Celebrate Friends in the San Juan Mountains: Meaningful Ways to Gather, Give Thanks, and Reconnect With a November Getaway

November is the month for gathering together with friends and family. So whether you do a traditional celebration, or you’re looking for a more out-of-the-box way to gather together, Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa can be the perfect place for you to celebrate. Let the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado provide a perfect backdrop to meet up with your people. With incredible vistas of mountain peaks, charming mountain towns, and an abundance of outdoor adventures, this region invites you to slow down, connect, and celebrate gratitude in a truly unforgettable way. Make a plan to gather with friends and family this November for Friendsgiving in the San Juans.

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Gather at a Small Mountain Resort

The first step in crafting a meaningful Friendsgiving celebration is choosing a place that encourages connection. The San Juan Mountains are dotted with intimate lodges, rustic cabins, and boutique hotels that combine comfort with breathtaking scenery. At Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa you’ll find uniquely comfortable rooms with a touch of Southwestern luxury, crackling fireplaces, panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, and plenty to do to relax together and rekindle deep friendships.

Several of our rooms have full kitchens or kitchenettes if you choose to prepare a collaborative Friendsgiving feast. Assign each guest a dish and host a potluck, or better yet, cook together to create a shared sense of purpose. Cooking together fosters connection in a way that ordering takeout or dining out cannot. Enjoy breathtaking mountain views from our White Buffalo Restaurant + Bar, located on property. Sip cocktails and watch the sun set from our rooftop bar. 

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Combine Adventure with Relaxation

The mountains are calling, and a Friendsgiving in the San Juans is an opportunity to embrace adventure. Are you weekend warriors? Or culture vultures? Does your group hike, bike, and climb all weekend, or take it slow and enjoy the atmosphere? Either way, you’ll find the right balance in Ridgway. Plan group activities that suit your groups’ energy levels, whether it’s a brisk hike, a scenic drive, a long lunch, or a full day of skiing in Telluride, if snow is flying.

For thrill-seekers:

• Explore the Telluride Ski Resort for early-season skiing or snowboarding, under an hour from Chipeta Lodge.
• Take a guided ATV or 4×4 tour to hidden corners of the mountains.
• Try ice climbing, snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing for an unforgettable challenge.

• Opt for a gentle walk around Ridgway State Park, where wildlife sightings and serene lake views abound.
• Enjoy a scenic gondola ride in Telluride for a high vantage point without the effort.
• Browse the storefronts in Ouray and enjoy a long lunch.
• Spend an afternoon at the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose and absorb local history.
• Soak in a hot tub or in the resort’s outdoor heated pool; with views that are perfect for stargazing after a long day.

Shared adventure strengthens bonds and creates memories that linger long after the holiday season.

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Spend Time in Nature to Reconnect

The San Juans are home to some of the most dramatic scenery in the United States, with alpine forests, sparkling rivers, and jagged peaks. One of the simplest yet most meaningful friendship activities is simply taking a walk.

Choose a nearby trail—like the Ridgway Reservoir Trail or the Bear Creek National Recreation Trail—and set aside time to walk silently, share reflections, or share what you’re thankful for. Pause by a favorite scenic lookout or take time to reflect at a quiet bend in a river. Talk about the things that are most important to you with the people who are closest to you.

Being immersed in nature not only strengthens relationships but also encourages mindfulness. The weather, the clean air, the rustle of leaves, and the panoramic vistas provide a natural setting to slow down, breathe deeply, and appreciate the blessings in your life.

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Give Back Through Local Volunteering

Friendsgiving is not only about enjoying the company of friends but also about sharing gratitude through action. Consider spending a morning volunteering with a local organization. The San Juan Mountains region has several community organizations that could use help during the holiday season. For example:

• Food banks in the Telluride, Montrose, Ouray and Durango area often seek volunteers to prepare and distribute meals.
• Trail maintenance groups like the San Juan Mountains Association welcome hands-on help to keep the trails pristine.
• Animal shelters in mountain towns may welcome volunteers for holiday support, such as Second Chance Humane Society in Ridgway and the Telluride Humane Society.
• Or bring a donation with you for a local food bank or animal shelter.

Giving back together fosters a sense of purpose and leaves a lasting impact, reinforcing the true spirit of the season. Whatever you’re celebrating this November, it’s the perfect time to be thankful for loved ones and to strengthen family bonds, or create relationships with new friends. 

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Host a Fireside Storytelling Evening

After a day of adventure and connection, gather friends around a fire. Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa gives guests lots of opportunities to sit by a fire on your November getaway. Whether inside in the great room, in a guest room with fireplace, or in one of our outside gathering places, the resort has several choices of places where you can get comfortable and relax together as a group. If you’re hosting a Friendsgiving event, it can be a great occasion to share stories, personal reflections, and even silly anecdotes from past years. Share a theme for the stories in advance, and challenge everyone to tell a story from your shared history together. 

You can make it more meaningful by introducing a ritual: ask each friend to share one thing they are thankful for this year, a favorite memory, or a personal goal for the year ahead. Adding elements like a “gratitude jar” or a “memory lantern” can create a tangible way to remember these moments.

Pair your storytelling hour with cozy blankets, hot cider, spiced wine or s’mores. The combination of memories, laughter, and heartfelt conversation creates a sense of intimacy that will make your group gathering truly special.

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Explore Local Cuisine and Culture

One of the joys of the Friendsgiving season is the food, and the San Juan Mountains region offers a bounty of local flavors that can elevate your November getaway celebration. Instead of the standard store-bought ingredients, consider shopping locally for unique foods and try some new items only found on Ridgway, Ouray or Montrose shop shelves:

• Local meats and cheeses: Meats and artisan cheeses from local ranches are available in many of the small towns around Ridgway. Check local groceries and specialty stores for products produced in the area. 
• Baked goods: Local bakeries often offer unique breads, pies, and pastries perfect for a November table.
• Craft beverages: Elevate your toast with craft beers, wines, or spirits from local breweries and distilleries.
• Local museums: Check out local museums near Chipeta Lodge and learn about history and traditions of the area that date back to the late 1800s. The Ridgway Railroad Museum, Telluride Historical Museum and Ouray County Ranch History Museum make for easy historic outings with friends and family. Or visit the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose to learn about the culture and heritage of the native peoples that occupied the land in the region for hundreds of years before white settlement. 

Not only will you be supporting local businesses, but you’ll create a memorable culinary and cultural experience that helps further your understanding of the unique character of the San Juan Mountains.  

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Elevate Comfort and Connection

Finally, remember this is the season to seek comfort in friendships old and new, rekindle lost connections, and bring together family. Balance your days with some time spent outside and leave plenty of time for napping, walking, or reading a book in a comfortable chair. Encourage moments of easy togetherness, but leave plenty of room in the schedule for your group to go their own way. With Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa located comfortably within short driving distance of Telluride, Ouray, and Montrose, your group can disperse and come back together as they please. 

The guest rooms at Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa offer a wide variety of room types. Newly renovated and thoughtfully appointed with luxury linens and a calm and peaceful design palette, your group will come away rested and rejuvenated. With a variety of activities close at hand, and unique places to gather together, you can enjoy bonding and reconnecting while creating new memories. 

Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa is located directly across from the Ridgway community sports fields. You can organize a friendly soccer game, touch football, or take advantage of the pickleball courts. Focus on celebrating friendship and family, and cultivating memories that you will carry long after you go back to the regular rhythm of your lives from this November getaway.

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Celebrate November in the San Juans

Friendsgiving in the San Juan Mountains is more than a holiday; it will be a lasting memory in your shared history. From gathering in our cozy and newly renovated lodge to getting outdoors into the clean air and invigorating surroundings of the Cimarron Range, the mountains provide the perfect setting for an easy celebratory getaway.

Pack your bags, bring your favorite people, and let the mountains inspire a celebration of togetherness.

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