7 of the Wildest Cowboy Core Vacations in the U.S.

Updated August 14, 2025 10:20AM

Let’s face it: people love cowboys (and cowgirls). If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last year, it’s that the cowboy core trend has got major legs. After the series finale of Yellowstone last December, the Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren-led flick 1923, a prequel to the neo-Western series, picked up two 2025 Emmy nominations. And while not a Western per se, Netflix’s recent Untamed drama featuring a horse-riding national park detective played by Eric Bana caused searches to spike of fans looking for real-life Yosemite landscapes.

The Yellowstone effect motivated at least 2 million tourists to visit Montana in one year alone, according to a . The Paramount TV series was largely filmed in Montana; Darby, Missoula, the Bitterroot Valley, and Glacier Country. “People saw Yellowstone, and wanted a little piece of it,” says Lucy Guthrie Beighle, director of communications, Western Montana’s Glacier Country. She notes there’s been a huge interest from travelers seeking a taste of the Montana way of life — wide-open landscapes, cowboy culture and small-town vibes.

“Getting to connect with a well-mannered, even-tempered horse, while riding through unadulterated terrain, is the backdrop of so many Western movies and TV shows,” says Jackie Kecskes, equestrian manager at Paws Up Montana, a historic working cattle ranch and resort. You can star in your own Western by joining Kecskes for the morning jingle collecting the ranch horses for the day.

Of course, there’s more to an epic western vacation than simply saddling up for a trail ride. Many of America’s most popular ranch-style lodging hubs also offer adrenaline-pumping mountain bike trails and cross-country skiing. For meditative angler types, there are fly fishing and float trips galore. At its core, the appreciation of the cowboy aesthetic might simply be an excuse for city-sore travelers to get outside and reconnect with their more pioneering roots.

We’ve wrangled up seven ranch-style vacations that offer a Wild West experience and unlimited active adventures.

Situated along the quieter eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, C Lazy U Ranch is the epitome of an active cowboy vacation. Guests have their pick of dozens of activities while staying at the 8,500-acre all-inclusive property, from participating in a cattle drive to strolling along private hiking and mountain biking trails. “When winter rolls in, it opens an entirely new playground including snowmobiling, snowshoeing, [and] cross-country skiing,” says Jeremy Belnap, the ranch’s general manager. After a hearty, protein-centric dinner (think Colorado-sourced ribeye and rainbow trout), guests bed down in one of 38 woodsy cabins.

Paws Up Montana is like Pinocchio’s Pleasure Island for outdoor lovers. Want to compete in axe throwing at a chuckwagon dinner? They’ve got you covered. Fly fish on the Blackfoot River or saddle up for an all-day cattle drive? Yep, they’ve got those too. This luxe expanse of hip home rentals and elegant glamping tents sits on 37,000 acres, rivaling many of the country’s national parks (Bryce Canyon is roughly 36,000 acres). When I visited back in 2022, I was floored by the peaceful serenity (and unlimited snacks) that was ever present on the rural Montana property.

All that room to roam means loads of space for learning equestrian skills, as well as man-powered sports like canoeing, mountain biking, and hiking along Paws Up’s 100 miles of trails. “You walk away with a deeper understanding of the horse and how to develop a relationship with it,” says Kecske, who leads tours with canter-savvy equestrians and newbies��alike.

My favorite activity during my stay was a booty-bumping ATV ride to Garnet Ghost Town. In the evening, kick back around the campfire for a , where kids and grown-ups can experiment with peanut butter and candied bacon to make gourmet s’mores.

Not every cowboy-style vacation has to be a luxurious, all-inclusive affair to be magical. I fell in love with the simple, quaint allure of Muir Trail Ranch when I hiked the John Muir Trail (JMT), back in 2021. Its rustic cabins, hot spring access, and primo location in the heart of the Sierra Nevada truly charmed my dirtbag hiker soul. Sure, you’ll have to hike a rugged five-mile trail from Florence Lake to get to this ultra-remote spot, but once you arrive, you’ll be treated to trail rides, home-cooked meals, and some of the best hiking access in the country.

Pro tip: Pack a picnic lunch and lace up your boots for a stunning 10-mile (round trip) hike up to Sallie Keyes Lakes, which are set in the granite-crested high alpine. Bring a towel if you want to plop into the frigid water—it’s all fresh snowmelt!

Wildest amenities: Guided stargazing, Hudson River floats, trot and canter horseback rides

One of the few true dude ranches on the East Coast, 1000 Acres Ranch is well-suited for both beginner and advanced riders, offering canter and river crossing rides to the experienced and daring equestrian. There’s a plethora of active family-friendly pursuits for non-riders, too. From tubing and fishing along a private stretch of the Hudson River, to disc golf and line dancing classes, 1000 Acres aims to keep folks busy when they aren’t snoozing in cowpoke-style cabins or nabbing a Bear Naked Ale at the .

Set against a backdrop of sky-high tangerine cliffs, Red Cliffs Lodge offers unparalleled access to Arches, Canyonlands, and the mighty Colorado River. After a recent renovation, this tranquil escape is bedecked with mid-century style furnishings and cozy outdoor hang spaces, all a mere 25 minute drive from downtown Moab. Activities and meals are a la carte at Red Cliffs, which I loved when I stayed, because it meant that I could grab a quick snack before heading out on an all-day canyoneering excursion or mountain biking at the legendary Dead Horse Point. Just don’t miss the on-site trail riding program, which lets guests hop into the saddle and explore red rock country, right from the lodge. Even my partner, a self-proclaimed horse skeptic, loved our slow amble through red rock country.

Wildest amenities: Float fishing, private ski hill, barrel racing, on-site goat dairy

At approximately 30,000 acres, Brush Creek Ranch is another cowboy-centric stay that’s roughly the size of a small national park. However, its active and culinary offerings are anything but ordinary, as I learned during my stay, which included mouth-watering farm-to-table cuisine (think hay-smoked carrots and poached wild king salmon with snap peas), horseback riding through the snow, and an all-day adventure on a private ski hill that can only be accessed via snow cat. Though summer is absolutely the resort’s high season, winter months offer unexpected perks, like not having to share the slopes or fitness center and sitting anywhere you desire at breakfast and lunch. Brush Creek is also an Orvis-endorsed fly fishing lodge with fantastic opportunities to cast a line for rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout in the North Platte River. When guests aren’t participating in a cattle drive or heading out on a guided rock climbing excursion, they’ll be treated to homemade cheeses and ranch-raised American Wagyu.

Wildest amenities: Old school saloon, backcountry skiing, 24-hour hot springs

Tucked away in the secluded San Juan Mountains, between the hamlets of Telluride and Cortez, Dunton Hot Springs has managed to take an abandoned ghost town and transform it into a posh and unpretentious getaway for mountain ramblers. In summer, guests can head out on a guided summit of a 14er, like Mount Sneffels, or go horseback riding amidst sweeping views of the high Rockies, while in winter, the area transforms into a skiing and ice climbing mecca. Naturally, when I stayed during a snowstorm, I found myself returning time and time again to the property’s steamy historic bathhouse, which is fed by a naturally-occurring calcium bicarbonate spring. To pass the time, my friend and I took mermaid photos in the rustic hot spring pool and wandered through the property’s impressive library cabin. Meals at Dunton are also a special treat, with the site’s sustainable butcher program rotating through a delectable assortment of meats (like Colorado lamb and tenderloin) and homemade charcuterie every evening.

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