A herd of horses neigh at your approach while the sun gently slips behind the surrounding mountains. The distant clanging of a bell announces dinner. Slightly sweaty but exhilarated and astride your own mount, you challenge your teenagers to a race back to the ranch.

Leave the “wish you were here” postcards at the general store and bring the whole family along. Who wants to read about your vacation when they can experience it first-hand themselves? Perhaps that’s why multi-generational vacations are one of the most popular travel trends today. Families are made to cowgirl- and cowboy-up at dude ranches, which offer an outdoor invitation to relax and enjoy an Old West experience with your entire family.

Dude ranches are scattered throughout the West and come in all shapes and size. Arguably these ranches are the best setting for your multi-generational family to kick up their heels or kick-back, dude ranches give travelers a first-hand taste of the good old fashioned outdoors – ranch-style.  

Don’t get caught up in the stereotypes as dude ranches are not limited to horse people, providing multiple activities for those horse-shy family members, such as hiking or fishing. The great outdoors provides tons of activities, although some ranches opt to stock their lakes or streams.

Ranches offers all-inclusive vacation packages that bundle a full week of activities, such as trail rides, swimming, fishing and hayrides with fabulous food and comfortable lodging for one low price. Often dude ranch packages can be more affordable than a six-day theme park vacation. Many ranches also offer “Kids Stay Free” and even “Grandparents Stay Free” weeks; so if you plan your trip right, you can save even more.

For more discounts, take a look at your winter vacation. Some dude ranches cater to the snow-lovers, offering sledding, cross-country or downhill skiing, snowshoeing or ice fishing.

Let’s take a look first at the three general categories of ranches:

1) Working Dude Ranch is where a guest’s experience is as a get-your-hands-dirty, working hand.

2) Dude Guest Ranch features horseback riding and a variety of outdoor activities.

3) Resort Dude Ranch is usually larger ranches offering an array of diverse activities and onsite amenities, such as full-service spa or upscale dining options. Accommodations range from family-style or individual cabins to elegant lodges.

Dude and guest ranches provide extensive programming for children. Some ranches set a minimum age while others take infants and small children, but only provide programming for certain ages. Some ranches do offer toddler/ infant care as part of the all inclusive trip, others charge hourly for infant/toddler care. Kids are matched up with kids their own age and are led by a trained, qualified counselor who knows how to make the day fun -- and even educational. The majority of counselors are CPR/first aid trained, and the ranches tend to spend a lot of time finding just the right staff to make sure the kiddos have fun and are safe.

Activities are only limited by time and your imagination as the setting of a ranch often spans hundreds or thousands of acres. For example, your vacation can include learning more about horses and riding, gold panning, building and floating wooden boats, archery, campfire-building, playing in the pool, tubing, fishing/fly-fishing, skeet and shooting ranges; and rock climbing. When it rains on your vacation, indoor activities are also available and can range from board games to an in-house bowling alley.

Often, kids can go on their own trail rides or are taken to a nearby hot springs pool or other children’s attractions. (Please note that the age to ride independently varies at each ranch, although 6-8 is the most common range.) Make it a family outing where everyone saddles up together for a ride. Most ranches are located in small rural areas, which include county fairs or local rodeos. Many offer “kids’ game night” to allow parents a romantic night together at a candle light adults-only dinner in the dining room.

Now let’s take a look at an overview of my top ranches:

Nestled in the heart of the majestic mountains of Colorado just 90 minutes from Denver, Grand County, Colorado is dubbed “Dude and Guest Ranch Capital of the U.S.” This area is home to six dude and guest ranches—Aspen Canyon (www.aspencanyon.com), C Lazy U (www.clazyu.com), Drowsy Water, King Mountain (www.kingmountainranch.com), Latigo (www.latigotrails.com), and Lazy J Ranch (www.lazyjranch.net). All these Grand County dude ranches provide ample opportunities to hike, bike, fish, and even golf.

The sixth is Colorado’s oldest-continuously-operated (since 1912) guest ranch, the Bar Lazy J Ranch (www.barlazyj.com). Located on the Gold Medal trout fishing waters of the Colorado River near Parshall, it’s a favorite fishing hole for families. You can also explore the adjacent 30,000 acres of Colorado state and federal forestlands on horseback or foot. No need to pack your hats or boots as the owner keeps a supply for guests.

For those vacationers with children 3 or under, check out Granby’s Drowsy Water (www.drowsywater.com). Their guides will happily walk alongside with a toddler on a horse as long as the child has head control.

Check out another Colorado favorite, Lost Valley Ranch (www.lostvalleyranch.com) for a well-established teen program. Their kids programs are broken down into four groups: 2 and under babysitting; 3-5; 6-12; and teens.


For those families preferring a resort ranch experience, the eco-friendly Devil’s Thumb Ranch (www.devilsthumbranch.com) is an environmentally friendly, year-round ranch resort located just outside of Winter Park with views that span the valley at the foot of the Continental Divide. Families can camp together at the upscale, eco-friendly cabins with full kitchens or book individual rooms at their new lodge. There’s no shortage of activities on its 5,000 acres, no matter the season. A daily schedule of events from yoga to outdoors activities means Mom doesn’t have to make all the plans. Families can join guided mountain biking, fly-fishing lessons, and horseback rides (to name a few) and end the evening at the public pool and hot tub. It’s dude ranching without the roughing it.

Wyoming is the home of the family-owned and run Terry Bison Ranch (www.terrybisonranch.com). Location makes this appealing to families is it’s on the outskirts of Cheyenne, Wyoming. This historic ranch is over 100 years old with its past guests including President Theodore Roosevelt. The original 17-room bunkhouse, built in the 1900’s still stands and is located on the working level of the ranch and now hosts 13-dorm style, private rooms. Other accommodations include cabins and R.V. sites.

Annual family vacations can coincide with the dates of the popular rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days. Take in a rodeo or night concert, ride the carnival rides, or stick close the ranch where families enjoy horseback rides, handicap-accessible train rides, fly-fishing, Kid Corral, home to Beefalo, Texas Longhorns and camels, and famous Bison Hunts.

Paradise Guest Ranch (www.ParadiseRanch.com) is tucked in the heart of the Big Horn Mountains in north-central Wyoming near the historic town of Buffalo. When guest hear the dinner bell after a fun day of typical dude ranch activities, they eagerly make their way to the dining hall to enjoy some hearty cowboy cooking with gourmet flair -- buffet style. From hickory grilled burgers at lunch to dinner choices of herb-roasted prime rib with roasted red potatoes or Cajun shrimp kabobs with bacon and cheddar polenta and oven-roasted asparagus? Dessert is another adventure when a scoop of ice cream is placed on the fresh-out-of-the-oven homemade apple dumplings.  Sing-a-longs to western music around the campfire after an outdoor cookout are other special touches that this ranch adds to the dude ranch experience.

For couples that prefer to ranch in style – without the family, put on your nicest cowboy boots and head to Triple Creek Ranch (www.triplecreekranch.com), a Relais & Châteaux property and an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing lodge and resort. Set in the Bitterroot Mountains against 600 acres of Montana’s breathtaking Big Sky beauty, the resort has long been the favored escape for couples.

Maybe it’s the stay in a Luxury Cabin with a wood burning fireplace, living room, fully stocked bar, double steam shower and private deck with hot tub. Or maybe it’s the daily multi-course gourmet dinners.  The adventure-loving couple might also decide on a day of fly fishing or hiking, ending with a relaxing couple’s massage. Triple Creek Ranch is another all-inclusive vacation at a resort that is known for its Western-style log cabins, innovative cuisine, extensive wine cellar, and outstanding service.

Take your adventure the Pacific Northwest and try Horseshu Ranch (www.horseshu.com), located on beautiful San Juan Island in Washington State. Debuting in 2002, this 16-acre spread is open year-round, maintaining more than a dozen horses and ponies. Travelers of all ages can also access San Juan Island’s other distractions, such as whale watching, kayaking, bicycling, sailing, mopeds, golfing, hiking, and more, all within 10-15 minutes from your ranch verandah.

A dude ranch stay brings families together of all ages. Plus you are actually keeping the Old West alive. Your support allows the owners to maintain their property and Western lifestyle while giving you a glimpse of the way the West was won.

To find your perfect ranch, you might want to start your search at DudeRanch.org

By Diana Rowe