Gold Lake Lodge is situated off the Peak-to-Peak highway, 16 miles up the three canyons that lead to it from Boulder, Colorado.  The property is an awe-inspiring mountain setting surrounded by thousands of acres of wilderness and snowcapped peaks.  These serve as a dramatic and fitting backdrop to the program.

This 100-acre, historic property includes a beautiful, 35-acre, trout-filled lake.  Gold Lake has been a sacred gathering place for indigenous tribes for thousands of years.  For the native people, Gold Lake was a place revered for fruitful explorations and connection with the many elements of society, nature and self.  One of the region’s prominent Native American leaders, Chief Niwot, led the Southern Arapahos to Gold Lake each summer for a festival called the “Sundance.”  Tribes gathered during the festival and held vision quests, participated in drumming circles, and took advantage of the natural resources.  Today, Gold Lake connects people to the land in the same magical way.

The Property

The living quarters are 19 historic cabins that have been updated with all of the comforts of home. Nestled close to the lake is a large lake-house that includes a spacious community and entertainment area, a small-bites kitchen, and a deck that overlooks the lake.  In addition to the cabins, Gold Lake has a large, hand-hewn, log lodge housing our reception, a full-service kitchen, the dining room, a separate healthy-snack and beverage bar, and a large deck.  Close to the lodge is an administrative building and a large studio that is a place for fitness, yoga, meditation and other activities.

We also have a woodworking shop, livestock pen, horse stable and round pen for our equine and riding programs.  We have a greenhouse and an organic garden.  There are thermal hot pools, hammocks, benches, picnic tables, teepees, a lake pavilion, and fire pit.  Set amidst the grounds is a 12-element, low-ropes course and various trails for mountain biking and hiking.

Geological History

Gold Lake is a rare, natural lake that formed over millions of years; there are only a few lakes in this mountain region.  This one was enhanced by a dam built in 1889 by the Left Hand Ditch Company.  Gold Lake sits on top of a huge, igneous plume of granite.  Molten plumes rose slowly from beneath the earth’s surface and were hot enough to melt metals and other minerals.  As the plumes reached the surface and cooled, minerals were crystallized and metals solidified into veins of gold, silver, tungsten, molybdenum, and other metals.

Millions of years ago, this part of Colorado was a large, shallow sea and the landscape was flat.  Deep, crustal, tectonic activity initiated two episodes of mountain building.  The sharp mountain peaks you see are composed of metamorphic rocks called gneiss and schist.  “Niwot’s Rock” and “Dream Rock” are examples of weathered granite.  Niwot’s Rock is one of many sacred “hot spots” at Gold Lake.

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