Private Cliff House

Stay on the flank of Sleeping Ute Mountain in historic McElmo Canyon just 40 minutes from Mesa Verde and 20 minutes from the town of Cortez. Featured in Better Homes 2012, the Cliff House is built right into the red rock cliff wall of a private red rock canyon alcove with comfortable amenities, internet, nearby petroglyphs and sweeping views down canyon. A perfect place to b
Stay on the flank of Sleeping Ute Mountain in historic McElmo Canyon just 40 minutes from Mesa Verde and 20 minutes from the town of Cortez. Featured in Better Homes 2012, the Cliff House is built right into the red rock cliff wall of a private red rock canyon alcove with comfortable amenities, internet, nearby petroglyphs and sweeping views down canyon. A perfect place to base yourself for your next creative endeavor or for rejuvenating and exploring in the wilds of the four corners.
- Check in: After 4PM
- Check out: Before 10AM
- Cancellation policy: Super Strict (30 Days)
- On arrival: Go straight to camp
- Minimum nights: 2
- Accepts bookings: 12 months out Weeknight discount: 15% off
Activities
Offered on the Host's property or nearby.
Biking
Sand Canyon MTB Trails are 15min away in the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
Hiking
Private hiking on the property for the adventurous who don’t mind some rock scrambling. Sand Canyon Trails are 15min away in t...Read more
Snow sports
45 minutes to Durango area, 1.5 hours to Telluride.
Terrain
Natural features you'll find at Private Cliff House in Colorado.
Desert
Our property is a high-desert climate with lots of sage, smaller cactus, red rock, and other desert features.
Canyon
Our property is located in beautiful McElmo Canyon and features red rock alcoves, fields of sage and cactus, cottonwoods and a ...Read more
River, stream, or creek
McElmo creek runs through our property.
Driveway
There is parking on-site for up to 2 cars. The road into the property is a dirt, single-lane county road, but is easily passabl...Read more
The vibe at Private Cliff House
Places to see near Sage Canyon
3 Reviews
Sage Canyon and this cabin nested in the cliff rocks felt like a peaceful and gorgeous piece of paradise. I'm so happy having been able to experience a few days there and would come back in a heartbeat. Thank you Grant and Laura for your work on the cabin, the little touches and all the comfort that come with it. Unforgettable!



This house is lovely. It really looks like the photos and is one-of-a-kind architecturally.
The property is pretty remote, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you're hoping for. First you'll drive out of town, then hit a long gravel road to their gated community before finally heading to their private driveway. That makes it great for quiet and solitude but not convenient if your intention is to head into town for restaurants, etc. Thankfully the kitchen is VERY well equipped (probably the best of any rental I've ever stayed at, anywhere). The house has wi-fi, but no cell signal. Strong air conditioning, too!
DO be aware that the bed is in a loft that requires you to climb a ladder, unless you sleep on the pull-out couch in the living room. I was unaware of this, but we are able-bodies so it was no big deal. For others, this is worth noting.
We enjoyed walking the property and exploring the mesa top. There are cool rock formations, some petroglyphs, and a tipi that worked great for my hot yoga. Unfortunately, it poured rain both nights we were there so my hopes of stargazing were cancelled (but on clear nights, the location would be stunning).
It's less than a 15 minute drive to the Sand Canyon trails at Canyon of the Ancients - this was the highlight of our trip to Cortez and absolutely must-see if you like to hike. It's about 35 minutes to the entrance of Mesa Verde, but the cliff ruins are another 45 minutes inside the park, so a long day. Honestly, we were disappointed by Mesa Verde. Live and learn.
The hosts left a nice booklet of other things to do in the area, but in my opinion, activities that are a 1-2 hour drive away (each way) aren't "nearby". So, plan the number of nights you stay here based on your driving tolerance!
Wow! This place is amazing. I’m so jealous that I don’t own this as my own private retreat. The land is absolutely magical and there is a lot of history on and around the property. This space feels very sacred so only book a stay here if you plan to have a relaxing time and can respect the land. You can tell that the owners take pride in this property and we are lucky that they are willing to share this space. I will definitely be staying here again!

- Property
- Sage Canyon
- State
- Colorado
- Country
- United States
- $356/night
- 1 Site