Dip your boots in Western life at dude ranch outside Steamboat

Photos and story by David Young

A few miles north of Steamboat Springs sits the town of Clark, and up a nondescript dirt road that parallels Hinman Creek, you will find Vista Verde Ranch tucked back in Routt National Forest. It’s not a place you would just happen to stumble upon. The Ranch is a destination where spectacular mountains and trails, champagne snow, and bluebird skies all intersect at this hidden gem.

The Elk River Valley-based Ranch has a rich history dating back to the Homestead Act of 1862. This little slice of Colorado was originally home to the Ute Indian tribe that hunted and lived on the land. In 1916, Loren Blair and John Hay homesteaded the land that would be known as Vista Verde Ranch.

The two built a small home on the Ranch, which is now where the Parlor sits, near the modern barn. With the Steamboat Springs ski resort opening in 1968, the valley started to see more visitors in the region. In 1975, Frank and Winton Brophy bought the property and turned it into a dude ranch. And today the property is owned by Laura and Chris Jones and their family who bought it in 2016.

Colorado Cowboy

The full-service dude ranch offers visitors the cowboy life with a Colorado twist. That means skiing and dog sledding in the winter and horseback riding and fly fishing in the summer. While technically a ranch, guests do not rough it here. They stay in style and comfort with gorgeous private cabins stocked with snacks and drinks, including Colorado’s own Coors Banquet Beer.

Less than four hours from Denver, Vista Verde is far enough away that you can unplug and enjoy the array of activities that the Ranch offers guests. The Western-style fun in the summer includes fly fishing, biking, archery, horseback riding, paddleboarding, hiking, pontoon boat rides, and UTV tours. For a more low-key laidback day, there are also yoga and massages.

The Ranch includes delicious gourmet meals and fine wine served each night in the family-style dining area flanked by fireplaces and fine art on the walls. With a degree from the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, Chef Jonathon Gillespie oversees the breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which include culinary works of art that guests partake of each day. And while the beers are great, the Ranch is known for its impressive rotating wine list that changes to match each meal.

Night Skies & Horse Rides

The party does not end after dinner, as Vista Verde’s nightlife has everything from barn dancing and live music to fires and hot tubs. In the evening the stars shine bright on the Ranch, and the cabins include hot tubs on the patio from which to view the skies.

The Ranch is reviving its horsemanship clinics for anyone looking for more than just a horse ride. The clinic provides details on how to train, develop, and utilize a working ranch horse. The clinics are part of the Ranch’s fall a la carte season. The program is overseen by Kaulana Papalimu, or KP, the Ranch’s new Director of Horse Operations.

In the end, Vista Verde is intended to cater to whatever the guest is looking to get out of a luxurious Western visit. Be it a romantic escape, family fun, or an adventure with the crew, the Ranch can tailor its experiences to fit. The Ranch also offers an adult-only vacation opportunity.

While Steamboat is on the map, this little corner of Colorado is still hidden, providing an off-the-grid escape that still comes with some luxury and fine dining.