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Horseback Riding

With each generation there are fewer folks that have had the opportunity to ride horses…and that’s too bad. We could get very “philosophical” about riding horses…or even poetic (there is a whole genre of “cowboy poetry”…some of which we will share with you). Riding horseback through the American West is part of our national heritage and we want you get some sense of that when we take you riding. Our wranglers look sharp, our horses are well trained, and our trails are beautiful. Our Colorado horse riding dude ranch offers you a variety of riding options, including instruction, arena riding, one and two hour trail rides, cookout rides, half day rides, and Harold’s high country ride.

We ride to waterfalls, out in the open range sagebrush country, along the Colorado Trail, above timberline, under the amazing Chalk Cliffs, and along mountain streams. In the sense that you could choose to spend most of the week in the saddle, we are a true Colorado horse riding dude ranch.

Some of our rate options include riding; others allow you to pay only for the individual ride that you prefer. Whether you are inexperienced, or own your own horse back home, we will take care of your riding desires. You can’t ride without a wrangler alone, but you will have a chance for some very personalized riding.

A few of our special riding opportunities:

Wrangler’s Breakfast Rides

We have breakfast rides twice during your week. Head down to the corral around 6:30 where the wranglers are waiting with your saddled horse. Ride out to a breakfast of eggs, grits, bacon and coffee, or later in the week for breakfast burritos. You will be back to the ranch around 10:00, just in time for another ride.
"Our time at Deer Valley Ranch was undoubtedly the best vacation time we have spent in many years.  And you and your wrangler staff were major reasons for our pleasant stay."

~ The Smith Family
from Fayetteville, Arkansas

Brown’s Creek Falls Ride

Our better riders will enjoy trailering out to the east face of Mt. Antero, where we take a three hour loop along the Colorado Trail to the beautiful falls on Brown’s Creek. Back just in time for dinner.


Steak Dinner Ride

Saddle up about 3:30, ride along Chalk Creek, up the switchback Colorado Trail, and down the ridge to our cookout site. Our staff will have the beans simmering, and the steak (or chicken) sizzling. Harold will share some jokes and cowboy poetry as you munch on Sue’s special desserts, and then it is down a spectacular trail suspended over our beautiful valley. Back to the ranch just at dark.

High Country Ride

There are not a lot of rides like this one available to the “public”. You will trailer ten miles west, near the old ghost town of St. Elmo, and follow Harold or one of the wranglers up a switch back trail to well above timberline (11,000’ or thereabout). Lunch on a high ridge (if it’s snowing in July, we stop in the trees), and wind your way through aspen, Douglas Firs, and Englemann Spruce. Could that be Kit Carson on his Mule up there leading the ride?

Open Range Ride

Some days we take our top riders out for some off trail riding in more open country. It might be on an old homestead ranch lease, or perhaps the “border” country where the National Forest blends into the pinon lowlands. A three hundred and sixty degree view of mountain peaks surrounds you.