The old west meets luxury with these amazing American Dude Ranches, the absolute perfect places to embrace your inner pioneer or cowboy while still finding pleasure in the amenities of modern day luxury and lodging.
Tombstone Monument Ranch - Tombstone, AZ
Welcome to Tombstone Monument Ranch, the popular Arizona hotspot (no pun intended) surrounded by miles of rugged open country around the Dragoon Mountains, a famed Apache territory with plenty of interesting Cochise County history. Just 3 miles from the ‘Town Too Tough to Die’, this revamped prosperous mining town from the 1880’s has a history of deadly shoot outs and lawless characters from Wyatt Earp to Doc Holiday, and today provides several historic dirt roads and boardwalks for guest to relive the wild west experience. Enjoy 18 different rooms, the historic Bordillo, and amazing panoramic sunset views alongside opportunities for horseback riding, archery, and hiking.
A Bar A Ranch- Encampment, WY
Wyoming is one of the best states to immerse yourself into a true dude ranch atmosphere, though none else can seem to compare to A Bar A Ranch, the 1920’s historic ranch that is considered to be the oldest and largest in the United States, with 140,999 acres of rolling hills, valleys, pastures, and woods set aside for the finest ranching possible. Unlike most dude ranches across the U.S here there is no wrangler required, the entire ranch a sort of cross between a serious horseman’s paradise and a secluded luxury resort. Enjoy ‘western elegant’ cuisine, golf tournaments, spa day options, tennis courts, and of course several hiking and riding options within the Savage Run Wilderness.
Latigo Ranch, Kremmling, CO
If you are more in for a ‘fine riding’ experience this ranch in Kremmling Colorado will be perfect for you, a sort of ‘nouveau ranch’ with great riding programs, separate kid/parent events, and excellent local cuisine. Enjoy the views of the Arapaho National Forest on three different sides of the Ranch as you explore the trails of aspen groves, pine forest, sagebrush, and open meadows, the instruction for riding you will be getting along the way full of helpful and intricate instruction and focusing on rider independence. The goal is to lope by the end of the weekend, though it is not required and you will have fun along the way even if you don’t get it down!
Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, Solvang, CA
Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang California is a famously secluded spot that Hollywood’s finest often frequent, a 2 18-hole golf course resort with spa accommodations, a private pond to fish or boat in, and several tennis courts and horseback trails. Enjoy over 50 miles of hills and sycamore groves to ride on as well as in-resort traditions of an era bygone such as required formal dinners, a la carte rides, and different themed riding options to please guests of any age, such as the Cowboy Breakfast ride, Sunset ride, and Wildlife Fun Ride. You definitely don’t have to be rich and famous to enjoy this amazing dude ranch.
S-Cross Ranch, Madison, GA
In Madison Georgia your group will find the S-Cross Ranch, the year-round resort ranch that specializes in overall experience and hands-on programming. This is another ranch in which you can ride without a wrangler if you please, and you can also take 2 total 2 hour trail rides daily, the establishment placing an emphasis on horses and sportsmanship rather than the amenities of the guests here (though this ranch is by no means lacking in amenities). Choose from over 150 different horses and enjoy the surrounding rolling hills as you learn to perfect the art of horse riding and trail galloping!
Mayan Dude Ranch - Bandera, TX
See ‘cowboy bravado’ up close and personal in the state where everything is always bigger, including the learning opportunities here at Mayan Dude Ranch in Bandera. This camp is sort of intended for beginners only, a truly ideal setting from family and group training. Here you can take 2 rides a day as well at about an hour each, though this unique riding camp does it in a single file only sort of style. You can also enjoy the gorgeous Texas surroundings by fishing, swimming, tubing, hiking, or enjoying a good ol- fashioned hootenanny. The lone-star themed dining here is almost worth the stay alone!
Ranch at Rock Creek - Philipsburg, MT
The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana is a brand new 6,600 acre riding and ‘glamping’ ranch in the Montana Valley that allows its guests to ‘get away from it all, but with creature comforts’. This Philipsburg hotpot has options to personally schedule riding sessions daily, and the trails available are chalk full of picture-perfect riverbeds, meadows, foothills, and beautifully wooded areas. One of the most unique things about this ranch is the occasional option to take part in a real mini cattle drive, the perfect way to really bring together all that you have learned while here!
Rocking Z Guest Ranch, Wolf Ranch, MT
At Rocking Z Guest Ranch, another spectacular Montana ranch site, your group will get to experience the tradition of the country's first dude ranch, the property first being a successful cattle ranch with a switch to guest ranch fairly recently in 2000. This spot is a great family/group fun spot, an all green (bio-fuel) and all natural horsemanship traditional riding facility. Enjoy learning all about the communication centered art of ‘horse whispering’ and enjoy the great outdoors with this are full of open hills and long valleys perfect for riding and really getting to know the art and tradition behind horse riding.
Red Rock Ranch - Jackson Hole, WY
Jackson Hole Wyoming is one of the most naturally gorgeous places in the entire United States, which is why we’ve included the Red Rock Ranch, a dude ranch full of unbeatable Grand Teton vistas left and right. This geographically blessed ranch location sits on the locally loved and highly photographed Wind River and Absaroka Mountains, the perfect place for riding, trap shooting, hiking, and fly fishing. This is ‘Wyoming’s ultimate guest ranch destination’, and it even provides access to Yellowstone or Jackson Hole National Parks!
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