PERCHED HIGH ON A PEAK OR FOLDED INTO THE FOOTHILLS OF A FAR-FLUNG RANGE, THESE POSH MOUNTAIN RETREATS WELCOME SOULFUL TRAVELERS INTO THE MAJESTY OF EARTH’S MOST MAGNIFICENT NATURAL STRUCTURES

BY AMANDA McCoy

Just south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton
National Park is a sublime slice of the American West, anchored by the 13,700-foot Grand Teton peak and peppered with placid alpine lakes, lush mountain meadows, and over 200 miles of dramatic trails. The historic ranching town of Jackson serves as the gateway, a cowboy-chic community in the valley of the Tetons that’s long seduced prominent visitors like Kim Kardashian, Harrison Ford, and Brad Pitt. In 2003, the Four Seasons debuted its first destination ski resort in the small mountain town, offering five-star opulence amid the rugged splendor of the valley.

Guests are greeted by a cowboy hat-donning bell staff as they enter the grand welcome lobby, with the flames of a roaring fire dancing in the background and oversized windows providing glimpses of the wildlife-rich natural landscape. There’s an adjacent library with Adirondack chairs to enjoy a book by the fire, or the buzzy Ascent Lounge, where apres-ski cocktails and Pan-Asian bites are served slope side. There are 106 guestrooms and 18 suites on the property, with an additional 31 palatial residences spanning two to five bedrooms. Rooms are plush and cozy, ornamented with dark wooden accents, dedicated sitting areas, and private terraces overlooking the mountains or valley to enjoy a sunrise sip or afternoon pick-me-up in the crisp alpine air. Most accommodations also feature gas-stone replacements, while suites add upgraded luxuries like deluxe living rooms and full marble baths with freestanding tubs (the Presidential Suite throws in a steam shower).

FOUR SEASONS JACKSON HOLE Jackson, Wyoming

With two of the country’s preeminent national parks nearby, there’s an abundance of outdoor activities on deck, from slicing through the powdered ski slopes to cuddling with loved ones on a horse-drawn carriage into the National Elk Refuge. One of the most exhilarating experiences is Day with Wolves, an immersive all-day adventure that puts guests up close and personal with the elusive gray wolf. The expedition begins with a private jet journey deep into Yellowstone National Park, where you’ll follow expert naturalists as they track the magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Rooms begin at $500 per night; fourseasons.com

FAIRMONT CHÂTEAU LAKE LOUISE Alberta, Canada
From the banks of the glacier-fed Lake
Louise rises this glittering grand dame, cradled by soaring snow-capped peaks and a sea of aspen trees in Western Canada. Its origins date back to the late 19th century when Canadian Paci¬fic Railway general manager Cornelius Van Horne constructed a small log cabin on the lake to host visitors from various stations along the railway line. Over the next century, the humble house would undergo several expansions, eventually becoming the 539-room, ¬five-star retreat it is today. Numerous celebrities and historical figures have walked its halls, from Marilyn Monroe to Alfred Hitchcock.
Suites are bright and contemporary, boasting decadent spa-like bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and Le Labo bath products. Wrap yourself in a high thread count bathrobe and sink into the dedicated seating area to sip espresso while views of the emerald lake pour in through a large picture window. The Signature Collection features swanky, suite-specific upgrades like sprawling wraparound balconies, gas replacements, and sunken living rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Victoria Glacier.

There’s an array of activities to take part in property, from tackling the Canadian Rockies on skis (Lake Louise Ski Resort is a short ten miles from the hotel) to cave tours and glacier walking. If you’re keen on keeping it local, the resort offers a sweeping menu of fitness and wellness classes, including yoga, HIIT, boxing, guided hikes, and meditation, in addition to face and body treatments at the Fairmont Lake Louise Spa. When appetites strike, choose between three restaurants: the cozy, dark wooded alpine dining room Walliser Stube (tip: don’t miss the gooey cheese fondue), the Mediterranean-inspired Louiza, and the signature Fairview Bar & Restaurant, an elegant white tablecloth experience where plates of Alberta beef tenderloin and prosecco-poached halibut are served amid dramatic views of the snow-blanketed mountainscape. Rooms begin at $300 per night; fairmont.com/lake-Louise
THE FLOCONS DE SEL HOTEL Megeve, France
Set in the medieval mountain commune of Megeve in the French Alps, this charming chalet-style inn is the brainchild of Michelin star-toting chef Emmanuel Renaut and his wife Kristine. It’s an intimate, boutique experience, comprised of only ten alpine-chic rooms and suites, crafted from local wood and finished with cozy throws, open-sided bathrooms, and private terraces overlooking the rugged mountainscape. Some rooms also feature light therapy systems in the shower, dedicated lounge areas with comfy couches, and fully equipped kitchens.

Meals are, unsurprisingly, an integral part of the experience (the Paris-trained chef received his first Michelin rating in 2003). Inspired by its natural setting, the triple-starred restaurant features large picture windows carved out of the full untreated wooden interior, flooding the space with natural light and views of the gardens and surrounding summits. The minimalist finish allows the gastronomy to shine. The epicurean journey begins with a selection of savory canapes followed by -five courses, each influenced by the mountain and the season. Past examples span smoked egg yolk with Parisian mushrooms and coffee; thinly sliced Jerusalem artichokes simmered in buttered broth and topped with black truffle; and milk-fed lamb rubbed with fresh garlic and served with a mushroom tart. A parade of decadent sweet bites follows the meal, from smoked chocolate tart with wood ice cream to hot sauce with lime and Gentian cream.
There’s also a charming mountain spa on the property, offering treatments with essential oils and organic fruits Rooms begin at $265 per night; ¬ oconsdesel.com
THE INN ON BILTMORE ESTATE Asheville, North Carolina
Resting on 8,000 acres in the Blue Ridge
Mountains of North Carolina, the Biltmore Estate is the largest home in the country, stretching an entire four acres on its own. Built-in 1889 as the private home for George and Edith Vanderbilt, the 175,000-square foot, châteaux-style mega-mansion operates as a museum today, filled with antique treasures, furniture, clothing, and artworks from the turn of the 20th century. The activity-rich grounds feature six formal and informal gardens, a winery, a conservatory, numerous hiking trails, a farmyard, a lagoon, and a fully contained village with shopping, dining, exhibits, and year-long educational and entertainment opportunities. A single afternoon is often not enough, thus guests can opt to spend the night in the dedicated inn, a gloriously lavish boutique experience dripping in Vanderbilt grandeur.

The lobby is decorated with glossy marble floors, custom wood paneling, vintage chandeliers, and a dramatic stacked stone ¬ replace. Of the 210 accommodations, nine are suites, each named after a close friend of George Vanderbilt. Cavernous and plush, the suites are filled with 19th-century décor, including mahogany four-poster beds, heavy handmade quilts, and floor-to-ceiling drapes clinging to oversized windows overlooking the rolling mountain range. Modern luxuries include thick bathrobes, slippers, and Gilchrist and Soames amenities in the full marble bathrooms.
The signature restaurant, the Dining Room, is an elegant affair, serving seafood, steaks, and house-made pasta with ingredients grown on the property. Think caramelized diver scallops and Mary land-style crab cakes before veal osso bucco and lobster cioppino. Rooms begin at $700 per night; biltmore.com/stay