For an unforgettable family vacation in the great outdoors with the chance to experience a way of life that’s a corner stone to North American history and culture, then a stay at a dude ranch is just the ticket. We’ve scoured the country to bring you the best dude ranches for little kids that cater to even the youngest cowboys and cowgirls. Yee-haw!
Bar W Ranch, Whitefish Montana
When it comes to Big Sky adventures, Montana has them in spades, and one of the best dude ranches for little ones is the Bar W in Whitefish. Hosting just 30 guests per week, you’ll have more one-on-one service than most ranches. Kids learn how to groom and saddle horses, and can always help feed the horses, but its the kids’ programs that are tops. The supervised events include horse paining, kids dinners and games. Families can square dance, take wagon rides, canoe and fish, and attend a local rodeo.
CM Ranch, Dubois, Wyoming
Experience a family summer vacation like no other at the CM Ranch in Wyoming, which prides itself as offering an authentic dude ranch experience. Children five years old and older can go on a horseback trail ride, and there’s plenty to keep tiny tots busy. In the summer months there’s a kids’ program so parents can go horseback riding: Just leave the kids with the kiddy wrangler, who makes sure that they have a lot of fun while learning western riding skills and even try their hand at roping the “dummy” steer.
A Bar a Ranch, Encampment, Wyoming
In the heart of southern Wyoming’s Medicine Bow Mountains, lies A Bar A Ranch, one of the oldest and largest dude ranches in the country. With super-friendly staff, supervised riding for children over 5, an all-day kids’ programme for three year olds and up with pony rides, tennis, swimming and all sorts of other fun stuff going on, it’s the ideal place to saddle up for the western family adventure of a lifetime.
Drowsy Water Ranch, Granby, Colorado
For a family summer vacation with a difference, book a stay at Drowsy Water, an award-winning dude ranch in Colorado. It’s got a superb riding programme with daily instruction and a kids’ program for ages 5 and under (including infants) with activities ranging from horseback rides to picnic hikes. While younger ones are kept busy, parents and older children can participate in the amazing array of activities ranging from trail rides to swimming, rafting and zip-lining.
Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, Arizona
There’s never a dull moment at Tanque Verde Ranch, which lies in a spectacular setting among spiny cacti and scaly reptiles in the Sonoran Desert. As well as an action-packed daily activity schedule for the whole family, which includes traditional ranch activities and tennis, fishing and old-fashioned cookouts, there’s a full day kids’ program for four to 12 years olds with horseback riding, ball sports, nature classes and swimming lessons on offer. There’s even a spa for parents in need of pampering.
Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch, Quincy, California
This western style ranch lies in a spectacular setting in Plumas County, California and offers the ideal mix of adventure and family time. Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch offers cozy rooms and cabins, traditional ranch activities for the whole family as well as fishing, swimming and mountain biking and plenty of opportunities for complete relaxation. For the youngest guests, there’s the Kiddie Coral program (for infants to 5 years) with pony rides, arts and crafts and petting farm animals galore!
Paradise Ranch, Buffalo, Wyoming
For more than 100 years guests have e been visiting the Paradise Ranch in Wyoming. Its award-winning kids’ program helps get kids in the outdoors will parents enjoy their own fun (or hang out with the kids). From a kids’ fishing derby to pony rides to a kid’s rodeo to a talent show, there will be plenty to entertain the tykes and help them make friends with other kids.
Janine Clements is a New York-based writer and contributor to numerous high-profile travel and lifestyle publications. She has lived in London, Paris and Singapore and travels all over the world with her two daughters, age 9 and 6.