Your trip to Vista Verde is coming up soon!
In preparation for your arrival we are providing you some information to help you make the most of your vacation. This information is intended to help you better anticipate and appreciate the events of your stay as they unfold. For those of you who are visiting Vista Verde for the first time, you may feel a bit lost with all that is going on at the ranch if you haven’t read through this information. For those of you who are VVR veterans, keep in mind that we have made some changes this year, so please take a few minutes to refresh your memory on the ranch experience. Even if it’s on the plane on the way out here, having looked through this information will “help us help you” take advantage of all there is to do at Vista Verde.
Among other things in the below information, you will meet our talented staff. They have been carefully selected through an intensive interview process that verifies their work ethic, love of the outdoors and care for people.
We are confident that the team will serve you promptly, pleasantly, and professionally. We are often asked about the etiquette of tipping at the ranch. Our staff is compensated so they do not rely on tips for their pay, and there is no expectation of tips.
However, if you would like to leave a special thank you, we ask that you not tip individuals but recognize the overall contribution of the team by simply including it in your final payment. We will add your contribution to a tip pool to be distributed among the entire team. We look forward to sharing our home with you and providing you with an unforgettable vacation experience.
Schedule of Activities
There are so many choices for fun adventures at Vista Verde! Each evening we will come around and check in with you to plan the next day’s activities.
Early Summer Short Stays
Early Summer Short Stay Schedule May 24-28
Kid’s Early Summer Schedule May 24-28
Little Buckaroo’s Early Summer Schedule May 24-28
Tween’s Early Summer Schedule May 24-28
Teen’s Early Summer Schedule May 24-28
Early Summer Short Stay Schedule May 28-June 1
Little Buckaroo’s Early Summer Schedule May 28-June 1
Kid’s Early Summer Schedule May 28-June 1
Summer 6-night Stays
Main Summer Schedule of Activities
Little Buckaroo’s Schedule of Activities (Pre-school age 3-5 years old)
Kid’s Schedule of Activities (Elementary School age 6-10 years old)
Tween’s Schedule of Activities (Middle School age 11-13 years old)
Teen’s Schedule of Activities (High School age 14-17 years old)
Adult-Only Fall Stays
August 18 – September 21 Stays
Cattle Round-Up Week Schedule September 22-28
October 5 Nights Short Stay October 6-11 and 13-18
A la carte stays October 18-November 27
Thanksgiving 4-night stay November 27-December 1
Safety
In order to enjoy your stay at Vista Verde more fully, we would urge you to observe the following safety precautions:
FIRE SAFETY
Although there’s nothing like sitting by a nice warm and cozy fire on a cool night or crisp morning, out of control fires can occur. We ask that you please read all the instructions located by your wood-burning stove before operating it. If you are unsure or have problems with any part of your stove, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance. Fire is our greatest concern!!
NO SMOKING
All the ranch buildings and cabins are smoke-free, and the use of marijuana or illegal substances is strictly prohibited. A cleaning charge will be added to your final bill if the smoking policy is not respected.
HORSES
Please stay outside of the corral and pastures unless otherwise directed by the wranglers. In a herd setting, horses can get possessive and even aggressive.
HATS
A brimmed hat with no strap or stampede string can blow off your head, possibly spooking the horse behind you and causing an accident. Stampede strings are required and available for free at Fancy’s Mercantile and the Barn. We will be happy to help secure them to your hat.
HELMETS
If you prefer, we have a supply of riding helmets for your use. Parents are responsible for fitting helmets for their children. Helmets are also required on any mountain bike trips with our guides, and we recommend wearing a helmet when biking on your own as well.
KEYS
It’s a very safe place here, and we don’t typically use locks on our cabin doors. But, if you would feel more comfortable having a key please just ask at the front desk upon arrival.
SUN
Even when the air is cold, the sun at this altitude is intense and can be very harmful to bare, untreated skin. Please wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
DOGS & CATS
While the ranch dogs love to be petted, they don’t have the same liking for being teased or “ridden” by kids. Cats are important workers around the ranch and provide our first line of defense against critters. Please do not invite them into your cabin for a nap or snack. Despite what they may tell you, they are indeed fed well and often and have their own homes. Likewise we train our dogs to stay away from the eating areas during mealtimes. Please don’t entice them to come visit you. They all know better, but it’s hard to resist bacon!
EYEWEAR
Protective eyewear must be worn on any fishing trips, and it is recommended for mountain bike trips as well. In fact, it’s a good idea to wear sunglasses whenever outside because at this altitude, the sun is very intense.
FOOTWEAR
Shoes with a sharp-angled heel (preferably cowboy boots) are a must for riding! Hiking shoes or shoes with lugged soles can stick in the stirrups and are prohibited. We do have an eclectic supply of boots you can borrow for the week. They are located on the front porch of the barn.
SPEED LIMIT
Please keep your speed below 15 mph when driving on the Ranch Road. It can be quite dusty, and there is always the possibility of injuring a child, animal, or hiker.
GETTING LOST
Please let somebody know if you are going to go on a trail by yourself. Let them know where you are going and when you expect to come back. Then, stick to your plan so if you don’t show back up, we know where to look for you.
CRITTER & PESTS
Although we pride ourselves in offering upscale accommodations, we also face the reality of living right in the middle of wilderness and wildlife. We do our best to avoid unwanted critters and pests in your ranch home, but they are a bit inevitable. Please let us know if you do have unwanted house guests and we will do all we can to remove them. You can also help us help you by keeping doors shut and not leaving out opened food.
WATER
In the dry climate we’re in it is easy to get dehydrated quickly. Therefore, you should always bring water with you on any outing. You’ll find water bottles at the barn and the Adventure Center.
BOOSTER SEATS
Colorado Department of Transportation requires children under 4’9″ to be in a booster seat. If you need a booster seat for your child, please indicate so on your Advanced Guest Information Form or let us know at least 24 hours before arrival.
LEAVE NO TRACE
As members of the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association and in partnership with Leave No Trace, we are committed to observing the LNT principles, which we promote as we explore and enjoy the natural world surrounding the ranch. Our guides will be happy to share more details on LNT if you would like more information.
EMERGENCIES: IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS, PLEASE USE THE PHONE AT THE FRONT DESK AND CONTACT THE EMERGENCY MANAGER ON DUTY.
Guest Services
In order to enjoy your stay at Vista Verde more fully, we would urge you to observe the following safety precautions:
CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT TIME
Check-in time is 4:00 pm and check-out time is 9:30 am. Guided activities are not included on the day of check-in or check-out. If your flight gets in early, we will typically plan on picking you up and taking you to Steamboat to grab lunch and check out the cute downtown area until it’s time for check-in. We’ll do the same on check-out day if you have a later flight. If you have an early departure, please check-out the evening before you leave. Otherwise we can settle up with you the morning of your departure. Also, if you would like to ship your luggage home, we are happy to take care of that if you provide a credit card number for the shipping costs. And, if you’d rather keep your cowboy duds here until your next visit, we are happy to store them for you!
FRONT DESK
Our front desk is staffed from 7am-9pm each day. Please stop by if you need anything or have any questions. For emergencies after hours please use the phone at the front desk and contact the emergency manager on duty. Or, if your cell phone does work in your cabin, you may call 970-879-3858 and press 9. That number rings by Roxy’s bedside at night. Please only call if it is a true emergency.
GRATUITY
Although we do not add any gratuity and our staff doesn’t work for tips, we often have guests ask us if and how they can leave a gratuity because they really want to give something extra for them as a thank you. In the event that you would like to leave a special thank you for the staff, please just include it in your final payment and we will divide it up among the crew evenly. Our staff works as a team, and we encourage that team effort by asking staff to not accept individual tips. Please keep in mind, there is absolutely no expectation of a tip.
BEVERAGES
A selection of complimentary wine and beer is offered in the dining room during mealtimes. There is also a beverage order form in your cabin if you would like us to restock your refrigerator with drinks. For the wine connoisseurs, Jonathon’s Private Cellar List is a Wine Spectator award list that offers some of his favorite wines for an additional charge.
SPRING WATER
Do you miss bottled water? Well, our very own private spring is the source for all the water on the ranch. That means the water right out of the tap is certified and regularly tested to be as good, if not better, than what you buy in the stores.
ENTERTAINMENT
We have a small book and DVD library upstairs in the Great Room for you to borrow. Please note the due to our remote location there is limited bandwidth so streaming services don’t work. If you would like to have movies or shows to watch while at the ranch, you should download them at home or before you arrive at the ranch.
FITNESS
A treadmill, elliptical and free-weights are in the Fitness Center.
HOUSEKEEPING
You will find a full set of amenities, robes, hair dryer, humidifier and fan in your home. If you need anything else, please let us know. Our fantastic housekeeping fairies offer three options for housekeeping service during your stay. You will have the opportunity to choose what option you feel most comfortable with as you fill out your Advance Guest Information form.
SHUTTLES
Transportation into town for shopping or other activities is available, typically given 24 hours notice. We ask your cooperation in helping us minimize driving trips by combining with other trips already scheduled. If you need a special item from town, we can add it to our list and get it on our next town run. We do not provide transport after dark, unless it is to catch a flight.
POOL
The Vista Verde pool is located just behind the main Lodge and is open from 10am-6pm. There is no lifeguard on duty. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by and adult or older sibling. Pool towels are available in the bathroom at the pool. The pool is open during the peak summer season and closed in the late fall when the weather gets cooler.
LAUNDRY
24-hour turn-around laundry service is available for our guests with a service charge of $2.00/lb. For laundry that you would like washed please use the cloth laundry bag, located in the master bathroom cabinet/closet in your cabin or room, and leave it by the front door before you head down for breakfast. Please remember that we are a ranch and not a Laundromat, and while we will do our best, we cannot guarantee results. And finally, if you need to weigh your luggage before you depart for the week, there are scales available at the front desk. To be sure we get your laundry back to you before you pack up, service can be completed up until the day before your departure.
LOST & FOUND
If an item is left lying around the ranch we typically leave it for a few days for the owner to come back and get it, and after that move it to the Lost & Found bin in the Main Lodge. Items left in accommodations after check out will be brought to a Lost & Found bin. If we know who it belongs to, we will contact you to find out if you want us to mail it back to you and will charge the card on file for the shipping charges. The Lost & found bin is emptied at the end of each season.
TELEPHONE
Cell phone reception is hit or miss up here in the mountains, but we do have reception boosters in each cabin to help you be reached in case of emergency. We do encourage you to turn off your phones and take this time to disconnect. If you must be in touch, please refrain from using your phone for talking in common areas and on guided activities. Please, no phones or tablets in the dining room. The guest phone is located in the east entry of the Lodge just outside the Dining room. There is no charge for domestic calls. If you receive a message at our main number, we will get it to you as quickly as possible.
INTERNET
The Main Lodge has wireless internet if you have your own computer, or you can use our laptop in the Great Room. For parents who want to keep kids off the world wide web while at VVR, our Wi-Fi is now password protected. Stop by the front desk for the password.
We absolutely insist that you have the most recent and updated virus protection program before you use the internet service so that you do not infect other computers on the network.
NEWSPAPERS
If you must keep up with the outside world, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal are available in the Great Room each weekday.
OUTSIDE GUESTS
Occasionally our guests have friends in the area and want to have them out to the ranch for a meal. We welcome this, given at least a 24 hour notice. The price of their meals ($55/lunch and $125/dinner) will be added to your bill unless you tell us otherwise.
SOFT GOODS AND SUPPLIES
Cowboy gear and other apparel, gifts, jewelry and postcards can be purchased at Fancy’s Mercantile. Many of the things you might forget (toothpaste, sunscreen, etc.) are available at the Front Desk. There is also a selection of hiking socks, biking shorts, and other outdoor gear available for purchase at the Adventure Center.
SPECIAL REQUESTS:
Do you have an item that you forgot to pack, or realized you need now at the ranch? We would be happy to purchase these items and add them to your bill. We have town runs Monday and Friday and can get them on those days for you.
Program of Activities
These are some of the special activities that are offered on specific days. Please refer to the Schedule of Activities for the days and times.
SETTLING IN
On Sunday afternoon the main event following check in is to meet with the wranglers, who will be fitting your saddle and matching you with your horse. Around dinner time we will hold a quick orientation so you can hit the ground running Monday morning.
SUNRISE STROLL
If you’re up early and want to get outside in the morning to stretch your legs, join us for a walk on Monday in front of the Lodge at 7am. We will take you on a two mile walk down the driveway to get your appetite going for breakfast. Towards the latter part of the fall, when it is still dark at 7am we do not offer the stroll so enjoy a little more sleep!
HAPPY HOUR
Meet down in the Great Room for an après ride, hike, fish or bike drink! In addition to catching up about the day’s adventures, we use this time to meet with you to plan out the next day’s adventures.
DINING
You will find that we take eating very seriously here at Vista Verde, and you will not go hungry while at the ranch! Typically breakfast is served in the dining room or on the patio with continental options available starting at 7:30 and hot breakfast served from 8-9. Lunch is most often on the patio from 12:30-1:30. Dinners alternate between casual cookouts and formal dinners (more info on that below), but typically start at 6:30. In traditional dude ranch fashion, we mix and mingle at meals and often the staff join the meals as well.
``FORMAL`` DINNERS
The nights that we offer “formal” dinners are events in themselves. These multi-course meals are intended to be leisurely and offer you a chance to spend time getting to know the other guests, while the kids enjoy a more simple Dine ‘n Dash dinner and activities. The teenagers are welcome to join you if they are happy to eat what is offered on the adult menu and sit through a longer meal. Conversely, you are welcome to join the Dine ‘n Dash dinner if you would rather have a more quick and casual meal. We will plan for all the adults to be at the formal dinner and all the teens to be at the Dine ‘n Dash dinner unless you tell us otherwise by breakfast of the same day. The meal may be formal, but the dress code is still casual. If you would like a table reserved for two on a given night, we are happy to accommodate you with advance notice, but typically we all sit together at large tables together.
WINE TASTING
Try some different wines and learn a little about the many varietals and regions. Sit back, relax and swish and sip with Chef Jonathon.
PADDLE BOARD
Looking to get out on the water? Join us to learn how to paddle board on one of our nearby lakes. Following a short drive to the lake enjoy the views, some sunshine and a splash in an alpine lake. You can make it a leisurely afternoon of drifting around on the board, or work up a sweat paddling so you can jump in the lake to cool off! (Paddle boarding is offered during the peak summer season but not during the late fall when the weather gets cooler.)
ARCHERY
Remember the days of flinging arrows at a fading target at camp? Well, prepared yourself for a little different experience here. Learn about the intricacies of this sport with a program set up by avid hunters. Yes, we will start you with basic targets during the safety demo, but then you will quickly move out to a gorgeous setting on the ranch where you’ll be on the hunt for life-like 3D targets. We have a great selection of equipment that will allow guests (11 years old and older) or size to find archery success, not to mention a ton of fun!
CARLA'S PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
Are you frustrated that your pictures aren’t turning out as well as you’d like? Do you have a new camera that you don’t understand how to use? Would you like to be able to take better nature pictures? Then join Carla Jones to spend some quality time with your camera and a professional.
WILD YOGA
Join Devyn to either ride or hike to a scenic spot in the aspens for a 1 hour all-levels yoga practice. You just have to figure out how to put your chaps on over your yoga pants!
HAMMOCK TIME
If all the activity has you worn out, and you just want to relax with a good book, ask about our hammocks, which are hung around the ranch and just waiting to help you kick your feet up.
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
Most evenings we offer some sort of entertainment. Some nights are casual and just involve a campfire and conversation. Some nights are more of an event with musicians or line dancing. Keep in mind that all of these are optional if you are just too tired to take one more step! If you would like to reserve a campfire pit complete with a s’mores kit, please visit the front desk and we’ll help get you set up.
Horses and Riding
Horseback riding is one of the key ingredients in our activities program here at Vista Verde, and we want to make it as enjoyable as possible. Our mission with our equine program is to provide our guests with a high quality program that caters to all abilities. We want to generate a sense of accomplishment for all of our guests by creating a positive experience and providing opportunities to learn new skills and techniques pertaining to horsemanship and animal husbandry.
TRAIL RIDES: Get ready to have the “ride of your life” as you and your horse explore the untamed wilderness of the Rocky Mountains. Whether ambling through the peaceful forest or cantering by the wild flowers in the meadows, our well-mannered horses are ready to accompany you on special adventures throughout the week.
We offer small group trail rides that range from an hour to two-plus hours, as well as an all-day ride towards the end of the week. Rides are tailored to each rider’s ability. Whether you desire a serene, scenic ride or a more challenging fast ride, our wranglers will adjust the rides based on your desires and ability. We specialize in “adventure rides,” that is, experiencing a more active riding experience than you would normally encounter on a nose-to-tail trail ride.
HORSEMANSHIP CLINICS, LESSONS AND CATTLE WORK: Another exciting opportunity through our equine program is to further your understanding of these amazing creatures. One of the main themes of our clinics is to think about the horses’ perspective on life. Why do they act the way they do? Just how perceptive are they? Join us in one of our clinics and find out!
Our various Horsemanship Clinics are a great way to learn more about communicating with your horse, proper riding techniques and new skills on horseback. There are a variety of options with the clinics, from basic riding skills to cattle work and ground work.
If you want some more specific instruction, our wranglers are happy to offer instruction per your request on trail rides. Or, we also offer semi-private riding lessons several times during the week. These are 1 hour sessions limited to 3 riders per session. You tell us what you want to work on, and we’ll focus on that specific goal.
SPECIAL EVENTS: Every morning we run the horses in from their pasture and each afternoon we run them back out for the night. Even those of us who have seen it hundreds of times are still mesmerized by the beauty of a herd of horses thundering along. Grab your camera for an early morning delight or check with the wranglers in the afternoon to find out when they’ll be running them out and to which pasture so you can get set up for the photo of the week.
Happy Hour with the Horses is a very special opportunity to observe the horses in their natural setting while moseying through the lush pastures. Meet the wranglers at the pasture gate on Friday evening.
Getting Started: On arrival evening, our wranglers will spend a little bit of time with each of you to get some more background on your riding experience and expectations for the week. Based on this, and your Advanced Guest Information (you filled yours in, right?), you will be assigned your very own horse for the week.
The riding program begins in earnest with the Orientation ride either the first morning or afternoon. This is a very important time, as we will go over how we do things on the trail and how our horses are trained. If you want to ride at all, you must attend one of the Orientation rides. Safety is our main concern, so our first ride allows riders and horses to get to know each other through ground work and practicing skills on the trail with lots of personalized instruction. You may also spend some time in the arena following the short ride to dive deeper into some of the skills and get to know your horse better with a wrangler giving instruction. This also allows the wranglers to evaluate your experience and expectations so we can better tailor our trail rides. For more timid riders, we can stay closer to the barn and take it a bit slower.
Speaking of expectations, just as you have expectations for us to provide you with a wonderful riding experience on your vacation, we have expectations for you that must be met in order for us to do that.
- Please be realistic about previous equine experiences.
- Respect and obey the wrangler’s suggestions and rules during any horse activity.
- Please note that our wranglers reserve the right to deem any rider unsafe to ride for various reasons. We want you to have a blast riding and learn a lot, but most importantly we want to keep you and your horse safe.
- Never approach a horse that is tied up without permission or assistance.
- Backpacks are discouraged while riding. However, if a rider has any kind of pack on they must dismount before removing or adjusting the pack in any way.
- Never use a camera around, or on horses without the wrangler’s knowledge and permission. While riding, cameras must be secure (not dangling from your neck). Also, if you must take your phone on the ride to use for a camera, please turn it on airplane mode so you don’t disrupt the experience receiving phone calls or texts.
- Always have the reins in hand while riding.
- Never change or adjust clothing while mounted without checking with your wrangler first.
- Regardless of experience, you must attend the Orientation and follow the safety rules.
- If there are any questions and/or concerns, please communicate them to us in a timely fashion in order for us to make any necessary changes as soon as possible.
- You need to acknowledge the inherent danger of equine activities and adhere to all safety rules and regulations while at the ranch.
- Please recognize your responsibility to fellow riders. What one rider does affects all other riders. Usually the “rule breaker” isn’t the one that gets hurt. Rather it is an innocent accompanying rider that pays for the momentary lapse of judgment or arrogance of someone overlooking simple safety precautions.
- You should realize that riding is a sport. You are a participant, not a passenger. You need to be aware of your horse and what you need to be doing at all times. Horses do have a mind, and they will use it. It is your responsibility to guide your horse.
- While there are many fitness levels and body types, if you have someone in your party over 250 lb, please contact us so we may assess rider safety and set realistic expectations for you.
- Lastly, in order to ride you must be able to mount and dismount independently. We do provide mounting blocks to help our guests and the horses for a more graceful and pleasant mounting experience!
UNDERSTANDING HORSES: For some of you, this trip may be one of your first experiences around these wonderful creatures. It may help you to understand a little more about why they act the way they do.
- Horses are highly social animals and want to remain with the herd. A horse that is separated or falls behind others on a ride may become nervous or anxious. A horse may express his anxiety by whinnying, tossing its head, prancing or running to catch up.
- Eating is survival for horses, so they will want to eat grass even when out on a ride. Please help us remind them that they don’t need to eat while they are working, which will help make your riding experience more enjoyable.
- Within the herd, horses have a distinct pecking order. Certain horses are dominant while others are submissive. The submissive ones may be nipped or kicked if they get too close to a more dominant horse. Be alert when the ears flatten back and the tail starts to switch, as that is a sign that the horse is unhappy and may be about to kick another!
- The instinctive response of a horse in danger is to flee. If something startles the horses in the corral or on the trail, a horse may “spook” or “shy” and try to run to safety.
- Lastly, horses are creatures of habit. Riders depend on this trait and train horses to respond to leg, hand, and voice signals. It can confuse them when they receive different signals from different riders, so please use the signals that we ask you to use.
Throughout the week, learn and enjoy. In doing so, you will have some great rides, good laughs and fun adventures on horseback with all of the wranglers at VVR!
Hiking, Biking and Fishing
At VVR we pride ourselves on providing a fantastic horse program. Our talented guides have that same pride in our hiking, mountain biking and fishing programs. They are hoping to entice you to join them for an adventure during your week at the ranch.
HIKING: Vista Verde sits at the doorstep of the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness area, one of the most spectacular and abundant watersheds in Colorado. Our hikes may follow spring fed creeks, climb up to panoramic views or just meander through a field of wildflowers.
Even for the very fit, it does take some time to get used to the altitude. Therefore, we plan all-day hikes for later in the week. This gives you a few days to acclimate so you can enjoy the long hike more.
Your guides will tailor each hike to your fitness level and desired scenic experience. We’ll take you on a short, casual wildflower stroll, an epic all-day summit attempt of one of the biggies, or a family afternoon exploring and playing in the Gilpin Waterfalls. Let us know what your desires are for the day and then enjoy our amazing backyard on your own two feet.
MOUNTAIN BIKING: Have you ever wondered what real mountain biking is all about? Well, here’s your chance to find out with our fleet of custom built in Steamboat Moots mountain bikes, and our skilled mountain biking guides teaching and spotting you. No need to be super-fit or even a biker, just bring your sense of adventure, and we will teach you the basics right here on the ranch.
Now for those of you that want more, we have miles and miles of non-technical forest service roads that offer spectacular scenery and exercise as well as some of the best cross-country single-track in Colorado. For those new to the sport, you can hone your skills with instruction and then head out on the trail with a guide for an amazing experience on the trail!
For those that just want to ride around without a guide, ranch bikes are available next to Coyote Corral. Ice Cream biking has also become a ranch favorite, just a ride to the Clark store for your favorite flavor.
FLY FISHING: There’s a reason fly fishing is so addicting—it’s peaceful and scenic, challenging and exciting all at the same time. Our guides look forward to helping you enjoy this experience, whether on one of our stocked ponds on the ranch, out on a small stream or bigger river, or up at a high alpine lake.
We provide top of the line rods, reels, waders and boots for those who want to try fly fishing for the first time, are avid anglers, or somewhere in between the two. And for those of you (including youngsters) who just want to drop a line in the water somewhere on the ranch, spinning equipment is available from the Kids’ Wranglers. For river trips we do prefer to have guests be 13 and older, but if you have a passionate fly fisher who is younger let us know, and we can explore the options.
The State of Colorado requires a license if you are to fish off ranch property. We recommend you purchasing a 5 day license for Mon-Fri of your stay at the ranch. We are able to purchase the license for you, but it does require us collecting a lot of sensitive personal information.
RIVER READ: Does the idea of relaxing by the river sound more appealing than fishing? If someone in your party is heading out to the river with a guide, you can join them with a book or your camera. We’ll bring a comfortable chair for you to kick back and listen to the melody of the river.
Please note that all-day guided trips may be available on days other than Friday, but in order to accommodate the rest of our guests the half-day trips take precedence. If we are able to make it work to take an all-day trip earlier in the week, we are happy to accommodate your requests.
Optional Adventures
There are so many great things to do here at the ranch. But if you’re looking for something a little different, here are some additional options.
GOLF
Two excellent 18-hole golf courses are located in town:
The Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club is a Robert Trent Jones II designed golf course. Fish Creek flows near five of the holes, and the course is flanked by aspen and evergreen trees. The course has a total of 6,906 yards and is equipped with a driving range, putt/chip green and sand bunker.
Steamboat Springs Haymaker Golf Course is a Championship par 72 Scottish (Links) Style Layout. Designed by noted golf course architect, Keith Foster, this course gives beautiful views of the Yampa Valley. The course has 7,308 total yards and was nominated by GOLF DIGEST as “Best New Course Design” back when it was developed.
MASSAGE
Soothe your sore muscles and free up your stress related tension with a mixture of deep tissue and Swedish massage, pressure points, and stretching. Massages are typically scheduled on Tuesday-Friday in the afternoons. The fee is $160/60 min and $215/90 min and Sara, our world-class therapist will meet you for your appointment in the massage room.
Please keep in mind, once we sign you up for these optional activities, you are committed and will be billed for the service.
UTV TOURS
Want to take an off-road adventure? Book a two or three-hour guided trip and we’ll shuttle you up to the foot of Hahn’s Peak where you’ll hop in a Polaris RZR 4-seater at SLO (our sister property) and cruise over off-road terrain (some smooth, some bumpy!) with incredible views of the Routt National Forest and surrounding peaks, creeks, and rivers. Drivers must be 16 with a valid license. Spots fill up fast, so talk to the Front Desk early in the week to book!
PRIVATE WATER
Perhaps you would like to fish on selected private waters. These are available through our membership in the Rocky Mountain Angling Club. Rod fees and reservations for these hot spots are required, so let our guides know early in the week if you are interested in fishing private waters.
Staff Bios
Who is going to be taking care of you, serving you, and heading out on adventures with you? Click here to learn more about the great people who make Vista Verde such a special place to visit.