44 acres hosted by William L.
1 lodging site
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
William is a Star Host
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1 site
Laughing Valley Ranch Glamping
97% (92)
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
from
for NaN guests$120
/ nightReviews
97% Recommend92 ratings · 80 reviews
This place is phenomenal. William is full of joy that spreads from the land to the animals to us, the guest. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet someone like William and stay on his incredibly isolated camp site. We highly recommend this location for the rustic glamper!
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Rikki P.
8 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
We’ve been back to Bill’s yurt three years in a row now, and we always have a great time. This time we took the hike to an old mine, which was awesome! Be careful with pups and kiddos on the hike because there are a lot of cacti!
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Kelli M.
5 reviews
We had an amazing time at this HIPCAMP. The owner, Bill, is one of those people you meet and you know they have a good soul immediately. We spent hours talking and sharing experiences and learned so much from him. He loves his animals dearly and he gets a twinkle in his eye when he speaks about showing them to kids. I found myself sitting cross legged listening to him tell stories and felt like a kid myself. He gave us info on a really cool hike and the tent itself is well thought out with great views and solar lights to enjoy the stars. But the best part was Bill. We exchanged hugs when we left and we will hold the memory of meeting him dear. Hoping we can return again for more stories from the real life Santa clause!
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Sierra J.
2 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
Overall was an amazing trip! I went for one night and the provided water, fire wood, and plenty of camping gear. Everyone was extremely friendly, couldn’t have been better!
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Adelyn C.
9 months on Hipcamp
Amazing views and a great setup, this was our second time staying here.
It is a hike to get up there so come prepared to sweat and wouldn’t recommend it for folks who don’t feel confident in their physical abilities
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Emily A.
2 years on Hipcamp
Great set up! The view was nice and the camping site had just about everything that we needed. We’d definitely consider going back!
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Alyson B.
1 year on Hipcamp
Tricky to get to, but so worth it when you get there! The view is spectacular, the animals were so fascinating, and William and all the staff were incredibly kind and helpful, id be happy to go again 😊 we had a great time
Cindy G.
2 reviews
William was an awesome host, super friendly and knowledgeable. The campsite was rugged, and the views were absolutely amazing. The only complaint I have is that the shower was broken, and we were depending on using the shower during our stay.
The hike up the campsite is 3/4 of a mile straight uphill. If you are not in good shape, then this might not be the place for you. I took my parents here for the weekend with my husband and they are memories we will never forget. I would highly recommend.
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Kiersten M.
1 year on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· July 2024
William was a very nice individual and very accommodating to our schedule/needs. Views were great and loved the solitude. Close to town as well. Wood stove was nice to have. However, the shower was non-functional which was a major frustration as this was a large reason why we chose this solitary site over other camping spots. It would be nice to have known that ahead of time as that may have swayed our decision. Also, the vault toilet needed to be serviced.
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Eric B.
11 months on Hipcamp
Loved our stay. William was lovely and so accommodating. Kids loved the animals and riding on the ATV up and down from the site. Beautiful views.
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Zoey B.
1 year on Hipcamp
Beautiful location, as pictured. Stove was helpful as it stormed as we were finishing our campfire dinners. Tent was roomy for our family of 4 and dog, although it leaked during the 2hr storm. Only downside were the biting flies which couldn’t be kept away even with lots of deer spray. Hike would be rigorous for those not in shape. Got to see the animals on our way home although missed the legendary Bill (though we read an article about him in this month’s Westward magazine).
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Whitney M.
1 year on Hipcamp
William is such a gracious host and has the best stories! The property is stunning, so quiet and peaceful. Such a memorable stay!
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Shelly D.
2 reviews
Not for everyone, but a truly amazing and unforgettable experience.
Great views and private site. Tent included fresh water with a pump, wood burning stove, chairs, paper towels, metal plates, and silverware. Porta-poty on site
Must bring pillows and sleeping bags. Hike to site was not an easy one. 3/4 miles and 900 foot climb.
William gave a tour of the ranch shared history of the property.
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Brad B.
1 year on Hipcamp
My boyfriend and I loved camping on William’s land. He was incredibly kind and knowledgeable about the area. The tent is very private with stunning views. Highly recommend even just to get to know William!
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Ashley F.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2024
This campsite has beautiful views of four fourteeners. The tent is spacious for a family. You’ll feel right at home especially with your welcoming host Bill, who was very happy to assist in every way possible and introduce you to all of his animals! Thank you, Bill!!! I highly recommend. Bring sleeping bags to stay toasty at night because it cools off at night.
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Kristen F.
1 year on Hipcamp
Overall, an incredible stay!
Driving up to the ranch was a real challenge with our loaded up Honda van. We all had to get out while my husband had to gun the van up the very very steep, dusty incline. Now knowing what the entrance road was like, I’d recommend a 4WD vehicle.
It was wonderful to meet Bill and his adorable animals! Bill was so patient showing us around and getting us situated in our mountain top camp! We loved learning about Burrow racing and the history of the sport in Colorado, as well as the mining history of the area.
We were delighted to find the spacious tent, comfy cots and bed, and abundant cooking tools. We didn’t sleep much, but it was because we felt a on alert camping in such a remote location, it wasn’t because it wasn’t clean or comfortable. One of the ranch hands made a comment to us before we hiked up the mountain for the night, asking if we had a gun with us because “you never know up there”, which was pretty disconcerting and had us on edge because we had no weapons.
The view was spectacular, the wood stove in the tent super cozy, and the trail fun to walk up. The kids had so much fun learning about the animals in the morning and even riding the donkeys!
Overall, a wonderful, unique place, just know you will be camping VERY remote. Bill is a compassionate, rare gem and a wealth of knowledge. We are so glad to have met him!
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Carianne G.
4 reviews
Recommends
· October 2023
Bill’s yurt is such a special place for our family! This place is so special that we got engaged here!
We love visiting with the animals and the ability to feel so remote, with a short commute from Denver.
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Kelli M.
5 reviews
We really enjoyed our stay on Bill’s property. Super knowledgeable and nice guy. The hike up was harder than expected but absolutely doable if you take your time. All you need to bring is food/drinks, your own sleeping bag and lamp for nighttime. Highlights from our one night stay: tour of the ranch and meeting all the animals, and the night sky is insanely amazing!
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M G.
1 year on Hipcamp
My family and I had such an absolutely wonderful time here! Everything from the burro ride up the hill to the views, the privacy, the fantasy farm of animals… Literally could not have asked for a better experience.
It also doesn’t hurt that the host and his ranch hands are some of the kindest, sweetest people I’ve ever met in my entire life.
Absolutely amazing experience.
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Maddi A.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2023
With pets ·
Laughing Valley Ranch Glamping
We LOVED staying here, it was so unique, private and beautiful. Will be returning!
Sara D.
1 year on Hipcamp
What a wonderful place! Big Sky, wonderful fire pit, perfect amenities and very comfortable. We absolutely loved it. Look forward to coming again.
Cindy H.
4 reviews
Recommends
· July 2023
With kids ·
Laughing Valley Ranch Glamping
Unbelievable experience from start to finish. The hike up, the burrow ride back for our littlest one, to the tour and stories from host bill. Incredible view and private. Absolutely will go back.
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Kristi K.
2 years on Hipcamp
Our Glamping experience did not end well, but I know it was not the norm. Bill has a very cool experience to offer. The location is great and so close to town/highway but totally secluded. But make sure he does not go out of town, doesn’t answer his phone for four hours and leave you stranded at the site with no one on property. If he says someone else is coming to get you I would ask for their direct phone number. We had to get rescued by the sheriffs department and volunteers on ATV….
Tricia W.
9 reviews
This camp site was a lot of fun for my family. It’s close to the top of the mountain with incredible views. The host shared some great stories and provided us with some fun historical things to hike to from the site. The large tent has almost all the heat you need minus sleeping bags and food. Just be prepared to do a bit of a hike to and from the site from the host’s farm (~.7 mi each way); he will transport your camping gear in his flatbed side by side ATV.
Andrew M.
4 reviews
Would absolutely recommend William's site!! The hike wasn't nearly as difficult as the reviews lead me to believe, but you definitely need to be somewhat in shape. It's a steady incline, but nothing crazy.
A few things we wish we would have brought with us:
-Portable charger. The only source of power is a solar-powered battery, but luckily it had two USB ports so we were able to charge a few things.
-Ample bedding. Pillows, sheets, the whole lot. But to my understanding, William would have provided that if we forgot it.
-A frying pan, unless you plan on using only pots. Bring some basic cooking equipment.
-A sponge/ brillo pad. We ran through way too many paper towels washing dishes.
-Cannot stress this one enough: bug spray.
-Cards/ dice to pass the time. The site had 8 cornhole bags, so we set up makeshift boards. So that was a nice surprise!
A few general notes:
-Cell service is incredible up there.
-The heat can get intense. Little shade at the site itself, but the views make up for it big time. I suggest bringing a hammock & setting it up ~5 minutes down the trail. That gave us a nice spot to hang out during mid-day.
-William was wonderful! He picked us up right on time & had great communication. He even helped us inflate my flat tire (oops).
-He provided ample firewood, water and ice :)
-The drive up is quite narrow/ steep, but if my VW Passat could do it, so can you.
Overall, amazing experience. We'll definitely be back. Thanks! :)
Keiko G.
2 years on Hipcamp
We loved the Glamping space on Williams land! We arrived to the pick up location, loaded our gear and hiked the ~25 min walk to the site. William told us all about the history of the area and had everything we could need at the site! We were a group of 6 and 1 dog and it was so cozy. The bathroom is clean; the bed/cots are nice and the indoor fireplace kept us toasty and was perfect to heat up food on. Not to mention, amazing views and privacy! 10/10 experience !
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Grace D.
4 reviews
Not often do you meet someone that touches your soul and you have an instant connection and respect for. William was such a great host that shared his love for his land, his animals, and for the world. He shared his wisdom with us and insured we had a comfortable stay. His animals were amazing, every single one of them was loved and cared for and had such a great personality. William personally walked us around and shared stories of each of the animals which we really cherished and appreciated. The views were out of this world - we couldn’t believe we got to stay in such a beautiful place, waking up to an incredible crisp view, being able to hike and explore. The tent cabin was equipped with everything we needed. Definitely a top experience for us that left us feeling rejuvenated and with a greater appreciation for life. We hope to come visit again!
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Julie J.
2 years on Hipcamp
Incredible campsite — Dogs loved it, plenty of firewood, amazing views, fun hike in. We cannot wait to go back.
John S.
2 reviews
This place was so awesome. Gorgeous, private site. Really neat and brand new canvas tent that was much bigger than I expected. Really nice handyman (John). If the place had included all the things in the listing, I would absolutely say it was one of my favorite vacations ever. But when we showed up, the reality was different from the listing. 1. It was a busy weekend for donkeys in Idaho Springs. Had the owner told us sooner than the day before our reservation that he wouldn't have a donkey to carry our stuff up, I would have rebooked. The 4 kids we brought on the trip were really disappointed. 2. The chimney of the stove in the tent was broken, and the very nice handyman spent almost 2 hours up there fixing it. That consumed pretty much the entire evening. We were only there one night. The whole point was an escape, get away from people, etc. This guy was super nice, and he was just doing his job, but he was there almost the whole evening. It also took him 2 hours to bring our stuff up to us, so we couldn't get settled in until it was dark. 3. There were four cots and one double bed with a foam mattress. The foam mattress was soaking wet, but there was nowhere else to sleep. That was uncomfortable. 4. It'd advertised as being for six people but there were only plates and forks for four, so we couldn't eat a meal together.
Other than the above, it really is a gorgeous site -- one that I'd still recommend. The views are amazing; cool hike in.
Vanessa C.
4 reviews
This stay was exceptional, and exceeded our expectations. We were greeted with hospitality and our glamping set up checked every box.
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Carter J.
2 years on Hipcamp
Location
Idaho Springs, Clear Creek, Colorado, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by William L.
Joined in August 2020Response rate: 100%Response time: Within 4 hours
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