When you think of taking a family vacation to Colorado from New England, skiing probably comes to mind. However, there's another reason to venture to the Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado — visiting a Western dude ranch in the summer.
My family had the amazing opportunity to visit the spectacular family-owned and operated Cherokee Park Ranch for a week, and we are thrilled to share our experience with you so you can book your own trip.
The author received compensation for writing this article. All thoughts and opinions expressed are the author's own.
At Cherokee Park Ranch, you can enjoy summer horseback rides, hayrides, cattle team penning, campfires, art classes, skeet shooting, river fly fishing, cowboy boot racing, and endless other outdoor adventures — all part of the all-inclusive rate.
Cherokee Park Ranch offers an unforgettable and uniquely Western experience. I never thought I would be able to tell you that I chose a horse for each member of my family to work with all week long from over 100 available horses based on their personalities, that I rode on horseback to the top of a mountain and participated in a rodeo, that my daughter spent the night in a teepee with other kids and counselors from the dude ranch, or that my son beat the record for running up to the top of Goat Mountain and won an award from the staff, but all of that happened!
Prior to leaving Boston to fly out west, we had fun visiting the website and choosing our horses for the week, as well as baking Cowboy Cookies in advance with a recipe they shared. The cookies were delicious, but tasted much better in Colorado!
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When we first arrived at Cherokee Park Ranch, we were greeted by a welcoming staff, given a small personalized gift, and quickly shown to our room at the beautiful 120-year-old log lodge.
They offer cabins and rooms to accommodate any size group of travelers. Our room was a perfect fit for a family of four and included bunk beds for the kids in their own room, with a separate room for parents and easy access to the lobby area with a grand fireplace. There is no Wi-Fi or TVs in the rooms, ensuring everyone remains unplugged. Any time one of us needed to wind down from the day, it was wonderful to be able to go back to the room for a quick nap between activities. As a parent, I was thrilled that they have coin-operated laundry facilities on site. We used them multiple times!
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All meals are included, and when you hear the proverbial dinner bell ring, you go to the main cafe to enjoy your meals with the other guests of the week. Our bellies were full during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with meals focusing on locally sourced ingredients. Our favorite meal? Probably steak night with special sauce, the mashed potatoes night, and the rib night.
Throughout the week, we enjoyed incredible activities at Cherokee Park Ranch. We took part in exhilarating horseback rides, loved an evening hayride that ended with a delightful campfire and the best s'mores we've ever had. The beautiful Cache La Poudre River flows through the rear of the ranch, and you can enjoy its constant roaring whenever you wish. Wildlife that my family got to see during the week included a moose, a bull snake, and several pronghorn.
 Cherokee Park Ranch Rodeo |
Daily events are written on a chalkboard at the entrance to the main lobby so you can plan your day. Interested in a morning horse ride, an afternoon lunch, and an afternoon fly fishing lesson? It can be arranged — just let the lead wrangler, Evan, know the night before so he can have your horses ready for you in the morning. I was assigned to a quarter horse named Ivy; she was the perfect match for me all week — slow and steady! Don't worry if you don't have cowboy or cowgirl boots, or a hat; you can borrow them all week.
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The ranch's diverse activities kept everyone entertained, from river fly fishing with poles provided by the front desk to horse art lessons with the kids.
The kids' club was a hit with our 12-year-old daughter, who enjoyed art activities, horse rides with counselors, the animal petting area, swing set, riding the dozens of children's bikes, and much more. My teen had a blast with barrel racing, skeet shooting, trail rides, and the filling meals. He loved running in the early morning while it was cooler and then coming back in for a delicious breakfast — pancakes and bacon were his favorite.
The recreational area, complete with a foosball table and a shallow pool, provided endless entertainment. The country line dancing night was so much fun, with an instructor who explained all the steps clearly so no one was left behind.
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One of the highlights was the kids' campout, which gave my daughter a true taste of adventure under the stars. It was a clear night, and we could see many stars along with the moon before she went into the teepee for fun kid-friendly games and bedtime. My daughter had a great time with the lunch horseback ride and horse art lesson, and she was thrilled to bring a piece of Colorado home with her.
She loved having fresh sliced fruit every morning for breakfast, lemonade for lunch, and requesting vanilla ice cream for dessert at dinnertime! As a bonus, she made a new lifelong friend from Texas, and they are planning for both of our families to meet up again next year at the ranch.
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The Cherokee Park Ranch staff always say, "Enter as strangers, leave as friends!" and we couldn't agree more. By the end of our wonderful western adventure, we had forgotten about the constant distractions of daily responsibilities and cell phone notifications, allowing us to truly connect as a family.
On our final night at Cherokee Park Ranch, a perfect rainbow appeared and our activities featured a fun skit and award ceremony, where the staff's hilarious performances added to the enjoyment. My family was thrilled to win several awards for the kids' boot race, kids' barrel race, kids' keyhole race, kids' pole bending race, women's boot race, and more.
We left the ranch with lifelong friends, including the owners, Christine and Dickey, who welcomed us warmly and even checked on us for line dancing night and enjoyed dinner throughout the week with our entire group.
Cherokee Park Ranch perfectly blends the charm of the old Wild West with modern amenities. My family couldn't have asked for a better family-friendly outdoor vacation. If you're looking for something different for your next vacation, this is the one for you!
Book your stay now!
Part of The Dude Ranchers' Association, Cherokee Park Ranch is one of over 90 dude ranches across the western U.S. and Canada offering an all-inclusive vacation experience like no other destination. Member ranches endure a rigorous inspection and approval process that ensures guests are treated to genuine western hospitality combined with the lodging industry’s highest standards.
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