Available periods

Personal retreats follow the rhythm of practice here at the center. The calendar below shows when we can welcome you. Find a time that feels right, and reach out if you'd like help choosing.

Digital Detox

No Signal. No Wi-Fi.

Wide open mountain terrain at Crestone Mountain Zen Center in Colorado
Nothing to do, nowhere to go.
Zentatsu Baker Roshi
Walking trail through the high country near Crestone Mountain Zen Center

Your phone stays locked away. There is no Wi-Fi on the grounds, no notifications, no endless stream competing for your attention. Instead, you'll spend your days in mountain silence, beneath wide skies, and within the steady rhythm of monastic life.

As the pace slows, something else begins to emerge: clarity, spaciousness, and the simple experience of being fully where you are. This retreat is an invitation to reset your rhythm, reconnect with yourself, and rediscover the world beyond the screen.

This is for you, if …

You feel depleted by constant availability.

You long for silence, vastness, and uninterrupted time.

You want to reconnect with nature instead of screens.

You're ready to slow down and reset your rhythm.

Uninterrupted mountain horizon in the San Luis Valley near Crestone

There is nothing to keep up with here. Just mountain air, open skies, and the quiet rhythm of practice. As the pace slows, attention naturally begins to settle—and what once felt urgent often becomes surprisingly quiet.

What's included

Disconnect from constant notifications and reconnect with yourself. This retreat offers the rare opportunity to step away from screens and rediscover the clarity, creativity, and calm that emerge when life slows down.

During your stay, you'll enjoy:

A quiet place to sit outdoors at Crestone Mountain Zen Center, without screens

A screen-free environment

allowing space for your needs without the pressure to stay on call 24/7.
Residents and guests together during daily practice at the Zen center

The option to join the community

for grounding your retreat in shared practice, work, and silent meditation
A private guest room with bed and desk at Crestone Mountain Zen Center

Private room or cabin

or, during the warmer months, a quiet spot outdoors without digital distractions.
Vegetarian meal served in the dining room at Crestone Mountain Zen Center

Three meals daily, coffee & tea

Organic. Mostly Regional. Special dietary needs are possible.
The zendo meditation hall at Crestone Mountain Zen Center, set up for sitting

Access to the Zendo

for silent meditation whenever you wish.

The retreat is also the place

What Guests Say

"Es gelingt uns am besten, die Dinge - andere Menschen, Situationen; alles was geschieht - so zu sehen, wie sie sind, wenn wir nichts hinzufügen. Keine Interpretationen. Sondern einfach mit warmen, offenen Augen schauen, ohne Anstrengung. 
"
Name Surname
Title
"Es gelingt uns am besten, die Dinge - andere Menschen, Situationen; alles was geschieht - so zu sehen, wie sie sind, wenn wir nichts hinzufügen. Keine Interpretationen. Sondern einfach mit warmen, offenen Augen schauen, ohne Anstrengung. 
"
Name Surname
Title
"Es gelingt uns am besten, die Dinge - andere Menschen, Situationen; alles was geschieht - so zu sehen, wie sie sind, wenn wir nichts hinzufügen. Keine Interpretationen. Sondern einfach mit warmen, offenen Augen schauen, ohne Anstrengung. 
"
Name Surname
Title
The Milky Way on my second night was the most beautiful thing I have seen in my life. And that was only the second-best thing about the retreat.
J.
Dark Sky Retreat, September 2024
Seeing the Milky Way changed something fundamental about how I see myself in relation to everything else.
Sam
Dark Sky Retreat, October 2025
I came thinking I'd learn a technique. I left with the feeling I had finally come home to myself. The quiet here is not the absence of sound — it's the presence of space.
Marta
Dark Sky Retreat, May 2025

Cabin/Room

+ Private Bath
From
$
200
per Night, Meals included

Room

+ Shared Bath
From
$
150
per Night, Meals included

Camp

Available during warm months
From
$
85
per Night, Meals included

Per-night rate is per person and includes the room of your choice, three meals, tea & coffee, and the respective scope of quotation for each retreat format. Sliding scale available — reach out if cost is a barrier.

Optional add-ons

*Bookable through an external provider
Massage *
$80 - $125
Private yoga session *
starting at $80 / 1 hour
Gong sound journey *
$88 / 1 hour
Hot Springs Center *
$18 / day pass
Acupuncture, Botanical Healing, Detox Therapies *
on request

Where you'll stay

Edge CabinEdge Cabin interior

Edge Cabin

From the Edge Cabin's secluded porch above the canyon, you're within the immense Valley; the Forest branches; the Peaks' presence.

private bathroom - single room
Hillside CabinHillside Cabin interior

Hillside Cabin

The Hillside Cabin is a guest favorite. It is located on the west side of the campus overlooking the San Luis Valley. Perks include a full bathroom and kitchenette.

private bathroom - single room
Skylight RoomSkylight Room interior

Skylight Room

The Skylight Room is a spacious room with a separate entrance in the center of campus. It has a queen bed and features a large skylight with a handmade shoji screen.

private bathroom - single room
Young Pine HutYoung Pine Hut interior

Young Pine Hut

The Young Pine Hut is a cozy rustic two-story log cabin for one person. Upstairs is a sitting area with a low desk. From there a ladder leads to the bed on the lower floor.

public toilet - single room
Guest HouseGuest House interior

Guest House

The Guest House is a spacious building with a quiet atmosphere in the center of the campus. The five private Guest House rooms are the largest accommodations we offer.

Studio RoomsStudio Rooms interior

Studio Rooms

The Studio, formerly the work space of a resident potter, was recently remodeled. It has three single rooms, each furnished with a desk, tea station and wardrobe.

YurtYurt interior

Yurt

The Yurt is located on the outskirts of our campus with views of the local 14er peaks. It has comfortable beds for one or two persons, a deck, bookshelves, and a skylight.

Platform TentPlatform Tent interior

Platform Tent

The Platform Tent has room for one or two persons. It has a deck, two single beds, tables, bookshelf, canvas shelves, and hooks for clothing – and great views of the local 14ers.

CampingCamping area

Camping

The campground is located in a beautiful flat sandy area. There are 10 campsites tucked into the piñon-juniper forest. Bathrooms are a 3-minute walk away.

Common questions

The things you're wondering

What is the food like?

Vegetarian, mostly organic and regional, partly grown on the land in summer. Dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Can I arrive by car? Public transport?

The nearest airport is Alamosa (ALS), one hour away. The nearest bus stop is in Moffat, 30 minutes away. We can arrange pickup for a fee. Parking is free and safe at our property.

Do I have to be silent the whole time?

The center operates mostly in functional speech – we speak when needed for work or questions. In general we start our meals in silence, and then move on to a conversation part. Throughout the day, there are also opportunities when you're welcome to chat and talk with others if you'd like.

What kind of clothing is appropriate for the zendo or for meditation?

In the meditation hall (zendo), we wear dark clothing that covers at least the shoulders and knees. In general, we recommend loose-fitting clothing that is not too tight or even constricting.