From horseback rides to starlit campfires, Copper Spur Ranch invites you to experience Colorado the way it was meant to be. If you’re looking for peace, adventure, and good people… you’ve found your place.
Tucked deep in Colorado’s high country, Copper Spur Ranch isn’t just a place—it’s a way of life. Stretching from 7,600 to over 10,000 feet in elevation and bordering BLM land, National Forest, and the rugged Radium State Wildlife Area that climbs to 11,000 feet, this land remains as untamed as it is breathtaking. With mountain pastures grazed by cattle and sheep, winding alpine trails, and hidden springs, it’s a place where nature sets the pace and the wild still feels wild.
The husband-and-wife team behind Copper Spur Ranch—a Colorado guest ranch and working cattle and sheep ranch nestled deep in the heart of the high country.
Garth is a lifelong cowboy at heart. Raised in the South and highly educated in agriculture (Ph.D. in Animal Science), he’s spent decades managing and/or advising ranches, riding high-country trails, and living a life rooted in hard work, open land, and good stories. He still believes in Southern hospitality, sunrise coffee, and a proper breakfast plate with bacon, eggs, and cheese grits.
Maria was born and raised in Mexico, where her love for animals and open land first blossomed on her grandparents’ farm. Her life is woven with creativity, curiosity, and deep compassion. A gifted pianist, passionate Flamenco dancer, and fluent in five languages, Maria’s talents run wide, but her heart runs deeper. She is also a devoted learner of the human experience, constantly exploring psychology and philosophy. This lifelong learning shapes the warmth, empathy, and insight she brings to every interaction. Whether tending animals, welcoming guests, or sharing a glass of wine on the porch, Maria engages with presence, heart, and intention.
It was Maria who first discovered Copper Spur Ranch online. She started searching after catching ranch fever during a memorable winter afternoon spent at a friend's ranch. They were both captivated by the sight of a couple hundred deer grazing as they departed. Garth was initially skeptical—“You don’t go shopping for champagne when all you can afford is PBR,” he joked.
When Garth and Maria first visited Copper Spur Ranch in the dead of winter, the land was buried in snow and rough around the edges. Initially, Garth dubbed it a “runch”—a run-down ranch. It wasn’t until the spring thaw that Garth finally saw the vision Maria had seen all along—the stunning landscape, abundant wildlife, natural water features, and untouched beauty of the surrounding public lands. It was all there, just waiting. Now, after years of grit, grace, and shared effort, Copper Spur Ranch has evolved into the dream it was always meant to be.
Together, Garth and Maria have poured their hearts into this land. They care for the animals, cultivate the property, and welcome guests with honesty, warmth, and a profound love for the rhythm of the Rockies. They believe in slowing down, connecting with nature, and sharing stories that stretch long into the evening.
Copper Spur Ranch is more than a destination, it’s a living reflection of their shared journey, deeply rooted in hard work, healing, hospitality, and respect for the land and all who find their way here.
This isn’t just a scenic getaway. Copper Spur Ranch sits along an ancient elk migration corridor. This is where sometimes we will see herds pass from summer range to winter range, often moving through the ranch in September and October.
It’s real. It’s raw. It’s ranch life.
We believe in slowing down, breathing in mountain air, and making real connections—with the land, with each other, and with the animals that make this place home. Whether you're here for a weekend escape or a full ranch immersion, you’ll feel it the moment you arrive.
Step into a place where wide open skies, rugged adventure, and authentic ranch living come together. From trail rides and cozy housing to unforgettable experiences around the campfire, Copper Spur Ranch invites you to slow down, reconnect, and explore all that life on the ranch has to offer.
Ranch Owners/Hosts
Ranch Hand/Wrangler
Lifestyle Photographer and Videographer
Private Chef
Private Guitar Player for Fire Pit Songs
Out here it’s quiet, authentic, and just the way we like it.
In addition to our cattle and sheep herds, the ranch is home to horses, guardian dogs (who keep watch over the sheep), chickens, geese, and ducks. Some of our original log barns—built by the first homesteaders—are over 140 years old.
We may be off the beaten path, but you’ll still have high-speed internet at the main guest house thanks to Starlink. But, in true Copper Spur Ranch fashion leaving the devices behind and soaking up the true Colorado ranch lifestyle is the way to go.