Colorado Dude Ranches Photo Journey

Rocky Mountains, soaring peaks, rolling plains, red rock formations and pristine lakes... find out what it's like to get a Rocky Mountain high on horseback in this photo journey with Colorado dude ranches.

Want a Rocky Mountain high on horseback? Colorado is a superb state for horse riding. You can horseback ride the Continental Divide along the crest of the Rocky Mountains, wrangle cattle through rolling grasslands, swim with your horse in a secluded lake and get lost in alpine forests. We've experienced a variety of the state's terrain by riding at Colorado ranches, including working ranches, long-time dude ranches and ranch resorts. 

In this photo montage, shared by the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association, check out some of what makes Colorado such a beautiful place to ride.

sundance trail ranch colorado

Open meadows, lakes for swimming and mountain views greet guests at Sundance Trail Ranch, two hours north of Denver in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado.

colorado trails ranch

Colorado Trails Ranch lies just outside of the mountain town of Durango in the San Juan Mountains in Southern Colorado. You can ride open meadows, rushing creeks and up high in the mountains to take in the views.

tarryall river ranch colorado

Located in the Lake George area about an hour west of Colorado Springs, Tarryall River Ranch guides riders as they ford rivers, ride pine forests and mountain passes and have a classic Colorado Western adventure. 

home ranch colorado dude ranch

The above photo from The Home Ranch shows some of the diversity of horse riding at this luxury dude ranch, 18 miles north of Steamboat Springs in the stunning Elk River Valley. Riders have access to the million-acre Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area and Routt National Forest.

colorado dude ranches

Located in Granby near Rocky Mountain National Park and 90 miles west of Denver, Drowsy Water Ranch is nestled in its own private mountain valley, making for beautiful mountain views. 

wilderness trails ranch

Located in the Upper Pine River Valley, 35 miles northeast of Durango, Wilderness Trails Ranch is surrounded by the largest road-less area in Colorado, the Piedra Wilderness Study Area, as well as the Weminuche Wilderness, which together provide access to over 2.5 million acres of the San Juan National Forest. 

elk mountain ranch colorado dude ranch

Located in the San Isabel National Forest in Central Colorado, Elk Mountain Ranch is home to the largest collection of peaks over 14,000 feet.

C Lazy U Ranch colorado dude ranches

A sunset at C Lazy U Ranch in Granby, Colorado, a popular western family vacation and an Equitrekking Top 20 Ranch. C Lazy U rests in a valley on over 9,000 acres with views of the Continental Divide and the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

 

Learn more about the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association. Check out the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association page in the Equitrekking Vacation Guide to great dude ranches, guest ranches, cattle drives and riding holidays.