Sundance Trail Guest Ranch Articles and Reviews

In July 2005, I went to a dude ranch in Colorado. On the way to the dude ranch, we played a game in the car. We wanted to see who could find the first animal in Colorado. My dad won. He found a chipmunk. We had Chex Mix in the car and fed it to the chipmunks.

At the ranch, I played pool, fuseball and watched movies in the game room, but I didn’t go to the game room very much. One day I even got to shoot a 22 shotgun and a Big Bertha gun, which pushed my shoulder backwards. I also shot a bow and arrow, but my aim wasn’t very good. Usually, though, I was horseback riding or walking with my dad and my dogs.

On Tuesday, we went horseback riding for five hours! We tied the horses to trees while we had lunch. We had sandwiches and chips. When I finished eating and before everyone else finished, I went to pet my horse, Bucky. After lunch, some of the riders were going to ride to a waterfall. It was too far for us, so my family just went back to the ranch with the rest of our group.

On Thursday, I had even more fun, because I went white water rafting with my dad. First we had to go to a building to check in and learn how to raft. The guide gave us instructions how to water raft. He said we may fall in the water if we hit a rock. He also said if we fell in the water, do not panic. Stay calm. Then we had to get our gear—our helmet, life jacket and paddle. We rode in a bus to the river. During our float, the guide showed us a rock called, “Tic Tac,” because when you hit it, you all fall forward and usually fall out of the boat. While we floated, the guide told us that a bear was close by. We just floated along, and we saw a bear made of sticks. The guide told us that the bear was a very ferocious bear. We all laughed. We went to a big wide space the guide called, “Roller Coaster,” and he asked us if we wanted to go fast. We all said yes. We floated to the edge of the river, where we all got out of the boat and swam. That was fun, because there was a big rapid that swept us away just by lifting our legs. It was hard to get back to our boat, because the current was so strong. None of us fell out of the boat during our float. We had a great time.

My favorite part of our trip was white water rafting and horseback riding. I was sad to leave my horse, Bucky, at the end of our vacation, but I have pictures of him at home, and some day soon, I hope our family can get a horse of our own. I miss the dude ranch and Bucky, and I hope that we can go there again soon.

Dude Ranch Horse and His Boy Bucky & Me

Forward from Nick’s mom:
Hi, Dan, Ellen & Gang!

Hope this greeting finds you all healthy and happy in your beautiful mountain home! Just wanted to extend our Christmas greetings to you all! Can’t believe 2006 is almost over!

Though it’s been over a year since we visited Sundance Trail, the wonderful memories of our trip are still vivid in our minds.

Nicholas is now 10 and in 4th grade, and Polly is now 7 and in 2nd grade. Nick had to write a personal narrative this year for class. He received an A+ on his story. I’ve attached it to this e-mail for your reading enjoyment. I thought you might get a kick out of it.

Apparently, he didn’t notice that Polly and I were on the trip with him and Dad, since he referenced only Dad and the dogs (even the dogs were mentioned!!).

We are hoping to come back again some time soon.

For Seniors, Families and Kids; It’s not your typical vacation!
Parent News, 6/08
Ron Gragg

Every year a select number of Americans ignore the lure of Disneyworld, beach condos and Caribbean cruises to spend their coveted vacation time at a dude ranch. Sound extreme? Only if you have the mistaken notion that a dude ranch vacation is akin to camping, or you expect to prod cattle and eat grub from a chuck wagon. That’s not a typical dude ranch. Instead, imagine comfortable accommodations, good food, and a week of easy-going family fun amid some of the most outstanding scenery in the American West.

Return visits are not unusual for dude ranch guests. Return guests tend to have preferred cabins, favorite horses and cherish routines. That’s the tradition at Sundance Trail Guest Ranch, a small comfortably rustic guest ranch tucked in the splendid seclusion of northern Colorado’s sprawling Medicine Bow Mountains near the lakeside hamlet of Red Feather Lakes. It’s operated by Ellen and Dan Morin, a husband-wife team of professional nurses who jettisoned the hassle of a Texas medical center years ago to pursue a dude ranch dream.

At Sundance Trail, they oversee a dude ranch operation that accommodates approximately 24 guests in seven cabin suits and a main lodge. Perched in the heart of the 880,000 acre Roosevelt National Forest, the ranch offers warm summer days, pleasantly crisp nights, a relaxed, down-home atmosphere and a parade of dude ranch activities – twice-a-day horseback rides on scenic trails through the national forest, rock-climbing forays with professional supervision, mountain hikes that are as rough or easy as you wish – along with jeep jaunts through the high country, optional target shooting, occasional archery, lake trout fishing opportunities and plenty of down-time for feet-up chilling out on the cabin porch. The children of guests at Sundance can participate in a ranch children’s program that features horseback riding instruction, Western crafts, hiking and games. No swimming pool here, but an equally popular kid’s activity is an optional nighttime tipi campout enhanced by a jackalope “hunt” with marshmallow “guns”.

A dude ranch vacation has obvious appeal for adults and children, but what about senior citizens? Sundance Trail caters to the over-60 crowd as well as families and singles. Senior citizens typically find a lot to enjoy in a dude ranch vacation…some of the optional activities – mountain biking, for instance – might not be for grandparents, but most of what you find at a dude ranch is perfect for seniors – beautiful scenery, hiking, fishing, cookouts, the slower pace in a wide-open natural environment, and horseback riding is a great equalizer. Trail-riding is a safe and easy activity, something that all ages can enjoy.

A lot of seniors grew up with an emphasis on the outdoors, so they really like what they find at a dude ranch. They want their grandkids to put away the video games and experience the outdoor lifestyle – and a dude ranch does that for them. Most don’t have computers and television – the kids actually go out and play…and there’s a whole host of activities. Most ranches are family oriented and families have a pleasant, shared experience together.

Uncomfortable with animals that are larger than you? No problem. Most dude ranch guests quickly lose their intimidation of horses – mainly because of the controlled conditions and the on-site instruction they receive. The typical dude ranch requires every guest to participate in an orientation program on safety issues, including what horses like and don’t like from their riders. Individual horseback riding instruction is usually an essential part of the package at a dude ranch – horses are usually selected for their stability and cooperative nature. Trail rides are normally led and overseen by experienced wranglers, and competent staff will always try to match the rider with the horse. Corral instruction may allow some cantering, and even some easy horseback games, but most trail rides are easy-going, comfortable for even inexperienced riders and are lots of fun.

The Western scenery, the ranch lifestyle, the variety of activities and the outdoor focus make a dude ranch vacation distinctively unique. And it’s one of the few American vacation venues where the entire family may willingly put away computers, television, ipods, cell phones and video games for outdoor adventure, a genuinely family-focused vacation and a treasure-load of memories.

Rod Gragg; “Parent News, 6/08”

Dude Ranch Delight – Dog Friendly Guest Ranches
BARK Magazine, July/August 2009
By Rebecca Wallick

Hankering for a taste of the Old West? Want to take your canine companion along on a fun-filled and unique summer vacation? Consider a dog-friendly dude ranch. More dude ranches – or guest ranches, as most are now called – are catering to those of us who can’t imagine a vacation without our dogs. Each has different rules and expectations for dogs, so contact any ranch you’re considering visiting and speak to them about the specifics of their dog-friendly policy before setting out, and ask about the specifics of their dog-friendly policy before setting out, and ask about extra fees. Make sure you and your dog will enjoy the setting; you want a fun, yet safe, stay.

There’s something so elemental and special about heading down a trail on horseback, your dog happily trotting alongside. If your dog is fit and ell behaved, and won ‘t chase the horses or wildlife, he or she is the perfect dude ranch candidate. Even the older, more retiring canine can still enjoy these ranches, staying behind while you ride, joining you later for a swim or stroll, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Don’t ride horses? That’s fine; most guest ranches offer a multitude of activities, from fly fishing and rock climbing to hiking or hanging out by he lake or pool. You might even learn to square dance! And don’t forget the down-home, family-style meals.

At this relaxed high-country getaway, set at 8,000 feet near Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, canine guests may be off-leash as long as they get along with kids, horses, goats, sheep and other dogs. While trail rides here are supervised, owner Ellen Morin says, “We’re not a nose-to-tail outfit. Groups are small – no more than five riders per wrangler”, so each group rides at its best pace. Is your dog a little pokey? Borrow a crate and let him snooze safely in your room while you’re riding. (https://www.sundancetrail.com)

At the end of your dude ranch stay, all of your cheeks will be sore – those on your butt from bouncing in the saddle, and those on your face from grinning ear to ear as you watch your dog have the time of her life.