Colorado Mountain Hunting Retreat Surrounded By Thousands…
New Castle, CO
Garfield
Garfield
35+ Acres with Access to Thousands of Acres of Trophy Hunting in Colorado
This compound is nestled within the heart of Colorado’s East Divide Creek Valley. Accessing thousands of acres of public land and utilizing its location to give any and all hunters a jump start to getting on big game before most others even wake up. Its privacy and seclusion allow for uninterrupted down time and create an atmosphere that makes you feel as though you are on a secluded island with the amenities of home. This base camp makes all others fail in comparison.
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains at Your Doorstep Providing Adventure and Limitless Outdoor Activity
Whether you’re seeking a compound-style estate, a base camp for hunting or a corporate retreat, Outlaw Basin provides everything any group or individual might be looking for in a wilderness setting. Miles from the nearest town with all the amenities needed to lay low for as long as one needs, this mountain jewel provides solar power, water, heated cabins, lodge and a bathhouse suitable for groups anywhere in size from 1-25. The corrals allow you to board horses that can help in accessing the miles of public lands surrounding you and there is also space for wall tents or campers if all the beds are taken. If horses aren’t your thing, the endless miles of roads and trails provide access for ATV’s and side by sides for those who prefer traveling in that fashion.
A Lodge and Dining Hall Made for Gatherings and Camaraderie
With all of the furnishings provided, the main lodge provides a gathering spot for all to sit and trade stories over a fresh cooked meal straight from the adjoining kitchen. This mess hall has been the source of many a hunting tale through the years. Serving as the main cabin on the property, the structure can also serve as a headquarter for the camp cook or director, whichever suits the need.
A Western Mountain Town with a Feeling of the Ol’ West
Giving the vibe of an old western mountain settlement, Outlaw Basin takes you back to a simpler time, a time when the aroma of outdoor cooking filled the air and the only noise was the flowing creek and the wind sweeping through the trees. The surrounding mountains give a feeling of seclusion, and the crystal clear night skies give way to views that are hard to replicate.
Top Notch Big Game Hunting in Unit #42 and Beyond
Outlaw Basin puts you smack dab in the middle of prime big game country. The 2025 hunting season ended with over 90% of Outlaw Basin’s visitors filling their tags. That’s an amazing success rate. Typically, less than half of Colorado’s big game chasers go home with meat for their freezer. This area of East Divide Creek proves to be above average season after season when it comes to providing big game success. These stats will only help in getting you ahead of the curve when it comes to searching for productive game zones.
$1,499,000
Premier Colorado Wilderness Lodge & Big Game…
Meeker, CO
Garfield
Garfield
Premier Colorado Wilderness Lodge & Big Game Outfitter for Sale
Trappers Lake Lodge & Outfitting is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a Colorado wilderness lodge and fully permitted big game hunting outfitter business surrounded by over 2.3 million acres of public National Forest. Tucked deep inside the legendary Flat Tops Wilderness, this historic lodge has operated for generations as one of the states most authentic outdoor guide services and backcountry adventure hubs.
Unlike typical hunting ranches or guest lodges, Trappers Lake Lodge operates under a rare USFS Resort & Outfitting Special Use Permit, making it the only permitted outfitter authorized to commercially guide hunts and operate wilderness camps across approximately 48,000 acres—about 75 square miles—of prime Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, black bear, and moose habitat. For any serious buyer seeking an established Colorado outfitter business, this level of permitted access is increasingly difficult to replicate today.
Historic Lodge with Proven Outdoor Operations
Steps away from Trappers Lake, Colorado's second-largest natural lake, the lodge welcomes guests who travel miles of scenic forest roads to reach its off-grid cabins. Some of these cabins date back to the 1800s, restored with care and still holding the warmth of generations. The main lodge features a full-service restaurant and bar famous for hearty breakfasts, prime rib dinners, and the lodges signature Elmo's Margaritas. A general store stocks outdoor gear, hunting essentials, and local souvenirs, while a bathhouse, laundry, staff housing, and a well-kept barn and corral round out the infrastructure needed for a true wilderness operation.
The entire lodge is powered by well-maintained generators and supplied by crystal-clear mountain spring water, ensuring that this remote mountain resort feels timeless but runs smoothly. Guests come for multi-day hunting trips, family horseback adventures, fly fishing on Trappers Lake, or simply to reconnect with the wild.
World-Class Big Game Hunting & Outdoor Guide Services
Trappers Lake Lodge’s outfitting permit authorizes it as the sole permitted commercial outfitter providing fair-chase big game hunting services within some of Colorado’s most sought-after Game Management Units (GMUs). This region of the White River National Forest is home to one of the largest elk herds in North America, along with healthy populations of mule deer, black bear, and moose. The lodges licensed Colorado hunting guides lead fully guided hunts, pack-in drop camps, and custom wilderness adventures across a vast area of terrain: alpine basins, aspen glades, willow-lined creek bottoms, and dark timber that holds trophy-class animals year after year.
Guests experience authentic horseback hunting trips, with seasoned wranglers, sturdy pack stock, and canvas wall tents set up in remote compartments. This is one of the few remaining operations where hunters ride out at dawn the way generations did before guided safely by an outfitting team whose knowledge of these compartments is unmatched.
Additional Outdoor Recreation & Guiding Opportunities
When the hunting seasons pause, the wilderness still calls. Trappers Lake Lodge operates horseback trail rides along historic pack routes, guided fly-fishing trips for native cutthroat trout, canoe and kayak rentals on the pristine lake, and wildlife photography outings where moose, bear, and bald eagles are daily sightings. Its location near the Flat Tops Scenic Byway, the Yampa Valley, and Steamboat Springs makes it easy to market multi-day wilderness adventures, family retreats, or even small group events like weddings or company off-sites.
Permitted Operations & Protected Use
A key operational advantage of Trappers Lake Lodge is its long-standing authorization to conduct permitted outfitting and resort services under a USFS Special Use Permit:
Trappers Lake Lodge operates as the only permitted commercial outfitter within its designated wilderness hunting compartments, while fully preserving public recreational access to these National Forest lands. The permit has been renewed and validated under NEPA and is supported by documented Five-Year High Use Data demonstrating proven historical operations and capacity for continued use. Within approved use levels, the permit allows for guided hunts, pack trips, drop camps, basecamp operations, and guided day rides, providing a well-established framework for ongoing outfitting services.
Proven Revenue & Clear Growth Potential
Trappers Lake Lodge generates gross receipts with strong EBITDA potential for an owner-operator or family team. Revenue streams include lodging, guided hunts, outdoor guide services, equipment rentals, retail sales, and food and beverage operations. Historic footprints lost to fire remain eligible to rebuild, allowing for 35 more guest cabins to meet growing demand.
Winter operations are a major untapped frontier: the existing permit supports adding snowcat tours, guided backcountry skiing, and winter outfitting trips, giving a new owner a clear path to transform this into a rare four-season wilderness resort.
Why This Colorado Outfitter Business is Truly Unique
Scale & Exclusivity: Unlike a simple private hunting ranch or lodge, you hold the key to tens of thousands of acres you alone can guide in protected by a federal permit.
Historic Legacy: Known as the Cradle of Wilderness, Trappers Lake is where the national wilderness preservation idea was born. That heritage cannot be duplicated.
Surrounding Protection: The entire lodge is encircled by public National Forest land guaranteeing your viewshed, wildlife habitat, and guest experience will remain unspoiled.
Multi-Generation Brand Equity: Generations of loyal hunters, families, and outdoor enthusiasts return year after year, making this more than a business its a legacy.
Turnkey Sale Ready for the Next Steward
For the right buyer an experienced outfitter, adventure hospitality brand, or legacy family looking for a protected wilderness asset Trappers Lake Lodge & Outfitting is a rare, documented opportunity to carry Colorado's big-game hunting and outdoor adventure story forward.
This is more than just a hunting lodge for sale its a fully licensed outfitter operation, a profitable wilderness guide service, and a place where your guests will still hear elk bugle in the dawn and see the stars the way their great-grandfathers did.
$1,750,000
Scott Reece
JW Ross