Natural highs: three of the best mountain lodges

San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge, Dolomites, Italy

Discover the staggering natural beauty of the Dolomites, aka the ‘Pale Mountains’, from the comfort and elegance of San Lorenzo. This former hunting lodge, which dates back to the 16th century, sparkles with a ravishingly refined makeover, courtesy of its effortlessly stylish, husband-and-wife owners, Stefano and Giorgia. Fragranced with fir wood, the lodge’s traditional, Tyrolean-style Stube parlour and its crackling fire promise cosy days and nights ahead. Giorgia’s delicious cooking riffs on local ingredients; there’s also an on-call private chef. Notch up laps in the view-toting outdoor pool and explore the surroundings with charming Stefano, your key to mountain secrets. In spring, summer and autumn, the Dolomites deliver epic hikes and bike rides, peaceful picnics and fruitful fungi-hunting; in winter, they sparkle with snow and ice.

San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge

Dunton Hot Springs, San Juan Mountains, USA

Strike gold in Colorado at Dunton Hot Springs, which was an industrious mining town in another life (with the nostalgic Saloon, Bath House and Dance Hall to prove it). The magnificent mountain and meadow views remain unchanged from the town’s glory days; the yoga studio, boxing gym and climbing wall are more modern additions. Other unusual attractions at this perfectly restored 19th-century ghost town include an open-air chapel, a cascading waterfall and characterful log cabins, some of which were hand-built by miners. Dunton’s scenic perch in the San Juan Mountains makes for glorious al fresco exploring. Strap on snowshoes in colder months and take to the peaks, enjoy chilled activities (and restorative hot chocolates) at Dunton River Camp, or hop into Dunton’s Snow-cat and scale 10,000 feet for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on trail designed by a former Olympic Nordic skier. Summertime is for horse riding, fly fishing, rock climbing, river rafting and more. Save time for steamy ablutions in the eponymous hot springs.

Dunton Hot Springs

Winterlake Lodge, Alaska

Call Alaska’s cinematic backcountry ‘home’ for a while, with Winterlake Lodge as your boutique basecamp. A sojourn here is your cue to float down crystalline Happy River, go dog mushing in winter, camp beneath a star-strewn sky in the company of a sled dog team, enjoy fly fishing for rainbow trout or salmon, dive into ancient glacier pools, glamp in the caribou’s favourite hangouts and hop in a chopper to access a different, deliciously remote resting spot in the mountains each night. Winterlake Lodge is perched along the Alaska ranges, fringed by verdant forest, with its eponymous lake to the south; cue canoeing and kayaking thrills galore. Six enticing cabins sleep up to 10 lucky mountaineers in luxe-rustic comfort. Don’t go home without soaking in the lodge’s bubbling hot tubs, discovering the delights of the epic Iditarod Trail and enjoying civilised pursuits such as wine tastings, cookery classes, garden tours and belly-warming dinners.