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In this day of cell phones, social media and Wi-Fi connections, family vacations can often be a bit too much like being at home together: everyone on their phones at the dinner table and not enough time talking and playing together. If you’re ready to truly reconnect as a family, consider a vacation to a dude ranch, where you’ll get offline and get outdoors to see the beautiful landscape of America’s Wild West.
The following 14 dude ranches offer tons for kids, from little ones to teens, as well as activities for those looking to immerse themselves into the countryside, or just settle into a comfy chair with a glass of wine and a good book. You won’t be roughing it with these ranches, but you may get a little dirty when you hit the trails, ride the rapids and kick up some dust together on ATVs. Your family is guaranteed to have a good time, and you’ll have stories to share around the dinner table for years.
Rainbow Trout Ranch
- Location: Antonito, Colorado
- Accommodations: Choose from the turn of the century Grand Lodge or cozy guest cabins with two- or three-bedrooms with living areas, fireplaces and front porches.
- Activities: Horseback riding, fly fishing, white water rafting, swimming, hiking, trap shooting, archery, volleyball, games
- For Kids: Buckaroos (ages 3 to 5) and Cowpokes (ages 6 and up) get their own horse and enjoy PB&J rides, hayrides, western crafts, trail and arena riding lessons, nature study, and more. Less structured, more independent programs for teens include riding, hiking, Frisbee Gold and more.
- Website: Rainbow Trout Ranch
Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort
- Location: Solvang, California
- Accommodations: 73 rooms from studios to one-bedroom suites and the ability to sleep five
- Activities: Horseback riding, golf, tennis, cycling, fishing, archery, air riffle, birdwatching, nature walks
- For Kids: A Barnyard, arena for lead-around rides, and arts and crafts are available, just for kids.
- Website: Alisal Guest Ranch
Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch
- Location: Quincy, California
- Accommodations: 16 cabins with one- and two-bedroom options, as well as 10 guest rooms in the Main Lodge (some with adjoining rooms for families)
- Activities: Horseback riding, volleyball, horseshoes, badminton, disc golf, line dancing, cookouts and bonfires, swimming,
- For Kids: A kiddie corral and playground, petting zoo, pony rides, rodeo games, wagin rides, frog racing and more are for the kids
- Website: Greenhorn Ranch
CM Ranch
- Location: Dubois, Wyoming
- Accommodations: 12 cabins and three houses that can sleep up to nine
- Activities: Fly fishing, hiking, horseback riding, pack and day trips
- For Kids: Supervised programs for ages 5 and older, with riding, exploring, lawn games, crafts, music and more.
- Website: CM Ranch
Western Pleasure Guest Ranch
- Location: Sandpoint, Idaho
- Accommodations: Choice of four cabins or six rooms in the Grand Lodge.
- Activities: Horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, clay pigeon shooting, rec room, hot tub,
- For Kids: Programs for ages 8 to 18, including training and performing in a horse show
- Website: Western Pleasure Guest Ranch
Bar W Guest Ranch
- Location: Whitefish, Montana
- Accommodations: Six bedrooms for up to 25 guests in the Main Lodge, two authentic log cabins, glamping tentas, and a gate house that sleeps up to eight.
- Activities: Horseback riding, hiking, zipline tours, visits to Glacier National Park, fishing, whitewater rafting, lake cruises, water sports, golf, shooting
- For Kids: Small Fried for under 3 (babysitting), Cowpokes for kids under 7 with pony rides, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, and more. Junior Cowpokes for ages 7 to 11 can trail ride, as well.
- Website: The Bar W Guest Ranch
The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch
- Location: Cody, Wyoming
- Accommodations: The Hideout features high-end cabins, casitas and homes to select for your family of any size.
- Activities: Horseback riding, cattle drives, cattle work, fly fishing, trapshooting, archery, rodeos, 4×4 tours, mountain biking, hiking.
- Website: Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch
Elk Mountain Ranch
- Location: Buena Vista, Colorado
- Accommodations: Cabin and lodge rooms
- Activities: Horseback riding, whitewater raftinhg, hiking, biking, scenic trips, trap shooting, riflery, fishing, hayrides, horsehows, square dancing, Frisbee, and more.
- For Kids: Supervised full kids’ program for ages 3 to 7. Children 8 and older can elect to participate in kids’ programs or join adults.
- Website: Elk Mountain Ranch
Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch
- Location: Winston, New Mexico
- Accommodations: Cabins that can accommodate up to five people.
- Activities: Horseback riding, hiking, games, cave exploration
- Website: Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch
White Stallion Ranch
- Location: Tucson, Arizona
- Accommodations: 43 guest rooms and suites, as well as a 4-bedroom hacienda
- Activities: Horseback riding, hiking, rodeo, rock climbing, basketball, tennis, swimming, recreation room (Foosball, ping pong, shuffleboard, pool table, air hockey, board games)
- For Kids: Petting zoo, rec room
- Website: White Stallion Ranch
Paradise Guest Ranch
- Location: Buffalo, Wyoming
- Accommodations: Cabins with kitchenettes
- Activities: Horseback riding, hiking, fishing, swimming pool
- For Kids: Talent show, pony rides, fishing derby, arts and crafts, kid’s rodeo
- Website: Paradise Ranch
Rankin Ranch
- Location: Caliente, California
- Accommodations: Seven duplex cabins with 14 rooms to accommodate 30 to 50 guests
- Activities: Horseback riding, hiking, biking, fishing,
- For Kids: Supervised activities from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 – 8 available for children ages 4 to 11
- Website: Rankin Ranch
Lazy L&B Ranch
- Location: Dubois, Wyoming
- Accommodations: Cabins that can accommodate up to six
- Activities: Horseback riding, hiking, fishing, bird watching, shooting gallery, swimming in the river, pool, cookouts
- For Kids: Petting zoo
- Website: Lazy B Ranch
Elkhorn Ranch
- Location: Tucson, Arizona
- Accommodations: Cabins
- Activities: Horseback riding, swimming, hiking, bird watching
- For Kids: Children 5 and younger, free. Supervised programs
- Website: Elkhorn Ranch
Written by Lissa Poirot