Reunite On An Unforgettable Dude Ranch Vacation

Winter dude ranch vacations at Colorado’s Vista Verde Ranch are ideal for families and multigenerational groups seeking exciting activities for all ages.

There’s something magical about reuniting on a snow-filled family vacation. Perhaps it’s the special alchemy of playing together in the snow, spending time by a crackling fire and enjoying outdoor winter sports while surrounded by spectacular mountain vistas. Western dude ranches provide the ideal environment for family groups to reconnect while enjoying nature’s splendor. There’s something to please all generations at these vacation destinations.

While dude ranches offer an impressive array of activities, it’s also the shared experiences, connections and memories that keep families coming back for more. Parents, grandparents and children renew their bonds with each other and make close friends with the staff and other guests. Vacations at these ranches create memories that last a lifetime.

There’s a beautiful ranch in Colorado where families come together to enjoy all the best the winter season has to offer. That place is Vista Verde Ranch. If you’re looking for a memorable snowy getaway for your family group, here are 12 great reasons to start planning to reunite at Vista Verde Ranch.

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Gorgeous Winter Wonderland With Easy Access

Vista Verde offers families a picture-perfect winter vacation setting. The ranch is located on 540 acres amidst Colorado’s Routt National Forest, just a short drive from the famed skiing town of Steamboat Springs. Families can reconnect with nature, enjoy outdoor activities in the fresh mountain air and immerse themselves in the peaceful stillness of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain grandeur. Vista Verde Ranch typically has plenty of snow, with the region receiving an average snowfall of about 350 inches yearly.

Vista Verde Ranch is conveniently located near Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN), making access hassle-free during the winter months. Six airlines offer non-stop flights from 16 airports nationwide, and hundreds of connecting flights are available. Vista Verde provides complimentary transfers from Yampa Valley Regional Airport. Guests can opt to make the scenic drive to the ranch from Denver International Airport if they are comfortable with winter driving conditions.

Luxurious All–Inclusive Family Vacations

AAA Four Diamond Award–winning Vista Verde Ranch is a truly all–inclusive property. The ranch’s all–inclusive rates include luxurious accommodations, gourmet meals, snacks, premium beverages including beer and wine, an extensive array of winter activities such as guided cross-country skiing and snowshoeing tours, horseback riding, weekly workshops, superb children’s programs, winter sports equipment, excellent guides and instruction, complimentary airport transfers, free shuttles to Steamboat Springs for downhill skiing, and more.

Family groups vary in age and interests, and some vacations may include solely adults. Vista Verde’s winter seasons can provide a perfect match. The ranch’s snowy adults-only season runs from early January until mid-February, and winter family stays stretch from mid-December through the holidays and mid-February through late March to coincide with school vacations.

A Five-Star Home On The Range

At Vista Verde Ranch, families can select from 12 well-appointed log-style cabins with private hot tubs as well as three deluxe rooms in Vista Verde’s Main Lodge. Cabins range from one-bedroom bungalows to large four-bedroom cottages. The spacious cabins feature Western decor with gorgeous log beds, cozy down comforters, wood-burning stoves, humidifiers, heated bathroom floors, private hot tubs, a refrigerator stocked with drinks, and a constantly refilled snack basket. With no televisions and limited cell service available in the cabins, family groups can easily unplug from technology and focus on time together. Internet connectivity is available in the Main Lodge.

Families enjoy relaxing in front of crackling fires in their cabins and indulging in soothing soaks in the large outdoor hot tub on the deck. In the evenings, guests gather in the Main Lodge’s Great Room with its towering windows and huge stone fireplace to swap stories of their day’s adventures.

Vibrant Community Of Staff And Guests

There’s better than a 1:1 staff to guest ratio at Vista Verde Ranch, and the service is exceptional. The ranch’s staff welcomes guests with genuine hospitality, and Vista Verde quickly feels like a home away from home. Strong connections are easily made here.

Vista Verde has a friendly vibe, with a maximum of roughly 50 guests when families are present and around 30 guests during adult-only times. The ranch enjoys a high percentage of repeat guests from across the country and overseas as well. Guests quickly discover that Vista Verde is a uniquely special place. Chalk it up to the extensive array of activities, exceptional staff, stunning views, laid–back luxury, and warm camaraderie among like-minded guests.

Extensive Array Of Outdoor Winter Adventures

Vista Verde offers a wide variety of winter activities for all ages and interests. These family ranch vacations are stress-free, with little planning needed. There’s plenty of flexibility to choose what to do each day. Families can have fun enjoying all kinds of outdoor adventures, both together and apart.

The ranch features a superb Nordic ski program with guided backcountry touring, cross-country skiing and skate skiing for all experience levels. There’s also horseback riding, guided snowshoeing, snow tubing, sleigh rides, and more. Some activities are offered in all morning and afternoon sessions, while others are featured at set times during the week. Guests can also go snowmobiling and dog-sledding off-property for an extra fee.

Exceptional Culinary Program

Vista Verde guests are treated to delicious gourmet meals prepared by the ranch’s professionally trained chefs. Executive Chef Jonathon Gillespie is the winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence and Saveur Magazine’s Culinary Travel Award. His talent and influence are evident throughout Vista Verde’s dining experiences. The ranch does an excellent job catering to guests with food allergies and preferences. Make sure to notify the ranch when making your reservations.

Breakfasts feature a buffet with fresh fruit, homemade baked goods, and made-to-order items like omelets, vanilla waffles, breakfast burritos and pancakes. Lunch consists of salads, sandwiches, a menu of hot entrees and delicious desserts. Multi-course dinners at Vista Verde include casual buffets and formal adults-only gourmet meals consisting of appetizers, salads, entrees such as beef tenderloin and fresh seared scallops, and delectable desserts. There’s also a Happy Hour social each evening in the Main Lodge.

Winter Horseback Riding And Related Activities

Families can enjoy horseback riding and other horse-related activities during the winter months at Vista Verde Ranch. Hour-long guided outdoor rides across snow–packed trails are offered each day if weather conditions allow. The ranch also holds daily instructional horsemanship clinics in its large, heated indoor arena.

Snowy winter conditions make other uniquely memorable ranch experiences possible, too. Families love bundling up to enjoy a one-horse open sleigh ride across snow-covered lanes, complete with jingling bells and hot chocolate. Guests can also hop on the feed sleigh drawn by draft horses to assist wranglers providing hay to Vista Verde’s herd of more than a hundred horses clustered in the pasture.

Laid-Back Ranch Experiences

Family groups often include members with a variety of interests. Some may be passionate about skiing, while others aren’t particularly interested in snowy outdoor adventures. With its extensive array of activities, Vista Verde Ranch is an excellent fit for these types of family groups.

Vista Verde offers an ideal environment for family members who prefer indoor activities. It’s fun to simply relax in the Great Room by a roaring fire or play board games together. Chef-led cooking classes, wine and beer tasting, leatherworking, archery, photography workshops and other programs are included free of charge. Outstanding massages are available for an additional fee. Evening activities include trivia, music night and other pastimes.

Outstanding Kids Programs

With so many activities from which to choose, Vista Verde is a great vacation choice for families with kids of all ages. For families with school-age children, Vista Verde offers an outstanding free supervised winter children’s program for kids ages six to 13. The kids program operates in the mornings and afternoons, with a break for lunch. Horseback riding activities are available for guests six years of age and older.

Children head to the well-equipped Kids Hut to meet with the kid wranglers and enjoy trail rides and indoor arena horseback riding, tubing, snowshoeing, scavenger hunts and much more. There’s also a Dine and Dash dinner for kids three times a week during the adult formal dinners. This allows children to have a kid-friendly meal before their evening activities while adults enjoy their superbly prepared gourmet feast. 

Memorable Holiday Festivities

Vista Verde Ranch turns into a fairytale wonderland during the December holidays. Generations come together to make treasured family memories and enjoy the wonders of the festive season. Vista Verde celebrates Christmas and New Year’s with lots of fanfare, making guests feel like they’re in a classic Hallmark holiday movie.

In addition to all the winter pastimes, families can sustainably harvest and decorate their own Christmas tree, take one-horse sleigh rides around the ranch, make keepsake ornaments, and much more. Bountiful holiday meals, a family barn dance, and other fun-filled activities add to the magic. New Year’s celebrations feature fireworks, a multi-course gourmet dinner, dancing, children’s activities, and more.

World–Class Downhill Skiing And Snowboarding

Families can enjoy the best of all winter worlds at Vista Verde Ranch, with all types of outdoor winter activities readily available. Vista Verde is located about 25 miles north of Steamboat Springs, home to the renowned Steamboat Ski Resort. It’s a quick drive to Steamboat, and the ranch provides complimentary transportation to and from the slopes.

Family-friendly Steamboat is known for its exceptional deep-powder skiing. The resort offers more than 180 trails across over 3,700 acres, providing exciting runs for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. Four terrain parks are also available for snowboarders. Ski rentals and lessons are available.

Buyouts Available For Family Reunions And Celebrations

Reuniting families often seek out properties that allow them to reserve the entire place for their group. Vista Verde Ranch fits the bill perfectly, allowing complete buyouts for groups of around 26 guests or more during winter non-holiday periods. A three-night minimum stay is required.

Vista Verde Ranch buyouts are popular for family reunions and celebrations. Family groups can customize their activities and menus, and cakes and other delights can be custom-made for special celebrations as well.

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By Nancy Schretter, Contributing Editor

Header Photo Credit: Nancy Schretter