Colorado offers unique vacation experiences at one of its many Western dude ranches. Each ranch listed offers horseback riding and there is a property to suit your needs, from a rustic experience with no TV to ranches that provide spas and massages as well as Internet access.
Activities include everything from river rafting to cattle drives, skiing, rock hunting and line dancing. Activities are geared to all ages so children and teen programs at most ranches will keep young ones happily occupied.
Wilderness Trails Ranch Resort is two miles north of Vallecito Lake and only a short drive to Durango in southwestern Colorado. This ranch offers a true Western experience. Horse riders can learn to work cattle and trail blaze with personal instruction. The property also features waterskiing, fishing, swimming, and massage and spa treatments.
This ranch is also a great place to host a family reunion, wedding or company retreat. Two- and three-bedroom cabins are equipped with fridges, gas stoves, hair dryers, and coffeemakers. Enjoy hayrides, children's programs, campfires, music and dancing. Capacity is 36.
Waunita Hot Springs Ranch sits amid Gunnison National Forest high up in the Colorado Rockies. Activities at this ranch include horseback riding, fishing, raft trips, overnight campouts, rock hunting, swimming in a 95-degree spring-fed pool, and a petting zoo for old and young alike.
It is also open in the winter for downhill ski groups and snowmobiling clubs. Guest rooms in two lodges accommodate small families or larger groups.
Wind River Ranch is a family ranch situated nearby Rocky Mountain National Park and is about seven miles from Estes Park. This ranch offers programs for children, tweens, and teenagers. Rustic log cabins are located among pine trees and aspen groves. Deluxe cabins have remodeled master bedrooms and bathrooms.
You may not even notice that there are no TVs at this Christian dude ranch due to the breathtaking scenery. there's also river rafting, a zip line, golf, swimming pool, volleyball, fishing, a Ranch Olympics competition, and a weekly praise and worship service. It is open May 30 to Sept. 30 annually and has a capacity of 50.
Sylvan Dale Ranch sprawls out over 3,200 acres of Colorado foothills. It's about an hour's drive from Denver and boasts eco-friendly activities and green practices. Cabins with antique accents have porches and some have air conditioning or fireplaces and there is Internet access.
There are three- and four-bedroom guesthouses plus a two-story lodge right on the river. Activities include tennis, nature walks, birding, square/line dancing, softball, horse-drawn hayrides and cattle drives in addition to horseback riding programs. This ranch also offers a shuttle bus service to nearby airports such as Loveland Municipal Airport.
