Glen Isle Resort
Welcoming guests since 1901, Bailey’s Glen Isle Resort is a wooded oasis nestled in Pike National Forest — and it’s located less than an hour from Denver.
Welcoming guests since 1901, Bailey’s Glen Isle Resort is a wooded oasis nestled in Pike National Forest — and it’s located less than an hour from Denver.
Whether you’re in the mood for quiet serenity or an active vacation outdoors, this tucked-away retreat promises plenty of opportunities for R&R. Offering award-winning campsites and cozy cabins with kitchens, Glen Isle blends its rich history and beautiful natural surroundings to deliver a getaway that’s perfect for families and groups. You’ll love The Lodge, a resort centerpiece, for its period furniture and rough, wooden beams, not to mention wagon-wheel chandeliers and an old-fashioned, wood-burning stove.
It’s the total “throwback” experience you’ll love here, from the retro cabins to the vibe around camp. That comes thanks to current owner Mary Ruth, who grew up coming to the resort as a child in the 1970s for chuckwagon dinners, horseback riding, evening dances and movie nights. After getting married and bringing her five boys here to create their own memories, she and her husband bought the place in 2016 and have been painstakingly restoring it to its glory days.
It’s definitely the rustic mountain cabins. With names like Glenview, Columbine, Evergreen and Fifty-Niner, they’ll put you in a Colorado state of mind.
Glen Isle’s stunning forestland surroundings will leave you in awe, especially because of the retreat’s proximity to the meandering South Platte River. The best moment? Crossing the bridge over the rushing river to the resort. You’ll feel like you’re entering another world where phones don’t exist and worries melt away.
No matter which cabin you choose, you’re just a short walk from the resort’s well-loved Lodge, where guests gather to enjoy a communal playground, games and a rec room with pool and ping-pong tables.
How about a chance to see Bigfoot? In the nearby town of Bailey, you can take a guided hike at Sasquatch Outpost to try to catch a glimpse of the mythical creature. (Not surprisingly, Sasquatch Outpost has been named one of the “10 Wackiest Places to Visit” in Colorado.)
Snag the resort’s largest cabin, Glenview, loaded with three bedrooms that sleep 10, a full kitchen with a breakfast area, a separate dining room and a cozy living room with a fireplace. It’s also just a short walk from “The Point,” where you can soak up Pike National Forest’s spectacular alpine views.
“Our stay at Glen Isle was so relaxing. The river running right outside our cabin was perfect! There is so much to do there and in the surrounding area. The owners are doing a great job updating the property while preserving the amazing history of the resort. We can’t wait to go back! — Amy W.
In 2019, Glen Isle Resort was named the “Best Colorado Camping Site” by Hipcamp, a comprehensive resource for unique campsites across the country.
The mountain-wilderness area around Bailey boasts a bounty of opportunities for hiking, hunting, fishing and horseback riding that includes numerous scenic nature trails in the Lost Creek Wilderness Area and along the Colorado Trail. Or, venture into town for a hearty selection of restaurants, like the well-loved Coney Island Boardwalk. The 20-acre McGraw Memorial Park promises an 1865 log cabin, plentiful trout fishing and a whitewater kayak launch.
Photos courtesy of Glen Isle Resort