What exactly is a dude ranch? Dating back to the late 19th century, dude ranches were first opened as authentic Western adventure vacations. The focus of the trip is horse riding – from slow-paced rides to advanced trots over tougher terrains – but the ranches also provide loads of other activities like cattle penning, horseshoeing and watersports. Great for friends, families and couples alike, you can choose from fine-dining stays to humble abodes – the Dude Ranch Association (DRA) has so much information. Let’s saddle up and discover the best dude ranches the USA has to offer.

The sprawling Rancho de los Caballeros spans 13,300 rideable acres across the High Sonoran Desert where guests can watch the iconic Arizonan sunset against the Bradshaw Mountains. Wind down from a day of horse rides with their resident naturalist and wrangler by kicking back in the saloon and stomping away to the live music. Alternatively, catch the hayride to their star-lit cookout and mingle with your fellow riders.

Looking for somewhere quiet? Kay El Bar Guest Ranch’s numbers are limited to about 25 guests. This DRA-listed establishment will see you pass by abandoned gold mines, trot through sandy riverbeds and take in a variety of desert vegetation. You also have the opportunity to release your inner wrangler by getting stuck in with cattle work, which usually involves herding selected cattle from one part of the arena to another. After all that hard work, sizzle away in a hot tub or sit back in a hammock.

There’s a distinctive West-meets-South hospitality at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. Up to 50 guests can go horse riding through some of the most scenic spots in the Ozarks, while foodies will work up an appetite with breakfast cookouts and steak fry events. This ranch is particularly great for mini cowboys and cowgirls, with nature walks, ziplining and axe-throwing to try out.

Greenhorn Ranch is ideal for first-time riders with a team of 60 horses including Quarter Horses, Belgian Drafts, Haflingers and Mustangs. Wind your way along Greenhorn Creek and admire the views from Lyle’s Meadow – there’s some 500,000 acres of public land to ride through. Horses aside, you can go wine and whiskey tasting, or even give karaoke a go. Make yourself at home in the 12-room lodge with its wood-burning fireplace, or for a little more privacy opt for their creekside studio cabins.

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Up in northern California lies the intimate Marble Mountain Ranch, which caters up to 24 guests at a time. This family-owned dude ranch puts on a variety of riding options, from trail rides through the rugged Klamath National Forest (be prepared for uphill and downhill sections and creek crossings) to developing mountain riding skills in a covered arena. The fun doesn’t stop there with rafting, archery and birdwatching also available. Once you’ve tucked into hearty homemade food, hit the hay in your own cottage.

Rankin Ranch has been a working site since 1863 and is one of the oldest and largest family-owned ranches in the Golden State. Whether you’re new to the saddle or an old pro, you can tackle some of its 31,000 acres over the flat meadow lands and bumpier trails through the mountains. Tuck into ranch-based, home-cooked meals before retiring to your charming duplex cabin.

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Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort is the largest of the DRA’s California options, accommodating up to 250 guests. This luxury space encompasses 10,500 acres and offers fab dining options. There’s also an incredible spa and fitness centre where you can unwind with a massage, facial treatment or outdoor yoga. Ride through the Santa Ynez Valley on a two-hour scenic trail where you might spot a deer, learn how to guide a horse through an obstacle course or keep your feet firmly on the ground by watching the twice-weekly rodeo extravaganza. 

This historic working horse and cattle ranch provides year-round fun. Head out on a horse ride to explore the old wagon trails on Alexander Mountain, ascend the slopes of Eagle Ridge or soak up the captivating views from the Rim Ride. The Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch also offers cattle drives, western cookouts and evening entertainment, so rest assured that there’s plenty of old-fashioned family hospitality to be had. Situated in the Colorado foothills, there’s no wondering why this dude ranch is also a popular wedding venue. 

Situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, C Lazy U Ranch has been around since 1919. Tradition meets modern luxury with stone fireplaces and western-style furnishings in the ranch lodges, and there’s gourmet dining with farm-based, seasonal menus worth working up an appetite for. Don your best cowboy hat and guide your horse through a variety of easy, intermediate, advanced and road trails, while kids can show off what they’ve been up to at the family-friendly ‘Shodeo’ every Saturday.

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Get ready to giddy-up at The Grand Oaks Resort with a range of equestrian activities to choose from. Unlike many other ranches, there’s more of a focus on events (like polo), training and competition rather than trails. Guests can tour around the grounds in a rented golf cart, enjoy catch-and-release fly fishing or go swimming at the pool and spa. Many of their cottages and estate homes feature private stables, and there’s also an on-site RV park.

Combine luxury glamping with an authentic rodeo experience at Westgate River Ranch. This 1,700-acre site gives you the chance to stay in luxe teepees, although the slightly-less-glam RV park is also very popular. Horse rides last 45 minutes, which leaves plenty of time for other activities, like their cutting-edge Trap and Skeet Range. However, the stand-out at this Floridian dude ranch happens every Saturday night: their 1,200-seated arena is where you’ll watch expert riders compete at the longest-running Saturday night championship rodeo. Yee-ha! 

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It’s BYOH (Bring Your Own Horse) at McCulley Farms, with covered shelters for the horses and campsites or comfy cabins for the guests. McCulley Farms are renowned for their Withlacoochee Trail Ride, which takes place twice-yearly over one of the longest paved rail trails in Florida. They’re open year-round and you can wind through the Withlacoochee floodplain past ancient sinkholes; take a special four-hour ride to pretty Pots Spring or check out the 19th-century log cabin that was built by the original site owners, the Wells family.

Tucked away in a valley in the Frank Church Wilderness lies Diamond Ranch, and its remote location alludes to its off-grid atmosphere. The quiet cabins and suites are within earshot of trickling streams and offer great views. Choose from wilderness photography tours, twice-daily guided trails and lake and stream fishing in Loon Creek, one of the best fly fishing streams in Idaho. Every Friday they host an all-day lunch ride and whichever trail you book onto, you’ll be paired with a horse based on your experience level.

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The DRA’s largest dude ranch in Idaho is the Red Horse Mountain Ranch – and what a spectacular site it is. They cater for up to 60 guests at a time, who can choose from gentle morning rides, scenic trails or, for those more hardy, all-day trails (six hours) which take in backwoods, creek basins and unbeatable views from mountain ridges. But that’s not all, with guided fishing trips, kayaking tours and mountain biking also on offer.

Expect all things outdoorsy at Elkhorn Ranch. This 1920s-built dude ranch makes the most of the wide open space with horse rides through high mountain country and an epic watersports scene. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced rider, everyone can take in this majestic part of Montana that borders Yellowstone National Park. Most of their rustic log cabins were built in the 1930s, along with the hand-hewn log furniture, but guests will appreciate modern additions like long soaks in the clawfoot bath-showers and electric heaters for cooler mornings. 

This family-owned dude ranch caters up to 120 guests, with adult-only retreats available in the spring and autumn months. At Averill’s Flathead Lake Ranch, expert wranglers lead guests through the trails of its 2,000 acre-site, along with plenty of specialty rides worth donning your chaps for. Take an early morning ride to their breakfast camp – just follow the scent of sizzling bacon. But you don’t have to just stick to dry land, as their lodge is based on the shores of Flathead Lake, so you can dive into a range of watersports, from sailing to canoe racing. 

History meets horseback at Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch, situated in the area where famed Apache warrior Geronimo was born. Their guided horseback rides are like no other with ancient pueblos, pictograph-clad cliff-dwellings and arrowheads of the Mimbres Mogollon Culture all part of your daily trails. Come evening, guests can unwind with s’mores over the campfire, battle it out over a board game or lay back and marvel at the star-sprinkled sky above. Their cabins – well-stocked with freshly baked cookies – overlook the horses' pastures.

With its woodland setting and close proximity to Prospect Mountain, Roaring Brook Ranch Resort is a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. It certainly helps that Lake George Beach State Park is nearby too. Guests can experience plenty of horse riding and hiking trails while other activities at this family-friendly resort include an indoor and outdoor pool, table tennis and volleyball, so there’s guaranteed fun for everyone. After spending the day as a cowboy, sleep like a king or queen in the rustic-feel rooms. 

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The Rocking Horse Ranch is one of the world’s largest guest ranches, home to 119 horses and over 500 miles (805km) of trails to tackle. This dude ranch offers a year-round roster of family-friendly activities including bonfire singalongs, summer barbecues and an indoor water park. Fancy a break from the saddle? Don’t miss horseshoe demonstrations where expert farriers (blacksmiths) shoe the horses. There’s plenty of other animals to meet, including Scottish Highland cows, Nigerian Dwarf goats and Plains Zebra.

Enjoy Ridin Hy Ranch all year round with their campfires, snowmobiling fun and old-fashioned rodeos to look forward to. Their 700 acres of trails in Adirondack State Park allows horse riders of all levels to explore the mountainous wilderness, and staying in their chalet cabins means you’re within walking distance of the beach and pool. There’s fun for all ages with pony rides, hayrides and wagon rides also on the activities programme.  

Become a rootin’, tootin’ Texan cowboy at Wildcatter Ranch and explore the beauty of North Texas Hill Country. Choose between 90-minute group or 60-minute private horse riding tours through some 25 miles (40km) of trails with local guides, or take to four wheels on a Wildcatter Ranch Tour where the driver takes guests up to a local mountain and around the Brazos River before returning to the horse barn. Guests can also learn the age-old cowboy skill of roping (on a prop, rather than an actual horse), before enjoying true Texan cuisine at the phenomenal steakhouse.  

It’s romance-meets-ranch-life at BlissWood Bed & Breakfast, located in the foothills of Texas Hill Country. This working ranch is a perfect getaway for couples where you can take a picnic overlooking the Enchanted Lake, stay in a charmingly historic cabin and keep an eye out for the deer, peacocks and antelope that roam the ranch. Their one-hour horse rides explore the meadows, forests, creeks and ponds at a leisurely pace and with special packages like the Ranch Photoshoot available, you can truly escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Located just 10 miles (16km) from Bandera (the ‘Cowboy Capital of the World’), West 1077 is situated on an old cattle ranch. There’s a definite Old West ambience thanks to its small design and limited guest numbers. Unlike other dude ranches, there’s no pressure of sticking to a strict schedule, with horse riding, hiking trails and birdwatching available at times that suit you. Recharge your batteries in their cowboy lodge, luxury cottage, spacious house or one of their 14 cabins which include handmade cedarwood furniture.

You’ll be able to yarn the hours away after a visit to Dixie Dude Ranch. This working ranch spans some 725 acres and raises horses, longhorn cattle and Spanish goats. Head out on an hour-long horse ride through unspoiled views of the surrounding Texas Hill Country at a walk or trot pace, and there’s also the chance to take riding lessons. Tuck into home-cooked barbecue ribs, pork sausages and brisket in the chow hall or outdoor barbecue, and spice things up by buying a bottle of their homemade Texan chilipitin hot sauce.

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Bull Hill Guest Ranch is part of a working cattle ranch that first opened in 1903. Spanning over 50,000 acres of lush mountain landscapes, temporary cowboys can head out on easy-going trails through untouched territory or tackle Lake Roosevelt and the Columbia River as part of a longer trail. There are loads of other activities to try out, from yoga to wine-tasting, with Old West-style cabins to get a good night’s rest in. Its Cookhouse isn’t just a place to eat but to socialise – guests arrive as strangers but leave as family.

First founded in 1961 as a dude ranch and veterinary clinic, the K Diamond K Guest Ranch is a working cattle and horse ranch in Eastern Washington. There are over 70 horses kept at this year-round site, where upon arrival up to 12 guests are taken on a tour of the site pulled by Belgian Drafts. Time your visit right and you’ll be able to witness an Old West Cattle Drive as the animals are moved into the mountains for summer grazing and back home again in the autumn for winter calving.

The Paradise Guest Ranch is a haven for connecting with nature. Go horse riding across sage meadows, fishing on French Creek or hiking among the wildflowers. Guests are paired with one of the ranch's 185 horses before heading out on a morning or afternoon ride through Bighorn National Forest, or head to the rodeo arena for team penning and horsemanship classes. Their ranch-western meals will keep you going through the action-packed days, before you unwind on the outdoor deck of your elegant log cabin – either that or a visit to the on-site masseuse will help you wind down.

With its idyllic location roughly an hour from Yellowstone National Park and sharing a border with Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest, the Lost Creek Ranch is one of Wyoming’s finest dude ranches. Wranglers pair guests with one of their 80 horses before mounting up and heading out on a ride. There’s also a spa, fitness centre and heated pool and hot tub, making it a great spot for rest, relaxation and a whole lotta riding. 

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Western Pleasure Guest Ranch caters up to 20 guests all year round, where you can book adult-only stays during the summer or feel festive with an old-fashioned sleigh ride during the winter. Whenever you choose to visit, their daily horseback rides will see you enjoy the breathtaking views and fresh mountain air of Idahoan wilderness. Themed rooms like Grandma's Room, the Miss Belle and the Duke make for cosy stays, plus there's entertainment in the form of evening campfires, basketball and an outdoor hot tub.

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