Nestled in the foothills on the way from Fort Collins to Red Feather Lakes is a retreat unlike any other. The Drala Mountain Center is located on 600 acres and immerses you in nature. With a variety of accommodation styles, ranging from tents to cabins, and many different year-round programming offerings, you're sure to find something that fits your needs and offers new tools in your self-care toolbox. Drala Mountain Center also boasts The Great Stupa, one of only a few in the United States.
We spoke with Mercy Eltu, Drala Mountain Center's gifted writer, to learn more about the Drala Mountain Center.
What do you love about Fort Collins?
Biking, free bus rides, and beautiful parks everywhere! I love living somewhere quieter and more down-to-earth than a huge city, but that still has a bustling university and downtown. Fort Collins really is “nestled in nature”–whether you want a quiet park with paved paths or a rugged trail in the woods, FoCo has it. So many great outdoor spaces are less than 30 minutes by bike or bus.
What are your top 3 favorite activities to do in Fort Collins?
- Meditating outside
- Hitting up a cozy coffee shop (especially ones that sell local art or host community events)
- Attending a free class hosted by CSU or Poudre Libraries - yoga, cooking, learning Spanish, you name it!
What "can't miss" activity/restaurant/place would you tell a first-time visitor to go?
Near Tanglewood Natural Area, there’s an impressive log shelter that gets dismantled and rebuilt in different spots along Spring Creek…it’s always totally empty and I don’t know who maintains it, but it’s a beautiful spot to rest and commune with nature!
What makes the Drala Mountain Center unique?
As an educational non-profit and retreat center, we offer programming and opportunities that are beneficial to all people, regardless of background. We’re a refuge from the chaotic outside world, helping people practice kindness and resilience as they navigate daily life. While we’re not tied to any one tradition or practice, our mission is grounded in the Buddha Dharma and we provide opportunities for contemplation, self-reflection, and personal and spiritual growth.
How did the Drala Mountain Center get its start?
The land we’re on was identified by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, one of the Buddhist teachers influential in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West, as a sacred place for retreat. Today we offer a wide range of retreats with contemplative practice at their core, still supported by the land and the unique nature of this beautiful mountain valley.
What do you want visitors to experience at the Drala Mountain Center?
Visitors to Drala can experience a new practice, a greater sense of ease and self-knowledge, or just time in nature and away from distractions. What we want our visitors to come away with most is a toolbox for their well-being, whether that includes meditation, yoga, mindfulness, or even martial arts! A retreat here isn’t a vacation - it’s an investment in yourself and your spirit.
(Photos by Dave Cho)
Drala Mountain Center
Address: 151 Shambhala Way, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
Hours: 9am to Sundown
Phone: (970) 881-2184
Email: frontdesk@dralamountain.org
Website: https://www.dralamountain.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dralamountaincenter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralamountain/
