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Trail guide Marco keeps tabs on his riders as they pass the gate into the Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO

Modest signage signals private property, a luxury retreat, guests only. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Portions of the lodge, a historic log cabin, now renovated, date from the late 1800s. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Flags and a once-a-season patch of manicured grass celebrate a holiday. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

A single guest room, in the historic lodge’s oldest wing, is wheelchair-accessible. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

The lower lake, fed by Little Fountain Creek, is just big enough for boating. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

The lakes, stocked with trout, are an angler’s addiction. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

This little beauty caught a fish, on a sunny day at the lower lake. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Rocky ridges define the valley, at the Ranch and beyond. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Pine Cabin, under the trees and near the waterfall, seems built for a honeymoon. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Bring your friends: The Hillside Cabin, with a private patio and luxurious bedrooms on two floors, sleeps eight. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Small but well-equipped, the bar dates from the 1940s when this was a dude ranch. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Western paintings, a signature feature in most Broadmoor lodges, add color to the dining room, the original cabin’s main space. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Chef Zack Comis, rotating between the ranch and the Broadmoor Hotel, puts the finishing touches on the buffet. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Recording artist Jeff Houlton, 40 years a guitarist and a campfire tradition, entertains on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Riding the Pipeline Trail, past mine tailings, tells you this used to be gold country. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Saddling up at the Old Stage Riding Stable, for a morning on horseback. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.

Ranch Manager Craig Hilton does double-duty at the Gift Shop Corner. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Pike National Forest, Colorado Springs, CO.