Activities at Our Dude Ranch in Colorado Abound

For people of all ages and abilities!

Saddle Up!
Superb daily trail rides are Elk Mountain Ranch’s most distinguishing features. The high, remote location offers miles of trails through aspen forests and open parks. The ranch owns an excellent string of horses, and they are matched to the rider’s abilities, offering an opportunity to bond with your very own horse for the week. Rides are kept small in size and all are accompanied by a competent and caring wrangler.

Tom’s a true believer in natural horsemanship, and the Monday morning orientation at our dude ranch in Colorado is both informative and entertaining. Ride options include lunch on the trail, a champagne brunch ride, and an overnight pack trip.

Children’s Program
Elk Mountain Ranch encourages families to enjoy their vacation time with one another. Families ride, dine and play together. For our little buckaroos, seven years and under, a Children’s Program is offered where the kids can enjoy riding in the arena, hiking, fishing, arts and crafts, and caring for the petting zoo animals while still ensuring plenty of quality family time.

White-Water Raft Trip Spectacular
Ride the rapids of the roaring Arkansas River through the heart of Brown’s Canyon. Buena Vista is known as the “white water capital of Colorado.” Enjoy a picnic lunch at the headwaters of the Arkansas, instruction on safety and how to get the most fun out of your run. You will be in the hands of a thoroughly professional and bonded rafting company who will provide fully equipped white-water rafts, expert boatmen, and life jackets. Wetsuits and booties are available to rent for a minimal charge. Be sure to wear sun tan lotion – we’ll provide the smiles.

Hiking & Exploring
The remote high mountain location of our dude ranch in Colorado places you in the very heart of unspoiled wilderness scenery, and in an area rich in Ute Indian and mining history. Historic Indian battlegrounds, where prized arrowheads can still be found, are but a short distance from the ranch. Wildflowers and wildlife are the prizes waiting for the naturalist. Just over every rise is a ghost town, a prospector’s cabin or a mine shaft tailing left as historic testimony of the gold and silver rush fever of more then a century ago.

Scenic Trips
To give our guests a chance to appreciate our region, we offer weekly vehicle trips to Aspen. Aspen, formally Ute City, is one of the most famous ski resorts in the U.S. During the summer it offers the visitor a day filled with tours of historic buildings, fine shops, boutiques, and quaint restaurants. The spectacular drive to Aspen will take you across Independence Pass, the Continental Divide, and Mt. Elbert… Colorado’s highest.

Trap & Riflery
Included in your stay will be the opportunity to “prove” and “improve” your marksmanship on our ranch target range. We provide the guns, competent supervision and instruction, and the targets. It’s great fun and something you will want to try your hand at if you have never had the chance.

Fishing
Our dude ranch in Colorado located near several excellent “secret fishin’ holes”, so bring your flyrod or spinning tackle (or use ranch equipment). The river, stream, and high mountain lakes offer terrific Rainbow Trout angling. There are two stocked ponds on the ranch property. We can show you how to clean your trout, and we will fry it for dinner. Delicious.

And Much, Much More!
Enjoy archery, horseshoes, volleyball, badminton, tetherball, basketball, arena soccer, softball, mountain bikes, square-dancing, cowboy poetry, musical entertainment, checkers, chess, backgammon, frisbee, spectacular sunsets, and more. Massage is available. There is also a golf course nearby.