Hidden Canyon Retreat — Hotel in Ely

Can I give this place a 6th star?

We came rolling onto the property not sure what to expect, although not expecting much. The room photos on their website do not really do it justice. The property itself is immaculate, with mule deer wandering around(although we saw pronghorns on the road from Garrison on the way in!), with indications that it's still a working ranch like a horse paddock and chicken coop.

The lodging area is a C-shaped building that reminds me of converted ranch hand bunkhouse housing. If it was, and not a new building, it's been entirely renovated. The room we were in (a suite they upgraded us to ahead of our arrival because the climate control in our original room was making a tapping sound) looks as if all the furniture was recently replaced. The place was clean as a whistle, with ample electrical outlets for the infinity billion devices that follow us everywhere these days. The climate system was great, which was good because it was getting cold out. Water heat was great, better than the outrageous arm-and-leg apartment we pay for in Northern Virginia.

Place was a bit quiet because we were there the last week of the season, which was fine by us; we got some nighttime photography in. You could see the Milky Way ten feet from your door, although I bet that when the weather is warmer the firepits are going and you may need to go a little bit further out on the property. I can't speak to the peak season, but we had some free breakfast at a dining hall in the mornings, nothing fancy, as expected from a converted (and still somewhat) working ranch.

Also, we got a slow leak in a tire, and Alan the ranch hand got it plugged for us, rather than waiting for our roadside assistance making it there form who knows where. We really didn't know what we would have done without his and the staff's help, it saved us a lot of time and money. It was them being kind and good hosts rather than being put on the spot of taking care of us, and we really appreciate it.

Some further comments:

The wi-fi is free, and you can get email on it, but that is about the extent of use. I strongly suspect that it's a Hughes 4G line split, and the speed and availability reflects that. I would argue that if you need broadband internet at all times, what on earth are you doing near the most isolated national park in the lower 48?

I believe on their website they say to make it in before dark. While they keep the road well graded, there are switchbacks and it can be steep, making it disorientating if you try this in the dark. That said, sedans can make it down fine, you don't need a SUV or rally car to make it in.

They offer a lot of food options at the general store, and the meat cuts they had on hand were fantastic. Be advised that you likely will have to cook your own food during off-peak season, which is fine by me because, again, if you want to be waited on go to Vegas. They had carnivore, vegetarian, and vegan options as well. I believe their confirmation email said something about reaching out if you had specific dietary requirements; I suspect if someone showed up with Halal or conservative Kosher requirements they would do their best to meet it, but probably something they need to know about ahead of time.

Wife and I thought that this was just going to be a place that was home base while we explored around GBNP and Baker. I sincerely think that we may return just to chill out for several days...

This property is in a fabulous location and has all the amenities you could want. The rooms are large, ours had 2Q beds, 2 chairs, and a table with 4 stools. The table was pushed against the wall, but there was plenty of room to pull it out to the center of the room and easily seat 4 people around it. There was an open closet near the entry door with hangers and a shelf. An extra floor lamp and a broom were also here. We put the luggage stand in this area for our luggage. There was a large TV on the wall. It didn't face the beds, but it was easy to see from the table and one of the beds. It could be seen from the other bed, but not as well. The unit was exceptionally clean.|The kitchen surprised us with everything it had. There was a large toaster oven to use for baking, a microwave, a toaster, a small refrigerator, and a large electric induction cooktop. A Keurig coffee maker with a large selection of coffee was a nice addition. There were plenty of utensils, dishes, glasses, cooking pans, silverware, and also detergent, dish towels and paper towels.|The bathroom had a large vanity area with one sink, a large mirror and great lighting. The shower contained soap, conditioner, and shampoo. There was plenty of Kleenex and extra toilet tissue. The toilet and shower were in an alcove off the sink area. Lots of towels were provided and we never ran out of hot water for our showers.|The units were arranged in a horseshoe with a lovely grassy area in the center and a lovely canyon view at the end.|Outside was a seasonal pool, year round hot tub, grill for barbecuing, and also an area to play horseshoe. There was plenty of grassy area for kids to play and also a game room for the family to enjoy.|At the far end of the property was the office and store. Christina was fantastic, both friendly and helpful. The store had an amazing assortment of food: ice cream, fresh fruit, cereal, frozen dinners, frozen meat, canned goods and much more. |Breakfast was done differently and was a great idea. You could either order a sack breakfast which was delivered the the night before or you could get a token worth money to spend at the store on anything you wanted. This system worked very well, especially since the store had so much to choose from.|The property was located at the bottom of a remote and beautiful valley. When I say remote, I mean remote. Make sure you follow the directions sent to you, as they are easy to follow. Some GPS systems get it wrong in this remote area. The 7 mile gravel road you turn onto is wide and well maintained. Hidden Valley Ranch is at the end of the road, you can't miss it. The instructions say you will "drop down into the canyon" and that's exactly what you do. When you first turn onto Big Wash Canyon Road it is sagebrush and scrub. But eventually you "drop down into the canyon". The road drops quickly with several hairpin turns. But don't worry, the road is wide enough to easily make these turns. You'll turn right once you pass the Hidden Valley Ranch sign to check-in at the store (open 3-9p when we were there). You'll meet Christina who will explain everything and check you in.|Pets are welcome for a fee and the area is known for its fantastic night sky (and it is fantastic).|You can cancel 5 days prior for a refund (7 days on holidays and special events).|You'll love it here! It is a wonderful...

My family surprised me with a secret Father’s Day weekend to Baker NV and my wife picked the most amazing retreat! After driving miles on a long and winding dirt road, we pull into this secluded, hidden gem. Some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever laid eyes on and I have been to quite a few states.

It only took about an hour so get used to zero cell phone service and shotty WiFi to realize it wasn’t even needed In this hidden canyon. I was worried at first due to the fact my wife and I had two small children with us. But, sure enough, the next morning our boys ran into another family and had two pals around the same age to play with outside ! Being from Las Vegas, they don’t get to play much. However, with the almost 400 acres for us to explore there was never a dull moment. They also had a community room, with ping pong, board games, satellite TV and fooseball! It was a great option for boredom, but, we honestly only spent about an hour in there. Why stay inside while adventure awaits right outside our room!

The owner and I had quite the interesting experience our first night at around 11:30pm, when I may have accidentally locked both bathroom doors and the fam was out of a potty. But, sure enough, our first encounter with the owner was her waking up, driving to our suite, and playing the great escape with me quietly as the kids still slept, unlocking our restroom and saving the day!

Ok this review is getting long, so just a couple more things and I’ll wrap it up. There isn’t a lot of food choices in the nearest town. However, at the main office, Hidden Canyon provides its guests with local meats and a grill to cook with! I’m not the best chef, but I’ll tell you, this steak was out of this world and I wish I could order them online. They were decently priced as well.

I can not express enough how much fun I had with my family at Hidden Canyon. I will be recommending it till I’m a very old man, to everyone that will let me ramble about this fantastical retreat.

Also, I hear you sometimes have photo contests for free stays? I have hundreds of pics to post! I am a freelance designer/photographer so I was a kid in a candy store here for sure.

Thanks again !...