 miles up a dirt road to see this wonderful place. In the summer, you can get up this road in just about any car, but be aware of the bumps in the road! There are hiking trails all around or you can sit by the lake and have a picnic. A must see if you're in the Vail area.

I am in complete disbelief that this place can serve as a wedding venue. I mean, don't get me wrong, the pictures look beautiful, but, I don't understand how an entire wedding party/group could possibly traverse such an approach.
I read the reviews and even anticipated the long, bumpy, rough, dirt road that so many people mentioned. I rented a 4WD Cadillac Escalade. As we made our way up the treacherous, bumpy, rooted, rocky, rutt-filled, hazardous, unmarked, miserable, unmaintained excuse for a road...it was disconcerting to say the least. We encountered several other parties that also felt lost and confused. No signs, no direction, no instruction, no indication of anything. It would be extremely easy to blow a tire on the large jagged rocks that are everywhere on this ridiculous "road". And, if you had to attempt to change a tire, Wow, would you be up the creek! You can (maybe) go about 5 miles an hour and that was in a huge SUV. We fought and struggled for an eternity trying to find the place and the road just got worse and worse. Most of the time, I was pretty sure we weren't even on a road. Finally, we saw someone else that we thought we could ask for direction or help and they were just as lost and frustrated as we were. They asked us for direction. I had my wife with me and began to fear for our safety. I am not one to give up on such things, but, Sweet Jesus it was beyond absurd. I finally gave up and (barely) was able to turn around and endure ALL of the bumps, ruts, rocks, roots, holes, and stomach acid that I had just gone through...all over again... on the way back down. Never saw the place. They must have their food and supplies dropped in by a helicopter.
I lived in Aspen for three years and there was always a debate about what resort is superior--Aspen or Vail.
Aspen wins hands down.
My 1 out of 5 rating is obviously based on this experience and not the Ranch itself.
Maybe if it was possible to get to this place, it would have been an enjoyable experience. But, as it went, I'll never know. I couldn't imagine subjecting my wedding guests to such a nightmare in a destination wedding-type situation.

Piney is about hiking and canoeing on a beautiful mountain lake. The hiking trails are spectacular, including a 6 -7 mile hike to a waterfall. There is a zip line and horseback riding as well. The food they sell at the ranch is really not great, so bring a picnic.

The road was a little bumpy dirt road. It was very preitty and peaceful. We had planned to go canoeing or kayaking, but the weather turned bad and they closed the water activities. We did get some great pictures and some hiking in before the rain.

We visited Piney River Ranch. Awesome view! The picture attached is NOT photo shopped! Two went horse back riding and had a wonderful time. My husband & I canoed on the 'lake' and loved it. Watched a mother Moose and her calf as they grazed at the lake side. Wonderful time! However, the ride up - when they say it takes 45 minutes to drive the 12 miles.....BELIEVE THEM!

First, you come here for the hiking and the views, especially in the Fall. Second, the ranch is the perect spot for lunch,friendly,accommodating and the views. The review on average food is not realistic, you are literally 11 miles on a dirt road, miles from the nearest small town and over a hundred from Denver, so let's get real with the fish tacos. This is an idllyic place, if you are into 4 star rating and mints on your pillow, stay in Vail. Leave this place to the rest of us.

It is worth making the 30min drive from Vail to arrive to this secluded area. A very nice lake and a if you are willing to make a soft hike you´ll find a nice waterfall. Better bring your own food, while there´s a restaurant it is not the best idea to eat indoors.

Had read several reviews on the trip to Piney Lake so was prepared for the encounter. The road up, while bumpy and rugged, was much easier than anticipated. Did it in a rental SUV; wouldn't have wanted to do it in a low slung sedan.

The folks at the front desk were helpful in describing the hiking options. It is a 3 mile hike out to the falls starting at approx. 9300' elevation. I failed to ask what the elevation was at the falls, but rest assured it was up. The first 2 miles were pretty easy with clear paths mostly absent of obstructions. The last mile was more difficult, but very doable, with rocks, boulders and ups & downs. Definitely slower going out for us than the return. Overall, 4 hours with lots of stops,on the way out.

At the end, the falls were "ok"; nothing terribly dramatic. But we're glad we didn't turn back early and miss it.

Walking through the stands of Aspen trees, with the wind blowing and yellow leaves raining down was spectacular.

Lunch at the ranch afterwards was very good with excellent service.

All in all, a great day and highly recommended activity.

Only stopped in for a short visit, but enjoyed it thoroughly! The bar staff was attentive and courteous. Being in one of the most beautiful places one could imagine doesn't hurt the way drinks go down either!

We did not stay at the ranch. So have no opinion on it.

We drove up to the ranch yesterday and I am here to tell you it was a huge disappointment.

As others have said, the road is horrible. We were in a rental car and it took us 75 minutes to go 11 miles due to the poor condition of the road. Other than some great views of Vail in the first 10 minutes, there were no spectacular views along the way, none. And once we got to the lake, the view was nice but not as spectacular as promised. Especially considering al we had to go thru to get there.

I am warning you. If you are looking for a nice peaceful drive full of wonderful scenary, this is not it.

Would I do it again now based on what I know now? Not a a million years.

This review is for the lake, scenery, wildlife and hike around the lake. The road to this place is pretty rough, but when you get to the end, WOW! The scenery is spectacular, especially in fall with all the colors. Moose hang out here too..so that is a plus! Next time I come back to the Vail area (the road is only open in some seasons), I will stay at the lodge here!

Be prepared for the journey to get to the ranch - pay attention to the information they provide to you, they aren't joking! We just considered it the first part of the adventure, but I would strongly recommend an SUV or truck to maneuver the dirt access road! The ranch was beautiful, our wrangler was excellent, and Tank and Marley were fun to ride. This was our first horseback riding experience, and everyone made us very comfortable and safe throughout. Very pretty views along our ride, and we even saw a moose off in the distance!

Absolutely stunning views and scenery. Went to check out accommodations for future visit.....well worth the dirt road drive. Basic lodge, the BEST BLOODY MARYS ever! We only stayed for drinks and pics, but now have all the info needed to plan an overnight or two trip. Everyone there was extremely helpful and nice. This is located in a National Park, so the amenities are limited, but if you enjoy the outdoors, this includes sitting on a lounge chair with an amazing view to look at, horseback riding, canoeing or hiking, you can't do much better than this beautiful, unspoiled ranch. There are tepees, yurts, and other different, rustic accomodations available. Rustic in the sense that everything can be removed without leaving irreparable damage to Eco system. The lodge has a simple, basic menu, something for everyone, but not fancy. Lovely place, can't wait to stay next time.

We just had our daughters wedding here. What an amazing spot to find! The views are complete with a bald eagle flying over head as moose walk in front of us. The food is fabulous, the help is unbelievable with kindness and willingness to do whatever you need. Go for a day or stay overnight and you will have an experience of a lifetime

I would like to start off by saying my husband and I had a great time!! The food was good, service was lovely and the views were amazing! Our guide was friendly and down to earth. The horses were tame and precious!!:)

There is one major downfall….the road to get to the ranch was unexpected to say the least. You have to drive a good 30-45 mins on a dirt road on the side of a mountain. It definitely wasn’t safe for those who drive teslas, mustards, Kias, etc . It’s a long bumpy, terrifying drive. Be sure you have a good vehicle and your gas tank is full. I do believe the website needs to state the road conditions to give a fair warning to those who visit!

Other than that, worth every penny! 💞

Great experience ONCE you reach destination. The road to get there is gravel/ dirt for 11 miles. And VERY poorly maintained. Took almost 1 hour each way. Once you get there. It is beautiful. Horses do all the work. Very little help needed from rider. Most you'll have to do is keep them from snacking on wild flowers the entire ride.
Bring sunscreen. Enjoy the restaurant after.
Oh. And don't rely on Google maps to get you there. It doesn't recognize the private road that leads to Piney River Ranch.

They've really done a nice job with Piney River Ranch lately, adding stand-up paddle boarding, and other activities. The road out to Piney is hit and miss. Sometimes it's smooth, and other times it's brutally rough and takes a while to get back there. All in all, a great day trip for a family.

The lodge and cabins at Piney Lake make you feel like you are a kid at summer camp again except the views were never this good. Great place to fish, kayak or standup paddleboard. Tough ride to get there but worth it.

Piney River Ranch restaurant was a great place for a meal after our 5.5 mile hike! We really enjoyed the nice, speedy service and the food was very good. Expect ranch house dining on picnic tables and benches, both indoor and out, and it’s done very comfortably with great views of the lake and nearby mountains. We had the Tempura Cauliflower (delicious!), a Chicken Quesadilla (which had a significant amount of chicken), a grilled Ham and Cheese sandwich (good), a Chicken Sandwich (good), and a Kale salad (delicious and substantial). Definitely worth stopping to eat here if you’ve driven all the way up for the hike.

The food was average but for the location it was good. Out in the middle of the most beautiful area in the Vail valley. fairly priced for the area. The fish tacos tasted a little old. the Ribs were good as was the pulled pork sandwich.

The food was mediocre, but expensive. The facilities were not very clean and could use some serious help in the food areas and the bathrooms. There seemed to be a lack of help when it came to the different activities and some were closed. The air is clean and sweet, the view is stunning.The staff was extremely friendly. This place could be so much more than what it is.

The manager was so rude we will never go back. We were married there 15 years ago and took our kids to show them, hike and rent a canoe. The guy heard my son ask for a snack and me say I had sandwiches. He jumped all over us saying it is not a National Park, no picnicing and he is trying to run a business. We never had any food out nor was I about to pull it out. We were going to eat lunch on the trail then canoe. He was beyond rude and the place looks terrible. No trees planted after beetle kill removed, no flowers, all gravel. Never recommed to anyone.

Was quite a bit of a drive to get there on a dirt road. But so WORTH the drive. Absolutely beautiful and scenic area. Wish we allotted more time to stay there to hike further and enjoy activities on the lake. Saw moose on the drive.

We did not stay at the Ranch but did take the drive to the top of the mountain to spend a few hours at the lake. We did rent canoe's and a paddle board. The views are pretty. The grounds were nice and some place I would consider staying over night at. The cabins looked newer. There are hiking trails and they have food you can purchase as well. It is a long drive up to the top. Very nice scenery and we saw wildlife, but gravel and bumpy road so it took about 40 minutes to make the drive up. There are places along the way to stop and picnic or just take in some views. I would recommend taking the drive up there if you like hiking and or want to go fishing or canoeing in a very quiet and calm lake.

We stopped to use a picnic table to feed our infant and were shooed away by a worker who explained "they're trying to run a restaurant here and you're discouraging our guests". not sure nature this is the best location for a resort compound... My tip: remove your picnic benches!

It was an amazing hike along the Piney River.....2 1/2 miles up and 2 1/2 miles back (round trip). The trails were narrow at times, and you really had to watch your feet while hiking. Stopped periodically to take in the views! The lake was amazing (crystal clear, reflected the blue sky!), and the falls at the end of the hike were spectacular and worth the trip. Nice folks back at the ranch with a small restaurant (we were famished!) Warning: in order to get there, you have to take a dirt road from the highway, for about 1/2 hour, which is in HORRIBLE condition. We were very glad we were driving a rental car, as the shocks of the car really got a workout.

First the bad news -- the 10 mile dirt, rocky road is not fun and is stressful unless you have a big, heavy 4-wheel drive vehicle. We drove our small SUV (4 wheel drive) and it was not easy (narrow roads and especially big drop-offs on the way down). Once there the lake and area are picturesque. BUT they are not really amazing -- there are many mountain lakes in Colorado which are probably more so (e.g. Rocky Mountain National Park). Maybe this is the most amazing site near Vail. Rent a canoe and paddle around the lake - we found this the best experience by far.
Some TripAdvisor reviews have raved about the wildflowers. We were there in mid-July and everything was extremely dry and somewhat burned up. So try to visit in May or early June or the Fall to enjoy the full visual experience.

My husband drove out to Piney Lake for one afternoon in September. We didn't stay there, we didn't hike, we didn't have time. Turns out, it was well worth it for the views alone and when we got there, a MOOSE was standing in the lake not far from shore. How cool, how beautifully breathtaking! We can't wait to stay there sometime, what an experience that would be to wake up to that every day!

NuNu (spelling?) was an awesome tour guide. She paired us well with our horses based on our experience and preference. The view from the top of the trail is beautiful. Be prepared for about a 45 minute drive off the beaten path to get to the ranch. The signs are pretty good to lead the way, but it’s a good idea to print directions before you go because GPS stops working while you’re in route.

Not an easy drive on a dirt road for about 10 miles but go ahead and make the effort. The setting is very picturesque and it must be sensational when the mountains are reflected in the small lake but there was too much wind on the day we visited. Good for children of a certain age plus hikers , campers and people enjoying outdoor activities. We saw a moose standing in the river on the drive down and enjoyed a really nice meal sitting outside on the deck. Business must be good because they are putting up another wooden cabin next to the main cabin there. Friendly staff all in all a good day out.!!

A local told us if we drove to Piney River Ranch we were likely to see a moose, so we loaded up in our SUV for an evening drive. Do NOT do this drive unless you drive a truck or Suv. The road is dirt with BOULDERS in the middle that you must drive over to get down the road. The road is washed out and very dangerous, mostly covered in potholes. This drive is also extremely curvy when many areas that you cannot see oncoming traffic, with only one lane. When we made it to the ranch, it was beautiful, however too late to enjoy any activities or amenities. We did not see a moose, but our vehicle made it out in one piece...! Beautiful lake, but you can see better views without risking your life and vehicle.

This is such a wonderful place to visit. Beautiful and peaceful little lake with amazing views. It's full of multi-species of trout. Great for fly fishing or bait fishing. My bait fishing tip is to bring small red worms (not the big size) and/or wax worms. Don't use weights. Just let the worms float with a bobber. You will catch for sure if you use this method. The trout are finicky, but there are plenty of them. We rented canoes and fished around the entire lake. Excellent catch and release for kids. You should be aware that you will need an SUV/Jeep/4X4 or a vehicle with good shock absorbers to get there. The 5.5 mile road is really potholed and rocky, and while safe, it's a very bumpy slow ride (45-50mins). I did it with my 83-year-old dad and two young kids, and they were happy, but there was a lot of laughing and moaning for the long ride there. On the way out of it we got comfortable and drove faster so it was a little better. It is worth the drive, but I would have been more concerned if we were driving a regular car vs an SUV.

Way off the beaten track, this is a gorgeous lake with hiking trails. I come up here to enjoy being in the middle of nowhere and hike. Not many tourists and bring a picnic. It is worth the drive

We snowmobiled in the Vail/Beaver Creek area with another operator on a previous stay, so we decided to try a new area and a new operator during a recent stay. We chose Piney River Ranch because it was closer and not such a long ride to get there (definitely a plus). The terrain was absolutely breathtaking. We had some flat open areas to race and some wonderful trails through the trees (my favorite). We stayed below the tree line so it was a bit warmer. We ended up at the lake and had a nice lunch and hot drinks by the fire. Overall, we thought the terrain was lovely and challenging.
The amenities were a bit more rustic than the other one we tried and the staff was not as attentive to making sure novice riders were well suited and booted for the ride. If you don't know how to dress for cold weather and need a nanny, choose someone else. If you are adults who know what to wear, you will be fine. Also, they will provide extra gear if you ask.
Our guide, Matt, was definitely a true mountain man. The type of guy you'd want in a foxhole or leading your group after the Apocalypse. He was very capable and was obviously very experienced (we enjoyed watching him ride). When one of the machines had some mechanical problems, he fixed it with a paperclip (Well, not really. He used a pocket tool, but we had no doubt he would be able to fix it with a paperclip if necessary). We started calling him MacGyver, and almost got a smile from him...but not quite. If you want the charming, talkative, frat boy as a tour guide, go elsewhere. For us, we will stick with Piney River Ranch and Mountain Man Matt MacGyver - especially if we ever find the need for Apocalyptic snowmobiiling.

The view and surrounding mountains and wildlife are well worth the mountain drive!

Piney River Ranch may be located only 11 miles from Vail, but it will take a good 45 minutes or so to get there... The road is a windy, bumpy, dirt road that literally goes through the forest the entire time. (Make sure you have a full tank of gas!)

While the drive may take awhile, the scenery is beautiful, and the view at Piney River Ranch is awesome. We went solely to rent kayaks and canoes and enjoy sometime out on a peaceful lake, and this place is perfect for that. The lake is shallow, clear & cold, but beautiful, with a gorgeous view of the mountains. We were out on the water for about an hour before we were starving...fortunately, they serve lunch there. The food is good- mostly sandwiches: burgers, chicken, pulled pork and fries, but all meals are about $10 or so.

This is definitely an "outdoors-y" experience... you'll eat at picnic tables, the bathrooms are rustic... but it's definitely a fun day trip!

We love to come to this lake in the summer to canoe and take in the beautiful scenery. There is a nice restaurant and a hiking trail that goes as far as 7 miles. This year six of our group drove up from Vail (about 45 min drive) to have canoe races. 3 in each canoe. Had a blast! Best time to go is morning. We got there about 11 and rented canoes for an hour ($25 each) When we returned them there was a 30 min wait for a canoe.