The Best Small Towns in the Colorado Plateau for a Weekend Retreat
The Colorado Plateau is the name for a massive high desert plateau encompassing numerous states in the American Southwest. It is here where you will find some of the most starkly different landscapes in the country, where rusty-red buttes sprout from dusty grounds, creating a collection of scenery so recognizable on postcards, movies, and magazines. Not all is desert, as the plateau also boasts a few pockets of greenery, from ponderosa pine forests to flower-filled meadows.
In the midst of it all, several small towns have found their perfect spot to nestle and, for generations, have served as destinations themselves, with plenty of recreation to offer for the leisure-minded. Visitors have a wide range of towns to choose from, but when it comes to retreat, the following does its best to satisfy such needs.
Moab, Utah
What instantly comes to mind when most people think of Moab is Arches National Park, a geological wonderland of mesas and buttes in unique shapes and sizes created by the forces of wind and water. Another impressive natural site is Canyonlands National Park, the state's largest national park, with a similar characteristic as the former but is more defined by the Colorado River that dramatically snakes through the craggy landscape. Both national parks make this small town a big hit for tourists, as it is the gateway to such incredible backcountry, but there is just as much to offer in town.
The Moab Museum is an excellent attraction for learning about the history of the area, from its very first inhabitants to the mining of uranium, which only ceased not too long ago. A stroll along the main street will have you come across local art galleries and boutiques, as well as bars and restaurants serving local flairs. Coming for a retreat, the Moab Resort is a prime choice for its modern amenities and surrounding canyon views, while Under Canvas Moab is an unbeatable experience of glamping in the high desert.
Sedona, Arizona
One of the most breathtaking small towns in the American Southwest, Sedona knows how to charm even the most seasoned travelers with its towering multicolored buttes and surrounding scenery. The landscape of Sedona is perfectly designed for outdoor enthusiasts, with trails to embark on leading to stunning vistas and iconic features such as the Devil's Bridge and Cathedral Rock. Hopping on a jeep tour or horseback also brings great rewards with exploring the high desert. Come back into town and experience the best of Sedona's creative art and food scene; the Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village has all that and more, as its name translates to "the best of everything."
Those interested in history should visit the Sedona Heritage Museum, which preserves a former farmstead and many artifacts from the pioneer era. Considered by many to be a spiritual mecca, Sedona is mainly known for its Vortex meditation sites and physiotherapy treatment, and many establishments offer services that help to rejuvenate the mind and body. A retreat here is genuinely a fantastic choice to make, and from the riverside tranquility of L'Auberge to the spas and pools of the Enchantment Resort, you will come away in the most relaxed state possible.
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is best known for its ancient pueblo, a Native American multi-storied adobe building that has been continuously inhabited for more than a thousand years, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark. The use of adobe is a commendable feature in the architecture of the town, which is also seen in the San Francisco de Asis Church, another notable icon not to be missed.
Artists have long been drawn to Taos for its historic and natural settings; they express their creativity in pottery, sculpture, and canvas, and their works are now found in more than 70 art galleries across town. The center of town is home to a significant number of them, as well as shops selling traditional Native American crafts and contemporary garments alike, mainly circulating the historic Taos Plaza.
There is plenty to offer for the outdoorsy, too, from rafting the rapids of the Rio Grande to rock-climbing the steep walls of the Sangre de Cristo range, and in winter, there are endless skiing and snowboarding opportunities in the Taos Ski Valley. Such an incredible destination to visit doesn't come without great lodging options, too, especially for a retreat, which both El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa and Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa are quite the premier choices.
Telluride, Colorado
Set in a box canyon in the Rocky Mountains, this scenic town is one of Colorado's charmiest. Telluride immediately captures the attention of visitors for its direct view of the snowcapped peaks from its compact downtown, a National Historic Landmark filled with Victorian-era shophouses that now serve as boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants.
The surrounding mountains are what made Telluride big. It is serviced by a gondola, and visitors can easily access the beautiful nature by either an afternoon walk in the alpine meadows or a multi-day cross-country hike. The warmer months are alive with music festivals right at Town Park, while the skies are adorned with hot air balloons every June. When snow begins to fall, the mountain town transforms into one of the most beloved corners in Colorado for skiing, snowboarding, or a simple sleigh ride, all done in the 2000-plus acre of terrain in Telluride Ski Resort.
A weekend retreat in Telluride is best spent in Bear Creek Lodge for its mountain views paired with luxurious amenities, although The Peaks Resort and Spa, which is home to the largest spa facility in the state, can work perfectly too.
Kanab, Utah
Next to the border with Arizona, in a picturesque reddish landscape, Kanab has been a classic American West town on silver screens for the past few decades and is attracting an increasing amount of visitors to its unique natural surroundings. Off-Highway 89 takes the adventure spirits to the desert expanse of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, the shoulder-rubbing passages of Buckskin Gulch, and not forgetting the swirling patterns of the Wave across the state border. Other sites that are just as interesting are the history museum of Moqui Cave and the massive Glen Canyon Dam.
In town, local memorabilia can be seen at the Kanab Heritage House and Little Hollywood Museum, while the variety of restaurants serving local flares and microbreweries make the rest of the visit here worthwhile. A base for exploring the rugged Southwest backcountry, Kanab has a good number of accommodations to suit, even if it is for a quick weekend retreat, which both the Canyons Boutique Hotel and the Flagstone Boutique Inn and Suites have more than enough to make a memorable stay.
Gallup, New Mexico
Known as the "Indian Capital of the World," this dusty town on the iconic Route 66 in western New Mexico is close to the reservations of the Navajo Nation, and visitors are often delighted by the abundance of Native American handicrafts, paintings, and rugs sold here. A better insight into the local heritage is done at the Gallup Cultural Center, which also features the town's historical chapters on coal mining and trains. Perhaps the best cultural experience for visitors is to attend the Gallup Summer Indian Dances and Market in the summer months, as well as the highly-anticipated Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial held every August.
When it is time to head outdoors, strap on your boots and hit the trails of Red Rock Park, where the towering spires of Navajo Church loom in the rugged distance. Escape the desert heat in the nearby Zuni Mountains, where mountain biking and camping are set in the lush greenery of ponderosa pine forests. Despite its small size, Gallup has a handful of charming places to stay for a retreat; most notable is the El Rancho Hotel, which served movie stars who came to film Westerns in the area in the 1930s and 1940s.
Silverton, Colorado
A town rich in history and nature, Silverton is surrounded by the San Juan Mountains on all sides, which rise more than 13,000ft above sea level. This lofty elevation makes Silverton an enjoyable place to visit for its cooling climate in the summer months when the town sees hikers and mountain bikers ascending the trails in the forested backcountry and rafters experiencing a different kind of thrill on the Animas River. The famous narrow-gauge railroad between the town and the city of Durango is a trip of a lifetime on a historic steam-powered train, taking visitors through a slow but scenic journey with views that change from dry lowlands to pine-forested hills.
In winter, the area becomes a wonderland of snow, with perfect natural terrain for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice-climbing. After a long full day outdoors, wind down in the many cafes, bars, and restaurants of downtown Silverton, which has a unique frontier-style ambiance to match the surrounding snowcapped peaks. Coming here for a retreat is truly an escape from it all, and to have the best convenience in terms of location and comfort, the Grand Imperial Hotel is the place to be.
Experience the Unique Charm of Colorado Plateau's Small Towns
Featuring a plethora of landscapes from rusty-toned deserts to sky-high mountains, paired with a history of both ancient and modern, the Colorado Plateau is a world of its own. There is a lot to offer for outdoor adventure and culture here, and small towns like the ones above deliver such experiences in a way few places can successfully handle. Spending a weekend retreat in them not only allows you to connect with nature but also the local heritage and people that shape them into what they are today, before leaving with a relaxed state of mind and a yearning desire to return.
