Vista Verde Guest Ranch — Hotel in Steamboat Springs

Where do I start? I grew up in Eastern NC reading my grandfather’s Louis L’Amour novels. I was an Eagle Scout and always enjoyed the outdoors. I have traveled extensively at home and abroad, and visited many US national parks. I am in my late 50s. My dad passed away +10 years ago, and my mom is great but starting to slow down a bit in her late 70s. I am married and have two teens (15 and 17), both who enjoy the outdoors. Only my oldest had ridden a little at summer camp. My mom had a horse growing up but hadn’t probably ridden since she left for college.||||I always romanticised the Wild West, enjoyed a good Western movie and heard about these dude ranch vacations for the first time +5 years ago. So I started slowly looking around. Ran across Best lists, read reviews (especially here), thought long and hard about timing and location. I was initially impressed by the reviews of VVR, especially the number of people who kept saying that they were return guests, the emphasis on a family experience and the less commercialisation of the experience. I watched videos and video reviews. I slowly got the impression that other ranches were more about luxury and less about riding. Some had better scenery (mountains) and some seemed to have more space. Many seemed to treat riding as a novelty, just one of many activities offered. I considered these ranch “in name only” sort of places. ||||So I kept simmering over this idea (1-2 years) and kept coming back to VVR. I finally called up and asked for info and pricing. I talked it up to family and got some interest from mom but less from my brother’s side of the family (we have really struggled to organize larger family trips with work, college and other things naturally getting in the way). I finally talked my mom into going. ||||We were beach people from NC and thought it would be nice to escape the heat and humidity for a week. So we finally settled on a week in early August 2025 and made a deposit (maybe January before). We flew into Denver and drove from there to VVR (+3 hours by car). The scenery was ok on the trip up, but better on the trip back since we rerouted through the Rocky Mountain National Park. Thought about flying into Hayden but just felt it did not give us enough freedom to move around. Rental car ended up sitting the entire week at VVR, but we did stop in Steamboat Springs on the way in and wandered as mentioned earlier on the way back. Since most us live in Atlanta, it was a direct flight for us out. Mom spent a night on the front end in Atlanta and we stayed overnight in Denver on the way back to leave early am and get mom home at a reasonable hour. ||||We got in around 6pm on Sunday as we did not know about the 3-5pm equestrian check-in when we booked travel. Our assigned horses worked pretty well anyway (based on info we provided earlier to match up our riding experience, weight, age, etc.). We had great weather the entire week (50s-60s overnight and morning, up to around 80 midday). Did not rain a drop. My only complaint would be the smoke from forest fires 75 miles or so away (blew in after lunch a few days, especially the afternoon of Steak Ride). However, this was of course not the fault of VVR.||||7:30 breakfast was continental (& a la carte starting 8:00). The a la carte menu was different every day and had a lot to offer for those who like a hearty breakfast as well as those who liked to go lighter. Kitchen staff was happy to take custom orders. Portions were large (we ended up splitting more than a few things) and the food was excellent. The lunch (usually 12:30) and many dinners (started 6:30) were buffet and often served on the patio next to the main lodge and small pond overlooking a pasture. There were sit down dinners twice during the week, where the chef worked hard to play things up, emphasis on menu and ingredients. This felt like a 5-star experience with usually 3 entrees to choose from. At no point during the week did we worry about a dress code except maybe for the bran dance (held above the barn) and some dressed up a little for the for,al dinners. No sport coats / jackets at all. No fancy gowns. Just families (and other small groups) doing their thing in a rustic setting. ||||The main attraction for me was of course riding. I had never really ridden and was assigned to an older (20ish years old) palomino named Zeus. The wrangler team was large (maybe 20-25 wranglers, half ladies and half men, mostly in their late 20s/early 30s) and fun. The team was led by a very calm and larger fellow named “KP” from Hawaii who was followed around by a golden retriever (Thunder) and corgi mix (Cinch) as well as a wife and two small kids (who came by often to visit). You had usually two chances to ride a day, 10am and 2pm, and were grouped by level. They had optional riding clinics early in the week to teach newbies like me the basics. Before long, I went from walking to trotting to loping. My horse and I did gradually get to know each other during the week, and I had a great time just enjoying the experience from the saddle. The ranch lies off to one side of a large valley, is surrounded by forest-draped hills (think Aspens and pine trees, lots of meadows, some wildlife (mule deer, marmots, grouse / other birds, national forests and one mountain range a little further to the East. The scenery was beautiful. ||||Please note that horses are creatures with their own minds and do act up at times. We heard about one guest whose horse got spooked by something and he fell off and got significantly bruised (heard he landed on his side/butt). I was on a trail ride where our wrangler’s horse got spooked by grouse flying up unexpectedly from the bushes next to the trail. He jumped around for 5-10 seconds before she got him back under control. And my own dear horse Zeus during my last and longest trail ride decided about 2/3 of the way out that he was not going one step further away from home. We turned him around like 12 times, he would take a few steps in the desired direction and then turn right back around. Once he knew he was headed back towards home, he was fine again. ||||There were many repeat guests and more experienced riders there as well. One guy was even an equestrian vet from Texas (who had many positive things to observe about the herd and operation). The wranglers had no trouble matching these riders to more advanced horses and keeping them happy on the trail. ||||As I learned early on, the trails are rustic, often rocky, twist and turn, ascend and descend (sometimes steeply), cross streams and sometimes get blocked by fallen trees (where you end up bushwhacking to work around the obstacles). As I also learned, the horses are very sure footed and rarely ever lose their footing. The horses may generally know these trails, but there are enough trails and great distances to keep things interesting. You really get around far, far more than you would hiking and a lot faster. ||||They had around a 100 horses, all very healthy and happy looking critters. I could not imagine a better place for them to live. Saddles were western and did lead to some bruising on your butt until js newbies got the hang of trotting and loping. They had a porch outside the barn with a range of used and dusty riding boots. They may not have fit great, but once you were in the saddle, you were fine. I thought about getting boots for my crew but figured we may never ride again and decided against it. Other guests brought their own (nicer) riding boots. ||||I got up early and saw the horses “run” from the pasture to the corrals / barn a few times. It was quite the spectacle with the entire herd brought in by 3-4 wranglers, the thunder of the hooves, the horses galloping in and of course surrounded by the ranch scenery. ||||We stopped in Steamboat Springs to buy cowboy hats on the way in. My daughter opted for a felt one, but the rest of us went with a straw type lighter hat. The VVR front desk staff was nice enough to provide and install stampede strings in them upon our arrival (no charge). Our straw hats were made in places like China and not exactly cheap, but also not expensive. Most everyone who rode had a cowboy hat on. And everyone who worked at VVR tended to wear one (except maybe the kitchen staff and some of the activity guides). ||||Our cabin (Sand) was absolutely fine. 3 bedrooms, two baths, living room and hot tub on porch overlooking one pasture. Kids and my mom did not like the weak WiFi much (worked best in early morning with fewer of us online). Instead of a tv, we had a wood burning stove. Cabin was rustic but the amenities were fine. We had a small kitchenette stocked with our favorite sodas (included) and the ability to make coffee and tea. Cabin quiet and a short walk (5min) to main load be and a few minutes more to the barn. We honestly did not spend a great amount of time in the cabin except to rest / sleep. Main lodge was the place to be for WiFi and the center of things (food/dining, hanging out, happy hour, etc.). For riding, the center of the action was the barn. They also had a kids building (marked by teepee outside) and a general activities building (think gear and center for fishing, biking, hiking, paddle boarding). There was a small pool near the main lodge, but we never used it. Honestly not even sure how to get into it and never saw a soul in the water. ||||Every one of our clan decided what to sign up for every morning and afternoon. We did many things together, and many things apart. Our 15 year old got caught up in the youth activities and quickly found friends of a similar age to hang out with. The climax for him was the kids rodeo at the end of the week. Our 17 year old was a little more reserved and doing some things for school on the side (rising senior). When riding, you could ride as a family but we tended to ride with others at a similar riding level. There were maybe 50 guests altogether, and VVR reported that 60% are return guests on the average (our week was lower). We ran into a British teacher who used to be a wrangler at VVr, a few Italians from Rome with a small child, a grandmother from Texas with her two teen high school granddaughters, a larger family from NC, etc. We did tend to sit as a family for meals, but shared tables as well. The VVR staff were also fun and spread out among our tables at meal times to get to know us better and to help make the most of our week. Then the coordinators would also drop in at meals to update / schedule activities by individual.||||Mom did something about once a day and raved about the colt clinic where KP and his team were breaking in the colts. She also enjoyed the fly fishing excursion we made together. She loved the horses, getting into the saddle again and enjoying the atmosphere of the ranch - as well as sharing something very special with us family.||||Highlights of our stay: ||||- Opportunity to share something really special as a family||- RIDING||- Great, warm, welcoming, skilled and fun staff||- Getting away from it all||- True ranch experience in a special pastoral setting||||Side notes:||||- The air in this part of the world is dry, REALLY, really dry. Our cabins came equipped with a nebuliser in each bedroom which we came to quickly appreciate. I think we all had trouble sleeping at first due to the change in air (from hot and humid in GA/NC) as well as the 2hr time change from the East coast. If we ever go back, I would crank the nebulisers up starting the first night and lean towards keeping the windows closed. Cabins also do not have AC, which they probably don’t generally need, but you do need to adjust the bedding overnight as temperatures drop. They did have heat, but of course we never used it in August. Be sure to drink lots of water, and use chapstick (available from front desk, along with light first aid items like Ibuprofen). I also highly recommend that you bring moisturiser and especially moisturising soap like Dove. I had a bar along that we all ended up sharing. ||||The bathrooms do include some higher end bottles of bottle wash, shampoo, etc. But I quickly went back to my own, emphasis on Dove soap and some shampoo and conditioner I was used to. ||||- The hot tub can be very helpful for sore muscles and butt from riding…||||- Jeans are very important for riding. We brought the recommended 3 pair pp, but wished we had more, especially for our teens, as they got dirty more than us adults. I also brought some lightweight riding gloves, but we never needed them in August. While it was chilly to start riding a few mornings, I hardly noticed it. ||||- The sun was strong, but not deadly. I have an olive complexion and never put on one drop of sunscreen. I rode in jeans and a flannel long-sleeved shirt. My cowboy hat protected my face and neck just fine. I was initially worried about getting sunburn on my hands (holding the reigns) but quickly forgot about...

Wrapping up the most spectacular family vacation at Vista Verde Ranch. A grand slam, 100/100 score! We cannot wait to return.

The magic of VVR is its staff, each of whom goes beyond to make your stay spectacular. They learn your name, understand your objectives, and cater an unforgettable experience. They join you for lunch and cookout dinners, so you get to engage and get to know them and feel integrated into the ranch immediately. Ben and Jason lead the way with warm smiles and fun stories.

The front desk staff is so welcoming and helpful. They meet with you daily to review plans. Special request? They’ll handle it. Roxy, Georgie, Cameron, Libby, Mette—thank you!

The horseback riding is so fun. KP and Jackie curate riding to any experience level with orientations, clinics, trail rides (easy & technical), roping, and demonstrations. The cattle penning competition was so fun! Wranglers Luke, Nick, Olivia, Neve, Mackie, Siera, Tanner, Cruz, Nathalie, and Will make you comfortable, confident, safe, and elated.

Ben runs the adventure center, which offers tons of other activities: fishing, yoga, hikes, UTV tours, paddleboarding, etc. Let them know what you want to do; they’ll set it up. Guides Taylor & Seth led exciting fly fishing outings; Will led an 8 mile hike with surreal vistas.

Don’t skip massage—THE BEST 90 minute massage ever!

Our cabin was so nice: fridge stocked with wine, beer, and of n/a refreshments. Humidifiers for dry air. Washer/dryer & detergent. Hot tub. Housekeeping staff is very thorough and attentive.

The food is fantastic. You will gain weight enjoy doing so. Each day starts with a superb, hearty breakfast. Omelettes, huevos rancheros... don’t skip the breakfast ride mid week. For lunch, burgers, tacos, italian and asian themed spreads. Always a salad bar. Tea and lemonade (or beers) to wet your palate. Just be cautious—riding on a gorged stomach is no fun; hit the salad bar if you plan to be active. Happy hour each day at 5:30 pm. Generous pours and tasty wines. You can bring your own alcohol, but it’s not necessary; your room is stocked with wine, beer, and n/a refreshments. There are no spirits, so if bourbon closes your day, bring your own. The staff can arrange a pitstop in steamboat. Each evening alternates between a cookout style dinner to a more formal plated dinner. Cookouts boast prime rib, crab legs, brisket, and pastas. So good. For formal dinners, Chefs Gillespie and Houston sling delectable treats like octopus salad, scallops, pork loin, halibut, osso bucco, rabbit tagliatelle, etc. The wines are impressive—both the included and upgraded award-winning selections. And the serving staff is so very nice to see every day. Laine, Sophia, AJ, Damon, Caroline, Francis, Hadley—Thank you! Your bright, smiling faces were such a wonderful start to our day. And, of course, there’s the Steak dinner ride. (There are non-horseback ways to get there and back). So much fun! THE DESSERTS by Chef Margason are incredible! Brownies, cookies, pastries, pies and tarts—so good!

Importantly, the ranch lacks any hokie or magoo overlay of evening activities that plagues other ranches. There was a barn dance and music night—both delightful. But, for the most part, after dinner you are free to relax on your own. The experience is organic, not forced; luxurious in its simplicity, elegant in its purity. No silly campfire story times or magicians; just a beautiful ranch to explore and enjoy.

Your stay ends with a happy hour with your horse, live music, and a farewell meal. Trudging through the field with a glass of wine, you get to share a magical moment with your four-legged companion. It’s very special, and I was so very moved by how incredible our entire stay proved to be. I dare you not to tear up as you thank your horse for showing you the beauty of the ranch and thank the staff for being so wonderful. My apologies to any staff I missed—you all did such an amazing job! We love you and appreciate you and will...

As the owner of a hospitality company, and someone with nearly two decades in the highest levels of service, I was very impressed by the the team, and the experience, at VVR. First, everyone is so kind and helpful. You are constantly mingling with the staff, and it’s neat to hear their stories and what brought them from all over the country to this ranch. The rooms are first class. (Cabins). Heated floors, great amenities, plenty of space. We stayed in one of the smaller cabins and probably could have gotten by with just 1/3 of it. That said, for families, there is plenty of room to have two kids with you (in the smallest cabin) and have ample space for them to play and not feel “on top of each other.” We did many activities, and the group dinners, lunches, breakfast gatherings, and daily happy hours make meeting fellow guests very easy…if that’s your thing.

We were there during record snow. The team was constantly blowing the paths, and the team would also come shovel your Porch every morning. The food was great, and the chef was right there to help with any dietary need you may have. The hot chocolate was great, but not on the menu. Ask the staff about the “off menu” items. One thing I was concerned about was snacks (as I don’t like people cutting off my access to a kitchen)- but this was resolved with the basket left in every cabin containing nearly a dozen items such as fruits, nuts and cookies. Also, there is a fully stocked fridge. That said, being hungry wasn’t even the slightest concern, not eating too much was. Every meal was great and there were many options for each meal.

While eating, the staff would come around and confirm activities for the day, allowing you to pivot if something else sparked your interest. The ladies who ran the horses were great. They knew all 100 horses by name and were very good with any leery riders. All of the activity guides were very encouraging and informative. At night, we did the group trivia game one night, and went to the barn dance another night. Overall, it was just a great time with exceptional service in the middle of nowhere. I just add that we watched the playoff game in the main lodge, as I know people like their sports.

Overall, is it cheap - no. Is it remote- yes. Can you complete detach if you want to- yes. Was the food great - yes. Was the staff great - yes. Have they thought of most things in advance to make sure you are comfortable- yes. Can you get Wi-Fi in your room - kinda. Will you meet cool people - yes. Are the GMs active and accessible and involved with guests- yes. Can you get stuck on your way there and be stuck paying for a room you aren’t using, plus the added cost of a hotel room- yes. Are the hot tubs great and checked every day - yes. Is there any pressure to tip - no. Can you buy supplies that you may have forgotten in town or at the ranch - yes. Do they offer to stop you in town on the way from the airport - yes. Overall, if you want to get away, see a lot of different things in a short period, and support a great small business that is employing dozens of great people…this is a great spot. A great place to get out of your comfort zone with your peers, and also to sit by the fire and read a book. There’s as much peace and quiet as you want, or as much action as you can sign up for. It’s kid friendly and the days are well planned out so you get nice breaks in between activities if you want them. Great place for horse lovers, lovers of nature, and lovers of quality food...