General Info

Saddle up at this family friendly Colorado guest ranch outside of Durango, Colorado.

Enjoy a family freindly Colorado Ranch Vacation. Just 35 miles northeast of the western town of Durango, experience the best of the southwest Colorado with an all-inclusive dude ranch vacation. There are a variety of options for equestrian vacations at this family run ranch, whether you’re a solo traveler, large or small family, or group. Experience spectacular mountain scenery and genuine western hospitality at this mountain ranch that has been operating for over forty years with ranch weeks, Cowgirl Camps and Adult Only Riding Weeks.

Located in the San Juan Mountains, the dude ranch borders two wilderness areas, meaning there’s plenty of room to ride. The secluded ranch is beside the magnificent Piedra and Weminuche Wilderness Areas, which host an abundance of wildlife, crystal clear streams, open meadows, high mountain vistas, and vast mountain forests covering thousands of acres. Boasting the nickname "The Switzerland of America," this is a beautiful and diverse area of Colorado and the American West.

While the kids may enjoy crafts, hikes and riding as part of the ranch’s Youth Program, adults may also have fun trail riding, enjoying water sports on Vallecito Lake or working cattle. Forge a relationship with your horse, hike into 500,000 acres of wilderness out the ranch’s back door, fish, whitewater raft, water-ski or tube, swim, soak, indulge in a massage, join a horsemanship clinic, and eat well. Families, grandparents and grandkids, couples and singles create unsurpassed memories. 

Awards & Accolades
Featured in Equitrekking Colorado from Season One of the Emmy award winning series on Public Television.
Award-winning youth programs for ages 3-5, 6-10, 11-12, and 13-17.
Member of Dude Rancher’s Association
Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association
Colorado Outfitter’s Association

 

Packing

Packing for a Colorado Ranch Vacations

Please see Equitrekking Travel's General Packing List for ideas.

The ranch requires that children from 6-10 wear traditional heeled cowboy boots when riding for their safety. They encourage, but do not provide helmets.

Suggestions from ranch staff:
1.    Comfy jeans with a little extra length in the leg
2.    Long sleeve shirts protect from the trees and sun
3.    Long socks (knee length is great)
4.    Cowboy hat, ball cap, or helmet
5.    Sunscreen
6.    Cowboy boots
7.    Gloves (optional, but great to have)
8.    Small fanny pack to hold camera, Chapstick, sunglasses, etc.
9.    Bandana
10.    Water (the ranch provides water bottles!)
11.    Wind breaker or sweatshirt
12.    The ranch provides rain slickers

A coin laundry is available on site.

June, July, and August temperatures range from the high 70's to low 90's, with no humidity, refreshing evenings, stunning starscapes, and sparse insects. June is the driest month of the summer, daytime temperatures range from the mid 70’s to high 80’s (22-31° C). Evenings cool off to the 40’s, so it’s nice to bring a light jacket or sweater. Daytime temperatures in July and August are consistently in the high 80’s (25-31° C), and nights drop into the 50’s. Expect occasional, light, late afternoon and evening showers (lasting less than 2 hours) in late July and August. In September, daytime temperatures can range from the 60’s to 80’s (18-24° C), while evenings drop into the 30’s and 40’s (0-6° C). It is extraordinarily rare to have multiple days of rain at any time of the year.

About the Horses

This Colorado dude ranch has a variety of Appaloosa, Drafts, Paints, Ponies (for kids), Quarter horses, Tennessee Walking horses, Thoroughbred to accomodate all riding levels and interests.

Activities/Events

Activities
At the dude ranch, optional activities include: Whitewater rafting, massage and spa services, guided fly-fishing and natural horsemanship clinics.

On-site facilities: Lap-sized, heated swimming pool and hot tub, the Watering Hole Lounge, the Runlett Room and pool table, the kids' Hide-out, a coin laundry, and multiple stocked fishing ponds. The all-inclusive, no service charge added resort package includes: Comprehensive riding and horsemanship program, youth programs for 3-17 year olds, scenic alpine drive with optional hike, waterskiing and tubing, fishing on stocked ponds, hiking, exceptional dining, hayrides, roping lessons, campfire sing-a-longs, live musical entertainment, and dancing and western dance lessons.

Area Attractions
Many of guests ride the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, visit historic mining towns, spend a night in Santa Fe or Taos, New Mexico, or soak at Pagosa Hot Springs either directly before or after their ranch stay. Others rent a jeep to explore Colorado’s high country and mining towns, or take a similar tour, raft a different section of the Animas River, soak in the hot springs in Pagosa, visit Chaco Canyon, fish one of the area’s many rivers, take a whitewater kayaking lesson, explore Navajo Lake, hike a peak, take a rock climbing lesson, or visit Durango Mountain Resort to ride the alpine slide, take a scenic chairlift ride, or try the maze.

Special Area Events

Music in the Mountains – Celebrating the 25th Anniversary Season July 9 - 31, 2011- annual music festival featuring orchestra, chamber music and conservatory performances of classical and world music.

La Plata County Fair -livestock show, demolition derby, carnival & beer garden in August.

Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering – A gathering of poets and musicians from across the country at the Diamond Circle Theatre, performing classic and contemporary poems and songs.

Accommodations/Food

Ranch Accommodations 
The ranch’s nine rustic cabins are nestled among pines, fir, spruce and aspen trees. They can accommodate up to 40 people. Two bedroom, two bath Ponderosa cabins are ideal for families of 4-5 with a king or queen bed in one room and two singles in the adjoining room. (A rollaway can be added.) All private baths have shower/tub combinations. The ranch’s newest addition is a Premiere Ponderosa with vaulted ceilings, gas log fireplace, lovely country furnishings and Jacuzzi shower baths. All cabins have coffee makers, refrigerators, iron, ironing boards, decks, and daily maid service.

Cabin Suites are perfect for families of 4-7 people: three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room with a wood- burning stove, plus a separate room with a bar area, refrigerator and coffee maker. Suites have one king bed, one queen, one single bed, and a double sleeper sofa.

Families of 3 will be comfortable in the duplex cabin with a queen bedroom, twin bed bedroom, and a full bath.

Upgrades are available for a small additional cost, such as renting an entire cabin suite or requesting the premier ponderosa cabin for the week.  

WI-fi Internet access is available in the lodge. Two phones are located at the ranch and all local and long distance calls are free. You may use the ranch fax to send or receive documents. Cabins do not have phones or televisions.

Food
This Colorado Dude Ranch features a broad menu each week of made to order breakfasts, varied lunch specials with plenty of fruits and salads and of course, gourmet dinners ranging from the famous cowboy steak & fish cookouts, to succulent Prime Rib, Mexican, Italian and Mediterranean specialties.

Kid friendly food is always available to cater to younger tastes. Please let us know if you have special dietary restrictions at the time of this booking.

Sample Menus:
Black Angus Prime Rib Au Jus, Rosemary Potatoes, Blackened Salmon, Assorted Salads and Fruit, Fresh Baked Bread, Banana Pecan Cake

Chicken Caesar Sandwich, Chips, Beer Cheese Soup, Fruit Salad, Sorbet

Steak Night Cookout: Grill a Rib-Eye Steak with our secret "cowboy rub" or a Fish Fillet, Baked Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Ranch Beans, Challah Bread, Garden Salad, fresh Watermelon, Vanilla Cream Pie or fresh from the oven Brownies

Appetizer, Soup Duet, Fillet of Elk, Shrimp Siciliano Bread, Rice Pilaf, Sautéed Vegetables, Chocolate Tarragon Cake with Raspberry Puree

Tortilla Soup, Pork Loin With Green Chili Sauce, Roasted Corn Tamales, Chipotle-Gouda Smashed Potatoes, Tuaca Zabaglione

Drinks
This ranch has a full liquor license and stocks a variety of beers, wines, and cocktails. Each evening begins with a happy hour and appetizers in the Watering Hole.

 

The Ideal Traveler

Families, groups or couples interested in Western scenery, dude ranch culture, American ranches and Western horse riding in Colorado.

6 Night Ranch Vacations

2012 Dates & Rates

Opening May 27 - June 2 with adults only at $2174 per person
June 3-9 adult horsemanship clinic with Kathryn Barbarite $2485 / per gal

Family weeks June 10 thru August 25
$2589 per adult
$2070 child (6-17)
$1712 per child 3-5
under 3 free, however no program, but babysitting can be arranged

Sept 1-29 adults only at $2277

*Prices include everything except for Colorado Taxes (5%). 

All inclusive package includes: Lodging, meals, horseback riding, cattle work, trail riding, riding instruction, fishing at the ranch, evening entertainment, hayride, roping lessons, youth program, waterskiing and tubing at Vallecito lake.

Value Package includes: Lodging, meals, 1 day of horseback riding (or 2 1/2 day rides), fishing at the ranch, Evening entertainment and Roping lessons.

It is not necessary to rent a car for this vacation. Airport transfers are $35 per person roundtrip from Durango Airport.

Traditional Six Nights Package
The traditional six night weekly package stays start with Sunday check in (3 PM) and go through Saturday check out (10 AM). The "ranch horse experience" is central at Wilderness Trails. Their riding program is lead by certified American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) instructors and Erika Roberts, a professional natural horsemanship instructor and a member of the Roberts Family. Erika grew up riding the trails at the ranch.

Whether you are a timid beginner or an avid rider, there are many horses to suite all abilities. Many of the ranch horses were born on the ranch! There is plenty of variety including riding instruction, half and all day scenic mountain and valley trail rides, fishing rides, trailblazing, trotting and loping, cattle work, a natural horsemanship clinic, arena work, a gymkhana, and private lessons. Trail rides explore the spectacular Weminuche and Piedra Wilderness Areas surrounding the ranch, and wranglers always stress learning and fun. The Roberts Family believes strongly that the more you learn about horses, the less you fear, and the more fun you’ll have.

Adults are divided according to experience, ability, and objective. All groups have the opportunity for half-day and spectacular all-day trail rides. Regardless of your level of skill, you will have the opportunity to learn more--whether it’s your first trotting or cantering lesson or learning to trot or lope without a bridle! The terrain in is rugged, yet plentiful open meadows provide picturesque opportunities for controlled trotting and cantering. Want a different riding challenge? The ranch offers a natural horsemanship clinic, trailblazing, cattle work, and a wilderness trout fishing ride.

Children and Teens- Children from 3-17 have the opportunity to ride at Wilderness Trails. The Pony Express (3-5 year olds) mount up daily on individual, closely supervised rides. Saddle Tramps (6-10 year olds) ride their own horse for the week on morning, afternoon, and all day rides. The Bandits and Posse (11-17) also explore the wilderness on half and all day rides, splitting time between horseback and other outdoor activities, including water-skiing, rafting, and fishing. Children under three stay for free, but Wilderness Trails does not provide a program for them. Baby-sitting is available most afternoons and some evenings at a rate of $15/hour. Children in the youth program must be potty trained.

Ranch facilities include a heated swimming pool and hot tub, two stocked trout ponds, and a recreation room. Additionally, Wilderness Trails offers water skiing and tubing on nearby Vallecito Lake, a scenic alpine drive up Middle Mountain, a white water rafting trip on the Animas River, hiking, guided fly fishing on the gold medal waters of the San Juan River, massage therapy, and evening entertainment. Evening activities include sing-a-longs, campfires, dance lessons, a hay ride, roping lessons, stargazing, and dancing to a live band.

Natural Horsemanship Clinics- Horse crazy? If you would like a truly extraordinary horse experience, don’t miss a clinic with Erika Roberts. Learn to control your horse through body language and verbal cues, and experience the awesome moment of the “join-up.” On horseback, ride without a bridle, controlling your horse’s gaits and speed through your seat and breathing. If you loved the movies The Horse Whisperer and The Black Stallion, don’t miss this opportunity! The clinic is limited to 3 participants per session. Please let us know if you are interested in participating at the time of your booking.

Cattle 101 and Stockworking- Tune into your inner cowboy or cowgirl for half or full days of herd work and arena games. Learn to effectively move a herd through mountain terrain, or join a partner or team for the challenge of modified team penning and other games in the arena. To experience a true taste of ranch reality, join cowboys mending fence, packing salt, and driving the herd between pastures.

Cowgirl Camp

2012 Dates & Rates

Aug 26 - Sept 1
6 nights Adults Only - Cost and Clinician for this special program will be published soon!

* Price includes all horse and cattle related activities, classy cabin lodging, exceptional and healthy dining, and all entertainment. Gratuity not included. Optional activities and purchases such as massage and alcoholic beverages are add-ons. Prices do not include Colorado Taxes (5%). 

It is not necessary to rent a car for this vacation. Airport transfers are $35 per person roundtrip from Durango Airport.
 
It's often been said that "it's never too late to be a cowgirl!" Yup, there's a little bit of cowgirl in every woman, whether she wears high heels with a business suit or owns her own horse and saddle. Cowgirls exemplify strength with certain softness and every little girl wants to be one. And cowgirls young or old, city slickers, or ranch women, they all love their horses!
 
Whether you are a working cowgirl or an aspiring cowgirl, a great opportunity for a dream vacation is at “Cowgirl Camp."
 

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Traveler Reviews

Our children haven’t stopped talking about their trip to the ranch and about “their horses.” Phil says it was the best vacation he has ever had with the family and is ready to do it again next year! And that’s saying a lot, considering he has bad allergies to just about anything with four legs, and I was the one who planned the vacation this year!

-- The Perkins, Pennslyvania, United States
 
Our stay exceeded expectations.  The kids were so polite.  They outdid themselves.  The cook—unbelievable!  We can’t wait to come back!  Thanks —you made us feel “at home.”

-- Dan and Sue, Pensacola, Florida, United States
 
This has been a holiday of a lifetime and we have enjoyed every minute from the riding, the staff, the guest and the whole experience!  The staff were great!

-- The Hendersons, United Kingdom
 
My week was wonderful beyond my dreams.  Full of horses and great horsemanship, new friends, great food, spectacular scenery and most of all GREAT hospitality!!  Thank you for sharing your world of horses and life in "God’s Country."

-- Linda, Durango, Colorado, United States
 

Reading List

General Guidebook

Frommer's Colorado (Frommer's Complete) (Paperback) by Eric Peterson
Insider tips on uncovering the best hiking, biking, and skiing in Colorado, from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Great SandDunes and everywhere in between. Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not. Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget. Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Natural History

The Rockies: A Natural History (Paperback) by Richard Cannings
This spectacular guide celebrates the Rocky Mountains’ amazing ecological and biological diversity. It describes the range’s geographical formation, its role in shaping the American West, its five ecosystems and the plants and animals that form them, and the relationship between humans and the Rockies, from the arrival of indigenous peoples to the onslaught of tourists and environmental concerns. Gorgeous full-color photographs, elegant line drawings, and sidebars that highlight subjects of particular interest complement the book’s lively, engaging text.

Biography/Memoir
The Magnificent Mountain Women (Second Edition): Adventures in the Colorado Rockies (Paperback) by Janet Robertson with an introduction by Arlene Blum
A Smithsonian Review- "Janet Robertson, herself a climber and skier, has done remarkable research, culling anecdotes from letters, journals, and old newspapers, and bringing back to life more than sixty adventurous women who braved skepticism and hardship to experience the challenge and beauty of the Rockies."

A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains (Dodo Press) (Paperback) by Isabella L. Bird with an introduction by Ann Ronald
Isabella Lucy Bird (1831-1904) was a nineteenth century English traveller and writer. She was born in Boroughbridge and grew up in Tattenhall, Cheshire. She was a sickly child and spent her entire life struggling with various ailments. Much of her illness may have been psychogenic, for when she was doing exactly what she wanted she was almost never ill. Her real desire was to travel. In 1854, Bird went to visit relatives in America. She detailed the journey anonymously in her first book The Englishwoman in America (1856). She also travelled to Canada, Scotland, Australia, and Hawaii. She studied medicine and resolved to travel as a missionary. She visited missions in India, Persia, Kurdistan and Turkey. Her final journey was to China and Korea. Many of her works are compiled from letters she wrote home to her sister in Scotland. Among her books are: The Hawaiian Archipelago (1875), Unbeaten Tracks in Japan (1880), A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains (1879) and Among the Tibetans (1894).

For Kids on the Road

Horse Crazy!: Fun Facts, Ideas, Activities, Projects, Games, and Know-How for Horse-Loving Kids (Paperback) by Jessie Haas
Everyone knows horse-crazy kids - the 12-year-old who would rather hang out at the stables than at the mall, the 8-year-old who spends every spare minute curled up with a horse book, or the teenager who is more comfortable jumping in the show ring than learning to drive a car.

Horse Crazy! is a jam-packed treasure chest of a book that will keep horse-obsessed kids (ages eight and up) busy for hours on end. Nearly 400 pages of equine information are divided into three broad sections: In the Saddle (and the Stall and the Show Ring), In the Spotlight: Horses in the Arts, and In the Know: All About Horses.

Girls and Their Horses (American Girl Library) (Paperback) by Camela Decaire
Girls love dreaming about horses, but may be curious about what it s really like to own one. In this book real girls give an inside look at the hard work and the great rewards involved in caring for a horse. Readers will discover how to rough-ride at a rodeo, do a handstand on horseback, and raise unusual horse breeds. Includes a 24 full-color trading cards, and three mini-posters.

New Adult Riders

Horseback Riding For Dummies (Paperback) by Audrey Pavia (Shannon Sand Contributor)
Don’t know a horse’s head from its tail, a trot from a canter, withers from a fetlock? No problem. Coauthored by a medal-winning equestrian and nationally respected equestrian trainer, it tells you what you need to know about that elegant animal, body and soul, to become an accomplished rider. Horseback Riding for Dummies—the ultimate beginner’s guide to all things equestrian.

Equitrekking Coffee Table Companion Book & DVD

Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at Amazon.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.



Equitrekking DVD's featuring Emmy winning PBS episodes, available in the Shop section of Equitrekking.com 

Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman with Emmy Award-winning Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on PBS. 

Season One: Vermont, the Carolinas, Georgia Coast, Wyoming, Colorado and Spain.

Season Two: Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.

Season Three: Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, Kentucky, Quebec, Texas and Utah.

Season Four: Southern Spain, Alaska, Central Turkey, Quebec City and Beyond, Scotland and Wales.

    

Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly

The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.                                                           

Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.

The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.