Vista Verde Ranch - Luxury Dude Ranches

In Depth

Just north of the well-known ski town of Steamboat Springs, AAA Four Diamond award recipient Vista Verde Ranch offers an all-inclusive luxury guest ranch experience in a relaxed and casual environment. With a diverse selection of activities, Vista Verde is much more than just a riding ranch, and guests choose Vista Verde for the variety and flexibility in the programs. During the summer guided hiking, mountain biking, fly-fishing, archery, paddle boarding, and yoga accompany trail riding and in-depth horsemanship clinics. Once the ranch is covered with a blanket of snow the draw is back country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, and sleigh rides, snowy horseback rides as well as indoor options like horsemanship clinics, leather-working and photography. After an adventurous day on the trails guests retreat to their cozy log cabins featuring private hot tubs, wood stoves, luxury amenities, and fabulous views to relax and recharge. Meals are a social time with our talented chefs preparing cuisine that walks the line between ranchy and fancy. Adding to the culinary experience is a wine tasting and a cooking class each week. Creative kid, tween, and teen programs make it enjoyable for the whole family, with special times set aside for adult only escapes. At Vista Verde, our goal is to create an environment where our guests can experience true Western hospitality with a luxurious spin and leave the ranch feeling more connected to their selves and their loved ones.

Travel Deals & Special Weeks

Vista Verde Guest Ranch, Colorado - June Dude Ranch Season Kick-off Discount

Help us kick-off the summer family dude ranch season with a discounted stay the first week of June each year. Save up to $700/person for a week-long stay at the ranch. This is always such an energizing week as the staff have been waiting for our first guests to arrive, the valley is bursting with life as the grass is greening up, the rivers rushing with melting snow, and the wildflowers making their first appearances of the year. Grab your family and friends and save on a family dude ranch vacation.

Learn more by calling 970-879-3858. Email Us. Visit Vista Verde Ranch's website.

Vista Verde Guest Ranch, Colorado- Share and Save

We want to make it easier to get your friends together for a Colorado Guest Ranch vacation. During certain times of the season, if more than 2 people share a cabin, additional guests save $100/night off our all-inclusive rates. Get your girlfriends together and save, grab another couple and save, heck maybe even bring your in-laws…..well, we’ll leave that decision up to you.

This offer is valid during our adult-only times, both summer and winter, based on availability. Check out our all-inclusive resort rates for more details on our rates.

Learn more by calling 970-879-3858. Email Us. Visit Vista Verde Ranch's website.

Colorado Ranch Activities

Horseback Riding Trails
Most days, this luxury dude ranch has rides going out in the morning and afternoon, but guests also have the option to go on an early morning breakfast ride and an evening dinner ride once a week. For those who really want to put some solid time in the saddle, this Colorado dude ranch offers an all-day ride with a picnic lunch at destinations like Pearl Lake or the South Fork of the Elk River.

Horseback rides are limited to 2-6 riders so each adventure can be tailored to your riding ability. This guest ranch encourages family rides, but keep in mind the rides will be geared towards the most inexperienced rider. For those looking for a more challenging ride, ranch wranglers will pair you with other riders with the same interest and riding level. There are plenty of opportunities for more advanced riding at Vista Verde Ranch. Ranch staff members have a lot of fun with the amazing horses and wranglers keep things lively all week long with adventurous bushwhacking rides and on-trail instruction that get the horses out of the normal nose to tail riding style. That makes it more fun for them and you!

Horse Riding Instruction
Everyday this Colorado ranch offers a different and interesting clinic or horseback experience that can be great learning experiences for novices and experts alike. Vista Verde Ranch has developed a variety of different equestrian clinics to explore the different aspects of horsemanship, and all are suitable to all riding levels.

From basic horsemanship to cattle work clinics the wranglers provide in-depth instruction starting with understanding how to speak “horse” and moving to correct body position in the saddle at the walk, trot, and lope. The next level of clinics moves into theory and technique that helps riders work with their horse to master the kinds of jobs one does on horseback on a ranch. Individual horseback riding lessons are available almost throughout the week as well. You'll find that each wrangler has his or her own teaching style and background and that allows each of them to give you a different perspective on improving your skills. These clinics offer a wealth of instruction and information that will benefit any level of rider while boosting your confidence and ability on the trail. Your newly developed skills may even give you an advantage in the Team Penning "competition" later in the week!

Fall Cattle Gather
Come late-September, Vista Verde Guest Ranch partners up with a local rancher to help gather their cattle from their summer pasture. The first part of the week is spent in the arena, honing each rider's skills on working cattle. Once everyone is ready to go, guests head out into the National Forest to search out, round up and participate in a ranch cattle drive. These weeks are for those interested in an intensive horseback and trail riding experience and a lot of time in the saddle.

What makes Vista Verde Guest Ranch unique to other Colorado guest ranches and luxury dude ranches is the variety of other activities in addition to an in-depth riding program. Many of the guests choose Vista Verde because one person wants to ride extensively, but for others with different interests, activities abound. Additionally, there is a large focus on interaction with the employees at Vista Verde. The ranch is a wonderful destination for solo travelers and families alike because you will come as strangers and leave as friends with the staff as well as the other guests vacationing there.

More Great Ranch Activities
Summer & Fall Ranch Vacation Activities
Horseback Riding, Cattle Drives, Trail Riding, Wine Tasting, Mountain Biking, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Paddle boarding, Rafting and Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Culinary Adventures, Kids, Tweens, and Teens Ranch Programs, Massage, Yoga, Swimming Pool, Golf (nearby).

Winter Ranch Vacation Activities
Sleigh Rides, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling, Horseback Riding, Ice Fishing, Snow Tubing, Kids Program, Culinary Adventures, Wine Tasting, Yoga, Photography, Massage, Dog Sledding, and other Optional Adventures.

Accommodations

Vista Verde's luxury ranch has 12 cabins and 3 lodge rooms that are luxurious yet, western. All have private baths and range from one to four bedrooms and one to three bathrooms. The ranch accommodations are spacious and upscale while still maintain the casual feel of a ranch. Mixing modern with western, each cabin is decorated uniquely incorporating art, photography, and cowboy antiques in each.

Food

The food walks the line between ranchy and fancy. Some meals are very casual cookouts served on the trail; others are formal, white tablecloth events. All meals are included, as is a selection of house beer and wine.

Area Attractions

Steamboat Springs is a bustling resort town with an old Western charm. In the winter, skiing at the Steamboat Ski Resort is a great addition to a Vista Verde Ranch stay.

Visit Vista Verde Ranch's website to learn more.

At a Glance

Vista Verde is a luxury ranch in terms of the quality of accommodations, food and level of service. But it’s still a ranch and very casual and comfortable. There is a great emphasis on the staff and enhancing the guest experience with interesting and fun loving young people. Best put by a guest, “We were treated like royalty, but made to feel like family.”

Location

Just north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Airport

Steamboat Springs/Hayden (HDN)
Denver (DIA)

Riding Style/Ability

Western

Beginner- Advanced

Season

Summer and Winter

Capacity

52 guests

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
 Corporate Groups, Retreats, Meetings Welcome

Rates

Learn more about winter, spring and holidays rates.

Visa, Mastercard, Personal Check, Cash
Travel Agents Accepted

Vista Verde Guest Ranch- Luxury Dude Ranch

Colorado

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