Fill your lungs with fresh air. Shut out the city life and relax in the country. Adventure awaits on this roundup of 8 Canadian dude ranches.
Depending on the guest ranch, there are many activities to choose from: horseback riding, cattle drives, archery, swimming, kayaking, panning for gold, hiking, fishing, wagon rides, biking, and campfires. Do as much or as little as you want.
Affordable is not usually a word put together in the same sentence as dude guest ranch. Due to the somewhat isolated locations it costs more to bring in groceries and other supplies. Utilities cost more, and keeping horses is an expensive business. Ranch accommodations range from hotel rooms to cabins and are usually rustic, but comfortable, and this is the place to enjoy good old-fashioned country cooking. No price can be put on the scenery and fresh air, but with the Canadian dollar hovering around .75¢ U.S., now is the perfect time to experience an affordable horse-themed vacation at a Canadian dude ranch.
- Big Bar Ranch
The Big Bar Guest Ranch is located outside Clinton, BC, about a 6-hour drive from Vancouver. The ranch is open year-round and rates vary depending on accommodations and if a meal plan is purchased. They have hotel rooms, cabins, and camping. Horseback riding rates are extra. Other ranch activities are hiking, biking, archery, canoeing, and fishing. For more information: www.bigbarranch.com
- Free Rein Guest Ranch
The Free Rein Guest Ranch is in Bridge Lake, BC, about a 6 hour drive from Vancouver, and all meals and horseback riding are included in their rates. Besides exploring the trails on horseback, guests can enjoy mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, or a dip in the lake. For more information: http://www.freereinranch.com/
- Three Bars Guest Ranch
The Three Bars Guest Ranch is in Cranbrook, BC, in southeast BC, about a 5 hour drive from Calgary, Alberta, and about 12 hours if driving from Vancouver. Rates include all meals and horseback riding. Other ranch activities include mountain biking, hiking, fishing, swimming in an indoor pool, and tennis. More information: www.ThreeBarsRanch.com
- Sundance Guest Ranch
The Sundance Guest Ranch is in Ashcroft, BC, about a 4 hour drive from Vancouver. Rates include 3 daily meals and horseback riding. When not riding, guests enjoy hiking, a games room, and swimming in the heated pool. For more information: http://www.sundanceguestranch.com/
- Red Lodge Guest Ranch
Located in Bowden, Alberta, rates at the Red Lodge Guest Ranch vary depending on the size of cabin, and horseback riding and meals are extra. Ranch activities include wagon rides and zip lining. For more information: http://www.redlodgeoutfitters.com/
- Falcon Beach Ranch
Falcon Beach Ranch is in Falcon Lake, Manitoba, just over an hour’s drive from Winnipeg. Accommodations are self contained cabins. Meals are not available. Horseback riding rates are extra. More information at: http://falconbeachranch.com/
- Legacy Ranch
The Legacy Ranch in Clinton, BC is about a 6 hour drive from Vancouver. Rates include meals but not horseback riding or wagon or sleigh rides (extra charge). Ranch activities include hiking the back country trails and fishing. More information at: http://legacyranch.ca/index.html
- Campbell Hills Guest Ranch
The Campbell Hills Guest Ranch is located near Kamloops, BC, about a 5 hour drive from Vancouver. Rates include all meals and horseback riding. Other ranch activities are mountain biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and archery. More information at https://www.campbellhillsguestranch.com/
Don’t forget your cowboy or cowgirl gear before saddling up for a dude ranch vacation. Get all your riding apparel at Horse Loverz 10% Off Any Order with Email Sign-Up, and if you’re looking for a specific hat, check out Hat Outfitters. Disclosure: if you click one of the links and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission for the referral.
Happy riding!
Have you stayed at any of these guest ranches? Let us know what you thought.
Dude ranches are complete family package of vacation. Its like a family reunion. Dude ranch vacation connected you with the nature and gets you closed to your family, and disconnected from your daily hectic works. The food is also awesome at ranches and they offers rich range of activities like riding horseback, fly fishing, spa, swimming pool plays, tennis, golf and many more.