Colorado Trails Guest Ranch

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Family fun abounds at Colorado Trails Ranch located in the beautiful San Juan Mountains just outside of historic Durango, Colorado. With its comprehensive Western riding and children’s programs plus some of the best fly-fishing in Colorado, the ranch offers an array of activities for the entire family.

You’ll find that we tailor our riding program to accommodate all ability levels. If you’re a new rider, we’ll teach you the basics; if you’re an experienced rider, you will appreciate the quality of our horses and the opportunity to do more than just “nose-to-tail” trail rides. We offer morning, afternoon, and an all day ride with no more than six guests to a wrangler. We group our rides by ability (and desire). The rides range from scenic walk rides to loping through trees and meadows. Instruction is an integral part of our program.

We offer a full service fly-fishing program with over two miles of private water on the Florida River, special guided trips on the San Juan River, and stocked fishing on ranch ponds. Our guides provide professional services for novice and expert fishermen, and we provide all of the essential supplies our guests will need. We can also set up a fishing excursion into the high country with small mountain streams and a little more challenging experience.

In addition to horses and fishing, guests can enjoy our heated pool and hot tub, exciting river rafting on the Animas River, guided hikes, trap shooting and riflery, archery, horseshoes, volleyball and basketball. We offer an optional guided trip to Mesa Verde National Park (at an additional charge). You can also enjoy an evening at a rodeo in Durango, western dancing, a hayride and cowboy campfire sing-along and an ice cream social.  Of course, you can also enjoy the peacefulness of our beautiful Colorado mountain scenery and just relax.

Our children’s program divides kids aged 5 through 17 into three groups, each with their own counselor and plenty of activities. The program is geared around what the children want to do and their abilities. In addition to all the above mentioned activities, the two older kid’s groups have a chance to do some power tubing at nearby, beautiful Vallecito Lake. Please let us know if you’ll need a babysitter for children younger than 5.

Mealtime is special at Colorado Trails Ranch, whether guests are enjoying themselves in our magnificent dining room or on a cookout under unbeatable Colorado skies. Guests savor home cooking with choice meats, fish and poultry grilled over an open fire or baked to perfection, garden crisp vegetables and salads, plus fresh baked breads and desserts. With advance notice, we are happy to accommodate most special diets. Give your diet a vacation too, and indulge. The mountain air and all the activity will certainly stimulate your appetite.

Our barns, pool and infrastructure have all been re-built since 2012. From 2013 to 2016, we have replaced all of our cabins with larger, more comfortable cabins. Each cabin has a bathroom for every bedroom, a living room and great covered porches. We have cabins for extended families, small families, singles and couples.

The best part about vacationing at our dude ranch is the camaraderie and the lasting friendships formed with the other guests for both children and adults. This is priceless. And the time spent with your own family creates memories to last a lifetime.