Nothing will take the Florida city slicker out of you quite like vacationing on an authentic ranch—but fear not, there’s plenty of luxury in the mix at our favorite Western escapes.
If you’ve ever considered a ranch vacation, you might be wondering where to start with the planning. Some ranches stay open for all seasons, while others stick to summer activities only. Many ranches welcome families with activities that can feel like a summer camp for everyone, while others offer adults-only weeks throughout the year for more grown-up-style fun (think: wine and whiskey tastings around the campfire instead of hot cocoa and s’mores). Read on for our picks of the best rustic retreats across this great land for every kind of traveler. And when we say rustic, we’re really only referring to the fact that you might have to saddle up and get a little dirty out on the land before retreating to your private hot tub and settling in for champagne under the stars.
Brush Creek Ranch
Best for: Those who love summer, but really embrace winter
Location: Saratoga, Wyoming
Don’t-miss moment: Snowshoeing to the ranch’s historic Schoolhouse for a Snoga session
A 600-acre ski mountain just for you and Brush Creek Ranch’s 17 other lucky guests awaits at this supremely luxurious ranch in southern Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest. While the ranch is stellar during the summertime, winter really makes us swoon with activities like sleigh rides, snowmobiling expeditions and snowshoeing trips where you’re accompanied by llamas through magical forest settings draped in snow. Foodies shouldn’t miss the ranch’s epicurean retreats, where you’ll learn about farmstead cheese making, distilling and more.
The Resort at Paws Up
Best for: Multi-generational groups
Location: Greenough, Montana
Don’t-miss moment: Horse-whispering lessons with one of the ranch’s adopted mustangs
Cut through by 10 miles of the Blackfoot River, surrounded by forest and sprawling across 37,000 acres, this working cattle ranch in the heart of Montana’s Big Sky country caters to families, couples and friend groups in equal measure. During the winter months, activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, sledding and broom hockey make for plenty of bonding in the great outdoors. And summer ranch fun is a rush of cattle drives, fly fishing, hiking, river rafting and more. There are no hotel or lodge rooms here—just luxurious private homes that come with the use of a Lexus SUV for getting out and about on all the beautiful land during your stay.
Vista Verde Ranch
Best for: Summer adventures with the kids
Location: Clark, Colorado
Don’t-miss moment: Dog-sledding and cat skiing if you come during the winter
Stay in one of the 12 luxury log cabins with a private outdoor hot tub, or opt for a room in the lodge at this family-favorite Colorado guest ranch located 25 miles north of Steamboat Springs. All-inclusive rates at Vista Verde Ranch include programs just for kids between the ages of 3 and 18, featuring activities like petting zoo visits, horsemanship clinics and overnight campouts, depending on their age. Fly fishing, mountain biking, photography workshops, horseback riding and more await. The ranch also offers adults-only weeks from mid-August through fall.
Alpine Falls Ranch
Best for: Friend groups
Location: Superior, Montana
Don’t-miss moment: Hooking a rainbow trout during legendary Montana fly fishing on the Clark Fork River
Awarded a two Michelin-key stay, this western Montana ranch, which backs up to protected lands within the Lolo National Forest, brings an exquisite luxury experience to the Rocky Mountain wilderness. Full ranch buyouts are available, and your group can spread across accommodations that include a rustic-chic bunkhouse cabin, a five-bedroom mountain villa with its own cinema and a cozy hideaway cabin for two with a private sauna. Spend your time river rafting on the Blackfoot River, hiking with miniature donkeys or setting off on an adventurous trail ride with local wranglers. The ranch’s Six8 Saloon is a sweet spot to swap stories at day’s end, with grills where you can cook up your own feast and private catering available too (the latter with a focus on produce, fish and proteins sourced from the surrounding rivers and land).
Cibolo Creek Ranch
Best for: Active types who love adventure
Location: Marfa, Texas
Don’t-miss moment: Mountain biking along abandoned mining trails.
In the Big Bend country of West Texas, this luxurious ranch on 30,000 acres is roamed by American bison, javelina, Barbary sheep and more. Cibolo Creek Ranch keeps guests busy with a diverse range of activities, including clay shooting, hunting trips where private groups stay in a historic fort, hikes to see North American rock art and horseback riding in the surrounding Chinati Mountains. The ranch’s past guests have included Mick Jagger, Miranda Lambert and Julia Roberts.
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