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Dude Ranches

Three girls pet a little horse led by a wrangler

Colorado’s dude ranches offer vacation experiences that range from upscale, romantic resort-like properties to rustic, working ranches where guests can take part in everyday chores like herding cattle or gathering fresh eggs.

A ranch lodge with a stone chimney and expansive front porch sits amid a green meadow. Guests relax on and children play in front of them
The Home Ranch dude and guest ranch in Clark
From behind, we see two horseback riders walking between white-barked aspen trees along a green trial. Both riders wear cowboy hats.
Horseback riding at a Colorado dude and guest ranch
Two horseback riders along the banks for a flowing blue river. They wear leather trench coats and cowboy hats.
Inside a lodge, guests are gathered in front of a fireplace in chairs and couches reading and playing games. The walls are covered in light-colored wood and the head of a trophy elk is mounted above the fireplace
The lodge at Elk Mountain Ranch in Buena Vista
Three kids in helmets sit on a bench outside, waiting their turn for horse-riding lessons. One reches out her hand to pet the nose of a harnessed, brown horse.
Getting ready to ride at a Colorado Dude Ranch
A cowboy in leather chaps and jeans leads a horses out of the stables; we see lots of tack, rakes and other stable gear.
A cowboy leads his horses out of the stables near Steamboat Springs, CO

While Colorado's more than 30 dude ranches are all very different, you can count on them all being incredibly family friendly and having activity-rich schedules for everyone in your party.

There's something special about the down-home hospitality of the staff at dude ranches — by the end of your stay, you'll really feel like family.

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