The Right Dude Ranch for Everyone

Dude ranches are as different as the people who visit them. Just about everyone can find the vacation of a lifetime at the right dude ranch. Some ranches are small with the emphasis on riding, great home cooking, limited other activities. Guests at these ranches truly feel they are part of the ranch family. Larger ranches may have a wide selection of facilities and activities other than riding. Some of these ranches have resort level amenities and service.

In all cases horseback riding western hospitality and spectacular scenery are centered to the experience.

Dude Ranching holds an important place in Western history and remains the only way for many people to truly experience the West as it was and, in a few special places, still is.

Sadly, there are pretenders who are dude ranches in name only. Some are merely hotels with a few horses out back. Only authentic, high quality dude ranches are invited to join this website. To be eligible each ranch must be a member of the Dude Ranchers' Association (105 members in 11 Western states and Canadian Provinces, founded in 1926), Arizona Dude Ranch Association, Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association, Montana Dude Ranch Association, Wyoming Dude Ranch Association. These associations all have strict membership criteria and are leaders in preserving, protecting and promoting this great industry.

Each of these ranches have passed their associations admission requirements. To find out more about these associations just click on their names above.