RIDGWAY, COLO. — In Spanish, Colorado means red. In autumn, Colorado means red, yellow, orange, gold and green leaves and very blue sky. The combination is so breathtaking that you can use up every bit of memory -- in your brain and your digital camera -- trying to take it all in.
We found a special way to do just that on a four-day trip in early October: We stayed in a yurt, a dwelling developed in the 12th century by Mongolian nomads in central Asia.
In the last few years, a handful of companies have been building their own versions for those who want a touch of extra comfort outdoors.
When a friend told us about the yurts at Ridgway State Park north of Telluride, my longtime partner, Gloria Cortes, and I decided that this would be a great place to stay while enjoying the state's famed fall color.
Peak season runs from late September to mid-October, depending on the weather, something to keep in mind when you're planning next year's journey here.
The yurt that awaited us at the state park, which is home to some of the most glorious fall color anywhere in the West, was as pleasing -- and jaw-dropping -- as the scenery on our drive from L.A.
Big enough to sleep six people comfortably, the structure contained beds, a couch, a table, chairs, a refrigerator and microwave, a propane stove that turned on automatically, lights and ample electrical outlets. No bathroom, however. An extraordinarily clean restroom is nearby.
We are enthusiastic campers who usually sleep in a tent on trips, so to us, the yurt was a new standard of outdoor luxury. (However, you do need sleeping bags, plus lanterns and a camp stove for cooking on the metal picnic table outside the front door.)
Indoor cooking, although possible, is not encouraged. Need supplies? The small town of Ridgway is only a 10-minute drive away.
Seventeen yurts are scattered across seven of Colorado's state parks, said Kirstin Copeland, an 11-year park veteran and current manager. Three of the yurts, which were built eight years ago, are located at Ridgway. They are gaining in popularity; we had been advised to make our reservation a month and a half early and were glad we did.
Copeland said that more than 500 people a year now check into the park's canvas and wood yurts.
"We've been really surprised that they have withstood both the passage of time and the many, many occupants," she said.
