Top 10 Resorts in the Western U.S. for Outdoor Adventure and Relaxation

If you’re planning on heading to the Great American West, we know where you should stay. Consider the lodge in Washington State’s wine country, where each guest room features a stone fireplace and a tub for two. Alternatively, you can choose a modern resort on the craggy Teton Mountains of Wyoming, or opt for a Mission-inflected, cedar-beamed lodge on an Oregon river that offers “do nothing” as an official activity — alongside hiking, golfing, fishing, and visiting the spa. These accommodations include Willows Lodge, Amangani, and Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, among the 10 best resorts in the western U.S. this year.

Every year, for the iBestTravel World’s Best Awards survey, readers are asked to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. In the hotels category, properties are rated on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and drink, and overall value. Hotels are categorized based on their locations, which in the West includes Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The properties that made this list share some common features. Several are located in ski areas, including Montage Deer Valley, Utah (No. 10) and Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail, Colorado (No. 4). However, readers also demonstrated a fondness for retreats far from ski towns. For example, Montana’s Triple Creek Ranch, formerly voted best hotel in the world and ranked second in the region this year, offers luxurious log cabins with wood-burning fireplaces and large soaking tubs, making it a favorite for romantic getaways thanks to its adults-only policy.

At Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, located along the banks of the Rogue River in Gold Beach, Oregon, exceptional service and serene surroundings are the main attractions. “This is the gold standard for how a lodge should be run,” praised one iBestTravel reader. Meanwhile, in Colorado, Gateway Canyons Resort — this year’s top resort in the West — provides thrill seekers with river rafting, rock climbing, and off-roading adventures. Owner John Hendricks, the founder of the Discovery Channel, aims for every visitor to leave having tried something new.

No. 10: Montage Deer Valley, Park City, Utah

Score: 93.50

No. 9: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, Teton Village, Wyoming

Score: 93.62

No. 8: Willows Lodge, Woodinville, Washington

Score: 93.80

No. 7: Red Mountain Resort, Ivins, Utah

Score: 93.91

No. 6: Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley, Park City, Utah

Score: 94.18

No. 5: Amangani, Jackson, Wyoming

Score: 94.43

No. 4: Sonnenalp Hotel, Vail, Colorado

Score: 95.04

No. 3: Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, Gold Beach, Oregon

Score: 95.06

No. 2: Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana

Score: 96.76

No. 1: Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, Gateway, Colorado

Score: 97

Situated within a canyon on 6,000 acres, Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa is a paradise for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. John Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel, has developed an extensive range of activities for guests — from hiking through the surrounding red rocks to white-water rafting in the Dolores River and helicopter tours. Car lovers will appreciate the on-site museum showcasing historic automotive beauties, such as a rare 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 concept car and a 1906 Cadillac Model H Coupe, highlighting a century of American automotive history.