With no public access and a 150-foot long suspension bridge, this Colorado retreat isn't for the fainthearted

Vacationing in secluded destinations is nothing new for Denver residents Scott and Karen Barker. To them, the farther from civilization they can get, the better. “We’ve always preferred remote locations,” says Scott. “We like the solitude, fresh air, and outdoor activities available to us.”

So much so that, in 1993, the couple purchased 170 acres of land surrounded by Rocky Mountain National Forest in northern Colorado overlooking scenic Hourglass Lake. For many years, they were happy to share a home with another family here, but as time passed, that house no longer met their vacation criteria. “As the kids grew up and had families of their own, we were stumbling over each other,” explains Karen, “so we decided to build a house of our own at the far end of the property.”

Their vision for their new retreat? A log home. “What could be more fitting in the middle of the forest?” asks Karen. They sought out Montrose, Colorado-based Mountain State Log Homes for the project.

“We modified one of our designs for them,” says Mountain State’s president Russ James. “The most important part of the design was paying homage to the gorgeous lake. That view is what we were trying to capture more than anything else.”

Building a 4,876-square-foot home in the Barkers’ remote locale proved to be quite an adventure. With no public road leading to the site, the ride was treacherous for the 18- wheelers carrying the logs and building materials. Getting contractors to the home also took some extensive coordination. “Because we’re in the wilderness, it was hard to bring our team in and out in a traditional way,” says Karen. “We had several crews working on the home at any given time, and they camped out so they wouldn’t have to commute 90 minutes back down the mountain to the nearest hotel. In the summer, they built bonfires and slept in tents.”

	GOOD NIGHT. A moss-rock fireplace in the master bedroom is one of two hearths in the home. French doors lead to a deck, which lacks a traditional railing so that when you lie in bed, you have an unobstructed view of the water

The home is constructed of hand-hewn, 12-by-14-inch Engelmann spruce logs with a full-scribe Swedish cope. “With hand-scribed logs, chinking isn’t necessary, but we have fiberglass insulation between our log courses,” says Scott. “At 9,500 feet, we get a lot of snow, so we needed to do everything we could to ensure our home was well insulated.” Because of their isolated location, the Barkers’ vacation home is off the power grid. Their electricity comes from solar panels and a propane generator. The home has four bedrooms, four full baths, two fireplaces, a great room, dining room, kitchen, and family room. A two-sided fireplace divides the great room and dining room. “It’s important to us to feel like we’re connected from room to room, but also to have the privacy to engage in different activities in each space,” says Karen.

The family spends vacations at the home they’ve dubbed “Moose Lodge” year-round. In warmer weather, Karen and Scott enjoy fly-fishing with their two sons, ages 15 and 29. During the winter, the family goes cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, which often is the only feasible way to reach the home from the nearest road.

And although the Barkers value their shelter from society, they planned their home with future expansion in mind.

“We built this place to provide a retreat for the next generation of Barkers. We hope that our sons will bring their families here one day,” says Karen. “This home is our legacy.”