Colorado's Edens

Keystone Lodge & Spa There’s no doubt about it: Eco-spas are hot. “No one can get enough of the sustainability message,” says eco-consultant Amy McDonald. “Consumers are savvy. They’re asking resorts, ‘What are you doing to protect the environment?’” Keystone Lodge & Spa There’s no doubt about it: Eco-spas are hot. “No one can get enough of the sustainability message,” says eco-consultant Amy McDonald. “Consumers are savvy. They’re asking resorts, ‘What are you doing to protect the environment?’” As a result, resorts are investing in green technology, ditching bottled water for glasses and fountains, picking organic product lines for their spas, buying wind power, supporting local vendors—all in the name of good stewardship and smart business. Given the popularity of all things green, we checked out destination spas across Colorado in search of a handful of standouts. These resorts and spas take their commitments seriously, proving that they can pamper guests and protect the environment all at the same time. Pictured above: The luxurious chromotherapy tub at the Keystone Lodge & Spa allows a guest to bathe in tiny bubbles while light therapy eases stress.   Keystone Lodge & Spa Keystone has a definite family-friendly vibe, but if you’re looking for a little quiet time without the kids, head to the newly renovated Keystone Spa, which proves that sustainability and luxury play well together. Re-opened in November, the 10,000-square-foot spa is awash in natural light, thanks to an abundance of windows. Get to your appointment early enough to lounge in the relaxation room and gaze at the mountains. Your spa concierge will deliver a pre-treatment foot soak and warm neck pillow—a hint of good things to come. You can’t go wrong choosing from the spa menu, but we’re dying to try the signature treatment: a three-hour ritual called Li’Tya, which features a body wrap, head massage, foot session, body therapy, facial and hand treatment, all inspired by Aboriginal healing techniques. If all that pampering leaves you hungry, head upstairs to the Bighorn Steakhouse, where you should ask for a table near the window, so you can watch the ice-skaters twirling on the large outdoor rink. Bighorn’s menu is mostly corn-fed American beef—no surprise there—but you’ll also find a few tasty fish and chicken dishes and some top-notch appetizers. (970) 496-3000, keystonelodge.rockresorts.com. Green features we love: * 100 percent of the electricity used by the spa is offset by wind power energy credits. * The floor of the fitness center is made of recycled tires. * Therapists’ uniforms are made with hemp and TENCEL®. * All products used in treatments are organic.

St. Julien  Hotel & Spa, Boulder The St. Julien offers a near-perfect combination of elegance and comfort, and the hotel’s commitment to the environment means that the property’s many indulgences come guilt-free.

Where should you begin? We suggest the spa, where you can choose from a robust menu of massages, scrubs, wraps, nail treatments and salon services, many provided with organic products. Our favorite: Love Olive Me!, one of the menu’s most recent additions. One part exfoliation, one part body wrap, two parts massage, this two-hour experience is pure bliss (and great for dry, high-altitude skin, thanks to the healing properties of olive oil).

If you can pull yourself away from the spa, cross the lobby to Jill’s, the hotel’s eco-savvy restaurant, where executive chef Jason Rogers serves up what’s fresh, available and seasonal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (720) 406-9696, stjulien.com.
Green features we love:

* Guests’ rooms are cleaned with green products, not harsh chemicals.
* The concierge desk offers free cruiser bicycles for guests to use during their stay.
* A third-party company turns the kitchen oil waste from Jill’s into biodiesel fuel.
* Thanks to its commitment to recycling and composting, the St. Julien will reduce its landfill waste by 61 percent each year.

Ranch Creek Spa at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Tabernash On 5,000 acres of what its owners call “Raw Colorado,” Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash (near Winter Park) is a storybook-perfect Colorado getaway. Views of the Continental Divide and the Ranch Creek Valley remind guests why the resort’s owners and employees are so dedicated to protecting the area’s natural beauty.

Devil’s Thumb offers a list of outdoor activities that would make any camp director envious. From the Cabin Creek Stables, guests can take guided trail rides or sleigh rides across the sprawling property. The resort also offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fly-fishing, mountain biking—you get the picture.

After relishing the mountain air, visit the Ranch Creek Spa for a rejuvenating experience. The spa uses only organic products and eschews water treatments, manicures and pedicures. Opt for a hot stone massage—one of spa director Faye Hutchins’s favorites—or for a delightful facial. (800) 933-4339, devilsthumbranch.com.
Green features we love:

* Geothermal heating warms the pool area and many buildings on the property.
* The new 52-room lodge, opened in January, was built with reused and local materials whenever possible. (Reclaimed beetle kill pine is used in much of the trim work.)
* The rustic Broad Axe Barn is made from beams saved from a Civil War-era barn.
* A water-sand filtration system purifies water, reducing the resort’s reliance on man-made resources for clean water.