Luxury Dude Ranch Vacation in Colorado
The classic dude ranch vacation with a luxurious spin on the whole concept.
Luxury log cabins, talented chefs preparing amazing meals, diverse activities, an attentive staff, and wide open spaces all wrapped up in authentic Western hospitality that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
There is so much to know when planning a dude ranch vacation, so let’s start with the basic info. If you like what you see and want more details, we’ve got you covered!
Summer & Autumn At-a-Glance
Dates
- June 1 – October 31, 2025
Family Vacations
- June 1 – August 16, 2025
Adult-Only Vacations
- August 17 – October 31, 2025
- More Details »
Minimum Stay
- June 1 – October 4 – 6 night stays (Sunday-Saturday)
- October 5 – October 17 – 6 night stays (Sunday-Friday)
- October 19 – 31 – 3, 4 or 5 night stays (Sunday-Friday)
Kids Program Ages
- Kids – 3 – 5 years old (new program!)
- Kids – 6 – 10 years old (elementary age)
- Tween – 11 – 13 years old (middle school age)
- Teen – 14 – 18 (high school age)
Rates
- Starting at $766 per person per night.
- Rates are all-inclusive of lodging, meals, beer & wine, activities, guides, equipment, instruction, kids programs, and transfers to and from the Steamboat (HDN) airport.
- Deduct $100/night for children 3 – 13 years old.
- More Details »
Summer Activities Included
- Trail Riding
- Horsemanship Clinics
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Fly Fishing
- Paddleboarding
- “Wild” Yoga
- Archery
- Photography class
- Cooking class
- Wine Tasting
- Evening programs (barn dance, music night, cookout, etc..)
- Summer Activity Details »
Winter Activities A la Carte
- Massage
Check In and Check Out
- Check-in 4:00 pm
- Check-out 9:30 am
All-Inclusive Vacation
When you book your dude ranch vacation at Vista Verde, you can relax knowing that our all-inclusive rates make enjoying your vacation easy.
Please note that there is no additional service charge or gratuity, and there is no expectation of tipping.
Luxury Accommodations & Facilities
Our cabins range from 1 to 4 bedroom, and each is different, like the mountains surrounding us. We will help select the right cabin for your family based on the size of your party. Private rooms in the Main Lodge are great for solo travelers or couples, or for families that want side-by-side rooms with easy access to meals and the Great Room.
Ranch Gourmet
During the summer family dude ranch season families dine together for most meals, but we do have a few nights each week when the chefs prepare what we call a “formal” dinner for the adults and the kid wranglers take the kids off for a dine ‘n dash dinner followed by activities. Wear your jeans, enjoy a glass of wine, and let our chefs wow you with an amazing culinary experience.
There are also a couple special cookouts on the trail during our family dude ranch weeks, so be prepared for an early morning ride to breakfast at a historic cabin as well as an evening ride with the family to a spot on the hillside with views of the Continental Divide and the sizzling sounds of the outdoor grill.
We continue the cookouts into the adult only vacation weeks as long as weather and daylight hours allow.
Allergies and dietary restrictions are happily accommodated with advance notice.
A Typical Day at the Ranch
A typical day during our summer dude ranch season actually begins the evening before when one of us touches base with each guest to plan out your next day. Most days you have the hallmark activities (trail riding, hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, and the variety of kid program options for the kiddos) as well as specialty options being offered that day (ranging from yoga to wine tasting to archery). Each member in your party will choose a morning and afternoon activity and share any special requests or desires. Keep in mind relaxing is always an option. In fact, we encourage VVR&R! They key to understanding our program is to see that while there is structure to the day, there is a great amount of flexibility within the options. And you have to accept you can’t fit it all in, that’s the beauty and the burden of our diverse offerings.
When you arrive at breakfast the next morning we will connect about exact timing and any last minute details for your morning plans. And then off you go!
We all meet back up at lunch, when we gather on the patio to enjoy the meal together and share tales of the trails. During that time we will finalize your plans for the afternoon activities, and we often see guests sneaking off for a quick nap in a hammock before their afternoon outing.
Change out of your dusty clothes, soak in your private hot tub, and following a warm shower and fresh clothes you’ll head on over to the Lodge for Happy Hour. You’ll see a theme that meals are when we gather together, so it’s no surprise that dinner time brings us all back together. A glass of wine during Happy Hour, catching up with your new friends about their adventures that day, map out tomorrow’s plans and it’s time for dinner. Some evenings there will be a program after dinner if you can keep your eyes open. And some evenings we leave it to the star filled sky and the call of the coyotes to close out your day.
Crank open the windows, let the cool, mountain air come in, and fall asleep to the sound of silence.
Special Events
Adult Only
In late-August when the kids are making their way back to school we shift over to our adult-only vacation weeks.
Whether planning a romantic getaway, a solo trip, or gathering with friends for a dude ranch adventure, we are here to show you that dude ranch vacations are not just for families!
Cattle Round Up
Our adult-only vacation times line right up with the time to bring the cows home.
These weeks are perfect for adventurous riders seeking a challenging horseback riding vacation. You will ride over deadfall, climb out of creek beds, and cover lots of miles while you round up and drive the cows home.
