For the best deals on travel insurance, be sure to use the DRA’s preferred provider! Purchase insurance here.

Blog
The DRA

Last Minute Summer Dude Ranch Trips

California and Colorado Ranches to Visit Summer 2022 with Availability

music meadows ranch three riders

Want to escape the heat? Didn’t book any vacations for you, your family, or friends? We’ve got you covered with last-minute available spaces at some of our most spectacular ranches located in high-mountain terrain with fresh breezes and abundant outdoor activity and incredible, made-from-scratch meals. Toast this summer of freedom and embrace authentic Western dude ranches and the best vacations imaginable.

Greenhorn Ranch

Quincy, California

Destination
Located in Northern California’s Lost Sierra, the Greenhorn Ranch is a modernized classic western dude ranch. The Ranch accesses thousands of acres of forest lands for riding and exploring.

Featured Summer Activities
Activities include horseback trail rides guided by experienced wranglers, horse riding lessons, archery, trout fishing (stocked pond) skeet shooting, electric mountain biking, yoga, pool, gold panning, wagon rides, cookouts, and a kiddie Corral. Wonderful farm-to-table elevated comfort food keeps you energized for evening activities including bonfire storytelling, Karaoke, live music and line dancing!

Bedding Down
Greenhorn Ranch has a well-appointed 12-room lodge, 16 cabins, and a fully restored Airstream.

 

Greenhorn Ranch Bond with your Family
Greenhorn Ranch

 

Marble Mountain Ranch

Somes Bar, California

Destination
California’s Klamath National forest steeped in ancient Doug Fir tree stands, high vistas with views across deep river valleys and granite ridge tops. The terrain here is dramatic, varied and rugged so horse and rider are provided an evolving backdrop of challenges, obstacles and landscapes to ride through.

Featured Summer Activities
Riding reigns at the ranch! There are guided trail rides, arena riding and various other Western-focused, horse activities. Marble Mountain also offers whitewater rafting on the Klamath River, fly-fishing in the Fall with instruction and western shooting sports such as trap, tomahawk throwing and archery.

Bedding Down
Lodging and cottage options at the river ranch vary in size and are located close to ranch activity centers, but are remote enough to allow solitude in the lush shade of the forest margins. Marble Mountain Ranch is Siskiyou County’s only full-service Klamath River Lodge.

Don’t Miss
Many of the ranch’s horses are foaled at Marble Mountain Ranch, then imprinted, raised and trained by the ranch, and considered extensions of the family. Ask about any horse’s personality, as each wrangler knows them intimately.

Creek at Marble Mountain Ranch
Marble Mountain Ranch

 

Majestic Dude Ranch

Mancos, Colorado

Destination
Majestic Ranch lies in the extreme southwest corner of Colorado, close to the infamous Four Corners area. Here, guests are only a 20-minute drive from Durango, home to a stellar weekly rodeo, historic downtown with numerous blocks of breweries, restaurants and boutiques, and the depot for the infamous Durango-Silverton Train. Back at the ranch, guests will be able to explore pristine wilderness with forests of evergreens and aspens, snow-capped mountain peaks, babbling streams, and two stunning, nearby reservoirs.

Featured Summer Activities
Choose from day-long rides, paintball, laser tag, fly-fishing, archery, skeet shooting, whitewater rafting, and much more. This is also the only dude ranch in Colorado to have a legal-size baseball field amongst its herd of horses. Don’t miss the weekly Durango rodeo, and boating on the refreshing, mountain reservoirs.

Bedding Down
There are standard cabins, ideal for smaller families between four and eight people with a master bedroom with a king bed and additional twin beds in separate rooms. All the standard cabins have two bathrooms, some have a master bathroom. Wrigley and Fenway, are the newest and most spacious cabins. Or choose from the luxury suites for couples or groups of one or two.

Don’t Miss
The owner’s party each week. Robert has a quirky and fun story and also owns a California theatre. The party always has incredible entertainment, farm-to-table cuisine and custom cocktails.

two ladies riding
Majestic Dude Ranch

 

Music Meadows Ranch

Westcliffe, Colorado

Destination
This is truly one of the most undiscovered parts of Colorado! Music Meadows is located in a magical dark sky community that truly enhances the ranch experience with showstopping evenings loaded with constellations, shooting stars, and more.

Featured Summer Activities
This is authentic Western ranching. Days are filled with horse-related activities including range rides, cattle work, and amazing adventures. These are not your typical nose-to-tail rides, either. Hiking, bird watching, nearby fly-fishing, and, of course, the dark sky activity rule at this ranch. A must is a soak in the wood-fired hot tub come evening.

Bedding Down
You and your small group (two to six guests) will have the entire ranch to yourselves staying in the three-bedroom, two-bath ranch house, the only dwelling at the ranch headquarters.

Don’t Miss
The opportunity to learn from owner Elin Parker Ganshow’s passion for ranching and people coming together. One of Elin’s greatest joys is to see people learning about cattle, land and horses at this beautiful ranch and vesting time together as family and friends.

 


Music Meadows Ranch

 

Sundance Trail Guest Ranch

Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Destination
The magical high mountains of Colorado are your retreat. Sundance Trail Guest Ranch, northwest of Fort Collins, is a 145-acre oasis that features streams and ponds for fishing, and complete tranquility. Located in the Red Feather Lakes area, this ranch promises a summer cool-off with plenty of fresh water and activity.

Featured Summer Activities
It’s all outside at Sundance Trails. Choose from horseback riding including learning to barrel ride, rock climbing, mountain biking, fly-fishing, river rafting, trap shooting, learning to throw a tomahawk or rope, hiking, or a soak in the hot tub.

Bedding Down
Choose from the cabins or lodge suites. All the cozy dude ranch options have private baths, entrances, and decks. Daily maid service and all suites offer AM-FM radio, refrigerator, and coffee bar in any suite you choose.

Don’t Miss . . and Don’t Forget
Sundance Trail offers a small event venue – so whether it’s a corporate retreat or a wedding, keep this destination in mind. This is also the only dude ranch in Colorado that is pet-friendly! Bring Fido along for the fun.

 

Sundance Trail Ranch cabin amongst yellow wildflowers
Sundance Trail Guest Ranch

 

The Dude Ranchers’ Association

Not sure where to start? Unsure of what ranch is right for you? That’s why we’re here to help! Contact us today to help you narrow down your options, so you can find the perfect dude ranch for your next vacation!

Contact: 307-587-2339 | info@duderanch.org

 

Subscribe to Dude Ranch Deals