Family Vacation near Salida, Colorado at private Mountain Ranch | House in Cotopaxi

10.0 (122 Reviews) |   Pet Friendly   4 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms  12 Guests
Howard House | Family Vacation near Salida, Colorado at private Mountain Ranch

4 Bedroom House in Howard, Cotopaxi

Our big, loving vacation home is nestled in the Arkansas River Valley of Colorado. The Arkansas River, less than 15 minutes from our ranch, is renowned for whitewater rafting and fly fishing and is on the list of Gold Medal Trout Waters in Colorado. This unique, inviting area experiences warmer, dryer weather than the surrounding regions, delivering even greater possibilities for outdoor adventures year-round. We would love for you & your loved ones to stay at the MoonShadow Ranch & experience first-hand this very special area, property & home.
We invite you to design your family's next vacation in this gorgeous area & plan to visit nearby attractions like Royal Gorge Bridge & Park & Dino Experience & then, come 'HOME' to MoonShadow Ranch, a family-focused, luxury vacation home with:
*Good access on a paved county road that comes to the entrance of our ranch.
*Ample space for your family's next vacation &/or family reunion.
*4,380 sq. ft. of Gorgeous, Living Space (on nearly 80 private acres!).
*4 LARGE Bedrooms with 7 beds, 2 Double Blow-Up Mattresses + several
couches
*Wood burning fireplace in living room
* INCREDIBLE Kitchen with EVERYTHING you could possibly need for big, memorable family meals. You won't find another home stocked like this one!
* FULL GAME ROOM - Pool Table, Poker Table, Air Hockey Table, Board Games - with Large Smart TV, DVD player, 2 Full Couches & a Very Cool, Handcrafted Bar. We also have satellite Dish Network & DVD’s for Children & Adults.
AWESOME Outdoor Amenities include:
*2 Raised Decks
*Large grill
*Stone Fire Pit
*Horseshoes & Bocce on the Game Pit (in front of the house).
*Game & Hammock Area with cornhole (sack toss) and ladder toss games, Tree-Stump Tick-Tac-Toe, 1 Laying Hammock & 1 Hammock Chair.
*2 Mountain Bikes & 3 children's bikes,
*2 Pair of Snow Shoes.
*Fishing rods.
*Basketball hoop in driveway in front of house.
*Private Shooting/Target Range.
*AMAZING fully equipped Kid's PLAYHOUSE (10 X 12 ft) with a 4 ft wrap-around deck.
*PRIVATE Pavilion with 8-top Picnic Table, Propane Grill, Tetherball & another Cornhole (sack toss) game.
You & your family will LOVE the entire Royal Gorge Region because it offers the perfect combination of outdoor adventure, Old West history, and small-town hospitality. Nestled half-way between Canon City & Salida, we're 30-45 minutes from ALL the Royal Gorge Region has to offer. This is a place where you can slow down and leisurely shop the Main Streets in Salida or antique and other shops of Florence and Westcliffe. Or speed up, with a paddle in your hands, through the whitewater rapids of the Arkansas River or enjoy the winter slopes of Monarch Mountain. Or plan to come back to do it all!
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall - especially the beautiful aspen groves located just a short drive up the hill from our home. This is an amazing place to retreat with your family & friends. Relax, breathe deep & enjoy the quiet tranquility as well as the endless possibilities for outdoor adventure on the ranch & on the Arkansas River.
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Summer: ENDLESS hiking on the ranch and surrounding area! Local rafting tours, lasting anywhere from a few hours to six days, leave from here & tumble along the state’s most popular whitewater river, facing rapids ranging from the calm, family-style waters outside Cañon City to adrenaline-pumping swells & steep drops near the Royal Gorge.
Winter: Cozy up with your loved ones by the fireplace after a wonderful, big family meal & enjoy the great warmth of this loving home. Additionally, we've added a gorgeous stone fire pit, snowshoes & saucer sleds to enjoy the fresh snow fall. If you're looking to add a day or two of skiing to your winter vacation, this could be the ideal home as Monarch Mountain Ski & Snowboard Area is 80 minutes (55 miles) away. Monarch is a great skiing location because it’s often one of the least crowded ski areas in all of Colorado & it often has some of the best snow in the state! Monarch is a wonderfully, family-friendly ski resort with an excellent ski school & childcare center.
For an unforgettable experience—enjoy the freedom and privacy of your own living space in one of the most beautiful areas of the country.
* Read a book next to one of 3 fireplaces – One located on each floor. The 1st & 3rd floor fireplaces are electric & the 2nd-floor fireplace is wood-burning.
* Relax on one of two raised decks - enjoy your coffee, a great BBQ dinner or a glass of wine & watch the wildlife that visit the property…including turkeys, rabbits, chipmunks, deer, the occasional elk, and many mountain birds including the beautiful and colorful hummingbirds.
* Hike on nearly 80 acres of private land, or venture beyond & make it a half/full-day hike & enjoy crossing over into the open access to Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) land that extends for 1,000s of additional acres.
*UNLIMITED INTERNET SERVICE IS AVAILABLE!
*During August 2022, we upgraded our internet service, so guests can now enjoy online gaming, streaming/downloading/uploading movies, videos &/or photos without restrictions while in our home.
*There is no cell phone coverage on our property. Guests, however, can make and receive phone calls, texts and video calls over our Wi-Fi network on their cell phones. Cell phone calls can also be forwarded to the land line in our home, which is available for guest use for both incoming & outgoing domestic calls.
From Our Family to Yours: Dream as if you will live forever. Love as if you only have today. In the Wonder of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and this valley, may you have love, joy and peace.

Family Vacation near Salida, Colorado at private Mountain Ranch is located in Howard. Family Vacation near Salida, Colorado at private Mountain Ranch provides accommodation, featuring Air Conditioner, Parking, Laundry, among other amenities. This House features Air Conditioner, Parking, Laundry, to make your stay a comfortable one.

Family Vacation near Salida, Colorado at private Mountain Ranch has 4 Bedrooms , 2 Bathrooms, and max occupancy of 12 people. The minimum rental for this property is 1 nights, but this can change depending on the season you plan on staying. Previous guests have given good rated it, and VRBO labeled it a top-rated House because of the excellent services rendered by the owner or manager of this House, and has consistently provided great experiences for their guests. Most families or guests that use it recommend it to their friends and some of them are repeat guests. House has a friendly neighborhood, and the Howard has interesting places to visit. If you want to learn more about the House in Howard, such as places to visit and things to do nearby, you can check below to learn more.

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Amenities

Air Conditioner
Parking
Pet Friendly
TV
Balcony/Terrace
Security/Safety
Sports/Activities
Bedding/Linens
Wellness Facilities
Fireplace/Heating
Guest Services
Entertainment
Barbecue/Outdoor Cooking
Child Friendly
Hot Tub
Internet
Kitchen
Laundry

Facility Overview

Air Conditioner
  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
Bathrooms
  • Soap
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Toilet paper
  • 2+ bathrooms
  • Jetted bathtub
  • Towels provided
  • Hair dryer
Bedroom
  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Dining room
  • Fireplace
Kitchen
  • Stovetop
  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Spices
  • Electric kettle
  • Oven
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Dishwasher
Laundry
  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat
Parking
  • Onsite parking options include a garage
  • Onsite parking
Pet Friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 total (up to 50 lbs per pet)
  • Pet friendly
Accessibility
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Smoke-free property
Activities
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Water park
  • Bicycle on site
  • Winery tours nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Power boating nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Basketball nearby
Entertainment
  • Video library
  • Stereo
  • Arcade/game room
  • Games
  • Video games
  • Books
  • Pool or billiards table
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Music library
  • DVD player
General
  • Unit size: 4380 sq ft (407 sq m)
  • Spanish
  • English
  • On the river
  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • In the mountains
  • Office
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
Guest Services
  • Stair gate
  • Children's dinnerware
  • Children's toys
  • Highchair
  • Travel crib
  • Children's books
  • Playground
  • Children's games
  • Phone
  • Iron/ironing board
Internet
  • Free WiFi
Outdoors
  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Firepit
  • Outdoor furniture
Security/Safety
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock
  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
Skiing
  • Cross-country skiing and snowboarding nearby
Spa
  • Hot tub

Policies

Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3:00 pm minimum check-in age: 25
Check-out
Check-out before 10:00 am
Child Policy
Children are welcome. note from host: lots of terrific baby gear available for your use!
Event Policy
No events allowed
Pet Policy
2 total (up to 50 lbs per pet) note from host: max 2; $125 for first pet and $50 for 2nd pets allowed restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees welcoming dogs and cats only
Smoking Policy
Smoking is not permitted

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed this property is managed through our partner, vrbo. you will receive an email from vrbo with a link to a vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Reviews

Chelsey C.
Jun 10, 2025 08:00:08 AM
Review Score:   10
Summary: This property is very secluded, and we loved that. No neighbors and beautiful view. The entertainment here for kids and adults are 2nd to none.
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