The Best Ranch Experiences in North America
June 7, 2024

Have you always wanted to visit a ranch? We can help you make that dream a reality!

Indulge at a luxury resort ranch, become a real cowboy during a stay at a working ranch or get your teeth stuck into lots of outdoor activities at a guest ranch.

There are ranches all over the western United States and Canada offering amazing experiences for guests with a range of riding abilities amid incredible scenery and open spaces.

Take a look at some of our favourite ranches below;

Working Ranches

Zapata Ranch, Colorado, USA

Zapata, a Nature Conservancy Preserve, is a 103,000 acre property in central southern Colorado, nearby the incredible White Sand Dunes National Park. The land itself is home to bison, antelope, elk and deer.

Activities offered here include horse-riding, hiking, volleyball, basketball, trap shooting, archery and white-water rafting.

Nakiska Ranch, British Columbia, Canada

Nakiska Ranch offers a taste of country living at a real working ranch in an incredible natural setting. The surrounding region of Clearwater offers an environment of quiet seclusion, located approximately half-way between Vancouver and Jasper in the British Columbia interior. Cattle and horses graze peacefully nearby on the border of the beautiful Wells Gray Provincial Park.

Activities offered here include horse-riding, hiking, flight-seeing, boat and fishing tours, canoe tours and rentals and golf.

La Reata, Saskatchewan, Canada

La Reata Ranch is a family-owned working cattle ranch located on 5,000 acres of hilly countryside in the beautiful Saskatchewan River Valley. Get a true ‘hands-on’ experience by grooming and saddling your own horse who you will be paired with throughout your stay.

Activities here includes horse-riding, fishing, boating and a number of authentic ‘cowboy experiences’ which vary by season and may include trail rides, cattle branding (early June) and a cattle drive (late September / early October). You can try your hand at tying a lasso, roping cattle and barrel racing!

Guest Ranches

Goosewing Ranch, Wyoming, USA

Goosewing Ranch is located just 40 miles northeast of Jackson and offers exceptional views of the Grand Teton Mountains. The valley in which the ranch sits is also host to some of North America’s most spectacular game: elk, moose, mountain sheep, antelope, bear, eagles, geese and cranes.

Activities include trail rides, arena riding, fly fishing, shooting, archery, river tubing, wagon rides, biking, swimming and a hot tub.

Dixie Dude Ranch, Texas, USA

Just an hour from San Antonio, nestled in the spectacular Texas Hill Country, Dixie Dude Ranch continues to adhere to its original purpose – a real working ranch where longhorn cattle, Spanish goats, and pigs are raised and where real cowboys work the horses and compete in rodeos.

Activities include horse-riding, swimming, fishing, hiking, hayrides, basketball and volleyball.

Sundance Guest Ranch, British Columbia, Canada

Sundance Guest Ranch is located just four hours from Vancouver in a beautiful setting overlooking the Thompson River Valley and is home to a herd of over 80 horses. Friendly wranglers lead daily morning and afternoon trail rides, offering a leisurely way to explore this rugged and untouched land.

Additional facilities include an outdoor pool, tennis courts, hiking trails, volleyball net and games room. A 9-hole golf course and fishing sites are also nearby.

Resort Ranches

Tanque Verde Ranch, Arizona, USA

Tanque Verde is one of the best-known ranches in Arizona, located on the edge of the Saguaro National Park, near Tucson. One of America’s old cattle and guest ranches, it has now become a luxurious ranch, striving to provide the ultimate ranch experience. Whether it’s the food, activities, or lodging, they take pride in providing an exceptional experience.

Activities include trail rides, arena riding, a breakfast ride, BBQ cookout, swimming pool, hot tub, biking, fishing and a fitness centre.

Lone Mountain Ranch, Montana, USA

Lone Mountain’s location, near the Big Sky Ski Resort and Yellowstone National Park have long made it a popular option. The ranch offers a diverse experience with the ranch life as well as exploration of some of the region’s most beautiful natural areas—all amid warm and genuine informal western hospitality.

Summer activities include trail riding, canoeing, biking, hiking, Yellowstone tours and yoga. In winter, take a sleigh ride or go shoe-shoeing.

Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort, British Columbia, Canada

The ultimate in luxury, Siwash is surrounded by 80,000 acres of Canada’s cowboy country and is rated among the best guest ranches in North America. It is also a genuine, family-run working ranch who are happy to tailor your experience completely to your own needs.

Summer activities can include horse-riding, trout fishing and canoeing. Winter activities at the ranch include snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating, tobogganing and tubing.

This is just a selection of the ranches that are dotted throughout North America. If you would like to visit any of these incredible properties for yourself, or if you have another one in mind, contact us today to get planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip!