Ute Mountain Canyon Escape near Mesa Verde

Entire cabin in Cortez, Colorado

  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1.5 baths
Hosted by Laura
  1. Superhost
  2. 7 years hosting

Listing highlights

Top 5% of homes

This home is highly ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.

Self check-in

Check yourself in with the lockbox.

Comfy bed for better sleep

The room-darkening shades and extra bedding are loved by guests.
Stay on the flank of Sleeping Ute Mountain in historic McElmo Canyon just 40 minutes from Mesa Verde and 20 minutes from the town of Cortez. The Workshop Loft is a new build completed in the Summer of 2021. A converted former barn workshop, the Loft sits below red rock cliffs with high-end amenities, great internet, a private patio, and gorgeous river-bottom cottonwood views. A perfect place to base yourself for your next creative endeavor or for exploring in the wilds of the Four Corners.

The space
**No hidden fees: We do not charge cleaning or other additional fees.**

We also offer great discounts on 3+ day stays!

The Workshop Loft is a converted cabin workshop that fills the west side of a large barn in the creek bottoms on the banks of McElmo. Completed in the Summer of 2021, the Loft boasts high-end, comfortable appliances, a full, well-equipped kitchen, two bathrooms and a large, luxurious shower, washer and dryer, high-speed internet, a comfortable bed, and midcentury-southwest inspired aesthetic. The barn sits down a hill under the shade of a large tree, but has impressive red rock views out the bedroom and back of the house. In addition to the comfortable living space, the Loft has a small private patio with a barbecue, an outdoor dining table, and solar string lights. Just up the hill from the loft, in a red rock alcove, is a little lawn with even more magnificent views.

We purposefully do not provide a TV and hope our space is a nature-inspired respite. That said, we also know you might want to get away and retreat to the Workshop Loft in order to do some work in-between exploring the Southwest. We have fast, broadband wireless internet with Eero WiFi. Stream music to our Apple HomePods with your iPhone or AirPlay-enabled device. We have a network extender for strong Verizon LTE service.

Guest access
You will have access to the entire cabin loft, a private patio, and a secluded yard inside a beautiful rock alcove on our property. The Ladder Alcove and lawn are a shared space with ourselves, our dog, and guests from our Cliff House, but in general it is a very private space.

Other things to note
A few notes to make sure this is the right place for you:

The property is located down a single-lane, dirt road. It is safe for passenger cars, but drive slowly and watch for critters wild and domestic. Part of the road goes through open range and you sometimes have to patiently wait for cows or horses to move aside.

We are located in a desert, rural area. Expect wildlife on the property (insects, lizards, foxes, deer, marmots, bobcats, mountain lions, and other fun critters). While the house is weather-tight, insects can and do get in occasionally. If the presence of insects might cause you undue concern or discomfort, this might not be the spot for you.

Additionally, the Loft is an apartment on one side of a converted barn. We do have a tenant that lives on the other side (you will not share a wall, there is a carport between the units). Please respect her privacy and do not wander into the roundabout or approach her unit. She has a Search and Rescue trained dog who may bark if she sees you, but is friendly with people.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us before booking.

**We offer discounts on longer stays (starting at 3 nights)!**

Cleaning Fees: we do not charge them – our nightly price is the price you pay.

Where you’ll sleep

What this place offers

Desert view
Garden view
Kitchen
Fast wifi – 209 Mbps
Free driveway parking on premises – 1 space

5 nights in Cortez

Dec 12, 2025 - Dec 17, 2025

Rated 4.99 out of 5 from 161 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is in the top 5% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 99% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 1% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 0% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Cortez, Colorado, United States
This listing's location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.

Neighborhood highlights

Nestled in the Cottonwood creekside bottoms, the Loft is a part of a gated community that delights in the natural beauty of the Colorado southwest. The neighborhood sits under Sleeping Ute Mountain and the Black Dike to the South and the Canyons of the Ancients BLM land to the North. Beautiful red sandstone rock outcroppings flank the canyon on either side. Access hiking trails with a short drive down Road G to Sand Canyon—a public entrance to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

There are horses on the property and one Search and Rescue trained ranch dog, Chama, a Shepard/Heeler mix. Chama may alert and bark if she sees you, but is friendly with people and loves kind words and pets.

Meet your host

Superhost
611 reviews
4.97 out of 5 average rating
7 years of hosting
Lives in Cortez, Colorado
Laura and Grant—brother and sister—are writers, painters, designers and nature-enthusiasts. We are endlessly inspired by the beauty and the unique history of this place and want nothing more than to share it with like-minded creatives.

Laura is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Co-hosts

  • Grant

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 4:00 PM
Checkout before 10:00 AM
2 guests maximum
Safety & property
Exterior security cameras on property
Nearby lake, river, other body of water
May encounter potentially dangerous animal