Amenities
The unique property of Stone Mountain Lodge and Cabins
provide various ways to enjoy the great Colorado outdoors. Our amenities
include the pond, the pool, the mountain, and the river, all in a setting with
lush landscaping and views in all directions.
The pond is home to our ducks, and provides a
picturesque setting for a walk, picnic, fishing, or sipping a glass of wine on a
bench. The ducks are friendly and love to be fed. They have been raised at the
pond, and we cherish them dearly. See our
ducks page for more about our ducks.
Fishing in our private pond is allowed without
a fishing license. We request that you limit your fishing to "catch and
release". There are bass, blue gill, sunfish, and carp. Many kids have caught their
first fish in our pond!
Every year in the Spring our pond attracts a
pair of Canadian geese. They generally hang around for a month or two. We
usually have a muskrat or two who make the pond their home too.
The swimming pool is a great place to relax
and take in the surrounding mountains and cliffs. The pool is heated. It is open
during office hours from just before Memorial Day to just after Labor Day. Pool
towels are provided. There are lounge chairs by the pool and picnic tables under
a tent to provide shelter from the sun or passing shower.
Our mountain, we call Stone Mountain, goes up
about 800 feet in altitude from the lodge, cabins,
 and
pond, to the top of the red cliffs. The lodge is at an
elevation of about 5,400', about the same as Boulder, and not much higher than
the Denver metro area.
Our 45 acre
property includes a portion of the red cliffs, and a lot of interesting terrain
below them. Surrounding our 45 acres are several hundred acres of public open
space property, which includes all the rest of the cliffs, and what is know as
Steamboat Mountain. We encourage you to take the short hike up the Stone
Mountain Trail.
The Stone
Mountain Trail is an old dirt road, and is an easy hike. You will experience
a unique 360 degree view.
You can view the towering red cliffs and admire Apple
Valley below, where the St. Vrain river flows. You will see how the river
comes out
 of
the rugged canyon that heads up towards Estes Park. Further up you may see Longs
Peak to the West, one of Colorado's 14,000 foot mountains.
Look for eagles or hawks flying over the top of the cliffs.
Sometimes you will see deer.
Occasionally, bear and mountain lions are on the mountain at night, but are
rarely seen.
To start the trail, walk to the end of the lodge
building and look for a gate that
goes through the fence. Go through the gate and walk around to your right until you see a dirt road with a chain across it.
As you walk up, the road
generally curves to the right until it turns back to the left and eventually ends.
It does not continue to the top of the cliffs. Part way up the trail is a picnic table under a shady tree. It's a great
place to relax, admire the view, and have a picnic.
Take a look at our interactive map and take a
virtual tour of the Stone Mountain Trail. Also, check out our
information on other close by hiking.
The North Saint Vrain River is
just across the road from Stone Mountain
 Lodge. This part of the river is just beyond where it exits the canyon and levels out
meandering through Apple Valley, before it goes through the town of Lyons. You
can enjoy fishing, tubing or just wading in the water on a hot day.
Fishing the Saint Vrain River does require a Colorado fishing license.
During the summer, the river
runs
 gracefully
and becomes ideal for bumping along on an inner tube, or just wading in the cool
mountain water. But during the early spring (May
and early June) the river runs high, depending on the snow melt. Expert kayakers
sometimes start at the arched bridge just west of Stone Mountain Lodge, or use the
kayaking course at Meadow Park in Lyons (about a mile down steam). At this
time of year one needs to be
 careful, and respect the force of the river.
There are two easy access
points within walking distance of Stone Mountain Lodge. One is a path from the pull-out across the road just west of the
lodge
building. (Be careful crossing the road!) The other is a few hundred feet
farther west. Here, there is a wooden arched bridge where Apple Valley Road
crosses the river. Just on the other side of the bridge you will find a small
parking lot and a paved path with access to the river. You can also access the
river from Meadow Park and Bohn Park in Lyons.
Take a look at our
interactive map to see the location of the river.
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