Check out our specialty weeks and events below for 2021! Here, you will find a variety of specialty weeks and themed weeks at our ranches to make your dude ranch vacation even that much more memorable. And the best news of all: there is still time to book these weeks if you act fast! Rates for each ranch (and each week) vary, but can range from $195/night-$1000/night ALL INCLUSIVE.
Adult Only Weeks
The children are back in school (or maybe flown the coop entirely!) and it’s time for the ‘big kids’ to kick up their heels. During our Colorado Dude Ranches’ adult-only weeks you’ll explore magnificent trails, hike and fish until your heart’s content and the sense of peace and quiet will be accentuated due to the lack of wee ones on the ranch. Check out ranches such as Black Mountain Ranch, Sundance Trail Ranch, Latigo Ranch, Majestic Dude Ranch, Elk Mountain Ranch, Sylvan Dale Ranch, Vista Verde Ranch, and Drowsy Water Ranch below for more info.
Work Weeks
Become the rancher during our Colorado Dude Ranch work weeks. This is a true immersion experience which allows you to see what ranchers do to help maintain our forests, keep up the ranch, and tend to animals on a daily basis. However, there’s a nice twist: on top of learning to mend a fence, maintain trails, and of course ride through some of the most beautiful mountains trails known to man, you are welcomed home at the end of the day with top notch western cuisine and a cozy mountain cabin. Badger Creek Ranch offers these weeks. See more below.
Cattle Weeks
Cattle Drives, Team Penning, Roping, and herd management are all part of our Cattle Weeks at our Colorado Dude Ranches. Each day, you will get hands on experience working with cattle and learning the cowboy traditions of old that are still alive today. Lost Valley Ranch, Latigo Ranch, Sylvan Dale Ranch, and Zapata Ranch are all offering Cattle Weeks this summer! These weeks go fast, so Get Along Little Dogie and take a peek at these ranches below for available date
Cowgirl Weeks
Sometimes all a lady needs is a little ‘girl time’ with her favorite gal pals and family. These woman’s weeks at our Colorado Dude Ranches offer all the riding, trap shooting, hiking, hearty western cuisine and campfire time you could ask for. Yet you will find plenty of unplugged free time set aside to simply sit back on your porch swing and have that unhurried time to truly catch up with family and friends. Both Sylvan Dale Ranch and Latigo Ranch have Cowgirl Weeks offered each year. This could be the answer to the girls trip you’ve been meaning to plan for years.
Rodeo Weeks
Shine up your boots, grab your hats, and make sure to book a week at one of our Colorado Dude Ranches’ Rodeo Weeks if you want to experience some of the best professional rodeos the west has to offer. Both Rawah Ranch and Sylvan Dale Ranch incorporate a trip to local rodeos into their week-long dude ranching stays. They drive you to and from the rodeo and give you all the insider info on each event! If a professional rodeo visit has been on your bucket list, and you want to make the most of it by truly living the cowboy lifestyle for a week, our Colorado Dude Ranch Rodeo Weeks are for you. More details below.
Horsemanship Weeks
Do you want to take your horseback riding to the next level? While all of our ranches have exceptional programs for all levels of riders each week of the summer, you’ll find that our Horsemanship Weeks really drill down on some of the tried and true techniques to make you a better rider. Whether you are a beginner rider, or have been in the saddle for years and want to refine your skills in the saddle, these weeks are for you. Join world renowned trainers such as Laurie Lukas, Randy Rieman and others at Colorado Trails Ranch and Lost Valley Ranch this summer to hone your riding skills.
Discounted Weeks
Sometimes, all it takes to make a week a bit more special is saving bit of money on your vacation! Some ranches offer Multi-Family Discount Weeks like Colorado Trails Ranch while others offer Early/Late Season Discounts such as Emerald Valley Ranch, Latigo Ranch, Tumbling River Ranch, C Lazy U Ranch, Vista Verde Ranch, Majestic Dude Ranch and Drowsy Water Ranch. Make your bucket list trip to a Colorado Dude Ranch a reality this summer and with the extra cash you save on booking a dude ranch, you’ll have plenty left over to explore even more of what our beautiful state of Colorado has to offer.
Unique Themed Weeks
Simply take your special interest and find it tied seamlessly into one of our nationally acclaimed dude ranching weeks. Learn from experienced photographers such as Jason Savage during Zapata Ranch‘s Photography Workshop week, or maybe painting is more your style. At Elk Mountain Ranch, you will paint alongside Nora Larimer and take home a hand made reminder of your ranch stay. You can learn more about Astronomy at C Lazy U‘s Stargazing Week with Eddie Hrncir. And don’t forget, Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Why not surprise mom with a weekend trip to Sundance Trail Ranch! They offer a Mother’s Day Weekend Package that mom will never forget. Some of our other unique themed weeks include a Hiking Week at Zapata Ranch where you will explore the Sangre de Cristos mountains with experienced hiking guide Emily Paxson and also special 4th of July Week celebration week at Elk Mountain Ranch. For those who want to learn more about Native American History, check out Sylvan Dale Ranch. You will learn the skill of Native American leather working and hear stories of old from Colorado’s Native Americans. And last but not least, sometimes a special week at a Colorado Dude Ranch simply means giving back. At Rainbow Trout Ranch, when you join them in the month of June, 10% of proceeds will go directly to the organization Bridal Up Hope. Read more about each of these unique themed weeks below.
Best to act fast with our specialty weeks- they go like hotcakes!
| Ranch | Specialty Week | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
Bar Lazy J Ranch | Adults Only Weeks Call to Book: 970-725-3437 | We understand that sometimes you just want to get away with your significant other or even by yourself for a vacation. That's why our all inclusive dude ranch offers 6 weeks of "Adults Only Dude Ranch Vacation Time". We offer the full range of our weekly activities and even throw in a couple of extras. The rides are a little longer, the pace a little more laid back and the evening events full of lots of laughs. We look forward to our Adult Weeks every Fall as the gorgeous autumn colors appear! Come with friends, family, or on your own. We’ll make sure you have a great experience during this time with a few less guests and at a more relaxed pace. | 8/21-10/2 |
Black Mounatin Ranch | Adult Only Weeks Call to Book:970-653-4226 | Black Mountain Ranch is a family owned and operated guest ranch located high in the Rockies halfway between Vail and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Arriving on Sunday afternoon, your week long package includes lodging, all meals, unlimited horseback riding, an overnight pack trip, a longhorn cattle drive, whitewater rafting, fly and spin fishing, rifle and trap shooting, archery, riding lessons, cattle working classes, line dancing, leather working, dinner ride at Jake’s Lake, wine glass etching, live music. There are no hidden or extra fees for any of our activities. We own all our horses and take pride in finding the right horse for each rider. | 5/22-5/28 5/29-6/4 6/5-6/11 8/21-8/27 8/28-9/3 9/4-9/10 |
Black Mounatin Ranch | Rodeo Week Call to Book:970-653-4226 | Black Mountain Ranch is a family owned and operated dude ranch located high in the Rockies halfway between Vail and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Arriving on Sunday afternoon, your vacation package includes lodging, all meals, unlimited horseback riding, an overnight pack trip, a longhorn cattle drive, whitewater rafting, fly and spin fishing, rifle and trap shooting, archery, riding lessons, cattle working classes, line dancing, leather working, dinner ride at Jake’s Lake, wine glass etching, lunch rides, live music and a trip to the local pro-rodeo. There are no hidden or extra fees for any of our activities. We own all our horses and take pride in finding the right horse for each rider. | 6/12-6/18 6/19-6/25 6/26-7/2 7/3-7/9 7/10-7/16 7/17-7/23 7/24-7/30 7/31-8/6 8/7-8/13 8/14-8/20 |
Cherokee Park Ranch | Adults Only Call to Book:970-493-6522 | During our Late Season, August 18th to September 9th, we slow things down a little. During this time we offer lodging, all meals, fishing, and tons of horseback riding and adults only. Come find your wilderness! | 8/18-9/9 |
Drowsy Water Ranch | Adult Only Weeks Call to Book:970-725-3456 | ADULT-ONLY WEEKS: Weeks of September 4 and September 11, 2022 – Enjoy the Fall colors. Single occupancy fee of additional 10% is waived. Limited to 20 guests with a focus on riding and relaxing. | 9/4-9/17 |
| Drowsy Water Ranch | Adult Only Weeks Call to Book:970-725-3456 | Enjoy the ranch at a slower pace and a smaller group. Adult only weeks are for singles and couples looking to enjoy a traditional ranch experience with a little more peace, quiet and good conversation. All the regular ranch activities are offered and enjoyed as our warm Colorado summer melts into a cool Colorado fall. | 8/28-9/3 9/4-9/10 |
Elk Mountain Ranch | Adult Only Weeks Call to Book:719-539-4430 | Single occupancy fee of 10% is waived for our adult-only weeks. Enjoy the mountains as we near the peak of the fall colors in the Colorado Rockies. The already spectacular scenery at the Ranch unveils more glory in the Autumn. Aspens crown the mountainside in golden grandeur. | 8/30-9/13 |
Lost Valley Ranch | Ride, Ride, Ride Week Call to Book:303-647-2311 | This specialty week is a must for the rider looking to spend long days in the saddle exploring remote wilderness areas that surround Lost Valley. Six- to eight-hour days and up are not uncommon. Sometimes rides begin at the ranch and end at the ranch; others begin with horse and riders being trailered out to the back country and riding back to the ranch. Hot baths, hot food, and soft beds complement each day of your Colorado horseback riding vacation. | 9/18-9/25 |
Lost Valley Ranch | Cattle Week Call to Book:303-647-2311 | Currently, we have a grazing permit to run our cow/calf pairs on around 37,000 acres of National Forest land. During the fall we offer our guests the opportunity to help us round up these cows. The riding involves all-day and half-day riding. We work until the job is done. It's an important part of our Colorado cattle ranch operation making sure that we have all of our livestock gathered and shipped in a timely manner. We love the help and fellowship provided by our guests during this week. | 9/25-10/2 |
Lost Valley Ranch | Horsemanship Week Call to Book:303-647-2311 | Perfect for horse lovers wanting to learn or improve their skills in riding and understanding a horse just a little bit better, our horseback riding vacations deliver the adventure of a lifetime! We use the talents of professional horse trainers to help you better communicate with your horse, increase your riding confidence, and show you some of the prettiest country in the state. We combine individual and group instruction along with arena and trail riding to test your new skills. Randy Rieman will be conducting the first horsemanship clinic from September 11—18, 2022. Randy is a prominent and accomplished horseman and has spent the last 30 years making his living on horseback. After several years of working with some of this generations finest horsemen, Randy spent nine years starting hundreds of colts for the Parker Ranch in Hawaii. | 9/11-9/18 10/2-10/9 |
Rawah Ranch | Horse Clinic Call to Book: 800-510-7071 | 4 Days of riding lessons are included to teach you how to handle a horse in a safe, respectful, and fun way, with morning and afternoon sessions in the fields split with study and review sessions in our main lodge. | 6/13-6/17 9/5-9/9 |
Rawah Ranch | Bourbon Week Call to Book: 800-510-7071 | Throughout the week, enjoy comfort gourmet cuisine expertly paired with award-winning Colorado Bourbons. Between meals, we will offer additional activities that will include your favorite local bourbons along with our everyday activities. | 6/20-6/26 9/12-9/18 |
Sylvan Dale Ranch | Cowgirl Roundup Call to Book:970-667-3915 | Visit solo, with friends, or family for a 5-night all inclusive stay with ladies only! Comfortable lodging, your own horse for the week, delicious meals, lots of riding, shooting, dancing, and more! | 6/12-6/17 7/10-7/15 9/4-9/9 9/29-10/4 |
Sylvan Dale Ranch | Native American Living History Week Call to Book:970-667-3915 | Take a walk back in time with a Cheyenne Historian in his authentic Tipi Camp! Learn about the Native American culture, axe-throwing, arts & crafts, and a night in the Tipi! Our traditional dude ranch programming happens alongside the Native American special! | 7/17-7/23 |
Sylvan Dale Ranch | Rodeo Cowboy Week Call to Book:970-667-3915 | Join us for a trip to the Larimer County Fair & Rodeo! Traditional vacation fun, with the added bonus of attending the PRCA Finals on Tuesday night. Soak up that cowboy lifestyle! | 8/7-8/13 |
Sylvan Dale Ranch | Great Grown Up Getaway Call to Book:970-667-3915 | Visit solo, with friends, or with your spouse, for an all inclusive 5-night vacation! Lodging, meals, and activities included, as well as an assigned horse for the week. Enjoy hours of riding each day, as well as other activities, such as trap shooting, bass fishing, rock climbing and more! | 8/14-8/19 9/11-9/16 |
Vista Verde Ranch | Adult Only Weeks Call to Book:800-526-7433 | Towards the end of August and through the fall, the ranch turns into a destination for adults seeking a vacation without kids. The conversations might be a bit more loose, and the focus is completely on creating amazing experiences for our adult guests. But, come on, the kid in all of us still gets excited at the idea of whooping and hollering as you explore the mountains of Colorado! | 8/21-10/23 |
Zapata Ranch | Spring Photo Tour Call to Book:719-257-3043 | Each day is spent photographing at different locations around the San Luis Valley, including at Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge, the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and our favorite locations on the Medano-Zapata. In addition to witnessing the stunning vision of the crane migration, you will also have the opportunity to photograph our resident bison herd, mountain landscapes, the daily morning horse wrangle, and horseback riders at the Dunes. | 3/6-3/11 |
Zapata Ranch | The Power of Pilates with Natalie Sutto Call to Book:719-257-3043 | By understanding our bodies and learning to move with ease, we can make create enormous improvements in our everyday posture. This awareness opens the door to greater communication with your horse and in doing so, improves your relationship with your horse and your overall performance. | 4/24-5/1 |
Zapata Ranch | Yoga and Horseback Retreat with Tammy Pate Call to Book:719-257-3043 | Tammy’s retreats are designed to bring awareness of mental and physical balance through yoga practice and above all, gain confidence and improve your horsemanship. Everything you will do at the retreat is designed to gently bring about the inner balance that improves your ability to bond with and communicate with horses. | 5/1-5/8 |
Zapata Ranch | Restorative Retreat Call to Book:719-257-3043 | In addition to enjoying all the highlights Ranchlands has to offer, this retreat includes daily guided breathwork and restorative movement, taught by licensed therapist and XPT Master Coach, Amy Morrison of True Core Health. Whether you’re in need of reprieve after a difficult season, want an excuse to slow down, or simply desire more tools towards navigating unexpected challenges—this restorative work will guide you through understanding your body’s response to stress and anxiety so you’re better equipped to move forward confidently and with peace. Grounded in science, this restorative teaching is applicable to all ages and life stages. | 5/25-5/29 |
Zapata Ranch | Branding Week Call to Book:719-257-3043 | This is a hands on, team-oriented experience that puts you in the center of the action with Zapata’s cattle herd. Through the week explore the ranch, ride through our 2,000 head bison herd and the Great Sand Dunes National Park on horseback and end the week with a cattle gather and traditional branding. Also available are interpretive hikes with a naturalist, roping and leather working sessions. At an additional cost, massage, rafting and fly fishing are available. | 6/19-6/26 |
Zapata Ranch | Writing Workshop with Pam Houston Call to Book:719-257-3043 | This workshop will be generative, with participants writing new work inspired by the surrounding ranch and using this physical world to help access our emotional world. Pam will guide you in discussing elements of craft and accessing the ranch and all its creatures and components as metaphor. | 7/10-7/17 |
Zapata Ranch | Natural Fabric Dyeing with Edie Ure Call to Book:719-257-3043 | Forage natural materials from Zapata Ranch and the surrounding San Luis Valley to produce dyes from indigo, rabbitbrush, pinecones, cottonwood bark, and other plant materials. Dye fabrics and learn how to create natural color palettes. Create your own unique silk bandanas, linen bags, or tablecloths. When not in the studio, enjoy hikes, horseback riding, bison tours, and gourmet food. | 7/24-7/31 |
Zapata Ranch | Somatic Riding with Cassandra Ogier and Silver Bramham Call to Book:719-257-3043 | Partnered with a Zapata horse for a full week we will focus on developing somatic presence and a bond of mutual trust and understanding. This retreat allows time to develop skills that enhance focus and attention to body language and awareness of how your energy, presence and physical balance positively affects your relationship with horses. With this understanding, you will not only become a better rider with a deeper connection with horses, but can also apply this knowledge to better enjoy your day-to-day life. | 7/31-8/7 |
Zapata Ranch | Food as a Doorway to Memory with Molly Wizenberg Call to Book:719-257-3043 | In this generative writing workshop, we’ll explore how the sensory details of food can help us unlock our most fertile memories. Food touches every aspect of life: people, places, the way we live, the meat and bones of who we are. Using food as an entry point to writing, we can return to past versions of ourselves: experiences we thought we’d forgotten, the thing our father said, the way a lover looked at us. During our week together at the Zapata Ranch, we’ll be surrounded by inspiration from chef Chase Kelley, who will prepare gourmet meals using local produce and meats. | 8/14-8/21 |
| Zapata Ranch | Foundations of Horsemanship with Cam Schryver Call to Book:719-257-3043 | Cam is two-time World Champion Extreme Cowboy and all those that have had the pleasure of riding with him know that his teaching methods are clear, practical and above all, fun. By applying working ranch horsemanship and riding by feel, you will leave the week feeling a deeper connection to the horse and will better understand how to communicate, developing a better handle. The days are spent with one-on-one horsemanship instruction, educational demonstrations and using the landscape as your arena. Spend the evenings around the dinner table discussing the day’s experiences. | 8/28-9/4 |
Zapata Ranch | Intermediate Horsemanship with Cam Schryver Call to Book:719-257-3043 | Cam is two-time World Champion Extreme Cowboy and all those that have had the pleasure of riding with him know that his teaching methods are clear, practical and above all, fun. By applying working ranch horsemanship and riding by feel, you will leave the week feeling a deeper connection to the horse and will better understand how to communicate, developing a better handle. The days are spent with one-on-one horsemanship instruction, educational demonstrations and using the landscape as your arena. Spend the evenings around the dinner table discussing the day’s experiences. | 9/4-9/11 |
Zapata Ranch | Advanced Painting Horses with Jill Soukup Call to Book:719-257-3043 | Draw, sculpt, and paint the horses of Zapata Ranch with the guidance of Jill Soukup, the acclaimed Western artist who specializes in equine paintings. Discussions and exercises will cover the importance of understanding equine anatomy, what makes a good drawing, composition and color. Activities will include photo opportunities of horses running, horses working under saddle, cowboys and cowgirls riding and studying corralled horses, demonstrations and critiques. Space is limited to 12. Intermediate to advanced skill level is suggested. | 9/11-9/16 |
| Zapata Ranch | Harvest Weekend Call to Book:719-257-3043 | This special weekend provides a deeper experience of the Zapata’s remarkable food program. Learn more about the local production of fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat–including the conservation bison raised on the ranch–that will be served at each meal on the Lodge lawn. In addition to a guided hike on Saturday, you can explore the ranch, the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the surrounding area at your leisure. | 9/16-9/18 |
| Zapata Ranch | The Strenuous Life Retreat with Ed Roberson Call to Book:719-257-3043 | The retreat will focus on activities and topics that were of great importance to President Teddy Roosevelt more than a century ago and are now the foundation of Ed’s personal and professional lives today–vigorous outdoor adventure, large-landscape conservation, charismatic megafauna, land stewardship through ranching, voracious reading, and the history of the American West. | 9/18-9/23 |
| Zapata Ranch | Harvest Week Call to Book:719-257-3043 | This special weekend provides a deeper experience of the Zapata’s remarkable food program. Learn more about the local production of fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat–including the conservation bison raised on the ranch–that will be served at each meal on the Lodge lawn. In addition to a guided hike on Saturday, you can explore the ranch, the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the surrounding area at your leisure. | 9/23-9/25 |
| Zapata Ranch | Writing Workshop with Pam Houston Call to Book:719-257-3043 | This workshop will be generative, with participants writing new work inspired by the surrounding ranch and using this physical world to help access our emotional world. Pam will guide you in discussing elements of craft and accessing the ranch and all its creatures and components as metaphor. | 10/9-10/16 |