Red Horse Mountain Ranch — Hotel in Coeur d'Alene

Just back from our ladies week at Red Horse Mountain Ranch. It was awesome! For those who need to stay connected you may not be entirely happy, but for the rest of us, what a relief to be unplugged for a week. Cell phone reception was available in the lodge, better with iphones, worse with android. And if your ISP is AT&T, not much luck.|The facilities were extensive, attractive and well maintained. We loved our log cabin up on the hill, 10 steps away from the hot tub (one of several). Air conditioning worked very well, roomy full bath with all the soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner etc you could ask for. It included a frig, micro, and a very nice coffee station that we didn’t really use. It was much more fun getting the good stuff at the lodge! The lodge was also log cabin style, with lots of comfy seating and a fireplace. There are always a variety of snacks and beverages available. You won’t need much of the former, because the meals were hearty and delicious, regularly lapsing into brilliance. (Beware the huckleberry pancakes, they are huge!) Amazing pastries, salads (orange orzo, yes please), and I still dream of the chocolate mousse with creme fraiche and port wine reduction. The fancy dinner they did one night was a culinary masterpiece, with wine pairings to complement it all. We started happy hour every evening with a signature cocktail. The menu for wine, beer and drinks was extensive, but I kept going back to that huckleberry lemonade. The bartender was charming and hardworking. In addition to the bar in the main lodge, there is a saloon where they held some evening entertainment - live band, karaoke, trivia, etc. and a drinks shack next to the campfire meadow the one night we were out there. |In addition to all the riding (I rode twice a day for 4 days and once on one day) , there are a lot of terrific activities. We painted pottery to take home. My sister went kayaking and loved Thompson lake. Several ladies did the megazip (some of them repeatedly, despite having to climb the hill) and couldn’t stop giggling when they came back. And that was by far the best archery course I have ever been on. They have a reasonable selection of well maintained bows to choose from, and we clambered over the mountain among 6 shooting stations, most with multiple 3-D targets. Javelinas and mosquitoes now fear me. There was a lot of variety in shooting, some on the flat, or uphill, or downhill, one moving target (Yah for station 5!) and one trick shot with a couple of amusing characters. Most evenings there was something going on, for those who hadn't worn themselves out during the day. |But the real reason we were there was the horses. They are well cared for and well trained (OK, Maggie the Mule didn't listen to her rider, but the rest of them did), and we had so much time in the saddle. The wranglers are personable, knowledgeable, and safety oriented. They try to tell you a bit about the horse assigned to you for the week so you succeed. (I was assured “he tries to be a good boy”. Lol! Ace may have been a bit of a pill sometimes, but he was MY pill and I loved him.) The trails are gorgeous, whether the sunny valley floor, or the mixed forest of fir, pine, birch, cedar and cottonwood. You could select the challenge level of your rides even at a walk, and if you pass the advanced riding test (not difficult for a medium to experienced rider) there are rides with trotting and cantering. I didn’t see any elk when we were there, but you could certainly hear them and the red tailed hawks and coyotes. The ranch is thick with wild turkeys and quail, and we went down to the lake a couple of times in the early morning to watch the moose. |They have a gift shop with a wide array of branded merchandise, but the best souvenir of all - they save the shoes after the farrier visits, and you can get a horseshoe that your horse had worn, wrapped with some colored yarn and your horse’s name tooled onto a leather strip. What a unique and creative memento! I just have to find the right place to hang it, as a conversation starter about my stay. |I can’t say enough nice things about the staff, the housekeeping, kitchen, wranglers, and manager all went above and beyond to make our visit wonderful. It was...

If you are a family that includes horseback riders then this is the place for you. Definitely a five star resort experience!|For those who don’t ride, then this is less of a five star and more likely a 4+ - still great. || First of all the staff are just wonderful. Every single person we encountered was lovely, helpful, and ready to make sure we had whatever we needed.||The food is outstanding. For me, having my family around the table 3 times a day and not having to prepare the food or clean up (although we did carry out our dishes to the trays to offload the staff, who work really hard) was the highlight of the week. Mealtimes are not flexible, which turned out to be brilliant, since everyone was then motivated to be in the dining room on time! ||I have to mention that the kitchen staff deserve many thanks. Donovan, the baker did an outstanding job, as did the chefs and the kitchen manager. The bartenders (Chelsea and Laura) were great also. The wine dinner was excellent. ||The cabin we stayed in was lovely and spacious. The lodge is great - lots of room. comfortable furniture, a huge deck with beautiful views and lots of chairs and tables.||Speaking on behalf of the non-riders, the only disappointment came from thinking there would be many activities as alternatives to horseback riding (the website gave us that impression). Those activities actually turned out to be very carefully scheduled and limited (which is understandable given staffing needs). So if you wanted to go kayaking, you could only do it at specified times; the same with the zip line and other such activities. The pottery painting didn’t happen at all because the kiln was broken when we were there. And there was no massage therapist, which some had counted on - again per the website. It's a question of managing expectations.||Did we all have a great time regardless - yes, despite the granddaughter who got "eaten alive" by chiggers and is still dealing with the bites weeks later. She did love the horseback riding and the shooting however. One more thing. To fully enjoy this resort it is helpful to be physically fit!! Lots of hills and steep slopes. They do offer shuttle service to any activities for those who can’t walk there, and the bar...

We spent June 8th to 14th at Red Horse Mountain Ranch, and it was hands-down one of the best vacations we’ve ever had. From the second we rolled up, the staff: Jonah, Annaka, Mandy, Vin, Matt, and Ranch Manager Rob (a proud Ohio University Bobcat!) and his wife Ashley, made us feel like old friends. Most of the crew have been with the ranch for years, and even the newer wranglers were total pros. By day two, they knew everyone’s names, which gave the whole place a cozy, personal vibe.|The week was perfectly planned out. Mornings and afternoons were packed with activities, and every evening had a fun group event. Whether you’re into horseback riding, fishing, or just chilling, there was something for everyone. The variety kept things fresh and exciting all week long.||The food? Out of this world. Every meal was a treat, with tons of options and hardly any repeats. Lunch and dinner always had a spread of meats, chicken, fish, fresh salads, veggies, and desserts that were straight-up indulgent. Everything was so well-prepared, it felt like a five-star restaurant in the middle of the mountains.|Our cabin was spotless, roomy, and super comfy. The private hot tub was a game-changer, we soaked in it almost every night, just soaking up the peace and quiet of the surroundings.||This place is a gem. It’s the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation in a jaw-dropping setting. I’d recommend Red Horse Mountain Ranch to anyone looking for a getaway that’s equal parts fun and laid-back.||What We Loved:|Super friendly and attentive staff who make you feel right at home|105 horses for a max of 60 guests, so the animals are happy and well-cared-for|Amazing food with tons of variety|So many activities to choose from: horseback riding, fishing, shooting (guns and archery), hiking, mountain biking, basketball, cornhole, campfires, and a pool|Top-notch service from start to finish||What Could Be Better:|The fishing gear could use a little TLC|Wi-Fi is spotty and cell service is basically non-existent (might be on purpose), don’t expect to get...