Trappers Lake Lodge

Kristen K

2023-10

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Adrienne Wix

2023-07

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Wendy Ryan

2023-05

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Daniel Shupp

2023-05

Excellent place to get away. If you want to unplug, this is the place for you! There's no cell service, and no electric from 9p to 6:30a. Instead there's endless hikes, horseback riding, boating and everything else White River National Forest can offer. The lodge serves great food and the waitresses are very friendly. The cabin was small clean. The bath house was clean and the showers were hot.

vit zaiss

2023-05

Lots of burned trees everywhere around the lodge. The fire ravaged around 20+ years ago, but it will take more 30 years for the vegetable and animal life to come back. BTW, the lodge is NOT on the lake, and there is no view on it, since it is behind the ridge, and there is no car or, even, easy walking access to the water. So, forget about bringing your kayak. Although, I saw some inflatables on the lake - got to be light to carry.A couple of hikes in the surrounding area would be great, but you really need to get away from the burned area, which makes it rather strenuous 10+ miles hikes.Everything in the lodge is dated, but kept functional and clean; they're obviously struggling to survive.Absolutely NO drinkable or potable water on property! You can ask for a glass of water in the restaurant, but this all about it. No chance to wash the dishes if you prepare your own food. You are basically forced to get all your meals from their restaurant, which usually has no selection, but one meal that is not made on site. Canned bear and liquor. The place, however, popular on weekends with locals.It was a mistake to come here all the way from Denver, and I do not recommend anyone doing it, because there are so many beautiful places closer to home, and under better management...

Natallia

2023-05

I don’t remember ever receiving such poor service at this place. The waitress was very disrespectful. It took over 30 min to take our order and we had to keep repeating requests over and over. We were one of only 3 tables and we were the only one by the time the food came out. What made it even worse was her attitude. She brought one of our beers, but not both and when we asked about the second one she was snickering. We used to stop here often after camping, but we will not anymore. Hopefully the owners will demand a higher level of service.

HJ HJ

2022-05

The Best!Just got home and still smiling and reveling in our memories of our time at Trapper’s Lake. Every staff member we came in contact with was so welcoming, kind, and helpful. The horses were so thoughtfully picked out for each person. Becca and Teresa were excellent teachers for my family of inexperienced riders. They were the key to making the ride safe and enjoyable for all of us and the horses (and one fantastic mule😊). The ride was beautiful. Becca and Teresa shared a wealth of knowledge and love of the Flat Top Wilderness Area and nearby towns. Everyone should come and experience the beauty of the mountains and hearts of the people. We are looking forward to our next trip.

Tracy Skeen

2023-05

We backpacked to the Lodge and for some reason my reservation was not in the system. They were so nice and so helpful to get things worked out. We had a great stay and looking forward to going back. If you eat there try the-Grown Up Grilled Cheese... TOMATO JAM!

Sharon Reineke

2023-05

Beautiful lake! Lots of fish & wildlife. The Lodge hosts were super friendly & knowledgeable about the area. Family run for many years. Make reservations for cabins &/or restaurant early. It’s worth the drive or hike.

Kylen Higgins

2022-05

We had a wonderful weekend at TLL with our family! We were spread out among 3 different cabins, all of which were clean and homey. The lodge is just a short distance away from a trailhead that brings you up to the lake where there are plenty of activities to do. It was great for the whole family! The staff were also all extremely friendly and accommodating to us. All around great trip! We wish we could have stayed longer and are already looking forward to future stays.

Kristiane Naegler

2023-05

We ate at the restaurant. Even though it's the only option for 40 miles - its great! Family owned. Burgers and drinks were awesome. Don't pass up the opportunity!!People who complain about the place need to stay in the city.

Gustavo Montano

2021-05

Just spent my Honeymoon here and it was everything we wanted and more! If you are seeking seclusion and off radar feel this is the place to visit. Please be Aware there is ZERO Wifi... So if you are a person needing to be on a phone this is not the place to visit, if you need amenities too and the pampering feeling of a resort.. This isn't the place! But if you want to have the Camping feel and have the lexury to sleep on a bed inside a beautiful Rustic Cabin? Look no further! What an epic Historical place, the cabins have been up since the 1800s! And the Lodge is amazing! Food and alcohol on site! The margarita is to die for!!!! And if you get a chance please take a Horseback ride! Totally worth it, beautiful views and the Lake is Wondeful! So many things to-do and they have a wonderful staff to help you along the way! Thank you guys soooooo much for a wonderful weekend! The staff went above and beyond to set up our Cabin with Champagne and flowers with my Wife's favorite chicolates! So take it from me that they will do whatever it takes to make you feel special, thank you for having us for our honeymoon!!!

Ember Christeson

2021-05

Trapper Lake Lodge employees are kind, accommodating, informative and wonderful to be around. We ate most of our meals there during our stay and all were delicious (especially the ribs!). The lodge rents out canoes, boats and a kayak you can use on the lake, they are well equipped with activities! Including horse riding! (Though we didn’t get to try it this time, they book out a few weeks in advance). There is no air conditioning in the cabins, but even in the heat of the day, they were comfortable. My husband, pupper and I plan to make it a tradition to come out every year. Thank you so much for helping us have a wonderful, relaxing time!

ana L

2018-05

My family and I stopped by the restaurant for dinner after our day at the lake. They have a limited menu (just one thing a night?) But they managed to make a vegetarian meal for my sister on short notice. She is very picky, and they did a great job. They made veg on rice with a simple salad on the side. Our food was smothered burritos. This isn't high class dining, but it was hearty, and good. Reminded me of Grandma's chili. We sat outside with our dog, and watched three kinds of humming bird swarm the feeders. The women who ran the restaurant were friendly, and remembered our names. Their dog was friendly too. Great service, and a real family vibe.

Jonas Johnson

2022-05

Wow! We booked this for our trip to Colorado for 1st rifle of Elk season. The correspondence during and after booking was great. We got cabin 15a which had two beds, gas heater, table, chairs, towels and extra blankets. It was an awesome spot for the four of us to hang out between hunts.The facilities at the lodge are great too. They actually allow you to use their laundry room to wash and dry close. The bathroom was super clean and warm.They run off generator power from 7ish to 9ish, don't know the exact time. We were out hunting most of that time. But it was awesome, hit showers and a place to charge your phone for onX.The best part was the lodge. The food and people who work there are phenomenal. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner there through out our trip. The food is homemade and it shows. I love the TTL burger with the various homemade soups. They also have beer, wine, mixed drinks and plenty of dessert options. I can't remember names of the employees but all were helpful and friendly!The lodge also has a little gift shop that we all loaded up on after we left.I could go on and on but bottom line is BOOK this if you're thinking about getting away. No cell phone service or internet for miles, felt great to just take a break fr technology.Make sure to load up on whatever you need in Meeker, the drive is around an hour. And if you get a chance for one of their homemade dinners, book it. They prepared a pork meal with cowboy beans, honey glazed carrots, rolls and a tomato basil soup! I will definitely be back!

Erik Buderus

2022-05

This really is a true getaway to unwind and unplug! We met several family members for a nice stay of several nights and we enjoyed every minute! It did take our children a day to get used to not having electricity in the evening to charge their phones or devices, and not having wi-if, but they quickly realized all there was to do, and soon got over that. We had read some previous reviews of people complaining that there was a fire up there- which happened in 2002. There’s nothing that can be done about that, and Mother Nature is rebounding beautifully. There are so many trails you can hike, lakes to hike to, scenic overviews to drive or hike to, you can’t possibly do them all in one visit. And each one has so many unmistakable differences- you’ll be sure to find your favorite- we particularly enjoy the skinny fish hike!The entire experience is something you’ll never forget. If you are expecting a Hilton resort, this place is NOT for you! The cabins are comfortable and clean. Your air conditioning is provided by opening a window at night. And, unfortunately if we would have needed heat (we didn’t, as we were there in early July), but the fire ban in place would have prevented us from using the wood burning stove. Everyone shares a bath house- one for men, one for women. They are adequate and clean, and we never had hot water issues- just make sure you’re done before the power goes off each night, or bring a lantern.We circled up lawn chairs and chatted as a family. We had brought coolers with food- I brought smoked meat for pulled pork sandwiches one evening. It was quality time as a family that you just don’t find that often any more. The emergence of the local wildlife- seeing dear in the meadow or the bats that came out at dusk to feed and keep the bugs away from us, only added to our experience and made things that much more enjoyable. Reminder- you are in the middle of nature- there was a moose that made its way through camp in the early morning one night. One of my favorite activities was to just sit out front of the cabin at night and listen to the coyotes call and look at the millions of stars visible! You’ll likely never see anything like it!One night, and a couple mornings, we went to the lodge for dinner and breakfast. The food was great. They did run out of an item once or twice- but it was never a big deal- and, what do you expect when you are nearly an hour away from the next closest small town. Food trucks and supplies aren’t delivered every day. I would recommend making a reservation for dinners.There is also a small shop there- to reserve sporting equipment, pick up souvenirs, ice, or a few simple items. If you need special skim milk or anything, you’re best advised to pack it up and bring it yourself.You’ll get to know the staff, as they work extremely hard, and wear many hats. We had a great time meeting many of them and listening to their stories- where they came from, how they found Trappers, and why they wanted to come. And many of them went out of their way to do simple things- my young son wanted to meet a couple of the famous horses and donkey he had heard stories about at the lodge- and a staff member obliged his request.The fishing is fun and difficult… I am not a fly fisherman, but would love to get into it (you can line up lessons through the lodge), thusly I’m used to my comfy pontoon boat, loaded with night crawlers and minnows. There is none of that in the forest or at the lakes- no motors on boats, no minnows, leeches or worms- it’s just you and the lures, on a canoe or paddle boat. There is no disrupting nature. And we all appreciated that!On a side note- we witnessed some of the most amazing sunsets when we were on the lake in the evening- and yes, we did catch some fish too.Bottom line, respect this beautiful place for what it is. Unwind, unplug. Relax and enjoy your company. Enjoy nature. You’ll not regret it! We can’t wait to come back!

David Hancock

2021-05

TLL is a real treat to stay at. The owners are incredibly responsive to e-mails, which is a huge plus. The chef at The Lodge is incredible. I would be happy to just sit down and let her serve a table d'hôte menu knowing the food would be great. And great from start to finish. It's a rare chef who can make an awesome prime rib sandwich, great pulled pork, and two different fabulous fruit pies. The mixed berry pie is worth every calorie and then some. Also, the drinks selection is way better than I anticipated and the quality of the drinks was very good. Their Stubborn Mule is a good option.We stayed in Cabin 5, which is tiny, but comfy. The cabins have gas heat at night, which is more than enough to stay warm. Electricity goes out at 9 (within a few minutes thereof) so be ready with anything you need charged before then. In our cabin the socket was recessed and our cell phone chargers could not plug in directly, so bring a short extension cord just in case.The staff at the lodge are also great. Our waitress, Trudy I think her name was, was fantastic, provided awesome wait service, and was one of the nicest people we talked with on our stay. I was impressed by how hard each of the staffers worked and how many different hats they wore during the day.The location for hiking, fishing, and mountain biking is ideal. There are a ton of great hiking trails. Trappers Lake has no-motor boat use and talking with the people there who were fishing it also had great cutthroat trout returns (and unlimited brook trout keeping.)My one complaint is with the other vacationers. For the first half of our stay the people with dogs kept them on leash but only one other person was picking up their dog's waste. The staff did that every morning, but there was one day when I counted nine leavings, and that's nine more than the staff should have to clean up. Also, at the end of our stay, a number of people with dogs were letting them run around off leash. One let her dog poop in front of our cabin and refused to clean it up despite my pointing it out to her. Another let her dog run around freely, despite it having never been there before, not knowing the area, and having previously charged at our dog with its teeth out. On our way out at the end of our stay that dog dashed in front of our car and, fortunately, I was able to stop a couple of inches before we hit it. However, that guests were letting their dogs run off leash and out of voice control and that guests were ignoring their dogs' leavings is a problem for me as a responsible dog owner. My five-star rating for TLL and the fact that I can't wait to go back next summer mean that I don't hold it against them, but posted leash rules and some poop bag stations should help remind guests that being on a vacation does not mean a vacation from dog ownership responsibilities.Overall, I definitely recommend TLL for an off-grid, no-cell-coverage, optimal-star-gazing venue. It's easy to reach in a 2WD (we did it in a Honda Fit) and the accommodations and staff are very nice.

Kalled Ashour

2018-05

We had a great time at the lodge, breakfast and dinner were both delicious. Bathrooms were nice and clean. The staff is friendly and happy to point out destinations of interest in the area. We hiked Skinny Fish trail on their recommendation and enjoyed the fall colors while also reflecting on the damaging fire scars across the flat tops and mountains in the area. It's a beautiful place, we will be back again.

Summer Pellow

2023-08

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Chris Shideler

2022-05

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Devon Gregory

2019-05

Wonderful little mountain getaway spot. I definitely recommend the horseback trail rides to the backcountry. The area was devistated by a wildfire in 2002, but there is still plenty of wild, natural beauty. I recommend going in mid-autumn when the foliage is incredible. Always eat breakfast and dinner at the lodge. There isn't a menu, you just eat what is cooked that day, and it is always delicious! If you rent a boat, get a row boat, as the lake is usually very windy and the canoes can be a little scary. There are tons of trails to hike as well. The cabins are small, but that's fine, as there is so much to do you will only need it for collapsing into bed at the end of an amazing day. The beds are very comfortable. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained as well, though I recommend getting a cabin near them when it's going to be chilly at night! Carol, Holly, Tate, and Preston are all fantastic hosts and super helpful and nice. I really like this place and plan on returning as often as possible.

Judy P

2020-05

Be prepared to see part of a 22,000 acre area destroyed by fire in 2002, there has been little recovery. After the shock of this we found the lodge to be OK if you truly enjoy camping. Both staff and fellow lodgers seemed very warm and friendly. You have to hike in to see the lake. This makes the location not great if you have little ones under 6 or 7.

Sandra Howe

2020-05

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Dave and Dianne Wells

2019-05

My husband's family have been coming to Trappers, since since before he was born. We have brought our own family and now, we have brought our grandkids. It is amazing how much it has held its originality and charm. It is the most serene, beautiful place. Holly and Carol have kept Trappers in the same way that we first experienced it. The place is immaculate and they are very sweet hosts. We look forward to our next trip.

Amber Garvey

2022-05

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Jacob Jones

2018-05

It's exactly what it's billed as: rustic. Absolutely beautiful location, nice helpful people. The bed was comfortable. I was in a turn of the century cabin and the door closed with a latch, but it felt just right for getting out of the city for a while. I didn't try the restaurant so can't comment on that, but I loved it here!

Kendra

2020-05

Amazing place to get away with the family! Gorgeous scenery and friendly Staff. You don't have to be a rough, backwoods camper to make it here. Being a "glamper" is just fine. Wonderful place to unplug and enjoy nature!

Dave Sykes

2023-07

Great, rustic cabins with meals available and wonderful fly fishing & horseback riding in a beautiful, pristine wilderness setting!

Duane Lewis

2021-05

Caught a few fish but the few was awesome. Even after the fire when threw there on 2002. Burned just about everything but opened up everything. They have a brand new cabin and the food was great. Worth the drive. You can hike around the whole lake also. Trail all the way around.

B B

2023-05

We have been coming to TLL for years and it only gets better each time! The restaurant has phenomenal food and outstanding service. Margaritas are worth the drive alone!