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About Piney River Ranch

Located at 9,300 feet above sea level, Piney River Ranch is a small, mountain resort located on beautiful Piney Lake. The lake is flanked by a spectacular view of the Gore Range and Mt. Powell.

The ceremony, dinner and reception will be held at Piney River Ranch, located north of Vail, Colorado on Red Sandstone Rd/County Rd 700. This is a dirt,, mountain road. It is passable with passenger cars, but drive slowly and carefully. Please carpool if possible and give yourself plenty of time when coming from Vail (we recommend at least one hour) as it can be slow going. You can drive right up to the resort, and there is parking off to the side of the main building.

Directions to Piney River Ranch from main Vail exit (don't be intimidated - it may seem like a lot of directions but it's not too hard to follow - and there are usually a number of signs for Piney Lake and Piney River Ranch along the way):

1. From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail.

2. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Road.

3. Turn north here and follow the winding, paved road about 0.7 miles to a fork with a dirt road on the left. There should be a Forest Service sign indicating this is Red Sandstone Road #700 (Reset your odometer here).

4. Continue up this road about 2.7 miles to an intersection with the Lost Lake Road (#786) and continue left.

5. At mile 6.5 you will pass Red and White Mtn Road-FSR 734. At mile 6.7 you will pass the Lost Lake Trail parking lot on the right and then reach an intersection where the Muddy Pass/Moniger Road goes left. Stay right here. (Some maps show the Red Sandstone Road changing number from FSR 700 to FSR 701 at this point, and some don’t, but regardless, you stay right to get to Piney Lake and the Piney River Ranch).

6. At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see a trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left. Stay right and reach a Forest Service parking lot on the right at mile 10.65.

7. Continue past this parking lot to Piney River Ranch and the private parking lot, just beyond. Please park here.

If you think you'll have trouble finding the ranch, click here to post in the travel section of the forum and we can put you in touch with a local to show you the way!

More Info: The ceremony will start at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday to allow people time to get ready and get up to the ranch. Shortly after the ceremony will be the dinner and reception, featuring Milwaukee's own Bent Willow Band. The ranch offers a number of activities including horseshoes, badminton and volleyball, as well as canoe and kayak rentals, for those interested. Following the reception will be a bonfire and gathering (weather permitting) within walking distance of the ranch for any guests who wish to continue the celebration and want to camp out or stay overnight at the ranch.

Piney Accommodations

There are limited, rustic accommodations for those guests who would like to stay overnight at the ranch. They are shared accommodations and include multiple-bed yurts, teepees and campsites.

If you would like to reserve a bed or campsite at the ranch for the night of July 30, 2011, please contact Jessie or Steve.

Yurts

There are two yurts available. The lakeside yurt has 12 twin beds and the meadow yurt sleeps 10 on twin beds. Both yurts have linens provided. $25 per person.

Teepees

There are 3 teepees that sleep 6 people each on provided cots. Linens are not provided by the resort, please bring a sleeping bag or blankets and a pillow. $10 per person.

Campsites

There are 10 campsites available on the resort property. $25 per site.