Thank you for choosing Cabins at Lost Trail!

We’re so happy to have you as a guest! Below, you will find important information to help plan for your upcoming stay. You will learn not only what to expect as a guest, but also ideas of what to bring and how to prepare in the best way… If you find you have questions after reviewing this information, please, please ask. We are happy to help!

Paying for your cabin and Payment Policies:

We can no longer receive checks for reservations, but do accept credit and debit cards and can alternatively accept PayPal for reservation payments.

Deposits are due at the time of booking and are 1/3 the reservation total. Deposits are not refundable. We will be automatically charging the remaining balance on your cabin 7 days prior to your check-in day. If you check in on Saturday, your card will have been charged the Saturday prior. If you would like to make alternate payment arrangements, like using a different card for the remaining balance, or make payments on your reservation throughout the months leading up to your stay, please reach out to us in advance so that we can accommodate you. We are happy to help! Please keep in mind that reservation balances will be due 7 days prior to your arrival date and are non-refundable if you cancel within those 7 days prior.

Dogs/Horses:

We are dog-friendly with a pet fee of $25 per dog with a maximum of 2 dogs per cabin. No Cats. When making your reservation, let us know if you plan to bring your furry friend along so that we can plan accordingly. (A $50.00 pet fee will be charged if you bring your dog without registering in advance). There are resident dogs on the property, as well as many horses and wildlife. We are not responsible for your dog being injured by horses or wildlife. Dogs cannot be left in cabins without you, unless they are contained within their own crate/kennel. For the safety of your pet, our guests, and other animals on the property, please keep dogs leashed at all times while on the property. We understand some dogs are well trained and may not require a leash to remain under your control, but please still respect this policy. If you have questions/concerns please check with the caretaker. You assume any and all liability/responsibility for your pet. Additionally, those who want to bring horses must also communicate this in advance so we can do our best to accommodate you. This is usually possible, but not always. All horses must have a recent coggins test prior to travel. A $200 per week horse fee is required. There are many trails in the area that you can ride horses on. Another option if you want to ride horses during your stay, is to inquire with Lost Trail Outfitting in advance to set up a trail ride etc.

Lost Trail Outfitting operates out of the property, so please be mindful there will be horses passing in and out the gate as well as horses in pastures bordering the guest cabin area. As mentioned above, If you want to bring your own horse(s), advanced coordination is required.

Check-in/Check-out:

Check-in is 4pm or later. Arrival before dark is highly recommended. Please be aware, early check-in is not generally possible as each cabin turns over the same day. If you want to inquire about an early check-in, you must do so in advance of your arrival and the caretaker will determine if it’s possible or not. Check-out is by 10am. Please leave your cabin tidy and take all trash with you!

General Cabin Info:

Each of the rental cabins have a great deal of history dating all the way back to as early as the 1930s. There are 6 total cabins for rent at Cabins at Lost Trail. For the most part, cabins are modernized and expanded some; yet still boast simple and rustic flare with most original logs still in use. Can you imagine all the stories each log would tell if that were possible? Historically, many have enjoyed renting guest cabins at what is formerly known as “Lost Trail Ranch” – and although under new ownership as of mid 2016, we are thrilled to still offer you these same cabins so you can continue your special traditions! For those of you who are brand new, we are so excited to have you – please make yourself at home at “Cabins at Lost Trail”…home of Alpha Agape – a Christian Non-Profit Ministry. Profits from the rental cabins go to support this ministry. In addition to family vacations, there are family, youth or marriage retreats that happen. Reach out if you would like more info or are interested in supporting this Ministry. See below for options of how to donate.

You can mail donation checks to the address below, and please note “Donation” on your check. You may also donate via paypal, just make sure you note that it is a donation so we can get you a receipt: admin@cabinsatlosttrial.com. Soon, well
have a link on the website.

Alpha Agape Inc.
c/o Meghan Smiley 5700 Dunbarton Oaks blvd. Midland, TX 79705

Each of our rental cabins has one, two, or three bedrooms, 1 bathroom (or 2), a kitchen, and a comfortable living/dining space. Kitchens are reasonably equipped for basic off grid cooking. There are propane ovens/stoves and refrigerators, but no electric appliances whatsoever. (That’s right, no microwaves, air fryers or coffee makers). We have limited solar power for conservative light use and charging phones, etc. during daylight hours. We provide blankets and basic linens for the beds. We also provide basic bath towels, but not extras of these items. Please feel free to check with us if you need something specific after looking at the individual cabin details below. If you feel you might need more blankets or towels please bring them with you, or requests them in advance. We use a linen service in the valley so would need to adjust our order in advance.

Cabins each boast larger, south facing windows to make the most of the Colorado sunshine, and of course the views. You will probably find that you spend a great deal of your time outside in the fresh mountain air, but welcoming in the natural light is always a bonus. The cabins are spaced in a horseshoe design as you come through the front gate and each cabin is situated on about an acre of land so you will have adequate privacy, and room to park right in front of your cabin. The exception to this is Hilltop cabin – it is on its own property above the Ranch, with open 360 degree views.

Property Boundaries

Two of our 4 fence lines border private property (This would be on your left and straight ahead beyond the back wood fence as you come through the front main gate). There is no river access from the ranch property. We can direct those who desire to fish the Rio so that you avoid private land. There is extensive National Forest outside the gate as well as the grand Weminuche Wilderness area if you desire to explore. Please inquire if you need more information on river access, trails and property boundaries.

Supplies, Groceries and Cooking:

Make sure to bring all food/snack/drink items needed/wanted for your stay. We also recommend that you bring along any paper products you’d need or want… some guests bring paper plates to spend less time washing dishes and more time playing or relaxing. There are no dishwashers in the cabins. Each cabin is supplied with toilet paper and a roll of paper towels.

Depending on which direction you come from, the last place to buy grocery items will be Lake City or Creede. Many guests choose to shop in a larger town, or bring from home for more variety and cost effectiveness. In Alamosa, there is a Safeway, City Market and Super Wal-Mart. (Ice and very limited items are available at Freemon’s Ranch, which is also where you can get a good ol’ fashioned burger and ice cream).

The refrigerators in the cabins are gas operated, therefore will not feel as “cold” as your electric fridge at home. Please don’t adjust the dial/settings. Doing so may cause your precious food to freeze. Talk with the on-site manager if you have any question/issue with this. Fridges are also smaller than most are used to… they are not “mini”, but also not full size.

Kitchens are equipped with basic items for cooking. If you have something specific/specialized you need, please bring it. For example, we don’t have a bunt pan, rolling pin or garlic press☺.

We do not allow electric coffee makers, but do provide a stove-stop percolator in each cabin. You may want to bring a supply of percolator coffee filters (also called wrap filters). If percolators are not your thing, feel free to bring your French press, soft brew pot, “pour over”, etc. but nothing electric. There are no microwaves, toasters or blenders. Each cabin has a charcoal grill and fire pit that you are welcome to cook on (unless there is a fire ban) Please do not use the grills from the charcoal grill at the fire pit. Often, we have charcoal available, as guests leave extra on the porch – but it is best to bring some or check with us in advance if this is mandatory for your cooking.

Bonus info – It takes longer for some foods to cook at higher elevations, so plan extra time for things like, rice, boiled potatoes, pasta etc. The boiling point is lower at higher elevations – therefore a lower temperature liquid will cause food to cook slower! Here is some more reading if this is at all intriguing! ☺ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/shared/PDF/High_Altitude_Cooking_and_Food_Safety.pdf

Some of the gas stoves and ovens are finicky and may need self-lit or extra time to light. If you have any issues, please ask our on-site caretaker. Each appliance has its own personality and they have learned this well.

What to Bring/ Pack list ideas:

Some have already been highlighted above, but review this list to help you prepare! Please ask if you have any questions about what to bring.

• Extra blankets or towels if needed. We will have very basic linens available this season.
• All of your groceries and the extra ingredients you’ll need to prepare them (like condiments, spices, foil etc.) – don’t forget snacks, coffee/tea etc! We have percolators – so wrap filters may be helpful!
• Plenty of fluids – extra for the altitude, the dry climate and extra exercise you’ll be doing – always error on bringing too much water. You will be surprised how much you use. (see below)
• Any prescription or over-the-counter medication you’ll need or may need for the trip duration.
• Band-Aids and first aid supplies
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Rain Gear
• Clothing (there are not laundry facilities at the Ranch)
• Comfortable shoes
• Gear for all your activities – fishing poles etc.
• Fishing license if you plan to fish.
• OHV permit for your motorized toys! (You can get these online)
• Roasting sticks for fire-pits if you plan to cook/roast (assuming there is no fire ban).
• Bug repellant
• Sunscreen
• Charcoal/lighter fluid/lighter
• Camera, batteries, chargers etc.
• Roadside assistance items/kit
• Puzzles, magazines, games etc.

Communications, Phones and Internet:

There are no televisions, NO cell-phone nor land-line phone services available on the ranch. Please bring your laptop, tablet or smart phone if you think you’ll need to keep in touch with the “outside” world. We provide basic/limited satellite wireless Internet. This service is limited from the providing company with the remoteness, so it is VERY important to conserve usage as much as possible so we have services available all month for emergencies. Cell phone reception ends on your way up at about Little Squaw resort but to be safe, make sure to get your communications wrapped up where the pavement ends. You most likely will have a few more miles of phone service after turning off hwy 149, but it becomes rather spotty. Again, there is no cell reception (or roaming) on the ranch property.

We invite you to enjoy this relaxing and peaceful opportunity to truly get away from it all and unplug a bit.

If you’ll need to connect or check in, check in with the on site manager for the latest WiFi password and please don’t give this out to non-guests. There may be periods during the day or night that it is off. There is no downloading of videos, live streaming or gaming permitted. We understand this may pose a challenge in “today’s world” where zoom meetings and FaceTime is the norm, but we cannot guarantee this at any time during your stay. While we understand this can’t be monitored at all times, we trust you will respect that. If the data quota is reached before the billing cycle ends, it will shut the Internet off for the remainder of the billing cycle which limits communication for emergencies, business and being able to stay in touch with loved ones. We also encourage you to please turn off automatic downloads and updates on your smart phones and tablets or leave them off when not in use as many times background downloading uses a good amount of data, and we have found that downloading updates and continually synching data pulls a bit too much on the system. We want to be able to provide basic internet for our guests. There are some places in town you can connect to a beefier connection that is not “off the grid”.

Electric and Propane Power:

We are completely off the grid here at Cabins at Lost Trail. We operate primarily on our solar powered electric system, with a backup generator if need be. We also use propane to power many of our appliances and backup lights. Our system is designed to provide lights for the cabins, and we ask guests to use conservation of lights and use only when needed. Each cabin is outfitted with propane lights that can be used as well. Large appliances (oven/stove, hot water heater and fridge/freezer) are powered by propane. Smaller electric appliances and heat producing appliances are prohibited (hair dryers, toasters, automatic coffee makers, etc.). Guests needing sleep machines/CPAP or items that draw continuous power must inquire in advance as our system will not be able to power these for much time at all and will shut down 5 cabins and “trip” the system and leave all guests with no power.

Charging batteries for laptops, cameras, etc. are best (and charge quicker) during sunny hours while solar power is being pulled in.

During a cloudy/stormy spell, guests will need to be more conservative with use of electricity. If the backup generator is needed, it will be turned on during “peak” use hours – probably between 5 and 9 pm but not during later night hours, as we don’t want to disturb anyone’s rest on the ranch.

Water:

The water supply on the ranch grounds is “Spring-fed” for the most part in addition to a well that can be used to supplement in a dry spell. The water comes from snowmelt and filters through the ground where it then comes into the ranch. Water pressure is due to gravity as the water supply is “up the hill”, so you will not have the water pressure you may have at home, especially in the shower. So know you will have a hot shower, but not high pressure.

Many people ask about the water and if it’s safe to drink. The water is not “purified” but for the most part, it is pretty “naturally” filtered of sediment and debris, especially during the mid to late season. In the early season, water can appear a bit cloudy and look like watered down tea (not too great). There are many guests that drink the water and many guests that haul their own drinking water – we are not recommending you count on drinking it. It is totally your decision of course, but the absolute safest would be to either bring your own drinking water or a filter that you trust. Think of the water being “one step up” from dipping your cup in a freshly running mountain stream… very fresh and cold, but not always perfectly clean.

At Hilltop cabin, the water supply comes from an on-site well, which is powered by solar. Using a lot of water at once can drain the stored solar power, so conservation is ideal as well as spreading out usage. For example not taking a shower simultaneously as someone doing all the dishes for the day.

Please conserve water whenever possible. Often times as the season progresses, water run- off diminishes so water can be a lot more of a commodity during dry seasons and helps tremendously if you can conserve. If you ever hear toilets continuing to run in your cabin or any type of water dripping/running in or around your cabin, notify the on site manager or email us right away so it can be addressed immediately.

Heat / fires:

Cabins are equipped with wood stoves to keep your cabin as warm and comfortable as you like! Firewood is stored outside of your cabin. Please let us know if you need more. Outside fires are welcome (only in the designated fire pits) unless otherwise noted and posted (as in the case of fire bans). If you see any limbs or anything that are dry, you are free to pick those up around the area to use in the fire pit. Be absolutely sure your outside fire is DEAD OUT before leaving it unattended – every time, even turning in for the night! Some seasons are extremely DRY – very dry. You may not be able to use your fire-pits or charcoal grills when fire danger is high. Fire restrictions are defined here: http://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/dfpc/WFMS/FireRestrictionExplained.pdf

Please take notice of what the current fire restriction is and check with our on-site caretaker if you have questions.

Trash:

There is no trash or recycling services on site at this time. Please be sure to pack out whatever you pack in. Trash accumulating on the premises attracts pests and wild animals we don’t want visiting us! Also, please leave the fridge empty or check with the on-site manager before leaving any food behind. Although thoughtful, leaving condiments etc. in the fridge for the next guest only accumulates and cannot be used as we make sure fridges are empty before each guest arrives. Fridges are too small to count on guests being able to use extras as they usually bring their own.

In recent seasons, there has been a bear that will visit a few porches, so make sure to keep scraps and leftover food put away and coolers away (maybe in your vehrerricle at night to stay cooler for example) as to not attract them onto the property.

Many of our guests enjoy bringing seeds or nuts for the birds and squirrels; this is great, though please don’t attract the bears by throwing out leftover food. Important to note: there is no longer resident chickens to feed scraps to like some of you remember in the past.

The Creede landfill is open: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and is very reasonably priced if you are headed through Creede on your
way home. It’s a good idea to bring some cash and set it aside for this.

Email if you need a secondary option for dumping trash in the area if you aren’t passing through Creede.