Ranch Rider - Colorado Ranch Details

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.
COLORADO CATTLE CO. GUEST RANCH NEW RAYNER - COLORADO	Guest Ranch
Tucked away in northeastern Colorado near the Nebraska and Wyoming borders, The Colorado Cattle Company and Guest Ranch is a real cattle ranch in full operation with a herd varying between 500 and 750 head. Is it rustic? Is it authentic? You bet! Cattle work is the core of life here, and you will ride the range helping with any cattle work going on at the time of your visit. In the spring (April, May and June) there's calving and branding as well as gathering, sorting and moving to summer pastures. In the summer (July, August and early September) there's moving cattle, gathering bulls, checking water, salt and fences, looking for strays and driving them back. In late September and October, there's gathering, sorting, vaccinating and weaning the calves, draining water tanks and laying in feed for the winter, and cattle drives several times a week to move the cattle to winter feed. Cowboy lessons are a huge part of the programme, learn to rope, learn to ride, learn to cowboy! Only a few guests at a time are accepted, so you'll get lots of personal attention, fun instruction on how to complete the daily tasks successfully, and well-trained American quarter horses to ride all day over varying terrain at all speeds. After a day's work you might want to fish in the stocked pond for rainbow trout, swim in the indoor heated pool, take a sauna or try your hand at arrowhead hunting. You can drive to nearby Cheyenne Wyoming to shop for western clothes and tack, or travel to nearby rodeos and whitewater rafting in season - June, July and August. Guests stay either in the log bunkhouse, which was built in 1897 as the original homestead cabin and recently refitted and modernized, or in one of the new log cabins. Some have queen size beds some have twin size beds, but all have private bathrooms and entrances, air conditioning, heating, coffee bars and refrigerators. Bunkhouse and cabins have a quaint western charm and excellent views of the lake and the horses. Make sure you bring your appetite because you can dig in to a real ranch meal three times a day (vegetarian and special diets happily catered for with advance notice) with snacks available as required to keep you full and energized. Plus Coke and Pepsi, lemonade, ice tea, hot tea, coffee and juice. Alcoholic beverages are welcomed, however you must bring your own alcohol.

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 childrenês 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 individualês 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.

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 between Fort Collins and Laramie. While the old buildings have been modernised, the ranch owners have done everything possible to maintain the historical integrity of the ranch. The ranch is conveniently located at a comfortable elevation of 7200 feet in the magnificent Colorado Rockies. 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 are welcome to 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. 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.

ELK MOUNTAIN RANCH
BUENA VISTA - COLORADO

Guest/Working Ranch

Situated at 9,535 feet in the heart of the Rockies and surrounded by a breathtaking view of snow-capped peaks, Elk Mountain Ranch nestles amongst aspen and evergreen on Little Bull Creek in the midst of the beautiful San Isabel National Forest. On this family-orientated ranch, guests (maximum 30) stay in log cottages for four to six people or guest rooms in the Pioneer Lodge, all tastefully furnished and with private bathroom. A horse-orientation programme starts your week and then you will enjoy trail-riding in small groups, tailored by interest and ability, through breathtaking scenery with plenty of off-trail –discovery” rides. But a wide variety of other activities are included in the package, such as an overnight camp trip high in the Rockies, white-water rafting, a scenic vehicle trip to Aspen, trap and target shooting, volleyball, archery, stocked fishing ponds, full childrenês programme and rodeo, hayride, square dance, campfires, and of course three hearty meals a day including brunch rides and a country candlelight dinner. But there's time to relax and soak up the spectacular scenery too.

DROWSY WATER RANCH
GRANBY - COLORADO

Guest Ranch

A 640 acre guest ranch in the lovely valley of Drowsy Water Creek, surrounded by aspen and pine trees, and bordering the Arapahoe National Forest. This friendly family-orientated home has a relaxing stress-free atmosphere. Accommodation is comfortably furnished western-style in the lodge or in cabins, all with private facilities. The owners take a pride in their wholesome meals of western country cooking, based on recipes handed down over generations. Drowsy Water does not have a liquor licence but visitors can take in their own drinks. From the ranch's more than 100 horses, riders are allotted a horse of their own for the week and can choose slow rides or fast cantering, according to their expertise. Rides vary from one hour to half and all-day rides, breakfast rides and •cook-outsê. Advanced riders may explore and blaze new trails over the territory. Supervised programmes are organised for children from under-5s to teenagers. Those between 6 and 13 years are allowed to ride off-ranch, 5 year-olds ride within the ranch's acres. Drowsy Water has a heated pool and hot tub. Off the ranch, pack and raft trips are optional extras, while in the evenings you can have fun with square dancing and talent shows.

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.

Call Ranch Rider on 01509 618810 or fax on 01509 610585
Ranch Rider, Devonshire House, Devonshire Lane, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3DF, England.