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7 Best Colorado Dude Ranches Everyone Should Visit

A dude ranch vacation can be a trip of a lifetime for those that want to experience the feel of living and working on a ranch. While most offer horseback riding, many provide all sorts of other activities too, from swimming and fishing to hiking, hayrides, and cookouts. These Colorado dude ranches are truly destinations everyone should experience at least once.

Latigo Ranch, Kremmling Latigo Ranch
Credit: Latigo Ranch by Latigo Ranch

Latigo Ranch, Kremmling

A popular all-inclusive resort in Colorado, Latigo is renowned for its outstanding horse riding program, with lots of individualized attention. It’s surrounded by national forest on three sides, with winding trails that bring guests through the pines, aspen groves, sagebrush and wide, open meadows. Voted Best Dude Ranch in Colorado by “Colorado’s Best,” this intimate, secluded ranch also offers hiking and fishing in the summer, and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding in the winter. There’s also an ideal balance between family time, and separate excursions, with adults-only pack trips and outings just for the kids.

Vista Verde Ranch, Steamboat Springs Vista Verde Ranch
Credit: Vista Verde Ranch by Vista Verde Ranch

Vista Verde Ranch, Steamboat Springs

Vista Verde Ranch is a luxurious dude ranch in beautiful Steamboat Springs that offers an ideal blend of adventure, elegance, and top-notch cuisine. Visitors can look forward to trail rides, horse clinics, and cattle drives as well as fly fishing, yoga, mountain biking, cooking classes, and even wine tastings. There’s also a comprehensive kids program, and multiple options for relaxation too, including soaking those sore muscles in the outdoor hot tub.

Cherokee Park Ranch, Livermore Cherokee Park Ranch
Credit: Cherokee Park Ranch by cherokeeparkranch.com

Cherokee Park Ranch, Livermore

Historic Cherokee Park Ranch, established back in 1886, was named “America’s Best Dude Ranch Vacation” by USA Today, and it’s easy to see why, with a ton of western character and breathtaking scenery, set along the North Fork of the Cache La Poudre River. Although it’s easily accessible from the Denver Airport, less than 100 miles away, this all-inclusive ranch is surrounded by pure Rockies wilderness. Enjoy delicious home-cooked meals, special programs for the kids, and a host of activities, including roping lessons, fishing, hiking, tubing on the river, raft trips, boat trips, mountain biking, and more.

Rainbow Trout Ranch, Antonito Rainbow Trout Ranch
Credit: Rainbow Trout Ranch by rainbowtroutranch.com

Rainbow Trout Ranch, Antonito

Rainbow Trout Ranch is ideal for just about any type of traveler seeking a western escape, offering a wide range of adventures, including amazing horseback riding in a remote area of southern Colorado near the border of Mexico. Not only can guests enjoy plenty of time on the horses, but outstanding fly fishing, trapshooting, whitewater rafting, swimming, day trips to Taos, and the opportunity to hope aboard the highest and longest narrow-gauge steam train in the country. It also hosts a teen ranch program that’s sure to satisfy even the pickiest teenagers, and an excellent children’s program too.

Sundance Trail Guest Ranch, Red Feather Lakes Sundance Trail Guest Ranch
Credit: Sundance Trail Guest Ranch by sundancetrail.com

Sundance Trail Guest Ranch, Red Feather Lakes

Sundance Trail Guest Ranch is an awesome Colorado dude ranch that offers fabulous adventures all year round and is also just 100 miles from Denver International Airport. There are opportunities for the entire family, including horseback riding, hiking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, disc golf, trout fishing, trap or target shooting, and archery. In the water, you can even ride horses in the snow and then look forward to warming up in the Jacuzzi. Stargazing is incredible here, and you can even enjoy a bit of nightlife, with evening campfires as well as an onsite pool table and lounge.

C Lazy U Ranch, Granby C Lazy U Ranch
Credit: C Lazy U Ranch by clazyu.com

C Lazy U Ranch, Granby

For a luxury wilderness ranch vacation, C Lazy U Ranch was awarded a five-star rating by AAA, describing it as “posh but has a genuine ranch feel.” It offers rustic elegance, a rich history, incredible cuisine and exceptional service, resulting in a luxury vacation that allows you to do just about anything and everything you want, or nothing at all. Guests can enjoy traditional activities like horse riding, even in the winter, with a heated indoor arena, as well as kids’ activities. Cross-country skiing is popular during the colder months of the year as well, and alpine skiing can be enjoyed in nearby Winter Park.

Drowsy Water Ranch, Granby Drowsy Water Ranch,
Credit: Drowsy Water Ranch, by Drowsy Water Ranch,

Drowsy Water Ranch, Granby

The Drowsy Water Ranch has been around for nearly 100 years and is home to about 100 head of horses, primarily quarter horses and paints, while nine individual cabins are tucked beside the creek, offering tranquil lodging for families. This is an ideal ranch for those with little ones, as it welcomes children of all ages, even infants. Children who are 5 and younger get to participate in the Buckaroos program, led by smaller horses in a pen, and those who are 6 to 13 participate in the Range Riders program where they can walk, lope and trot according to their comfort level and trail conditions.