100 Years Of Dude Ranching
The Dude Ranchers’ Association
29/05/2026
Route 66 is not the only thing in America turning 100 in 2026. Check out these amazing Dude Ranches and their history.
The seeds of Dude Ranches stretches back to the late 19th century. In the post Civil War cattle boom of the 1880s, Howard Eaton started the Custer Trail Ranch in the Dakota Badlands. He was soon joined by his brothers, Alden and Willis, and a friend from Pennsylvania, A.C. Huidekoper. Thrilled with their new lifestyle and potential success, the Eatons wrote enthusiastic letters to friends back East.
Dude Ranch History Begins In North Dakota
A letter, published in a New York newspaper, caught the attention of President Teddy Roosevelt. He quickly made his way out to the Badlands and spent time hunting, fishing and riding.
He bought the Maltese Cross Ranch near the Custer Trail Ranch and struck up a friendship with the Eaton brothers. Stories of ranch life and exceptional hunting spread like wildfire, and soon the Eatons’ found themselves hosting many Eastern visitors.
It wasn’t long before their generosity and hospitality led to overwhelming costs. Many visitors recognised the financial burden they were creating and offered to pay for room and hospitality – the Eatons’ had to consider the opportunity. The first recorded paying guest was Bert Rumsey, from NY, and with the purchase of a guest book the ranch officially began accepting ‘dudes’.
Dude and guest ranches today offer an all-inclusive vacation experience like no other. For the last 100 years, The Dude Ranchers’ Association (founded in 1926) has proudly preserved the special way of life and the wonderful environment in which dude ranching takes place. When you vacation at a Dude Ranchers’ Association member ranch, you can trust that you’re part of a century-long legacy of excellence. Each ranch undergoes a rigorous inspection and approval process to ensure guests experience genuine Western hospitality, unmatched adventure and the highest standards in the industry. The following 10 Western dude ranches are all members of The Dude Ranchers’ Association.
1 – Rocking Z Guest Ranch:
(Wolf Creek, Montana)
Images Courtesy Of Grateful Journeys Photography
Enjoy a special lifestyle along with the Wirth family at Rocking Z Guest Ranch. This is their life and passion that is shared with clients, the philosophies and horsemanship. Patty and Zack are fifth-generation Montanans and the ranch has been in Zack’s family since 1864. Patty learned horsemanship from her father and from Monte Foreman, who used horses to make hay and work.
Experience Parelli Natural Horse-manship put to a purpose. Whether new to horses or highly experienced, you will have the opportunity to expand your skills. Learn to work cattle from the back of a horse, ride long trails or play at liberty in a round pen…guests can do it all. Private and semi-private horsemanship lessons are always available upon request with no extra charge.
Beginning riders will find that they learn an enormous amount just by spending plenty of hours each day with and on the horses. Riding at Rocking Z Guest Ranch for one week builds as much confidence as a year of weekly lessons. This is a great place to start, so be bold.
Experienced riders have the opportunity to deepen their love for horsemanship by advancing their feel and timing in the saddle from a Western perspective.
Accommodation: Spacious rooms are all ensuite and incredibly comfortable. All have extra-long beds, to accommodate tall people! Each room has its own seating area. Except the lodge rooms, the rooms are warmed by their own fireplaces.
There are two guest buildings, referred to as the Lower and Upper. Both buildings have four ensuite rooms, all possessing their own natural gas fireplace. Each room is named after a local historical figure. The Upper Building is attached to the outdoor hot tub, and has a view of the mountains. The Lower Building has air-conditioning and overlooks several of the horse corrals.
Rocking Z Guest Ranch food is ranch-style dining with a twist. Everything is home-cooked and there is always gluten-free and dairy-free food around. Desserts are often fresh pies and cakes, and celebratory desserts are by request! Coffee is always available, as well as Tetley’s or PG Tips tea and a range of herbal options. Alcohol provided by the ranch is a glass of beer or wine available each evening.
Breakfast starts at 8am with pancakes and a variety of bacon and eggs as well as fresh fruit, yogurt, juice and hot beverages. The food keeps coming until you’re ready for the day ahead.
Lunch is a varied occasion. Sometimes it is a sandwich and fruit on the trail with a bottle of water. When possible, it is cooked over a fire when out and about by Maria. Often it is a dinner-type meal in the lodge with cookies. When it is at the lodge it is usually accompanied by a respite, before getting back in the saddle.
Dinner is served around 6.30pm and is family-style. Everyone eats together, so it is a great time to go over the day. Meals vary – it could be brisket that’s been smoked for 24-hours served with barbecue-baked beans and cornbread or lasagna with fresh-baked garlic bread. Randomly there is a Mexican night with enchiladas or fajitas, corn on the cob and margaritas for the adults. For alternative diets, there is a variety of options!
At the ranch buildings there is a saloon complete with a pool table as well as a backyard spot to hang out and relax as well as a large hot tub for a relaxing soak. Additional activities can include skeet and target shooting, walking, hiking and fly-fishing on Little Prickly Pear Creek, which runs directly through the property.
2 – Rancho De Los Caballeros:
(Wickenburg, Arizona)
Images Courtesy Of Rancho De Los Caballeros
For over 75 years, this luxury ranch resort has embodied the true spirit of cowboy culture and has brought unmatched satisfaction to guest stays. Countless ranch activities and a sanctuary of 18,000 acres combined with premier golf facilities create an authentic Arizona desert experience that is second to none.
Awake each morning in your private luxury casita before heading out for a day filled with horseback riding, golfing lessons, spa treatments and much more. Rancho de los Caballeros is more than just a highly-respected, luxurious dude ranch in Wickenburg, they are a place where you can feel at home and call those amongst you family.
Accommodation: Pairing luxury with comfort, are uniquely designed guest casitas (cabins) featuring gorgeous Santa Fe furnishings and breathtaking views of Arizona’s sprawling desert landscape. Natural sunlight drapes each room’s elegant décor and combines to create a calming resort oasis – retreat to your private sanc-tuary after a day of ranch life and exploration.
The open-concept, spacious layouts and comprehensive in-room amenities of the casitas are what make this lodging in Wickenburg one of the most desirable places to stay in. All seven suites and rooms options include a private patio.
Culinary Experiences: Come together and enjoy incredible meals served from dawn to dusk at Rancho de los Caballeros unique restaurant. From casual cookouts to refined dining, Rancho de los Caballeros has something for everyone at this traditional guest ranch. Enjoy large buffet breakfasts, à la carte options and gourmet dinners in the sophisticated Main Dining Room, or look out over the expansive Sonoran Desert at the Bradshaw Mountains from the comfort of the spacious patio at Los Caballeros Club Grill.
Full Service Spa & Wellness Centre: Enrich your body and spirit during an afternoon of rest and relaxation at a luxury spa. Feel completely relaxed before your treatment by lounging in the sunroom or taking a stroll through a garden labyrinth. Signature treatments include decadent bourbon scrubs and therapeutic hot stone massages.
Saddle Up: At Rancho de los Caballeros, they’re pleased to offer traditional ranch experiences and unmatched guest services to all guests, through hard work, dedication and a passion for the craft of horseback riding, in an authentic dude ranch that has become the ultimate desert location for your next getaway. Saddle up for an adventure like no other!
Swimming Pools: The new pools at Rancho de los Caballeros are open! Bask in the desert sun under multiple cabanas, luxuriate in the new therapy pools…and sip and savour incredible bites and cocktails at the state-of-the-art outdoor bar and grill. Welcome to updated luxury!
Golf Course: The vast natural surroundings of an award-winning 18-hole championship Los Caballeros Golf Course make the facilities one of the best places in the country to play a round with friends or fellow guests.
3 – Covered Wagon Ranch:
(Gallatin Gateway, Montana)
Images Courtesy Of The Buckskin Billfish
Four generations ago, each guest arrived at Covered Wagon Ranch by way of stagecoach or Ford Model-T automobiles. Today descendants of some of those families still come to this Montana dude ranch to experience the mythic beauty of the Old West, in a region that is very nearly the same as it was in 1925 when the guest ranch first opened.
Covered Wagon Ranch is one of the oldest continuously operating ranches in this scenic canyon where the Gallatin River and Taylor Fork Creek meet. Montana’s best Family Dude Ranch is just three miles (4.8 kilometres) from the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park.
Lodging: While staying true to the Montana guest ranch’s 1920’s vintage heritage, the ranch is also committed to making your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as it can be. Over the years, Covered Wagon Ranch has retained every bit of its original charm, but has gradually gained the sweet refinement and gentility that comes only to a place devoted for over four generations to providing rugged, yet luxurious guest ranch lodging for its guests comfort and pleasure.
The ranch has 10 historic guest log cabins, five 1-bedroom cabins and five 2-bedroom cabins. The cabins retain much of their original 1920’s character, but comfortable beds and bedding allow you to rest up each evening for the next full day of moun-tain enjoyment. Each cabin has its own private bathroom, indoor and out-door sitting areas and either wood or propane stoves.
Dining at Taylor Fork Lodge: This Montana guest ranch is a family affair, and is often the social highlight of the day. Covered Wagon Ranch is different, in that all the owners and staff eat with the ranch guests! This means you can reminisce with your favourite wrangler about your ride that day or talk amongst different staff members at the ranch, as you become part of the ranch family. During your stay you’ll enjoy a scrumptious Montana dining experience at each meal. Most meals are served in the Taylor Fork Lodge, which is also a favourite hang out for guests, no matter if it’s meal time or not.
Saddle Up: There’s no substitute for the feeling you get when you head into the mountains on horseback. You’ll be guided by experienced wranglers who know the area and horses well – the horses will take good care of you, too. Kurt and Melissa pride themselves in their horses and horse training. They have either raised and/or bought all the horses in the string and really know their horses. From brand new beginner riders to experienced hands, they have a horse for you for the week.
Activities: Second to riding, folks come to the ranch for some much needed self-care. You can find them tossing around horseshoes, toting fly-fishing poles down at the Taylor Fork Creek, shooting pool in the recreation hall or just lounging around on their cabin porches. Most nights the team will pull the s’mores basket out to the fire pit in front of the lodge, and if you’re lucky, you can get Kurt to play his guitar!
4 – White Stallion Ranch:
(Tucson, Arizona)
Images Courtesy Of White Stallion Ranch
When you stay at the White Stallion Ranch, you are immersed in a truly authentic Western experience from beginning to end. The entire ranch is steeped in rich and vibrant Western history, and they have found thoughtful and innovative ways to celebrate the sprawling, natural desert views and southwest desert ecosystem.
This 3,000 acres solar-powered dude ranch is the perfect blend of rustic authenticity and modern conveniences, offering something for everyone. Whether you are a weary solo traveller, vacationing family, a couple celebrating an event, a wedding party guest or corporate retreat attendee, White Stallion Ranch will give you a comfortable place to rest your head and recharge away from the demands of this tech-centred world.
Ranch Accommodation: When you stay at the White Stallion Ranch, the True Family makes you feel like you’re a part of their family. The ranch has been an integral part of Arizona history since the 1900s and, since then, it has become a popular destination for a variety of guests who are looking for a unique, authentic Western experience.
This traditional, historic guest ranch in Tucson has been carefully preserved and upgraded to include comfortable rooms, resort-style amenities and rugged outdoor activities. They can accommodate adventure seekers who are looking for their next adrenaline rush, couples and solo travellers, who want to relax in a gorgeous desert setting and families who want the once-in-a-lifetime experience of staying on a real-life Arizona dude ranch.
Ranch Meals & Dining: Staying at White Stallion Ranch means you’re getting an all-inclusive vacation. Choose the travel package that works for your needs and schedule, and enjoy hot meals on-site in the dining room.
The Bed & Breakfast rates include a full, made-to-order breakfast along with snacks and drinks throughout the day. Or choose the American Plan Package that includes three hot meals a day, including a made-to-order breakfast and buffet-style lunch and dinner. Snacks and beverages are available for all guests all day.
Rewarding, Authentic Outdoor Activities: The goal at White Stallion Ranch is to encourage you to learn something new, step outside your comfort zone and enjoy a wholly unique outdoor experience, with activities that will appeal to the most adventurous guests, as well as families with young children who want a brief glimpse into the rugged lifestyle of the American West.
Friendly, knowledgeable activities concierges can help you pick and choose from a variety of fun, exciting and awe-inspiring outdoor activities on the ranch. There truly is something for everyone here, from horse riding, shooting and archery ranges, axe throwing, rock climbing, hiking and jeep tours to desert strolls and evening entertainment. When you incorporate these outdoor activities into your stay at White Stallion Ranch, you’ll never want to go home!
5 – Elkhorn Ranch:
(Tucson, Arizona)
Images Courtesy Of Elkhorn Ranch
The Miller Family invites you to vacation at their home, Elkhorn Ranch, 50 miles (80 kilometres) southwest of Tucson. Elkhorn is a traditional Arizona dude ranch with 20 guest cabins, the Sonoran desert flora and fauna, wide-open country, Arizona’s famous sunshine and blue skies. Personalised hospitality provides an ideal setting for outdoor adventure, rejuvenation and camaraderie.
The ranch welcomes solo travellers, families and multi-generational groups for one week (or longer), all-inclusive stays featuring guided horseback rides and hikes. This is a conservation minded working ranch that raises horses, alongside neighbouring cattle ranches, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and Baboquivari Peak Wilderness.
Elkhorn Ranch Accommodation: Ranch lifestyle evolves around rest and relaxation in your own private cabin, ranch activities and meals. Twenty unique cabins provide comfortable living space for 32 guests (on average). Each of the 20 cabins is unique, but all share similar basic features. Comfortable chairs for reading and socialising, plus good reading lights are a high priority. Each cabin has a private bathroom, private entry to the cabin and outdoor furniture for sunning.
Once you arrive, there’s no need for car keys nor wallets. You’ll settle into your unique and private cabin and find that all ranch buildings are only a few minutes walk from one another. The boundaries between the ranch buildings and the open country around them are blurred thanks to landscaping with native vegetation. The Sonoran Desert landscape provides a feeling of privacy and seclusion, with just birds, cottontail rabbits and occasionally other wildlife amidst the ranch buildings.
Elkhorn Ranch Dining: The Long House and its inviting patio gather the ranch community for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The setting is casual and conversational. Indoor tables and outdoor picnic tables seat 8-10 people per table, plus patio seating with heaters provides space to spread out. Guests are welcome to bring wine or other beverages to the dining room or entertain in their cabins, as the ranch does not have a bar. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available for sale in the ranch office store.
Elkhorn Ranch Amenities: Include tennis, pickleball, basketball and shuffleboard courts, swimming pool, ping pong table, board games and jigsaw puzzles, business centre (wifi, phone, computer, printer) and library. Together, the dedicated ranch crew strive to make your time on the ranch feel like a home-away-from-home.
6 – Marble Mountain Ranch:
(Somes Bar, California)
Marble Mountain Ranch has an American cowboy’s trail riding theme. Combining horseback riding vacations along scenic wilderness trails and thrilling guest ranch activities such as white water rafting, kayaking, shooting sports, ATV rides, paintball and steelhead fly-fishing.
Their signature all-inclusive ‘Saddle & Paddle’ or ‘Raft & Ride’ vacation combines superb dining experiences and a youth buckaroo program to create the best and most complete family dude ranch vacation. Marble Mountain dude ranch vacations meet the diverse interests and needs of your entire family or groups of guests.
The horseback riding and equestrian vacations are spectacular, but a defining feature is the ability to keep whole families engaged with a variety of Western-themed outdoor adventures. No other ranch can duplicate this all-inclusive experience with breathtaking mountain trail riding, white water rafting and Autumn season steelhead fly-fishing!
Ranch Accommodation: Peach Tree is one of the newest full family luxury cabins. Situated near the front of the ranch, this cabin has a front porch with views of the mountains. The master bedroom and bathroom are located on the lower floor with a large upper floor bedroom and bathroom for additional guests. Capacity: 5 Guests, 1 King Bed, 1 Twin, 1 Bunk Bed
Cabin 1 has two recently remodelled bedrooms and a main kitchen/dining area. It is equipped with a full kitchen including a full refrigerator and a range-top oven. All of the cabins have recent front porch additions that make the cabins ideal lounge locations during guest vacations. Capacity: 4 Guests, Two Rooms, 1 King Bed, 2 Twin Beds
Cabin 2 is one of the larger recently remodelled cabins. It has a full kitchen, front porch, living room space, two bedrooms and two full bathrooms with showers and bathtubs. Capacity: 5 Guests, Two Rooms, 1 King Bed, 2 Twin Beds, Living Room
Cabin 3 and Cabin 4 have a full kitchen, front porch, two bedrooms and one full bathroom with shower and bathtub. Capacity: 4 Guests, 1 King Bed, 2 Twin Beds, Living Room Cabins 5 & 6 is one of the lodges duplex units with a single master bedroom, master bath and kitchen/ dining area. These cabins are equipped with a mini-fridge, coffee maker and like the other cabins it now has a new front porch shared with Cabin 6. Capacity per cabin: 2 Guests, One Room, 1 King Bed, Living Room
Ranch Dining: Meals are healthy, hearty, wholesome, fresh and based on original ranch recipes. The ranch cuisine is the signature of executive chef, ranch owner Heidi Cole, who brings a 44 year tenure in the food service industry to the ranch. She has published her own cookbook titled Ranch Cooking – Simply Good. Some important points are originality, artful presentation, as much of the produce comes from organic gardens just minutes prior to preparation!
Milky Way At Night: The ranch serves as a natural planetarium, after a dusty day of saddle and paddle adventures, the transition to evening is pure magic. This remote Somes Bar location is consistently named one of the best places to stargaze in California.
7 – The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch:
(Shell, Wyoming)
Images Courtesy Of The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch
Your luxury, all-Inclusive riding and horsemanship guest ranch in Wyoming. The Hideout Lodge is located one hour east of Cody, and just two hours from Yellowstone National Park, bordering Montana, in the hamlet of Shell in the foothills of the little-known Big Horn Mountains.
The ranch is all-inclusive, upscale, focused on riding and horsemanship, limited to 25 guests weekly for a 6-night stay, with riding access close to 650,000 acres. Elevations in this backyard range from 4,200 ft. (1,280 metres) to above 13,000 ft. (4,000 metres) and the area enjoys a seldom seen diversity of scenery. The Hideout Lodge offers a very personal, small and intimate Western riding experience, surrounded by a peaceful, calm, and breathtaking environment. The ranch is more of a riding destination than your typical dude or guest ranch.
Besides horseback riding, you can enjoy non-riding activities such as trap shooting, archery, fly-fishing, biking, hiking, a soak in the hot tub, a dip in the heated lap pool or just relax, take in the views and enjoy the ranch property.
Most of the core ranch team have been associated with the lodge for many years and take pride in providing a unique experience. The Hideout Lodge enjoys a high ratio of repeat guests from the USA, Canada and around the world. The lodge’s string of 100+ horses consists of Quarter horses, and about one-third are well-trained Mustangs.
Accommodation: The Hideout Log Cabins are very clean, with a warm feeling and well-appointed. The lodge continuously invests and upgrades the property for guests to enjoy. Western-style log cabins, built in 1992 are decorated with excellent furnishings in warm colours that are kept sparkling clean and well-maintained. Emerald green lawns surround these five duplex cabins, which are connected to the main lodge by well-lit paved pathways to other cabins, hot-tub and swimming pond.
Hideout Cabin Configurations: Modern bathroom with shower, choice of Queen size bed and pullout sofa or two double beds. All cabins come complete with a loft, air-conditioning and heating, wireless internet, flat screen cable TV and telephone, complimentary snack basket, mini-fridge with complimentary beer and soda (wine and liquor may be purchased in the gift shop). Each has an outside porch with rocking chairs and ever-changing vistas of Shell Canyon.
Dining: The ranch has always been known to serve good hearty food. All meals are included in your guest package. In the mornings the lodge serves a homemade, hot breakfast as well as a breakfast selection at the buffet. For all-day rides, sandwiches are prepared to take with you on the trail. For half-day activities, lunch is served in the dining room of the main lodge.
In the evening the lodge serves Western-style food with beer, wine or a beverage of your choice. The kitchen team is creative, serving a variety of meat, chicken, fish, seafood, pasta, pork and other dishes. There is also the daily cocktail hour, during which one of the owners or wranglers will visit with you personally about the activities for the next day.
8 – Red Horse Mountain Ranch:
(Harrison, Idaho)
Images Courtesy Of Red Horse Mountain Ranch
Discover unforgettable adventures at Idaho’s premier all-inclusive dude ranch. Red Horse Mountain Ranch is the perfect escape for families, couples and adventure-seekers looking to unplug and reconnect. Nestled in the stunning Idaho wilderness, the ranch offers personalised horseback riding, thrilling outdoor activities, cosy accommodation and made from scratch meals…all designed to create lifelong memories.
Accommodation: Eight log cabins in the main lodge area have anywhere from 1 to 4 different suites in them; each suite has a bedroom and bathroom perfect for 2 people. Each cabin is uniquely different from each other, superbly cleaned and incredibly comfortable, they will make you feel right at home. All cabins have porches and you will find nearby hot tubs to relax in as you take in the views.
Activities: Red Horse Mountain Ranch is not all about horseback riding, although it will form a large part of your holiday. This dude ranch has a large variety of other activities to wile away your stay.
Choose from activities such as their MegaZip! Once securely clipped in your fully-trained guide will send you on your way…at 30 miles per hour (around 48 kms/hr) down your 1,500 foot journey, where you will end this exhilarating ride splashing down in a spring fed pond.
If you’re not so much of an adrenaline junky then try their Sporting Clays course. Unlike clay pigeon shooting, Sporting Clays simulates the ‘hunting’ of ducks, pheasants and even rabbits. Different sized clay targets are used to ensure the guest gets to experience real-life hunting conditions.
And to really sit back and relax try your skills at the fishing pond. The pond is filled with a variety of fish including bass, crappie, trout and perch. You can bring your own gear if you like, but this is a catch and release activity only, so make sure you bring your camera.
Other activities you can choose from include a Challenge Course, mountain biking, hiking, 3D archery, kayaking tours and a kids program, which is available during the ranch’s Family Vacation Weeks.
Hilltop Home: Situated on a hill above the main lodge and the other cabins, guests will be surrounded by breathtaking vistas. Hilltop Home sleeps up to 11 people and will offer families or groups privacy, seclusion and all the amenities of an All-Inclusive Ranch Vacation Package.
The Hilltop Home is the ultimate mountain retreat. At this 2,800 square foot (260 square metres) authentic log home, you’ll have epic views of the ranch valley floor, your own private deck and a hot tub. The Hilltop Home provides a lightly-stocked full-service kitchen, dining room, two living rooms, family room, master king bedroom and bath, a queen bedroom, two king bedrooms and two more full bathrooms. The Hilltop Home is perfect for large families, an executive retreat, multiple couples or groups of friends catching up during a week of adventure.
Red Horse Ranch Dining: At Red Horse Mountain Ranch the food is always fresh and homemade, with plenty of options for all guests. The ranch strives to make everyone feel at home, catering to any dietary need, including vegan and gluten-free options.
Most dinners are served buffet-style and vary throughout the week, featuring items like roasted chicken, brisket, barbecue, fresh wild fish, pasta and grilled meats. Vegetarian/ vegan and gluten free options are always available. One night each week, the chefs prepare a special multi-course Wine Dinner for all adult guests.
9 – Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch:
(Yucca, Arizona)
Images Courtesy Of Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch
Experience the Old West in comfort. Stagecoach Trails themed all-inclusive dude ranch accommodations offer a true Western getaway, featuring private porches, stunning views and modern amenities, while all set in an authentic frontier-style town in the heart of Arizona.
Located in a secluded wilderness area, this guest ranch in Arizona is one hour away from the nearest town. As a result, there are no crowds, no cities…just incredible nature. Only two hours south of Las Vegas and two hours from the Grand Canyon West Rim, this ranch family is dedicated to providing you with one of the best all-inclusive dude ranch vacations you can find.
Ranch Accommodation: Each room has a unique Western theme with a porch furnished with benches and rocking chairs, view of the cactus gardens and mountains. All guest rooms are supplied with environ-mentally friendly soaps, shampoos, lotions and amenities, hair dryers, some with mini-refrigerators and are extra roomy to accommodate wheelchair guests. Several rooms are adjoining and all have air conditioning. Enjoy a stay in the Rodeo Room or the Outlaw Room. You can even stay in the Navajo King Room, which is themed Native American.
Activities: Like many of the Dude Ranches across the USA, Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch is more than just horseback riding. In fact some of their other activities are almost worth booking in to this ranch for just the experiences. Some are at an extra charge but many of them are free. Some also require a minim stay to enjoy.
Take to an ATV for a guided ride in the mountains, and view the huge Saguaro cactus, which you’ll instantly recognise from many, many Western movies. Just remember though…John Wayne you ain’t!
If you prefer something a bit more carbon friendly sign-up for an authentic stagecoach ride. This is the actual stagecoach used in the movie The Magnificent Seven, and is something the whole family can enjoy. It’s free, but a minimum stay of three nights is required.
Other activities include their Gold Mine Trail Ride, a Humvee Ride, Petting Zoo, Archery and a favourite of mine – a relaxing few games of pool with a cold beer to end the day.
Their kitchen makes sure you are well fed with three hearty meals a day. Most are served buffet style, but there are also a couple of sit-down meals as well, and if the weather permits, dinner is sometimes served outdoors. Don’t forget you are in the desert so it can get cold at night.
Pioneer Wagon: Based on authentic 19th century designs, the Pioneer Wagon evokes Old Western ambiance that reminisce the pioneer days. This unique lodging is furnished with 1 King size bed and 3 Bunk beds, so can comfortably sleep 5 guests. The Pioneer Wagon is equipped with electricity, air conditioning and heat. Private bathrooms and shower facilities are provided nearby or if you rent a room/wagon package you can share the bathroom facilities of the room.
Another great feature of the ranch is the evening entertainment on some nights. This includes guitar playing, campfires, roping shows, line dancing or gunslinger competition. However, most often guests like to just sit, relax, gaze at the star-studded skies while enjoying fireside conversations with new friends. There is a heated swimming pool, hot-tub and a variety of game options such as billiards and horseshoes. However, the main focus of this guest ranch is the horseback riding program as well as the beautiful desert and mountain scenery.
10 – Rainbow Trout Ranch:
(Antonito, Colorado)
Images Courtesy Of Rainbow Trout Ranch
At the turn of the 20th century, Rainbow Trout Ranch was actually a private fishing club, but was opened to the public in the 1920s. As time went on, the lodge developed its reputation for family vacations.
Imagine you could simply turn back the hands of time and transport yourself to an era of living spontaneously and at one with the land, all the while exploring new frontiers with nary a care in the world. Well, now you can. Welcome to America’s ultimate 5-star family dude ranch – your new home on the range! Deep in the heart of the old Wild West, Rainbow Trout Ranch offers up an exhilarating and memorable horse riding adventure of a lifetime.
Rainbow Trout Ranch is very proud of its horse program and the wonderful riding that it has to offer. David and Jane have put together a program that they would enjoy were they to go on a horseback vacation and guests often say that this is the best horse program they’ve ever experienced. There are extremely challenging and advanced rides as well as gentle, teaching rides and everything in-between.
The ranch owns an excellent string of over 100 horses in the guest Remuda (herd), and close to a 130 on the property, so the wranglers can find the best match for each person’s ability. There are a variety of rides based on ability and interest. Some of the rides take you high into the mountains for spectacular views, others meander up the river through open meadows, and still others will focus more on trotting and loping. The ranch wranglers are superb horsemen and horsewomen and instructors as they cater to individual riders, making everyone feel comfortable while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Accommodation: The magnificent Grand Lodge sits at the heart of Rainbow Trout Ranch. This renowned historic structure was built in the early 1920s with local Engelmann Spruce. It was the largest log structure of its day and it’s said that not a single nail was used in the construction of this stately 18,000 square foot (1,672 square metres) ranch treasure…only wooden pegs. Rising 40 feet (12 metres) at the apexes with high windows spilling light throughout the rustic atrium.
Rainbow Trout Ranch Cabins are picturesquely grouped amongst the aspen and ponderosa pine close to the lodge. Configurations vary from quaint two-bedroom cabins to larger three-bedroom cabins all with living rooms and fireplaces. The ranch cabins are beautifully appointed in Western themes and each has a wonderful porch and view. The cabins are unique in that most are built from aspen logs, as opposed to the more common pine.
Ranch Rates Include: Your own log cabin, all meals, all on-ranch activities such as the horseback riding prog-ram, spectacular fishing, fly-fishing guide and equipment, teen program and children’s programs during the main summer months, trapshooting/ archery on designated afternoons, evening activities, swimming and everything else the ranch has to offer including whitewater rafting during the rafting season (generally early June to mid-August).
Good ‘Ol Home Cooking: Most every-thing is prepared from scratch and baking is a specialty. In addition to the wonderful steaks, ribs, fresh trout, tenderloin and turkey, there is always an abundance of vegetables, fruits and salads. Meals are all-you-care-to-eat served family-style.
During the week the ranch takes advantage of the wonderful weather by having frequent barbecue cookouts, which are always a high-light. Consideration is given to the requirements of children as well as those with special dietary needs. The ranch has a BYOB policy, which has been a wonderful way to accommodate all tastes over the years. You are welcome to bring your alcohol of choice with you.
