Travelers that are looking for a new experience will enjoy dude ranches for a vacation centered around the West’s most iconic activity - horseback riding. Not only this, but dude ranches are located in the most beautiful destinations and offer much more adventure for all ages. Because dude ranches are privately owned, guests experience a tailored itinerary away from the crowds. Secluded valleys, mountain top cabins, and all-day excursions will put you and your family in picture-perfect moments your friends will drool over. Traditionally, dude ranches plan for a full week of Western life for their guests, but some have short stay, immersive experiences for those with limited travel time. No matter how long you stay, it is sure to be an exciting trip. Wondering what you might experience on the best dude ranches in North America? Take a look below at some of the specialties that make dude ranches more than just horseback riding in the American West, but an adventure vacation for everyone who loves the outdoors.  

1. Ranch Life 

From the time you arrive for your ranch vacation, you’ll understand that this is a completely different world from suburban life. The horseback riding, pace of life and even the people represent the Western experience that you will be a part of for the week. It is a timeless traditional lifestyle that has been a part of American history for past centuries and your group will become apart of it. Pack your cowboy boots and western hat, because you'll want to look the part!

2. Cattle Work

Cowboys and cattle go hand in hand. At many dude ranches, cattle work is a central activity where you can jump in and have hands-on cowboy experiences. From baby calves being bottle fed to driving the herd on an all-day cattle drive, there are a lot of different ways to interact with cattle. Have you heard of team penning? It’s a rodeo event that guests love to participate in with their fellow travelers. Winning this event will definitely give you bragging rights for the year. You can also learn about how to swing a rope! 

3. Fly Fishing 

The rivers and streams of the West are calmly waiting for you to disrupt their slumber. Fly fishing is the traditional Western way of catching fish that is easy to learn but takes a lifetime to truly master. So, fly casting techniques, knot tying, trout behavior, fishing strategies and even river anatomy will be taught at ranches from a knowledgeable and experienced guide. Your guide can accommodate the beginners and also those who just need to be pointed in the right direction of the best fishing holes. Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout and Grayling are just a few of the fish you might encounter on your trip. 

4. Programs for Children

Families who love the outdoors and getting away from technology will also love dude ranches. Well qualified staff show children the Western way of life, from young toddlers to teenagers there’s something for everyone. Pony rides, volleyball, three-legged races, lawn games… the list goes on and on for what dude ranches have prepared for children to engage with each other in the outdoors. 

5. Cuisine and Dining Experience

Dining on dude ranches is more than just filling your belly. It’s a shared time to relax and enjoy the evening with great food and great company. Hors d'oevoures and cocktails start in the saloon or in the rocking chair on the porch. Birds are chirping and the sun is setting as the kitchen staff rings the dinner bell for everyone to gather for a home-cooked, farm-to-table style dinner prepared for guests that are treated like family. 

Great Dude Ranches to Choose From

Dude ranches are a great way to enjoy the outdoors in a spectacular location. You’ll be with your family in a more intimate environment than you would have milling through the crowds of people traveling to the most popular destinations. While you can still take trips to national parks and the famous destinations, dude ranches will give you the inside scoop and some even provide a personal guide. Take a look at the ranches below for some suggestions on dude ranches for your next vacation. 

Special Rides for Kids - The R Lazy S Ranch is a great ranch near Jackson Hole, Wyoming and offers a great program for families. Special rides for kids include instruction, gymkhana arena riding, half day trail rides and all day trail rides to mountain lakes.

Campfire Dinners and Cowboy Poetry - For campfire dinners and cowboy poetry, you'll want to take a trip to the Lazy L&B Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming. They offer a full day of adventure with evening entertainment you'll want to experience yourself. 

30,000 Acres to Explore - The K Diamond K Ranch, in Republic, Washington has 30,000 acres to explore on horseback, along with cattle work for your family and travel companions. 

A Grand View of the Teton National Park - Moose Head Ranch, in Moose, Wyoming is famous for their views of the Grand Teton Mountain Range. Have your picture taken on horseback with your family in a way you couldn't dream of!

Fall Roundup Cattle Drive - Have the time of your life in late August / early September at the Blacktail Ranch in Wolf Creek, Montana for their fall roundup cattle drive. The cows can't stay up on the mountain all winter, and they want your help to bring them home! 

Fly Fishing Clinic - Focus Ranch in Slater, Wyoming not only has a fly fishing clinic this summer but also specialty weeks for yoga, photography, birding and painting!

Beginner Horsemanship Instruction - The Triangle C Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming offers daily riding instruction for beginner riders looking to learn the in's and out's of horseback riding. 

Weddings and Elopements - Along with a great dude ranch stay, the Sundance Trail Guest Ranch, in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado is well prepared to host your wedding or elopement in a spectacular location. 

Rodeo Riding - Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch in Loveland, Colorado has a special rodeo week for those looking to turn up the heat on their rodeo skills. 

On the Border of Yosemite National Park - Near Bridgeport, California the Hunewill Ranch shares their way of life as a working cattle ranch. 

View the Complete List of Dude Ranch Vacations in North America

Contact a Ranch Vacation Expert or the Dude Ranchers' Association for More Information 

Are you looking for exciting family vacation ideas? Think outside the box and perhaps consider a dude ranch vacation in the west! For more than 100 years dude ranches and guest ranch vacations have provided limitless fun and engaging things to do for the whole family. Mom and dad will appreciate the all-inclusive rates - and that all the planning is done by the ranch to facilitate outdoor activities for the kids. You won’t have to worry about a thing once you are at the ranch! And kids of all ages will have a full day of activities and evening entertainment to put that sparkle in their eye. Take a look at these destination recommendations and you’ll see that dude ranch vacations are more than just horseback riding! Each ranch is unique in their additional offerings for family vacation ideas that are completely unique.

Sprucedale Guest Ranch, Arizona

Western dancing, trail riding, cow milking and a picnic ride

Sprucedale Guest Ranch is a summer vacation idea that the entire family will love. Here, you can step back in time with cowboys and cowgirls who are living the lifestyle and inviting you to join their family run operation. You’ll arrive as strangers, but leave as friends. Here, families connect to each other and children roam free for a week in the beautiful Arizona countryside. Western dancing, trail riding, cow milking, rodeo activities and a picnic ride are all iconic western events on the ranch that your family will get to experience on this week-long vacation. And there are even more activities offered so everyone in the family will have a blast!

Read more about Sprucedale Guest Ranch

The Red Rock Ranch

Horseback riding activates - vaulting, gymkhana and scavenger hunts for kids

Just down the road from the Grand Teton National Park is the Red Rock Ranch, a family owned authentic western dude ranch with polished amenities. The ranch is known for an incredible kids’ program that is focused on young riders. From ages six and up, kids have fun with a counselor engaging in activities like vaulting to learn gymnastic skills on horseback, an afternoon of team penning and even a scavenger hunt on horseback! The ranch’s professional fly-fishing guide will even host a kid’s fly-fishing clinic and show the little ones the way to catch a fish in a stocked trout pond. Don’t worry, there’s plenty to keep the adults entertained at this fantastic dude ranch. Fine dining, a massage or a quiet retreat to your personal cabin are just a few things to enjoy.

Read more about the Red Rock Ranch

Upper Canyon Outfitters & Guest Ranch, Montana

Outdoor enthusiasts dream - horseback riding, fishing, hunting and hiking

Appealing to families with older children - 8 & up - the Upper Canyon Outfitters & Guest Ranch is the place to go for the great outdoors and a great getaway idea for your athletic adventurers. The ranch is an all-inclusive destination with special packages designed for horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, hunting or a mix of everything if you are so inclined. There’s also a special non-riding rate, so each person in the family can have their own itineraries for the week. Friends and family will spend quality time together and make some unforgettable memories. Upper Canyon Outfitters is located in the beautiful Ruby Valley and along the banks of the Ruby River. The setting is exclusive and incredibly beautiful. Everyone is sure to have a great time at Upper Canyon Outfitters!

Read more about Upper Canyon Outfitters

Blacktail Ranch, Montana

Cave exploration, fishing and rafting together with the family

The Blacktail Ranch is immersed in the beautiful Montana countryside -surrounded by mountains, fields and forest with a clear river running through the ranch. You’ll really understand a new meaning of “picturesque” when you arrive at the Blacktail Ranch. Located in a unique setting in Wolf Creek, Montana the ranch is home to the Blacktail Cave, a private cave that the ranch has exclusive access to. Your hosts will take you on a kid friendly trip into the mouth of the cave and through a museum tour of artifacts and histories of the area. You’ll be surprised at how much fun everyone in the family will have exploring this gem of Montana! Not to mention all the horseback riding and other outdoor activities you’ll get to do with the ones you love.

Read more about Blacktail Ranch

K Diamond K Ranch, Washington

Spring Cattle Drives, Fall Roundups and year-round fun

Start planning now for your next great family adventure at the K Diamond K Ranch in Republic, Washington. The ranch offers a distinctive visit no matter what time of year you are traveling. In the spring and fall you can participate in traditional western cattle drives that many people can only dream of doing. And throughout the year there are various other projects to be involved with - hay harvesting, fencing and calving if you like ranch work and horseback riding, fishing and even a massage for a well rounded time at the ranch. You’re welcome to sign up each day for whatever activities you would like to participate in. Your ranch experience is sure to be a one of a kind visit that you’ll always remember.

Read more about K Diamond K Ranch

Parade Rest Ranch, Montana

Visit “Old Faithful” on an interpretive van tour of Yellowstone National Park

Parade Rest Ranch is famous for making your travels easier. They provide a vacation for the entire family that will bring everyone together in a very relaxing environment. Sit together in the dining room and enjoy great food and great conversation with the ones you love and perhaps new friends. And with comfortable cabins you’ll get a great night sleep and be ready for the adventures of the next day. Horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing and hiking right from your cabin will take you to incredible mountain lakes and unbelievable views. And the best part? Parade Rest Ranch is very close to Yellowstone National Park and offers an interpretive van tour of all the great places in the park, including “Old Faithful” that your family will love!

Read more about Parade Rest Ranch

Family Vacation Ideas - Dude Ranches Out West

When you think of a dude ranch vacation do you imagine time in the saddle and think it might be fun for a day or two, but wonder if there is enough to do for an entire vacation? Well, there is great news for travelers who would enjoy any amount of western lifestyle activities such as horseback riding and cattle work. If you look into it further, modern day dude ranches offer a lot more than just this. With scenic landscapes, great accommodations and knowledgeable staff, dude ranch activities vary for a diverse crowd - whether that is your multigenerational family, business associates or small group of best friends. 

It doesn’t matter if you would consider yourself a “city slicker” or an equestrian, everyone will get to ride horses and spend time doing what they enjoy the most. Dude ranches offer attractions and services that travel far beyond the trail. Fine dining? Well that’s just the beginning. Outdoor exercise? Any and all kinds. Relaxation? You got it. 

So, if you’re considering a dude ranch vacation and would like to fill your week with many types of activities, consider adding these activities to your to do list.

Dude Ranch Activities  

Trail Riding on Horseback

The best way to experience the West is most definitely horseback riding. Starting out with an orientation ride, you’ll easily determine how much adventure you’ll enjoy with your personal horse or horses for the week. You might be content with a daily stroll up to a nice view or have a need for speed on twice daily loping rides. 

R Lazy S Ranch - Teton Village, WY

Bird Watching

For avid bird watchers dude ranches offer some exclusive places to find rare species of birds specific to the area. Many horseback rides at the Triple R Ranch in South Dakota explore deep into wildlife’s natural habitats especially native birds. It is almost guaranteed that on these rides you will see some type of unique species! 

Triple R Ranch - Keystone, SD

White Water Rafting

Suited up in your life jacket you’ll get to race (or meander) down crystal clear water for yet another perspective on this beautiful location. Rimrock Ranch in Wyoming has an afternoon of their weekly program that is designated for a white water rafting trip for all of the ranch guests to enjoy.

Rimrock Ranch - Cody, WY

Petting Zoos

Petting zoos on dude ranches are not just for children. Even adults enjoy interacting with all sorts of farm animals, from baby goats and pigs to gathering eggs from the chicken coop.

Overnight Campouts or Pack Trips

There’s no better place to see the stars than on an overnight campout or a pack trip into the mountains. In a lot of these places motorized vehicles are not allowed, so the only way to get out there is on foot or by horseback. On a pack trip with the Broken Arrow Lodge you’ll go through two mountain ranges in the spectacular Rocky Mountains!

Broken Arrow Lodge - Alder, MT

Cattle Drives

Hup, hup! You’ll get to understand what life is like as a cowboy once you experience first hand what it’s like to move cattle across the range. From several hours to a full day cattle drive, this is the real deal when it comes to the cowboy lifestyle activities on a dude ranch. At the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Montana cattle ranching is not just a business - it’s a way of life. And you’ll be apart of it. 

Bonanza Creek Ranch - Martinsdale, MT

Kids Activities

From 0 - 18 kids always have something to do on the ranch. With counselors for different age ranges, kids are engaged and have no need for electronics. There’s a creative activity to do every moment, from swimming pools to nature walks or even visiting that petting zoo we talked about earlier.

Massages

Why not sign up for a relaxing massage to complete your afternoon? With trained professionals in some of the most beautiful locations you’ll enjoy a lavish spa experience. You’ll really like the full body massage customized for your preferences at the Hubbard’s Six Quarter Circle Ranch in Montana. After a day in the saddle this is just what the doctor ordered.

Hubbard's Six Quarter Circle Ranch - Emigrant, MT 

Shooting & Archery Sports

You’ll be given instruction and participate in a safely controlled environment to learn and practice shooting different types of firearms and archery.

ATV Rides

Cinch down your helmet and hit the road for an afternoon of exploring on ATV’s as one of the most fun dude ranch activities. 

Horse Drawn Wagon/Sleigh Rides

Riding in a horse drawn wagon or sleigh should be on everyone’s bucket list. At the K Diamond K Guest Ranch in Washington guests are given a tour of the ranch by a team of Belgian draft horses pulling a 12-passenger wagon. Experience transportation like the cowboys used to in the times of the old west! 

K Diamond K Ranch - Republic, WA

Yoga

Try a yoga class with a certified trainer whenever you like. You might enjoy a class outside amongst the aspen trees or in a quaint cabin studio.

Fly Fishing

Whether you are an expert or a beginner your own personal fly-fishing guide will help you catch various types of trout on super private waters. The Goosewing Ranch offers twice weekly instruction on their stocked pond, allowing you to fine tune your fishing skills. Also, they offer all sorts of equipment for the guests to use and a map of all the prime fishing locations on the ranch. 

Goosewing Ranch - Jackson, WY 

Glamping 

Glamping has become the new trend it seems and dude ranches are following suite. The Bull Hill Guest Ranch in Washington has 2 new glamping tents less than 5 years old! Each tent is just 100 feet from the shower house where each tent has its own private bath and shower. Both tents are fully furnished and do have electricity as well as heat. They also have beautiful porches to kick back and relax after a day full of ranch activities.  

Bull Hill Guest Ranch - Kettle Falls, WA

Rustic Weddings

Picturesque settings, wide open spaces and top-notch amenities draw thousands of brides-to-be and their grooms to dude ranches each year. Whether you would like to run off and elope or prefer inviting the whole family there’s plenty of options for planning your dude ranch wedding. The Absaroka Ranch in Wyoming can accommodate 16 people in their four cabins and host up to 200 guests for the day of the wedding. There’s nothing like a reception with 360-degree breathtaking views and a mountain backdrop.

Absaroka Ranch - Dubois, WY

Talent Show

The ranch staff and guests alike are some pretty talented people and friendly competition can be found in many forms during your vacation. You’ll enjoy watching and participating in a talent night at the ranch. You can sing, tap or joke your way to local stardom in a talent show. You won’t soon forget these memories! 

Jeep Tours

At the Hawley Mountain Ranch, you’ll get to take an all-day jeep tour adventure to places where very few people can travel. Ready to see an old ghost town or visit Monument Peak at nearly 11,000 feet?? Hawley Mountain Ranch will take you there!

Hawley Mountain Guest Ranch - McLeod, MT 

Zip Line 

Zoom! Your adventure guide will take you on a view of the ranch like none other. You’ll get to fly through the air for another kind of wild ride. 

Tennis & Golf 

Practice your professional swing while having a good time with friends. Some ranches have tennis courts and golf courses on site or within a close radius of the ranch. The Broadmoor’s Ranch at Emerald Valley in Colorado gives their guests the opportunity to take a short ride down to the Broadmoor’s 2 different 18-hole golf courses that look like they are out of a picture book. They also have state of the art tennis courts available to guests to use, you will just have to schedule a time to go play! 

The Broadmoor's Ranch at Emerald Valley - Colorado Springs, CO 

Fine Wine and Fine Dining 

Ranches have well trained (even Cordon bleu trained) chefs that take a lot of pride in offering 5-star cuisine with beautifully paired wines. There are many dude ranches that also participate in Farm to Table Cuisine programs. Beautiful vegetables and fruits are harvested just a few yards from the kitchens and have flavors like you’ve never tasted before. Several ranches also have a long list of fine wines and beer selections for guests to choose from. 

Cooking Classes

These same chefs would love to share their kitchen with you and/or your kids to teach you their secret recipes on amazing ranch cuisine. 

Team Penning

With a team of 3 riders you’ll try your hand at a seriously fun rodeo sport. With rules that can be modified to suite, the idea is to separate a cow or steer from the group and herd it into a pen. Who ever is the fastest wins! 

Hiking

From rigorous climbs to easy ambles you can get out and explore the mountains on foot. At the Flat Creek Ranch, you’ll be able to hike up to the Teton Overlook trail for a panoramic view of the Grand Teton National Park. Hike in the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Gros Ventre Wilderness Area while at the ranch and experience some of Wyoming's most undiscovered land. 

Flat Creek Ranch - Jackson, WY

These are not all the activities you can find on dude ranches. We haven’t even talked about National Park Trips, rock climbing, winter sports, and more! 

To find that dude ranch experience with the right combination of activities use the search by amenity page on duderanch.org or give a ranch vacation expert a call at the Dude Ranchers’ Association. 

Search by Amenity 

Call a Ranch Expert 307.587.2339

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Dude Ranch Vacations are famous for the traditional week long experiences for trail riding and western lifestyle activities, but with travelers having less time to stay many ranches offer dude ranch short stays of 3 nights. On these short stays you’ll get to experience all the highlighted activities, view the spectacular scenery and refresh your mind in the wide open spaces. While some ranches offer these short stays during the off-season, other ranches offer flexible packages every week they are open.

Find some great dude ranch short stays listed below. For the complete list of ranches select “3 nights” on the Search by Activity and Amenity page.  You can also read about spectacular discounts during the shoulder season.

Colorado Dude Ranch Short Stays

Badger Creek Ranch, Colorado - 3 night minimum short stay, open June through October

Laramie River Ranch, Colorado - 3 night short stay available from Sunday to Wednesday, open mid-June through mid-September

Montana Dude Ranch Short Stays

Broken Arrow Lodge, Montana - 3 night minimum stay, 2 days of horseback riding, arrival Sunday or Wednesday, May 1 - September 1

Covered Wagon Ranch, Montana - 3 night minimum short stay, open June through mid-September

Hidden Hollow Hideaway Cattle and Guest Ranch, Montana - 3 days minimum, open June 1 - September 1

Rich Ranch, Montana - 3 day minimum, open May 1 through September 30

Rocking Z Guest Ranch, Montana - 3 night minimum stay with custom length stays available, open year-round

New Mexico Dude Ranch Short Stays

Creek Ranch, New Mexico - 3 night minimum short stay (otherwise on request), open April 1 through October 31

Burnt Well Guest Ranch, New Mexico - 3 day minimum short stay, free airport transfer, open year-round

Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch, New Mexico - 3 night minimum short stay, open March 1 - Mid-November

Washington Dude Ranch Short Stays

K Diamond K Ranch, Washington - 3 night minimum short stay from July 1 - September 1, Bed and Breakfast options available year-round

Pin this for Later! Dude Ranch Short Stays

Mom stands facing away from a line of kids. She then chooses a child and announces,

"Brian, you may take 3 giant baby steps forward."

The child responds, "Mother may I?"

Mom then states, "Yes" or "No," depending on her whim, and the child complies.

If, however, the child forgets to ask "Mother may I?" he goes back to the starting line.

First one to touch Mother wins, or in this case, first one to take Mother on a ranch vacation wins.

  There are a lot of games to play on a ranch vacation for this special holiday, "Mother May I" included. Without a TV or cell phone you'll get lots of time to play on horseback, in the water or all over the mountain side with adventure activities. The recommended prescription is a full week of a lively Mother's Day Celebration either the 14th through the 20th of May, or any ole' week that will work for mom's schedule. Either way, a crayon drawn certificate about her special week with the family on a ranch is what this year calls for. Don't worry about which one to choose, take a look at the wonderful selections below from your #RanchVacationExperts at the Dude Ranchers' Association or give us a call and before you know it you'll have a short list of the best options for your Mother's Day Vacation.

Long Hollow Ranch

Sisters, Oregon Phone: +1 541-923-1901 Looking for a truly memorable dude ranch vacation on a working ranch? A chance to ride with a cattle drive, fly fish on the ranch? Look no further! We have them all at Long Hollow, a working cattle ranch in beautiful central Oregon. Come spend a week us for the vacation you will never forget.

Broken Arrow Lodge and Outfitters

Alder, Montana Phone: +1 406-842-5437 Located in southwest Montana with the Ruby River flowing through the lodge property.All ages are welcome, children's activities for any age. Horses and mules to ride in western tack. Lessons and instruction provided for all activities. Custom trail rides to fit your ability and satisfy your desire.

Rich's Montana Guest Ranch

Seeley Lake, Montana Phone: 1-800-532-4350 On behalf of our family and crew we invite you to come and share our rural country lifestyle and passion for Montana’s great outdoors. Here at the ranch we specialize in traditional dude ranch vacations, horseback riding, Bob Marshall Wilderness pack trips, camping, Blue Ribbon fly fishing, winter snowmobiling, and fair-chase hunts for elk and deer.

K Diamond K Guest Ranch

Republic, Washington Phone: 509-641-1003 Cell The K-Diamond-K Guest Cattle & Guest Ranch is open year round for single, couples & families of all ages. Guests staying at the ranch are made to feel at home and enjoy the warm hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere. Horseback riding, fishing, hunting, archery, gold panning, hiking & mountain biking.

Medicine Bow Lodge Adventure Guest Ranch

Saratoga, Wyoming Phone: +1 800-409-5439 The Medicine Bow Lodge Adventure Guest Ranch is located at approximately 8500 feet in the Snowy Range of the Rocky Mountains. The closest town is Saratoga, Wyoming which is about 22 miles to the west. The land on which the Guest Ranch sits is located in the Medicine Bow National Forest.   Save Save Save Save Save Save Save

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For those looking for that working ranch experience of a cattle drive, there are certain weeks working cattle ranches invite guests to experience the original cowboy life. At these ranches guests have the opportunity to learn firsthand about the challenges and joys of caring for a herd of grass-fed, range cattle, monitoring their health and moving them to new grazing grounds as water and grass vitality dictates.

Each ranch is unique, with different breeds of cattle, size of the herd and the terrain. Because each one is so unique, when you experience one ranch you might end up on a journey to discover as many as your can. Please be aware that the length and location of these cattle moves will vary depending on grass, weather, and cattle health. It’s important to plan and book your vacation far in advance to be sure to reserve your space at these events. If you are late in planning for this year please still stop by the ranches for a vacation doing cattle work.

The cattle are there year-round and require lots of unique opportunities to be apart. You might enjoy a few days of cattle work, some fishing, hiking and trail riding. You might also consider another special event at ranches called branding. This is a big community event and it is an honor in the cowboy code to be invited. Whatever activities you get involved in at a working ranch will be an incredible vacation experience all your friends will be jealous to hear. Call the National Dude Ranchers’ Association with questions or any of the ranches below for more information.

Drive cattle through miles of alpine forests, crystal clear lakes and rolling foothills of Montana at the Sweet Grass Ranch

Tent Camp along your route in the Plains of New Mexico with the Burnt Well Guest Ranch

Drive cattle to and from high in the Mountains of Washington State with the K Diamond K Ranch