Recent dude ranch recommendations?

[AllTheCarrots]

I seem to have discovered the wormhole in the universe that enables nonhorsey family members to consider a dude ranch vacation. Have looked through the older threads, but would appreciate some recent recommendations.

• Particularly interested in Jackson Hole, Alberta & BC, but all destination suggestions welcome.
• Needs to be heavy on non-riding activities to tempt the adrenaline-junkie Baby Carrots — things like whitewater rafting, rock climbing, tubing, etc. They are not hikers, and things like horseshoes, bird-watching, and porch-sitting “are not activities, Mom, they’re what you do when you’re dead.”
• Would appreciate some differentiation in the ride groupings or options, so I can selfishly mix family trail rides with more interesting/challenging things for me.

If you have experience with a place, or even if your barn manager’s hay guy’s girlfriend’s trainer’s roommate’s farrier’s cousin once mentioned a place, lay it on me!

[NancyM]

Echo Valley Ranch. It’s not cheap.

[Cowboy_Girl]

Look in north central Idaho along the Salmon and Selway Rivers and the Hell’s Canyon area - white water rafting, jet boating, fishing (trout, sturgeon and salmon), rock climbing, river drifting, ATV trails lots of stuff in addition to normal dude/ranch/outfitter horse stuff.
You may not find everything at one place but they all work together and could likely do a custom package

[MorganMaresVT]

I’ve heard good things about Equestrian Travel Association as a an organization that vets riding holiday partners and focuses on how the horses and human team are treated. You can search their website for location, type of riding experience, etc.

If you’re into podcasts, they have one called “Galloping Getaways,” and their most recent episode featured a place in BC that sounded like it would be a lovely vacation (though the spa thing is not really my jam…)
https://www.horseradionetwork.com/2024/12/galloping-getaways-echo-valley-ranch-and-spa-for-december-26-2024-horses-in-the-morning/

Their full podcast list is here: https://www.horseradionetwork.com/shows/gallopinggetaways/

ETA: The Canadian ranch is the same one @NancyM recommended above.

[Grey623]

Covered Wagon Ranch in Gallatin Gateway MT, just northwest of Yellowstone. Went with a friend last year and had a blast. Very small groups, several trails through Yellowstone, we had a couple rides just us and the wrangler, got to gallop, jump and ‘explore’ little used trails. Horses very well cared for, food and atmosphere lovely. I’m linking to the area attractions page as we did not pursue any outside activities so look here for options. $$$ but we had a great time. We flew into Jackson Hole, took a couple days to drive north and see Yellowstone, then finished at Covered Wagon.

Get Away to Gallatin Gateway MT and Covered Wagon Ranch

Grey

[OnAMission]

My DH and inlaws have worked at the Covered Wagon in the past; it’s a long standing guest ranch tradition. Recommend.

[SolarFlare]

Anchor D in Alberta was great. https://anchord.com/
They’re in the foothills, not too far from Spruce Meadows, so you’d be close to other horsey fun. They are less dude ranch and more guided tours though, but maybe you’d consider that and then add other activities like whitewater rafting on other days.

They do < 1 day (trail rides) and also multi-day riding trips with pack horses where you’re camping. But, they also have a 6-day package where you stay at the ranch each night and trailer in to the trail head to ride the Rockies.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch… 6 Days - Anchor D Guiding & Outfitting Ltd.

[PineMeadowFarmNC]

Check out Triangle X Ranch in Moose, WY in the Grand Tetons area. A group of us went there in August 2024 and had a wonderful time and both the wranglers and the horses were great. You have the option to ride twice a day. They break you out into small groups for riding so you can opt for a faster ride or a more leisurely ride.

[Mango20]

My neighbor took her kids and grandkids here last summer and had a good time: https://eatonsranch.com/

[piperluvshorses]

Vista Verde Guest Ranch in Colorado. It is NOT cheap but incredible food - includes wine/beer - lovely cabins - the staff is amazing - and the horses are fat and shiny. The owners and management are on top of the horses 100% - be careful in your search some ranch’s lease their herd so the horses are not well taken care of. The youth program is awesome we don’t see your kids until dinner time and they come home happy and tired. They have some pretty intense mountain biking, rafting and hiking. The riding is so fun for those who can ride lots of loping. Just a note we have done the “cheaper” dude ranches…the food and accommodations can be VERY rustic.

[AllTheCarrots]

THANK YOU, everyone, for these awesome recommendations! I really appreciate all the leads!

[ParadoxFarm]

Let us know what you pick if you end up going! This is a bucket-list thing for me.

[Pico_Banana]

In case you come across it, I would not suggest Brush Creek in WY. We’ve gone twice and the riding was AWESOME the first time, but the second time they had really cracked down on how much we could do. It was winter when we went the second time and we wanted to ride in the indoor at one point so we could do stuff we couldn’t do in the snow. Basically they had an employee on a horse about 2.5 feet away from each of us and we were allowed to canter for maybe 3 minutes. I also thought the other activities were not as good the second time as the first.

OTOH, the food the second time was AMAZING. They brought in a chef from the French Laundry to their high end restaurant and everything was exceptional.

[luvmycabanaboy2]

The Tetons are my most favorite place in the world!

I didn’t stay at Triangle X, but we did do a guided fly-fishing trip from them out on the Snake River and it was top notch start to finish (shout out Captain Annie who rowed our fishing boat in an absolute downpour for several miles and still got us into fish!). The best whitewater near Jackson Hole is quite a bit south of Triangle X, but there are outfitters in town that bus to it. Triangle X offers a “nature float” on the same stretch of river as the fly fishing which is spectacular albeit “sedate” for your crew if they aren’t fishing. Hiking/climbing in the Tetons is world famous for a reason and literally right there next to the property.