Unlike typical hunting ranches or guest lodges, Trappers Lake Lodge operates under a rare USFS Resort & Outfitting Special Use Permit, making it the only permitted outfitter authorized to commercially guide hunts and operate wilderness camps across approximately 48,000 acres—about 75 square miles—of prime Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, black bear, and moose habitat. For any serious buyer seeking an established Colorado outfitter business, this level of permitted access is increasingly difficult to replicate today.

Historic Lodge with Proven Outdoor Operations

Steps away from Trappers Lake, Colorados second-largest natural lake, the lodge welcomes guests who travel miles of scenic forest roads to reach its off-grid cabins. Some of these cabins date back to the 1800s, restored with care and still holding the warmth of generations. The main lodge features a full-service restaurant and bar famous for hearty breakfasts, prime rib dinners, and the lodges signature Elmos Margaritas. A general store stocks outdoor gear, hunting essentials, and local souvenirs, while a bathhouse, laundry, staff housing, and a well-kept barn and corral round out the infrastructure needed for a true wilderness operation.

The entire lodge is powered by well-maintained generators and supplied by crystal-clear mountain spring water, ensuring that this remote mountain resort feels timeless but runs smoothly. Guests come for multi-day hunting trips, family horseback adventures, fly fishing on Trappers Lake, or simply to reconnect with the wild.

World-Class Big Game Hunting & Outdoor Guide Services

Trappers Lake Lodges outfitting permit provides exclusive guiding rights for fair-chase big game hunting in some of Colorados most sought-after Game Management Units (GMUs). This region of the White River National Forest is home to one of the largest elk herds in North America, along with healthy populations of mule deer, black bear, and moose. The lodges licensed Colorado hunting guides lead fully guided hunts, pack-in drop camps, and custom wilderness adventures across a vast area of terrain: alpine basins, aspen glades, willow-lined creek bottoms, and dark timber that holds trophy-class animals year after year.

Guests experience authentic horseback hunting trips, with seasoned wranglers, sturdy pack stock, and canvas wall tents set up in remote compartments. This is one of the few remaining operations where hunters ride out at dawn the way generations did before guided safely by an outfitting team whose knowledge of these compartments is unmatched.

Additional Outdoor Recreation & Guiding Opportunities

When the hunting seasons pause, the wilderness still calls. Trappers Lake Lodge operates horseback trail rides along historic pack routes, guided fly-fishing trips for native cutthroat trout, canoe and kayak rentals on the pristine lake, and wildlife photography outings where moose, bear, and bald eagles are daily sightings. Its location near the Flat Tops Scenic Byway, the Yampa Valley, and Steamboat Springs makes it easy to market multi-day wilderness adventures, family retreats, or even small group events like weddings or company off-sites.

Permitted Operations & Protected Use

A key operational advantage of Trappers Lake Lodge is its long-standing authorization to conduct permitted outfitting and resort services under a USFS Special Use Permit:

Trappers Lake Lodge operates as the only permitted commercial outfitter within its designated wilderness hunting compartments, while fully preserving public recreational access to these National Forest lands. The permit has been renewed and validated under NEPA and is supported by documented Five-Year High Use Data demonstrating proven historical operations and capacity for continued use. Within approved use levels, the permit allows for guided hunts, pack trips, drop camps, basecamp operations, and guided day rides, providing a well-established framework for ongoing outfitting services.

Proven Revenue & Clear Growth Potential

Trappers Lake Lodge generates gross receipts with strong EBITDA potential for an owner-operator or family team. Revenue streams include lodging, guided hunts, outdoor guide services, equipment rentals, retail sales, and food and beverage operations. Historic footprints lost to fire remain eligible to rebuild, allowing for 35 more guest cabins to meet growing demand.

Winter operations are a major untapped frontier: the existing permit supports adding snowcat tours, guided backcountry skiing, and winter outfitting trips, giving a new owner a clear path to transform this into a rare four-season wilderness resort.

Why This Colorado Outfitter Business is Truly Unique

Scale & Exclusivity: Unlike a simple private hunting ranch or lodge, you hold the key to tens of thousands of acres you alone can guide in protected by a federal permit.

Historic Legacy: Known as the Cradle of Wilderness, Trappers Lake is where the national wilderness preservation idea was born. That heritage cannot be duplicated.

Surrounding Protection: The entire lodge is encircled by public National Forest land guaranteeing your viewshed, wildlife habitat, and guest experience will remain unspoiled.

Multi-Generation Brand Equity: Generations of loyal hunters, families, and outdoor enthusiasts return year after year, making this more than a business its a legacy.

Turnkey Sale Ready for the Next Steward

For the right buyer an experienced outfitter, adventure hospitality brand, or legacy family looking for a protected wilderness asset Trappers Lake Lodge & Outfitting is a rare, documented opportunity to carry Colorados big-game hunting and outdoor adventure story forward.

This is more than just a hunting lodge for sale its a fully licensed outfitter operation, a profitable wilderness guide service, and a place where your guests will still hear elk bugle in the dawn and see the stars the way their great-grandfathers did