Discover Dude Ranching

Let us help you find a Ranch to Match Your Dreams
Enjoy a taste of the authentic American West where horses, hats, history and hospitality abound. With over 100 carefully chosen member ranches, the Dude Ranchers' Association (DRA) has one to match your dream vacation – perfectly, all while protecting lands, parks, forests and wildlife.
Our Dude, Resort and Working Ranches are in the most picturesque regions of the USA and Canada near historic sites and national parks for a photographer’s heyday! Each has its own unique history, incredible horseback riding tailored to the rider’s age and ability, and exciting outdoor adventures like white water rafting, paradise fishing on scenic rivers, fun hay rides, hikes, golfing. Blue skies, starry nights and the sounds of silence are also included in your dude ranch vacation. Lounge in a hammock until the dinner bell rings and then breathe pure clean air as you rediscover the brightest shining stars peaking out from Heaven.
Want to gaze into a crackling fire instead of a computer screen? Then, it’s time you discovered the majestic beauty of the land and got reacquainted with your family and friends. Join us anytime of year for genuine western hospitality. Prices, programs and activities vary. We guarantee the lodging industry’s highest standards whether staying in a rustic cabin or top end ranch resort. Once you’ve had a taste of a dude ranch, you may never want to go anywhere else on vacation again.
Contact our members today to reserve your perfect dude ranch getaway, or go to http://www.duderanch.org/ for our vacation guide. What a vacation it can be!

There is still time to book your summer dude ranch vacation!

The selection of savings on a family dude ranch vacation this summer are as varied as the ranches themselves. With the array of added value programs and specials at these ranches ranging from Alberta, Canada to Wyoming - there is no better time to pack up the family and head west for that vacation you have been dreaming of:

Why Vacation at a DRA Dude Ranch?
All inclusive packages: meals, lodging, housekeeping, activities at the ranch, horse and tack for the duration of your stay are included in the package.

FAMILY REUNIONS, COUPLES, FAMILIES & SINGLES ALL WELCOME: It make perfect sense! It frees everyone up to have a good time. The cooks, housekeepers and support staff necessary to provide a restful and meaningful event are all provided.

There is something for everyone:
You can choose between a variety of activities: riding, taking a leisurely walk, getting a relaxing massage, sitting on the porch reading a book all the while feeling the stress and tension of everyday life slip away. You do not have to worry about your spouse and the kids or the other guests because they are off having a great time riding, roping, white water rafting, fishing, team penning, swimming, playing tennis, trap shooting , going on hay rides and much much more. By evening everyone is in for a treat. While dinning on down home cooking or feasting on gourmet fare you know there are no dishes to be done. Close the evening out with western dancing, camp fire sing along, a game of billiards or relaxing in the Hot Tub.

Each year families, couples and those traveling alone, are experiencing the wonderful hidden value of the simpler, caring way of life found on a dude ranch. They are learning that dude ranches are extra friendly places for kids and families to re-discover each other, and the single traveler. The new adventures and exciting experiences that fill dude ranch days and enable us all to weather the more difficult times in life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Since every ranch is a direct reflection of the family operating it, there are no two ranches alike. The 100+ DRA member ranches offer a very wide variety of vacations. The ranches go from really luxurious to rustic, with everything in between. The great news is... there really is a ranch for every one's dreams.

For our first time guests, we've created a list of basic questions.

• How do we get there?
• Where are most ranches located?
• Who takes ranch vacations?
• Are there ever discounted or special rates?
• When should we make our reservations?
• When are they open?
• What are the rates and what is included?

You will find the answers to all these questions and more on our website.
We encourage you to visit the ranch web sites and call or e-mail the ranches that you are interested in and ask them to help you. If they don't offer everything you're looking for, they will recommend a ranch that does. Association ranches work together in a spirit of cooperation to insure that your next vacation is your best vacation!

Help for Travel Agents

Your time is valuable! Let us help you find the dude ranch vacation of your client's dreams!

Tools To Help You Find the Right Ranch At www.duderanch.org

Search for your "dream dude ranch vacation” with the New & Up-To-Date Activities & Amenities Search at www.duderanch.org/ranches.cfm?  Find out quickly which ranches pay travel agent commissions with the new "WORKS WITH TRAVEL AGENTS” option.  (The majority of DRA Ranches do.)

Have a specific dates of travel, questions or special needs for your client’s vacation? You can have direct and quick contact with member ranches by using the “Request Brochure” Feature. Fill out the contact form, select a state or states, and ask your question. This one email will go to each ranch in the states that YOU select. Quick & Easy!

Free 2009 Dude Ranch Directories are available upon request. Call, Email or fill out the "Request A Brochure" from online to get your copy. (Look for the link to request your copy at the right of this blog!)

As always, if you would like to talk to someone directly, please call the DRA office toll free at 866-399-2339.

Why Choose a DRA Ranch?
When you book a vacation at a member ranch, you can be assured of genuine, western hospitality combined with the lodging industry’s latest standards. Membership in the Association is not automatic. Dude ranches applying for membership go through a rigorous two year inspection and approval process. The Dude Ranchers' Association has been preserving western ranch vacations by establishing and maintaining strict standards, while protecting the land and wildlife for over 80 years - We encourage you to “Ride the West with the Best!”

2009 Dude Ranch Directory Now Available

The Dude Ranchers’ Association has been helping folks find quality Western ranch vacations since its formation in 1926. Thus, 2009 marks our 83rd year. To help folks find the perfect ranch, the Association annually publishes a directory that lists and describes its 100+ member ranches located in 12 Western states and two Canadian provinces. This annual directory includes a description of member ranches organized by state, a handy amenities comparison grid, and much more ranch vacation information.
In addition to a description of each individual ranch’s program and amenities, each ranch listing conveniently contains the ranch’s address, phone number, dates of operation, altitude, the nearest airport, and more. The 2009 directory has been described as the most authoritative and reliable one-stop source available anywhere for finding the perfect ranch vacation.

All new Dude Ranchers’ Association members have undergone the same rigorous two-year inspection and selection process that has allowed the association to set the standards for excellence in the dude ranching industry for the past 83 years. Not all that apply are accepted. Member ranches range from rustic cattle ranches to more luxurious resort type facilities. However, all still preserve the ranch flavor with a focus on horseback riding, cookouts, hayrides and personal attention. Most have great fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. Many have children’s programs, pools, overnight pack trips, and trips to nearby National Parks, while others offer an opportunity for “city slickers” to work with the cattle alongside real cowboys. Don’t just dream about it, be a part of that history. Experience the real West comfortably on an authentic dude ranch! Click To Get your Copy of the 2009 Directory

Dude Ranches Come With Multi-Sports Family Adventures

There’s a new term popping up for the action-packed modern family vacation. It’s known as the “multi-sports adventure,” and it calls for multi planning as well. Long before anyone lifts a paddle or laces-up hiking boots they must first create an itinerary calling for frequent stops, hiring a local outfitter, and arranging for suitable food and shelter along the adventure. Linking together the components of the multi-sports adventure can get complicated. But, it doesn’t have to be. There’s one vacation category where sports loving families can simply park the car, unpack their bags and settle in for a week of jam-packed action. It’s the Western dude ranch, a place where folks don’t have to think about what comes next because all the details are in place to let the good times roll! Sure, the horse and riding are paramount to any Western dude ranch experience. The longest standing organization promoting and preserving the Western ranch lifestyle, The Dude Ranchers’ Association, or DRA as it’s often called is the first to confirm riding is at the heart of any ranch getaway. But, according to DRA Executive Director, Colleen Hodson, there are folks who wouldn’t dream of hopping on a saddle that choose a DRA Western dude ranch for active family vacations. In addition to riding or sometimes in place of, they ride the rapids, paddle a canoe, play golf or tennis, hike in the wilderness, cycle the back roads and mountain trails, go caving, hot air ballooning or rock climbing. She says active parents usually participate in the same sports as their kids, and she adds, “Another beauty of multi-sporting at a dude ranch is when they want to take time for themselves, Dad can play a round of golf and Mom can relax with spa treatments.” Read More

A Ranch to Match Your Dreams

Imagine yourself taking the best vacation of your life at a dude ranch. The cool, fresh mountain air, the open spaces, the feel of a steady horse beneath you as you top the next rise... the flash of color from the dark pool as the monster trout rises to your offering...luxuriating in the warmth of the setting sun as you wait for the dinner bell's call ... shared time with family and friends.

The Dude Ranchers' Association, which was formed in 1926, has over 100 member ranches that offer all inclusive dude ranch vacation packages. Each of the DRA ranches are uniquely different and range from rustic to ritzy with everything in between.

Since every ranch is a direct reflection of the family operating it, there are no two ranches alike. For first time guests, we've created a list of basic questions addressing the question...
"How do you choose the ranch to match your dreams?"

Riding should be your first consideration - choose the riding environment that appeals to you; open meadows, prairies, mountain trails or southwestern desert. The location of the ranch determines the terrain.

Then, choose the type of riding you'd like; working livestock, cattle drives, pack trips, team penning and arena games or daily trail rides. All ranches fall into one of the following categories - which will help you make the best choice:
WORKING DUDE RANCH: These are working cattle or sheep operations. Your horseback riding adventures will be determined by the ranch's livestock and the work related to them. Be prepared to experience these activities first hand.
DUDE RANCH: Horseback riding is central to these ranches. The cowboy in you will experience Western riding and a variety of outdoor activities.
RESORT DUDE RANCH:Horseback riding is featured, and these ranches offer an array of diverse activities and onsite facilities. These are apt to be the larger ranches.

Your next consideration should be the time of year - typically, the ranches in the northern states (and cooler climates) are the busiest in the summer months, while the southern ranches offer warm weather riding in the winter months.

The number of guests that a ranch can host will also be something to think about - a stay at a ranch with only eight guests is a dramatically different experience than choosing a ranch that serves eighty or one hundred guests. The difference is most noticeable in the dining and social experiences.

Your accommodations are also an important consideration - ranch atmospheres range from rustic to luxurious, and everything in between. Ranches are always extremely clean and comfortable, but if you need hair dryers, TV's, Jacuzzi tubs, a daily massage and wireless Internet to make your dream vacation, just choose your ranch accordingly. With over one hundred unique ranches in the Association, we have one to match your dreams - perfectly. As you narrow your choices down to a couple ranches, call and explain to them what's most important to you - they'll help you make the best choice.

Membership in the Association is not automatic. Dude ranches applying for membership go through a rigorous two year inspection and approval process. When you vacation at a Dude Ranchers' Association Dude Ranch, you can be sure of a quality vacation. Choose a Dude Ranchers' Association ranch and Ride The West with The Best!