The Old West perseveres in northern Colorado in the form of dude ranches, perhaps best defined as a western ranch converted into a resort for tourists. Visitors can do everything from mounting horses to explore to amazing Colorado mountains to doing activities like cross-country skiing.

Here’s a list of some of the best dude ranches in Colorado:

1. Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch

Located along the Colorado River in Parshall, Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch is a historical ranch filled with “old-school cowboy charm” and plenty of activities. Guests can enjoy horseback rides through the high-country trails and zipline over rivers. Kids can participate in horsemanship lessons and outdoor games, and anglers can do Gold Medal fly fishing along a private stretch of the river.

2. Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa

This resort spans over 6,500 acres, blending “Rocky Mountain adventure with luxurious lodging.” Guests can get hot-stone massages at Ranch Creek Spa, go fishing, fat-tire biking, or cross-country skiing. Guests can also take a backcountry Snowcat tour and enjoy great views of the Continental Divide.

3. C Lazy U Ranch

Spanning 8,500 acres of Granby countryside, C Lazy U Ranch offers guests plenty of unique activities. Guests can take a horseback ride, explore Willow Creek’s fly-fishing spots, or take a hive tour and learn about honeybees.

4. Drowsy Water Ranch

Hidden in a private valley in Granby, this dude ranch offers an “authentic, family-friendly” experience. Drowsy Water Ranch offers horseback rides to spectacular mountain views and rafting excursions with Mad Adventures.

5. Latigo Ranch

Located in Kremmling, Latigo Ranch sits on a mountainside. There are overlooks stretching 75 miles to the Continental Divide. Guests can also take horseback rides throughout over 200 miles of scenic trails winding through 40,000 acres of Colorado backcountry and National Forests.

6. Snow Mountain Ranch/YMCA of the Rockies

Set among over 5,100 acres of “rolling meadows, aspen groves, and spruce forest,” this ranch offers offers 82.5 kilometers of groomed track and trails for cross-country skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer.

7. Arapahoe Valley Ranch

This ranch features glamping tents, tipis, cabins and campsites across its property. The historical lodge, which dates bac to the 1900s, also includes the Red Dog Saloon (a 80-square-foot water hole). Guests can enjoy Lake Granby and even explore the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

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