A land of great diversity, with great rolling plains in the east, lush valleys to the north - and westward, highest of the Rocky mountains with majestic snow-capped peaks rising to over 14,000ft. This is the home of ranchers and cowboys, the old Sante Fe trail, route of the Pony Express, birthplace of the famous Stetson hat and of Denver, boom town of the gold rush in 1858. Today's state capital offers museums, art galleries and the tree-lined mile-long 16th Street Mall, with stores, shops and restaurants to attract its most discerning visitors, while the nearby town of Estes Park boasts 300 shops - sure to satisfy your every need. Come to Colorado...for ski resorts claiming to be among the world's most fashionable, Old West towns, modern cities...and the chance to ride through some of America's most stunning scenery.
ELK MOUNTAIN RANCH
BUENA VISTA - COLORADO
 Guest Ranch
Elk Mountain Ranch is the highest of all Colorado's guest ranches, at an elevation of 9,600 feet, with breathtaking views overlooking the Arkansas Valley and the snow-capped Collegiate Peaks. Completely surrounded by the beautiful San Isabel National Forest, the ranch is a nature lover's paradise; with deer, elk, antelope and wildflowers in abundance. The lodge is nestled among aspen and evergreen on Little Bull Creek.
With horseback riding being the main emphasis, the high, remote location offers miles of daily trails through aspen forests and open parks. The ranch has an excellent string of horses, which are matched to the rider's ability, offering an opportunity to bond with your very own horse for the length of your stay. Rides are kept small in size and are all accompanied by a competent and caring wrangler. Ride options include lunch on the trail, a champagne brunch ride and an overnight pack trip for the more adventurous.
Families are very important to the ranch owners and are encouraged to enjoy their time together whilst at the ranch. An excellent children's programme is offered for the 7's and under, including riding in the arena, hiking, fishing, arts and crafts and caring for the petting zoo animals.
Apart from riding, there are numerous other activities to get involved in, such as hiking and exploring, trap and target shooting, fishing, archery, horseshoes, volleyball, badminton and mountain biking. Weekly scenic trips to Aspen, or white water rafting on the Arkansas River, through the heart of Brown's Canyon can also be arranged.
The limited capacity of only 30 guests at a time enables the ranch owners to tailor not only the rides, but also the other activities to meet the needs of the guests.
Accommodations are either in the log cottages, sleeping 4-6 people or guest rooms in the Pioneer Lodge, all carpeted and tastefully furnished with private facilities and daily housekeeping service. 
Meal times at the ranch are a highlight, with superb and varied full-course meals to delight both hearty and discerning appetites. Trail ride cookouts, steak fry, country candlelight supper and fabulous desserts, as well as children's items are all on offer. You can relax on the lodge deck before dinner and enjoy the daily appetizers. Coffee, teas, cocoa, fresh fruit and a bottomless cookie jar are always available. Special diets and special occasions are happily accommodated.
In the evenings you could try square dancing, maybe listen to cowboy poetry and music or simply relax and watch the amazing sunsets.
HOLIDAY NUMBER SEASON ACCOMODATION TYPES DOUBLE OCCUPANCY SINGLE OCCUPANCY ADDITIONAL PERSON CHILD AGES
CL001 MAY 27 - JUNE 24, AUG 19 - SEPT 16  LODGE OR CABIN ROOM  859  945  859  575  Ages 8-12 
JUNE 15 - AUG 24  LODGE OR CABIN ROOM  975  1075  975  629  Ages 8-12 
MAY 27 - JUNE 24, AUG 19 - SEPT 16          500  Ages 3-7 
JUNE 15 - AUG 24          560  Ages 3-7 
DEPOSIT REQUIRED AIRPORT TRANSFER GRATUITY CHARGE SUPPLEMENTS EXTRAS
£225 per person £170 (approx) per family group from Denver or Colorado Springs. Left to your discretion, guide £100-£140 per person per week (double occupancy). Non rider discount available. Overnight campout included July & August
PRICES SHOWN IN £ STERLING - PLEASE REFER TO GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE FOR EXPLANATION OF TERMS
VISTA VERDE RANCH
STEAMBOAT - COLORADO
 Guest Ranch
This superior luxury ranch hidden away in the beautiful secluded Elk River Valley in the Rocky Mountain high country, with hay meadows and mountain vistas, remote yet very accessible. The Vista Verde only has capacity for 40 guests so you are assured of a warm and friendly welcome, along with exceptional service.
With riding being the main focus, there is plenty on offer – including daily morning and afternoon rides and also for those wanting more, there are all day rides with a picnic. Rides are limited to 2-6 riders so that each adventure can be tailored to suit the individuals riding ability. There are plenty of opportunities for more advanced, faster riding and also games that get the horses out of the normal nose to tail style of riding that is common at some guest ranches.
Although primarily a riding ranch, there are a wide range of other activities on offer, including river rafting, fly-fishing, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, steer roping and even hot air ballooning. There truly is something for everyone, including children and teens, which have their own daily programme. Facilities include a fitness centre, games room and ‘Fountain Deck’ - a delightful centre of water fun for children. Massages are also available for those that require additional pampering.
Large log cabins, which are nestled among aspen and pine, are beautifully furnished and well equipped; with woodstoves, baths, comfortable porches overlooking the meadows and forest, each cabin comes with its own outdoor hot tub. Three spacious rooms with splendid views are upstairs in the main lodge, each of these with their own private facilities. Fresh flowers, baskets of snacks and a fridge full of beverages welcome arriving guests.
Award winning chefs prepare three mouth-watering meals per day, which are served either in the inviting lodge, on the sun deck or out on the trail. Home baked breads and pastries are always on offer, as well as home grown vegetables and home made ice cream. Wine and beer are included with the meals and other finer wines are also available to purchase.
Usually during Rodeo season the ranch will take you to Steamboats Springs to catch the Friday night rodeo and do a bit of shopping.
The ranch operates all year round with various activities available in the other seasons.
HOLIDAY NUMBER SEASON ACCOMODATION TYPES DOUBLE OCCUPANCY SINGLE OCCUPANCY ADDITIONAL PERSON CHILD AGES
CL002 JUNE 1 - JUNE 22  LODGE  1799  1799  1799  1459  Ages 6-12 
JUNE 1 - JUNE 22  CABIN  1915  1915  1915  1479  Ages 6-12 
JUNE 22 - AUG 31  LODGE  1925  1925  1925  1585  Ages 6-12 
JUNE 22 - AUG 31  CABIN  2025  2025  2025  1685  Ages 6-12 
AUG 31 - SEPT 27  LODGE  1799  1799  1799  1459  Ages 6-12 
AUG 31 - SEPT 27  CABIN  1915  1915  1915    Ages 6-12 
DEPOSIT REQUIRED AIRPORT TRANSFER GRATUITY CHARGE SUPPLEMENTS EXTRAS
£350 per person per week, stays of less than a week available Car Hire Recommended. Included *NOTE: Aug 31 - Sept 27 are adult only.
Off ranch activities but transportation complimentary.
PRICES SHOWN IN £ STERLING - PLEASE REFER TO GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE FOR EXPLANATION OF TERMS
FOCUS RANCH
SLATER - COLORADO
 Working Ranch
This real authentic working cattle ranch was established in 1896 and is located on the Western Colorado and Wyoming border, in a section of the Northern Rocky Mountains called the Sierra Madres. It is situated in the upper end of the Little Snake River Valley, a valley very familiar to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The horseback riding is planned around the cattle work and regular pasture rotations. The 1300 head of yearling cattle arrive early May and are moved about 25 times to new grass before being shipped at the end of the season. Guests enjoy riding for a purpose in the wide open spaces, moving cattle cross country. Time is spent to instruct even the beginner and they can cater for all levels of ability. It is certainly not nose to tail trail riding.
Other than horseback riding the ranch offers trout fishing on 2 miles of the Little Snake River, hot tub, mountain biking, hiking, skeet shooting and scenic day trips. Other activities such as golf, tubing, hot air ballooning, and rodeos are available off the ranch.
The 4000 square Ranch House was newly built in 2003. Downstairs is open and spacious with a living room, complete with fireplace on one side and the dining area on the other. The Ranch House is open at all times and there is coffee and hot water for tea and cocoa. The Ranch House has 3 spacious guest rooms offering views of the Little Snake River and mountains. All rooms have hardwood floors, pine walls and tiled bathrooms; beds are either queen or twin. There are 3 Guest Cabins close to the Ranch House and 2 self-contained suite units with living room, bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms adjacent to the House.
Meals are home cooked and wholesome, served buffet style and with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables on offer.
HOLIDAY NUMBER SEASON ACCOMODATION TYPES DOUBLE OCCUPANCY SINGLE OCCUPANCY ADDITIONAL PERSON CHILD AGES
CL003 MAY - OCT  STANDARD  849  1015  849  479  AGES 10-13 
MAY - OCT  STANDARD        569  Ages 14-17 
DEPOSIT REQUIRED AIRPORT TRANSFER GRATUITY CHARGE SUPPLEMENTS EXTRAS
£200 per person per week Car Hire Recommended £130 per person per week
PRICES SHOWN IN £ STERLING - PLEASE REFER TO GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE FOR EXPLANATION OF TERMS
CHEROKEE PARK RANCH
LIVERMORE - COLORADO
 Guest Ranch
?This lovely family owned and run guest ranch is one of the first guest ranches in Colorado and was once a colourful stagecoach stop.
Guests stay in charming and comfortable accommodations with private facilities, either in four spacious suites in the main lodge or in cabins overlooking the river, all with front porches and hummingbird feeders. Meals are designed to satisfy all appetites, both the hearty and the light. The ranch offers good quality home cooked ranch food served family style as well as many cookouts during the week. Once a week the ranch offers an adult candlelit dinner with wine whilst the kids have their own cookout. Although the ranch has no drinks licence, guests can bring their own.
A great place for families, being 100% children friendly and offering an extensive children's programme for the 3 to 5s and the 6 to 12s. There is plenty to do on this ranch for all ages: whether you are born in the saddle or have never mounted a horse, the ranch will meet your riding needs and expectations.
The ranch has a fine herd of over 100 horses to assure your riding enjoyment, Quarter horses are standard here, Tennessee Walkers have been added to the repertoire of horse breeds. Horseback riding at Cherokee Park Ranch is truly a great experience - you pick and choose what type of riding you would like to do each day. All rides are catered to the guest's ability and you will see magnificent views as you ride through grassy fields without ever feeling crowded. An overnight packtrip is offered mid-June through August for those seeking a camp-out experience.
For those who wish to get away from the saddle, the ranch offers river rafting, fishing, skeet shooting, heated swimming pool, hot tub, ping pong, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes and sightseeing trips to Rocky Mountain National Park and the Territorial Park in Wyoming. Evenings are filled with hayrides, sing-a-longs, dancing, story telling and stargazing.
HOLIDAY NUMBER SEASON ACCOMODATION TYPES DOUBLE OCCUPANCY SINGLE OCCUPANCY ADDITIONAL PERSON CHILD AGES
CL004 MAY 31 - AUG 23  STANDARD  915  915  915  635  Ages 6 -12 
AUG 23 - SEPT 13  STANDARD  720  720  720  529  Ages 6 -12 
DEPOSIT REQUIRED AIRPORT TRANSFER GRATUITY CHARGE SUPPLEMENTS EXTRAS
£200 per person per week. Car Hire Recommended. £110-£140 per person per week. Overnight pack trip; River Rafting.
PRICES SHOWN IN £ STERLING - PLEASE REFER TO GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE FOR EXPLANATION OF TERMS
LOST VALLEY RANCH
DECKERS - COLORADO
 Guest/Working Ranch
Among the tall pines of the 40,000-acre Pike National Forest, aptly named Lost Valley has been known for guest ranching for 100 years, more recently under the guidance of two generations of the Foster family. Its most treasured recommendation came from Walt Disney. He enjoyed his stay so much, he counselled the owners to do nothing to change its character. They took this good advice and with a dedicated staff, bring visitors back to the ranch again and again. 24 cabin suites of one to three bedrooms are well spaced among the trees for quietness and privacy. Each has a pleasant living room with a fireplace, a private bath and a covered porch. There are no TVs or telephones but a daily maid service keeps your cabin neat and tidy and well supplied with oversized towels. The Foster family and their staff take their meals with the guests to ensure the quality of huge ranch-style breakfasts, roast beef dinners, fresh salads, home made bread and desserts, and special diets are catered for. Learning to be a better rider is an encouragement to guests and there are no less than 150 horses on which to develop riding skills. Lost Valley is an all-year-round ranch and working with the herd is part of the programme, with round-ups in the spring and autumn. Children have their own programme supervised by a fully trained staff, while teenagers find friends among college-age counsellors. Go local fishing in Goose Creek, which runs through the ranch grounds, or take a 20-minute drive to the famous Cheasman Canyon on the South Platte River. Hiking, tennis on two on-site courts and trap shooting are energetic alternatives - or you can take a leisurely swim in the heated outdoor pool. In the evenings the talented staff entertain with music, melodramas and campfire sing-alongs.
HOLIDAY NUMBER SEASON ACCOMODATION TYPES DOUBLE OCCUPANCY SINGLE OCCUPANCY ADDITIONAL PERSON CHILD AGES
CL005 MAR 1 - MAR 31  STANDARD  529  529  529  479  Ages 13-18 
APR 1 - APR 30  STANDARD  669  669  669  595  Ages 13-18 
MAY 1 - MAY 18  STANDARD  829  829  829  739  Ages 13-18 
MAY 25 - JUN 10  STANDARD  1129  1129  1129  1009  Ages 13-18 
JUN 10 - AUG 19  STANDARD  1339  1339  1339  1199  Ages 13-18 
AUG 19 - AUG 26  STANDARD  1129  1129  1129  1009  Ages 13-18 
AUG 29 - OCT 12  STANDARD  1009  1009  1009  919  Ages 13-18 
OCT 12 - NOV 23  STANDARD  779  779  779  629  Ages 13-18 
DEPOSIT REQUIRED AIRPORT TRANSFER GRATUITY CHARGE SUPPLEMENTS EXTRAS
£200 per person per week. Reduced rates available for 6 - 12 years Request details, available from Denver. Included. Events Calendar: Fall Horsemanship Week (adults only) - Sept 7- 14, Oct 12 - Oct 19. Fall Cattle Week (adults only) - Sept 21 - 28 Fall Colours Sept 14 - 21. Ride, Ride, Ride Sept 14 - 21
PRICES SHOWN IN £ STERLING - PLEASE REFER TO GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE FOR EXPLANATION OF TERMS
BLACK MOUNTAIN RANCH
McCOY - COLORADO
 Guest/Working Ranch
This year round working guest and cattle ranch offers a real taste of the west, located deep in the Rockies between Vail and Steamboat Springs and only a couple of hours from Denver.
From novice to expert rider you can experience the wonderful scenery that is so typical of the area that surrounds the ranch. The ranch will match the horse, the ride and the group to the rider’s ability before setting off on the extensive trails system that extends deep into the Routh National Forest. It’s your choice whether you stay on the trails, explore cross-country or even ride in the arena practicing your new found western skills. There is usually a full day of cattle work moving the herd of Texas longhorns to new pastures, maybe even some doctoring and branding. For the more adventurous then overnight pack trips are on offer during the week.
The ranch has an excellent children’s programme. In addition to this many other activities are available and include white-water rafting, fishing, trap shooting, archery, pool and hiking. Sooth away the saddle sores in the heated outdoor swimming pool or hot tub before visiting the saloon for a well deserved drink before dinner, good hearty western ranch fayre.
The excellent accommodations are either in two or three bedroom cabins or lodge rooms all with their own private facilities and many with their own porches.
HOLIDAY NUMBER SEASON ACCOMODATION TYPES DOUBLE OCCUPANCY SINGLE OCCUPANCY ADDITIONAL PERSON CHILD AGES
CL006 MAY 18 - JUNE 1  STANDARD  1089  1169  1089  N/A  Adults Only 
JUNE 1 - JUNE 8  STANDARD  1089  1169  1089  839  Ages 6-14 
JUNE 8 - AUG 31  STANDARD  1199  1319  1199  919  Ages 6-14 
AUG 31 - SEPT 7  STANDARD  1089  1169  1089  839  Ages 6-14 
SEPT 7 - SEPT 21  STANDARD  1089  1169  1089  NA  Adults Only 
DEPOSIT REQUIRED AIRPORT TRANSFER GRATUITY CHARGE SUPPLEMENTS EXTRAS
£250 per person per week £60 per person from Denver £140 - £160 per person. Rafting and overnight packtrip. Sept 7 - 14 Women Only Week
PRICES SHOWN IN £ STERLING - PLEASE REFER TO GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE FOR EXPLANATION OF TERMS
WILDERNESS TRAILS RANCH
DURANGO - COLORADO
 Guest Ranch
The ranch has been owned and operated by the Roberts family since 1970 and their goal is to provide a truly wonderful ranch experience that offers a perfect blend of the past with the present. Superby located, it borders the Piedra Wilderness Study Area which does not allow motorised or wheeled vehicles, so guests should have plenty of opportunity to see wildlife, deer, elk, turkey, beaver, coyotes, bald eagles and peregrine falcons. With a maximum guest capacity of 44, this is truly an extraordinary ranch offering families and couples alike a great wilderness experience. Guests stay in extra comfortable log cabins with private baths and all amenities such as their own coffee makers, irons, ironing boards and hairdryers. The ranch combines wonderful hearty ranch cuisine plus a weekly candlelit dinner with wine. The ranch does not have a liquor licence, though guests may bring their own if they wish. There is an exceptional childrenÍs programme for the 3-17 years which even includes water skiing at Lake Vallecito for the older ones. Riding is the main activity with morning, afternoon, all day, and family rides available. The rides are geared to the individualÍs experience and the ranch endeavours to keep the numbers down to no more than eight per ride. For those who do not want to ride, there is the 72-foot heated swimming pool, fishing, 4 x 4 trip, a trip to Mesa Verde National Park, hiking, horseshoes and volleyball. Evenings at the ranch are filled with a variety of entertainment - campfires and sing-alongs, western dancing, cowboy poetry, hayrides and much more.
HOLIDAY NUMBER SEASON ACCOMODATION TYPES DOUBLE OCCUPANCY SINGLE OCCUPANCY ADDITIONAL PERSON CHILD AGES
CL007 JUNE 1 - JUNE 7  STANDARD  1295  1295  1295  N/A  Adults Only 
JUNE 8 - JUNE 14  STANDARD  1340  1675  1340  1075  Ages 6 -17 
JUNE 14 - AUG 30*  STANDARD  1395  1675  1395  1160  Ages 6 -17 
AUG 31 - OCT 4  STANDARD  1049  1049  1049  N/A  Adults only 
DEPOSIT REQUIRED AIRPORT TRANSFER GRATUITY CHARGE SUPPLEMENTS EXTRAS
£300 per person per week. £30 per person from Durrango, Car hire recommended. Included These are 6 night/7 day stays. River Rafting, Mesa verda National Park Trip. *Jun 20 - Jul 5 Adults Only, no single supplement
PRICES SHOWN IN £ STERLING - PLEASE REFER TO GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE FOR EXPLANATION OF TERMS

Call Ranch Rider on 01509 618811 or fax on 01509 610585
Ranch Rider, Devonshire House, Devonshire Lane, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3DF, England.

 

 

COLORADO