A dude ranch sounds fun but what exactly do you do? Great question, let’s answer that for you. At Black Mountain Ranch, you call the shots. No rigid schedule to follow, you do what activity we have that you want to do.

Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 800-967-2401 with any questions (even if you want us to talk you through this!) Also, please feel free to check out some helpful pages for rates and information and more about what a dude ranch actually is!

Here is a sample of what a week at the ranch might be:

SUNDAY

Arrive from a free shuttle from the Vail airport. Settle into your cabin made from local lumber and orient yourself to your new amazing surroundings.

After you settle in, our Chef will have a delicious BBQ dinner to welcome you to the ranch. Dinner at 6,706 feet just tastes better! Then head to the Saloon to grab a drink and meet the other guests and wranglers.

MONDAY

After delicious home cooked breakfast and coffee to start the day, it’s time to meet your wrangler and head on down to the corral to get paired with your horse and take a short ride.

Lunch is served outside to enjoy the cool mountain air, then off for another great ride. Nothing beats spending the day in the saddle at our dude ranch!

Head back into the ranch to watch the horses stampede by on their way to pasture while enjoying a drink at the saloon. A beer after a day riding never tasted so good!

End your day in the hot tub reading about the history of the area. Soak your feet and unwind with breathtaking views and a wonderful freshly cooked dinner.

Tuesday

Try your hand at skeet shooting down at the shooting range (no experience required). Clay pigeons and 12 or 20 gauge shotguns. The kids can stay at the cabins and visit our baby goats or see our chicken coop.

Lunch, then a long ride up to John’s Lake for a dinner cooked over an open fire.

Have any questions so far?  Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 800-967-2401 with any questions.

Enjoy the campfire as the moon rises and the stars shine brighter than you have ever seen!

WEDNESDAY

Wake up early to help feed the goats! Nothing gets our younger guests more excited than to wake up to this!

Afternoon trip spent whitewater rafting! We bus down into town to hit the river and enjoy the afternoon on the rapids. If you are not in the mood to hit the waters, stay at camp and our Wranglers will take you out for an afternoon ride.

Before dinner, head out into the pastures to walk up to hang out with the grazing horses.

THURSDAY

Sunset in the Rocky Mountains! After breakfast, it’s pack camp time! Enjoy a long ride over the 10,500 ft Black Mountain to a backcountry camp set up for you.

 

Spend the evening outdoor grilling, story telling and wood chopping. Exchange stories at the campfire and with a margarita in hand.

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FRIDAY

Ride in from Pack Camp. Time for a hike and then a swim in the pool! Later, try your hand at roping (with instruction if you need it)!

Now it’s time for a trip to Steamboat Springs for the rodeo! See local barrel racing star Avery May race in the PeeWee division.

Saturday

Cattle drive!!! We do a cattle drive every week. Head out in the morning and to round up the Longhorns.

Next challenge is to then get them all into the arena.

Now test your roping skills so we can check up on the calves.

After lunch, we push them back up to the high country.

Celebrate an amazing week!

Settle in after dinner with a cocktail as you watch the locals use the arena for some calf roping practice.

Watch the horses stampede for the final time this week.

Sunday

Watch a new member of the Black Mountain family be born (this doesn’t happen all the time).

Happy trails! See you next year!

Sound like a vacation you want to take? Remember, your vacation is flexible to what you want to do. This was a sample week, yours will be lead by you!

Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 800-967-2401 with any questions. Email at howdy@blackmtnranch.com too!

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