The Top 10 Resort Hotels in the American West in 2018

By Sarah Bruning
July 10, 2018
Courtesy of Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe
A vacation out West should be all about engaging with the great outdoors, according to Travel + Leisure readers. The 10 resort hotels that our audience voted to the top this year have plenty of activities in their arsenal (skiing, horseback riding, and fishing, among them), along with energetic staffers who make adults and kids feel equally at home.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Hotels were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

Related: The 2018 World's Best Awards

Colorado earned the most accolades of any state, locking down three places on the list, with the elegant Sebastian in Vail (No. 9), the posh ski-in/ski-out Little Nell in Aspen (No. 6), and the ruggedly charming C Lazy U Ranch near Rocky Mountain National Park (No. 3). Skijoring, a more offbeat option where a skier is pulled along by horses, is among the signature pastimes at Montana’s sweeping Resort at Paws Up (No. 8), which one reader visited during a Winter Fest celebration. “We went horseback riding in the snow, and the local curling team came to give us lessons at the Paws Up ice rink. This is a must visit!”

Another Big Sky Country escape, the “majestic” Triple Creek Ranch (No. 4), impressed readers at every turn, from “world-class” year-round activities and “plentiful” wine and whiskey to the way the staffers “take the time out to know all their guests and make sure their needs are met.” As another fan wrote enthusiastically: “it combines rustic Western Americana with the utmost in luxury.”

Just as effusive were guests of the No. 2 property on this year’s list, Wyoming’s 41-room Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch. “Cares melt down the river as you stay busy with numerous activities,” said one fan of the dude ranch, which is set on 30,000 acres and offers fly-fishing, archery, hunting, and clay shooting. “Everything is carefully thought out.” The “dreamworld setting,” as another visitor described it, keeps people coming back “year after year after year.”

For the complete list and rankings, as well as the reveal of this year’s top choice as voted by readers, scroll down the page.
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10. Jenny Lake Lodge, Moose, Wyoming

Credit: Courtesy of Jenny Lake Lodge

Score: 91.87

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9. The Sebastian,Vail, Colorado

Credit: Courtesy of The Sebastian - Vail

Score: 92.30

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8. Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana

Credit: Courtesy of Paws Up

Score: 92.70

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7. Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley, Park City, Utah

Credit: Mark Maziarz/Courtesy of Stein Eriksen Lodge

Score: 93.08

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6. Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado

Credit: Courtesy of The Little Nell

Score: 93.71

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5. Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach, Oregon

Credit: Courtesy of The Stephanie Inn

Score: 93.90

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4. Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana

Credit: Courtesy of Triple Creek Ranch

Score: 94.70

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3. C Lazy U Ranch, Grand County, Colorado

Credit: Courtesy of C Lazy U

Score: 94.77

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2. Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, Saratoga, Wyoming

Credit: Courtesy of the Brush Creek Luxury Ranch Collection

Score: 95.60

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1. Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Credit: Courtesy of Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe

Score: 95.78

Lake Tahoe has plenty of hotels along its shores, which means it takes a truly special property to stand out in the field. After two years of construction and a $100 million investment, the 154-room Lodge delivers with, as one fan describes it, “beautiful views of the lake, beautiful rooms, and excellent service.” Whether guests prefer to golf at the 18-hole course or head to nearby Heavenly to ski — or book appointments to be pampered at the on-site spa — relaxation is never far off. Neither is a delicious meal, thanks to the “wonderful F&B options,” which include a bistro, a full restaurant, and a casual bar and grill. The little flourishes aren’t lost on guests, one of whom added, “the outdoor fire pits and nightly s’mores hour were a welcome added touch.”

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2018.

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By Sarah Bruning