Outdoor upgrade: luxury lodges redefine roughing it.

• Author: Coon, John
• Position: Executive Living

Sleeping in a tent on the cold, hard ground is not a requirement for enjoying the great outdoors. Tucked away within pristine wilderness, luxury hunting and fishing lodges offer unrivaled outdoor experiences paired with indulgent amenities.

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The Lure of the River

Located in the heart of the Ashley National Forest 30 miles north of Altamont, the Crystal Ranch Lodge is situated on a 500-acre ranch in a secluded mountain valley. The ranch is surrounded on all sides by breathtaking mountain vistas and thick forests. It is the only cabin in the valley.

A multitude of spring-fed ponds dots the valley, but the crown jewel is a two-mile swath of the Yellowstone River.

It's the epitome of a fly fishing paradise. "We have two miles of private access to the Yellowstone River," says Crystal Ranch Lodge owner Dave Ludlow. "Having that right out the front door is just epic. You can hear the water flowing right where you're sitting on the patio. You can see

Beyond fly fishing in the nearby river and ponds, the lodge offers guided ATV tours, guided horseback tows, kayaking on a man-made lake near the lodge, mountain biking on five miles worth of groomed trails and a one-hole golf course with a distance of 270 yards to the pin.

The lodge itself offers a game room, library, wi-fi for internet access and HD TVs. Guests receive meals and housekeeping services similar to those offered in a hotel room.

The central attraction, though, is fly fishing. Ludlow says brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout are found in abundance in the Yellowstone River and the various ponds and lakes on the ranch.

Ludlow hires a team of part-time seasonal guides to help guests get the most out of their fishing experience during their stay.

"They can find all the different places on the ranch," he says. "We have beaver ponds. We have little lakes and pools. They know the waters. They know what to fish with. So the guides are there at their beck and call."

Crystal Ranch Lodge has guests come from all over the country who want to experience fishing in Utah. They find the lodges like the Crystal Ranch Lodge appealing because they can enjoy the quiet solitude found there.

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