Retreat, renew and be inspired. Welcome to Shambhala Mountain Center, where we offer modern conference facilities on 600 acres, in a Rocky Mountain paradise of stunning beauty and tranquility. Make your next group event an uplifting experience where the sky’s the limit.

Since 1971, Shambhala Mountain Center has offered a sanctuary for mind, body and spirit. With a mission to awaken the world’s wisdom and compassion, we offer year-round programs dedicated to human growth and transformation within educational, cultural, artistic and business disciplines.  

Located two hours from Denver International Airport, our facilities provide a perfect venue for your next conference, business meeting or group retreat. We offer elegant hotel accommodations, indoor and outdoor dining with delicious meals, a yoga studio, massage therapy and a workout facility. Allow the breathtaking scenery to invigorate your next group event. The mountains, forests and valleys offer eight miles of wilderness hiking trails.
Our campus has three unique meeting facilities ranging in size and architecture, which can be used singly or jointly for a large conference. Each lodge, sustainably designed using natural materials such as slate, oak and bamboo, complements the natural surroundings—elegant, spacious and arranged to support your needs.

Housing options include well-appointed rooms with private baths, standard rooms with shared baths and dormitory rooms. Our campus can accommodate up to 150 participants in the winter months and over 500 people in the summer when we offer our platform tents. We provide a range of delicious and healthy menus, with customized options for your group. Our rentals include three meals a day.
We welcome you to visit Shambhala Mountain Center for a tour of our land and facilities, and to meet our friendly staff.

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Have you been to this retreat? Review This Facility!

Customer Reviews:

Name	Date	Rank	Comments
Sumati	2/13/2008 9:45:16 AM		I visited SMC this past fall as part of the “Take Down” crew- volunteers who help to take down the lodging tents before the snow comes in exchange for food and lodging. I have very fond feelings for SMC based on my experience, but I have say that the experience itself was challenging and may not be for everyone. But I have also I spoken with several people who give SMC rave reviews and try to return each year. Please realize that my experiences were a bit different than most because I had the role of being “staff”, which is very, very different than being a participant in one of the retreat programs. Rather than being on the land with a specific focus for my attention (a retreat program), I was there completely open and ready to experience whatever the land and the teachings had to offer. What I found to be quite shocking was SMC’s approach to Buddhism. I had not read much of Trungpa’s work or anything about his life so I was surprised to hear about the eating of meat and the drinking of alcohol (at staff gatherings). I was also surprised by the Kasong who were dressed in military style outfits and march around the land. But when I approached people to discuss my issues I found everyone to be very open to discussion and came to understand and respect the role of the Kasong in the protection of the land and the lineage. While at first they worried me, I came to be grateful for the security that they offered. I still chose not to eat meat, did not drink and refrained from sexual activities, and I felt very safe and supported in doing so, even by those who were drinking, etc. In the end I am very grateful that my time at SMC helped me to confront my assumptions about what Buddhism is and is not, about the role of meat, alcohol and even sexuality in the face of spirituality. In essence SMC helped to strip me of my veils and to more fully realize a core Buddhist principle- that life is about how we approach each moment, our intention with each action is what is important, not the outcome or even the action itself. I have been told by those who have attended retreats that SMC is a wonderful place, my experience was a bit different, a bit more challenging that the word “wonderful” allows for. But I am happy for the transformation that occurred through my time at SMC.
Gretchen Vaughn	2/5/2008 1:53:17 PM		I've been to four retreats at the Shambhala Mountain Center: Turning the Mind into an Ally, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Shambhala Warrior Training Levels 2 & 3. My favorite was the MBSR retreat which was an unbelievable experience. The facility itself offers a variety of accommodations. Since I've gone in the winter, I always chose either Shambhala or Rigden Lodge. Those two lodges are new and very, very nice. The staff are very attentive and make sure your dietary and other needs are met. The cooks sometimes get a little too creative, but the food quality is good overall. The location is very spiritual and looked over by the Great Stupa, which is a tourist attraction unto itself.
soccerlexis	1/1/2008 3:37:00 PM		Unfortunately, I cannot recommend Shambhala Mountain Center based upon my time there. A tremendous amount of time was spent paying homage to the teachings through chants and other ceremonies, but people at the retreat, including staff members, did not seem to follow the core Buddhist ethical principles. Twice, a woman was hit on by staff members, one of whom is already in a committed relationship, which is completely against their Code of Conduct. I also heard of staff having large quantities of alcohol on campus. In the Dathun (retreat) program, participants spend five hours per day eating oryoki style meals, which consist of a great deal of ceremony and a great lack of hygiene. There were pictures on the shrine of the two teachers whose teaching we were supposed to bow down to. Many participants complained that they were not getting into a deep meditative state and that much of the day was spent moving around cushions. People rarely obeyed the rules for functional and noble silence which proved disruptive for the retreat. They were packed like sardines into a tiny shrineroom for 10-12 hours per day, which couldn't have helped. One strange thing was that 20-30 male staff members were walking around in faux-military uniforms. The physical area was beautiful, but that could be said about a lot of retreat centers. Sorry, but I simply cannot recommend this place.
Dave Platter	11/20/2003		I spent a summer at Shambhala Mountain Center and loved it so much I'm still working with them, even though I've moved back to New York City. It's a wonderful place. I recommend everyone try it, if for a weekend or a year.