4 Things I Learned at a Dude Ranch

There's nothing new about dude ranches—they can be traced back to the late 1800s. New railroads connected urban areas to the wilderness, and city folk were quick to sign up as guests to reap the positive benefits on their mental and physical well-being. Dude ranches, more often called “guest ranches” today, continue to be the perfect place to reap these same rewards.

I’d always toyed with the idea of a dude ranch stay, and finally, just months before the pandemic shut down the world, I booked a stay at Latigo Guest Ranch outside of Kremmling, Colorado, a two-hour drive from Denver. This region in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains has a high concentration of dude ranches, many dating back over a century, and as soon as I saw the scenery—a mix of windswept plains and coniferous forests, with views reaching 120 kilometres to the Continental Divide--I knew why.  

Latigo Guest Ranch has the horse riding business down in spades. There are 325 kilometres of riding trails meandering throughout 40,000 acres of National Forest to explore. With up to 80 horses, ranch hands can easily match horse and rider, based on ability and temperament. Trail rides happen at all hours of the day: sunrise, sunset, or overnight pack trips, if that’s what you’re looking for. In September, you can even join a cattle round-up, where you can really tap into your inner-cowboy/girl and help a local rancher gather and move hundreds of cattle from the high mountain pastures. 

Obviously, pre-visit there were two things I knew for certain: I would be riding a horse and I’d be spending time in the outdoors. But little did I know that a guest ranch can offer so much more:

Big Adventure

There’s lots of free time in the day to enjoy other activities. Ever want to try your hand at the art of fly-fishing? There’s great fishing in the many nearby crystal-clear streams and rivers, and some tips and tricks from the resident experts will have you casting like a pro in no time. 

At the ranch they will also teach you how to axe-throw, chuck horseshoes and how to hit a target with a 22-rifle. There’s an indoor swimming pool and hot tub (you’ll need it after a day of riding) and ping pong table and board games. Most days there’s a guided sunrise hike.

Latigo can also arrange a whitewater rafting experience down the nearby Colorado River--anything from heart-thumping class III/IV rapids to a beginner’s experience with easy-to-navigate whitewater where you can mostly sit back and enjoy the sheer granite wall formations and beautiful canyon scenery. 

Family Bonding Time

With minimal electronics on-site, families really get a chance to hangout and enjoy each other’s company. Latigo has group activities for both kids and adults, so socialization is encouraged and new friendships are forged. They also offer a kids’ program with structured activities through the day, meaning when parents are enjoying an adult-only trail ride, kids are having fun doing educational activities and their own horse rides. 

A guest ranch is also an ideal friends’ getaway, or with the drop-dead gorgeous backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and few distractions, it’s also the perfect place to rekindle the romance in your relationship.

Gourmet Food

Modern dude ranches aren't just about BBQs and cookouts (although there are those, too), but rather, feature chefs dedicated to serving tasty, elevated dishes. At Latigo, every meal is house-made from locally-sourced ingredients. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style, and dinner is a sit-down, fine dining experience featuring gourmet options (think Colorado lamb chops with a cabernet and black pepper reduction, or salmon with balsamic gastrique, and divine desserts like elderflower cheesecake). You will not leave the ranch hungry.

Animal Therapy

If you've never spent much time around a horse, these big animals can be intimidating, but without fail, kids and adults alike, can build up their confidence over the visit. (I felt it happen—eventually becoming “at one” with my mighty steed as I was galloping through the forests). 

Horsemanship lessons can also result in some unexpected life lessons (eg. you don't need to be aggressive to get your way--horses respond best to gentle, assertive prompts; like with people, never walk up behind a horse and slap it on the butt, unless you really, really know them!). 

Once borders open again, a stay at a guest ranch like Latigo, where you’ll be enjoying days in the outdoors, with minimal people around, might just be the perfect getaway.

To plan your experience, visit: https://latigoranch.com/