Added as a new activity on the ranch in 2020, archery is fun for all ages. Our guides teach you the basics of how to safely operate the bow and give you a chance to practice on traditional targets. Then it’s time to head out into the field for a “hunt.”

You might find deer, antelope, turkey, and some more animals to practice your new found skills. (Don’t worry, these faux target animals will take it easy on you to give you a chance to take a shot without running away from you.)

Everyone should try this fun sport – we suspect you’ll be surprised at how much you enjoy it!

If you want to enjoy the outdoors without overexerting yourself, try ice fishing this winter.

Our guides transform the fly shop for the season, providing all the gear you need to venture onto a frozen lake. After a short walk across the ice to a heated shelter, you can drill your own fishing hole or watch the pros at work. Settle into a cozy chair with a hot cup of cocoa or coffee, take in the serene winter scenery on Steamboat Lake, and wait for a bite. It’s a unique, relaxing way to take in the mountain views and experience the winter season at Vista Verde.

We use snowmobiles a lot around the ranch for utility–grooming trails, transporting gear, hauling kids (and adults) up a hill so they can tube down, and more.

But, we also have a fleet available at our sister property, Steamboat Lake Outpost, just up the road at the base of Hahn’s Peak. This is a fun way to explore the back country and access terrain that you otherwise can’t reach in the winter.

We’ll set you up with a guide for a 2-hour snowmobiling excursion and drive your machine through the snowy landscape up towards Farwell Mountain.  You can book your own sled, or double up if you or your partner would rather be a passenger.  You loved your last snowmobile tour and want to take it to the next level? Ask about the Powder Riding Class and take your machine off the groomed trail for the next adventure.

Although many families think it will be fun to ride snowmobiles together on their vacation, we do not recommend snowmobiling for kids, as it can get boring and sometimes cold to sit behind their parent for two hours. Happy kids make happy parents!

Snowmobile tours are an add-on charge.  Helmets and bibs are provided.

Can’t imagine coming to Colorado in the winter without buckling up your boots and hitting the slopes? You can have the best of both worlds at Vista Verde Ranch!

Enjoy the Ranch and all the activities, the luxury cabin, and the amazing meals, but then pick your ski days and let us shuttle you to the Steamboat Ski Resort for downhill skiing or snowboarding.  Or, if you’ve never tried skiing before and want to give it a shot, we’ll help point you in the right direction to set up a ski lesson with a resort instructor for the day.

Come down for a skier’s breakfast and hop into one of our ranch vehicles for a scenic drive to the ski resort. We’ll drop you off just steps away from the gondola that awaits to carry you up the mountain. At the end of the day, we’ll have a driver waiting to pick you up to bring you back to your bubbling hot tub and a fabulous meal waiting for you in the Main Lodge.

Ski for Free

From February 15 through March 22, ski for free on us! Spring is the best time of year to enjoy the Ranch and the Steamboat Resort and we have the sweetest deal around. Enjoy mountain transfers and a $200/day/person credit off of your stay for every day you ski. It is truly the best of both worlds so book your ranch ski stay today!

In the lane, snow is glistening….you know how the song goes. Here at Vista Verde Ranch, you can enjoy the scenes of a Winter Wonderland from a horse-drawn sleigh. A sleigh ride in Colorado? What could be better? Maybe if there was also hot chocolate? Done.

Several times a week we offer sleigh rides in our beautiful one-horse sleigh.  Gather your sweetheart, your friends, or your kids, and head out over the snow-covered meadows around the ranch.

Each day we hitch up our draft horse team to haul the huge load of hay out into the horse pasture and feed the horses.  We invite you to jump on the sleigh and either just enjoy the ride, or help us toss out hay to the herd.

Come join us for a sleigh ride!

Okay, we have to admit that we had never thought we would actually be adding tubing to our list of activities. Snow tubing was just something we did for fun with the kids, right? Well, the past several winters has changed our minds on that!

Tubing is one of our most popular winter sports (can you call it a sport)? Adults, kids, friends, families, strangers…they all seem to be asking to go tubing at least once during their stay.

Maybe it’s the convenience of having our guides pull you up on the snowmobiles before you whip down the hill. Maybe it’s the cushy tubes. Maybe it’s just the childlike fun that never gets old of zipping down a hill. But it’s a hit, and we invite you to channel your inner child and try tubing on your winter vacation!

The joy of snowshoeing is getting out and soaking up the backcountry without having to worry about technique or form. Why?

Because there is literally no techniques to snowshoeing besides being able to walk like a duck! With some simple pointers about going up and down hills, off you go. If you would like, a guide can take you on a tour up to Hinman Lake, the Cliffs or somewhere even further away from the ranch.

Or you can go and romp around by yourself. Snowshoes allow you to access some places that you just can’t get to on skis. You can make it into a great workout in the deep snow, or just go for a stroll on one of our snowshoe specific trails that are already groomed for you.

We continually try to offer new programs to keep the Vista Verde vacation experience fresh, especially for our returning guests. Changing things up also keeps it fun for all of us in the kitchen. We hope you will enjoy getting involved with our wine tasting or cooking classes. — Chef Jonathon

Are you stiff from skiing through backcountry powder or sore from the saddle?  Let our professional licensed Massage Therapists work on your muscle fatigue so that you can jump out there for some more fun!

Massage Therapy has many health benefits that can help make your entire vacation more enjoyable, especially in the high altitude of the Rocky Mountains. It improves blood and lymph circulation, reduces stress, boosts the immune system after long travels, can assist in easing altitude discomfort, eases stiffness and muscle aches, and improves flexibility.

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 improve you nature photography?

Local photographer Carla Jones joins us weekly to help you work out the kinks, and help you better capture the beauty of the area surrounding the ranch, or maybe just your kids!