If you’ve been dreaming vacationing among a spectacular wilderness landscape but don’t want to give up modern luxuries, an upscale wilderness ranch vacation may be calling your name. This type of getaway is sure to provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure and relaxation, typically along with plenty of upscale perks. Be as active or as relaxed as you like as you take in magnificent scenery for an experience you’ll never forget.
Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Clinton, British Columbia, Canada
Echo Valley Ranch & Spa is nestled in the Cariboo Mountains of British Columbia, home to wide open spaces surrounded by towering mountains that provide the ultimate destination for outdoor adventure and luxury. traditional ranch atmosphere with Thai influences. Here you can enjoy everything from guided horseback rides and hiking to rafting, fly fishing and gold panning. For fueling all that fun, dining includes everything from tasty BBQ to Thai fare. When you’re ready to relax you can unwind and soothe your muscles at the spa, which offers a variety of treatments including a wonderful mountain-mist herbal steam bath.
The Ranch at Rock Creek, Philipsburg, Montana
This vast 6,600-acre ranch is bordered by the Sapphire, Pintler and John Long Mountains and offers an all-inclusive experience with top-notch regionally inspired cuisine and accommodation in villas, each featuring a huge brass bed with a cozy down quilt, deep soaking tub, a fireplace, open kitchen and large screened-in porch. If glamping what you had in mind, choose the upscale creekside tents, all warmed by a potbelly stove with access to a private Jacuzzi. Spend your days fly-fishing or riding the trails on horseback while soaking up the stunning mountain scenery followed by a relaxing massage.
Cherokee Park Ranch, Livermore, Colorado
Historic Cherokee Park Ranch, established in 1886, was named “America’s Best Dude Ranch Vacation” by USA Today. You’ll find plenty of western character and jaw-dropping scenery, with the proper along the banks of the North Fork of the Cache La Poudre River. An all-inclusive ranch, it’s surrounded by pure Rockies’ wilderness and serves up delicious home cooked meals along with a host of activities like roping lessons, hiking, fishing and rafting on the river, mountain biking and more.
Circle Z Ranch, Patagonia, Arizona
The Circle Z in Arizona offers an all-inclusive ranch vacation in the valley of Sonoita Creek, with the Santa Rita Mountains to the north and the Patagonia Mountains to the south. All meals, with dishes featuring seasonal vegetables from the garden and locally-raised meats, as well as activities like horseback riding, bird-watching and nature walks are included, while the swimming pool provides an ideal place to relax and enjoy a refreshing dip. Spending time on the horses is the highlight, with the beautiful scenery that includes rugged canyons, vast ranch land and Sonoita Creek. Guests can enjoy cookouts, social hours and live entertainment too.
Tanque Verde Ranch, Tuscon, Arizona
Tucson’s most luxurious guest ranch is one of the oldest in the country. An all-inclusive property, it’s surrounded by mountains and desert, situated at the edge of Saguaro National Park East in the Rincon Mountains. Guests can take part in all sorts of horseback riding trips as well as riding lessons while enjoying easy access to mountain biking and hiking. Communal ranch-style meals are included and full-day kids’ activity programs allow parents to enjoy alone time.
Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana
An adults-only resort ranch, Triple Creek is ideal for a romantic ranch getaway. Located in Montana’s picturesque Bitterroot Mountains, accommodation is in one of the 12 unique private cabins. Each one features a wood-burning fireplace and access to a hot tub for soaking under the stars. A variety of activities can be enjoyed on site in every season, including winter dog sledding and hiking, horseback riding or golfing during the warmer months of the year. Gourmet meals, utilizing an abundance of fresh, local ingredients are included as well.
C Lazy U Ranch, Granby, Colorado
AAA described the C Lazy U Ranch, located in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, as “posh” but with a “genuine ranch feel.” Be as relaxed or as active as you like, with horseback riding available all year long, even when snow covers the ground, thanks to the heated indoor arena. This is a great time to take part in cross-country skiing or hit the slopes for alpine skiing in nearby Winter Park. You’re sure to work up an appetite for the delicious ranch fare which features items like Rocky Mountain trout and aged western beef.
Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch, Stanley, Idaho
Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch enjoys a stunning Sawtooth Mountain and Salmon River backdrop, surrounded by more wilderness than anywhere else in the lower 48. It welcomes guests to enjoy a uniquely western experience with practically endless possibilities for outdoor adventures, both onsite and throughout the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Look forward to soaking in the natural hot springs pool, fishing the stocked pond, access to the beautiful Salmon River, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and more. Simply relaxing on the front porch in one of the Old Hickory rockers is a wonderful way to pass the time here. Tasty breakfasts, picnic lunches and dinners created using local ingredients are all served here, and live music can be enjoyed four nights a week.
Flat Creek Ranch, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Flat Creek Ranch is a premiere, luxury guest ranch that offers the ultimate wilderness retreat in one of the most breathtaking destinations in the country: Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Built in the 1920s, the ranch has been impeccably restored since and offers a variety of experiences for all types of visitors, including families and couples. A secluded getaway, it requires traveling 15 miles through the National Elk Refuge and the mountains over a rugged jeep track, but your reward is an outdoor and nature lovers’ paradise. Explore the backcountry by horse riding and hiking, enjoy fishing and watching the abundant wildlife, from bald eagles to moose. Unwinding in the sauna and feeding hunger pangs with a generous serving of mouthwatering fare, as well as complimentary beer and wine during cocktail hour and dinner, are all included.
