Backland Luxury Nature Resort — Hotel in Four Corners States

I really enjoyed my stay here. I was traveling with my 5 1/2 year old daughter and my 14 1/2 year old dog as part of our road trip from LA to visit friends in Flagstaff. We were greeted by Chase who couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. I was blown away by the cozy yet stylish lobby and all of the amenities they made available for the guests at no charge. My daughter and I enjoyed a couple fun paddles around the lake and the complementary smores made my daughter happy since camping = smores in her book! The rooms were also amazing - cozy beds, nice bathroom, coffee maker, etc. It exceeded my expectations.

Where the experience fell short was being notified via text effectively a day before my arrival that the kitchen would be closed the night of my stay. That was a significant bummer given how remote Backlands is from Williams. So rather than settling in for the night, enjoying the sunset and then dinner in the restaurant, we instead had to focus on driving to Williams for dinner before heading back to have smores before my daughter's bedtime. That completely changed the dynamic of our short stay.

Upon arrival Chase was completely empathetic and said that the GM would be in in the morning and would talk to me and figure out how to make it better. Well the next morning came and we went to the main lobby area...the guy who was there (I only later confirmed that he was the GM) offered to cut us some fruit and provide yogurt and a muffin for breakfast...which I appreciated but was not quite the same as having a cooked meal. Later in the morning when we went to check out he - who I confirmed was the GM - didn't mention a word or apologize for the inconvenience. So I had to bring it up and mention that Chase mentioned that the GM would talk to me about the situation. His response was "oh did he, I'll have to talk to him"...what?? Chase did nothing but provide customer service...something that from my experience the GM could learn from. He eventually provided a small credit which I appreciated but I didn't like feeling like I should have had to grovel.

As I mentioned to the GM, I'm empathetic to how challenging it must be to hire at a place like that. But that's his problem to figure out and it shouldn't become the problem of the guest. If they have a couple nights where they don't have a chef, then make it known that the restaurant will be closed on those nights and tell would be guests in advance so they can plan accordingly. As I suggested, perhaps provided some self-serve options that guest can prepare on their own on their grill or maybe give a small food credit toward a restaurant in Williams. But just make it known in advance.

I'm not one to complain and I debated docking this place from what was otherwise a 5-star experience. It was the GM's failure to acknowledge and putting it on me to grovel that made me dock a star (and not without serious...

@travelbackland Eco Resort is glamping at its finest, nestled amidst the ponderosa pine forests in Williams, AZ.

Luxurious Escape in Nature: The spacious canvas tent suites have panoramic windows. King-sized beds ensure a comfortable night’s sleep under the starlit sky. Amenities include en-suite bathroom, climate control, seating and a mini-fridge.

Backland Amenities: We enjoyed relaxing by the fire pit with complimentary s’mores in the evenings, kayaking on the serene lake, nature walks, board games in the lobby, and dinners at the on-site restaurant. Each night we stargazed via the property’s telescope. A spa tent is also on site.

Dining Options: Complimentary continental breakfast. Boxed lunches were available for order including sandwiches and wraps. Dinners in the glass-walled restaurant featured items such as shrimp fettuccine alfredo, elote fritters, basil agave chicken salad, bison burgers and grilled trout.

Grand Canyon Day Trip: Backland is located about an hour from the south rim. Witnessing the awe-inspiring natural wonder was simply unforgettable.

Picnic Amongst the Past: Backland provided a delicious boxed lunch, perfect for our next adventure – Keyhole Sink. This unique geological formation offered a stunning backdrop for a picnic, surrounded by ancient petroglyphs from the Cohonina, who lived in the area from AD 700 to AD 1100.

Sycamore Canyon Adventure: After lunch, we embarked on a Journey to Sycamore Canyon. The colorful cliffs were a photographer’s paradise, located about 35 min from Backland.

Sustainable Luxury: What truly impressed me was Backland’s commitment to eco-friendly practices. From their energy-efficient tents with ecological toiletries and water conservation fixtures, to their focus on local ingredients, biodegradable plates and cups as well as composting and recycling. Overall, it’s the perfect getaway in nature offering an experience that redefines the...

My wife and I just did a weekend at Backland and it was exceptional. The voice-guided app made finding the place easy, but a well-written set of directions could have worked just as well. Don't let the fact that your standard map app won't find it intimidate you. Keep in mind that this is a glamping facility. They didn't plop some all-inclusive resort in the middle of the National Forest. It's not primitive, but neither is it fancy. It's secluded but comfortable and a perfect spot to unplug for a couple of days. The grounds are only partially maintained, which is exactly what one should expect in a place like this. There's a lovely lake/pond with geese, ducks, ravens and other birds, a ton of elk, some of the biggest jackrabbits you've ever seen and a wide variety of other wildlife. You get the full experience of forest, marsh and scrubland all on a beautiful 160 acres that are a great blend of accessible and secluded. The staff was all incredibly nice and attentive, and they all seemed enthused about the place and dedicated to making our experience memorable. The yurts/cabins/units/whatever you want to call them were very comfortable. My only improvement suggestion would be to invest in better pillows. The food at the on-site restaurant was really good. They burger and bánh mì sandwiches are exceptional, and the elote fritters are worth the drive all on their own. Do not get the shrimp alfredo. It's a lovely dish, but it's not an alfredo. It's a pasta in butter with grated parmesan. Also, the tail shells were still on the shrimp, which is a major pet peeve of mine as a chef. As you can see, my "negatives" about Backland are all incredibly minor. It's a really lovely place and we will most certainly keep it in our rotation of places to visit again. I want to particularly thank Chase for his enthusiastic service and interaction. He obviously loves his job and where he works, and his enthusiasm...