The mountain-biking capital of the world isn’t necessarily known for its romantic hotels — or romantic anything, for that matter! Outdoor enthusiasts descend upon Moab, Utah, to bike its famous slickrock trails, climb its sandstone towers, raft the mild-to-wild Colorado River and drive 4WD vehicles over ultra-rugged, off-road terrain. Campsites and budget motels are de rigueur for adventure types who may or may not shower during their weekend getaway to Moab.
However, every rule has its exception. In Moab, it’s the AAA Four-Diamond Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa.
Technically, Sorrel River Ranch isn’t in Moab — it’s actually 20 miles away from the town’s Main Street. Still, guests here do take advantage of all the adventures Moab has to offer. They just do it from a luxurious home base, that’s all.
Indeed, when my husband and I spent the weekend here in the fall of 2006 (autumn is an ideal time to visit Moab), we found the resort a lovely spot to rest our weary bones after a day of hiking in the hot desert sun. While the Sorrel River Ranch does appeal to families, with its two-bedroom “family suites,” I think it makes a better grown-ups only, romantic getaway.
After all, select room types include comfy king-size beds and oversized, claw-footed hydrotherapy tubs. Every room on the property has a private porch with its own two-person wooden swing — great for snuggling with your sweetie and admiring vistas of terracotta rock formations. Each room also comes with a kitchenettes with refrigerators — a nice amenity for storing late-night snacks or that bottle of white wine.
This luxury resort is actually a working ranch, complete with cowboys and horse corrals, red barns and hay bales on 160 acres. The decor in the spacious accommodations at”the Ranch” is pure Old West, from the rough-hewn log beds to the barbed wire wrapped around handcrafted chandeliers. The rustic theme makes sense here; after all, John Wayne filmed several classic westerns in the area.
Book a table for two at the on-site River Grill restaurant, where hearty “cowboy cuisine” is featured. But because the resort’s owner is vegetarian, you’ll find savory tomato soup and Eggplant Innvoltini alongside New York strip, rack of lamb and salmon steak.
And for the ultimate in romance and pampering, consider a couples’ massage at the resort’s intimate spa. With just four treatment rooms, the spa is small, but does include amenities like steam showers and saunas in the women’s and men’s locker rooms.
Yes, the Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa is pricier than Moab’s typical budget motels and campgrounds — but it is an unexpected slice of heaven in the midst of the Utah desert.
