Credit: Flickr

This Summer, if you’re thinking about heading to a Dude Ranch, you’re probably wondering where the heck you should go, or where you should even start.  Surprisingly, there are a lot of them out there that you can choose from.

Before we get started with the list, let’s take a look at what you’re going to get when you head down to a Dude Ranch.

On these type of trips, you’re going to be able to enjoy the open air country, something that you may have not been able to experience before.  You get to ride horses through the country, fish in the local rivers, wait around for the sunset and eat when the dinner bell rings.  If you want something that is truly unique, this is it.

What should I look out for in a Dude Ranch?

There are a lot of types out there.  Your most common types are your working, resorts, or your just plain old, “Dude ranches.”  A working one will make you do the dirty work.  You will herd up sheep, cattle, or even help out with dinner.  A resort allows you to make it like a vacation, giving you the resort style experience.  As for the regular ranch, this is the true cowboy experience.

There are going to be other features as well that you should look out for.  Do you want one without kids?  Do you want a spa on site?  Do you want a campground?  Do you want to stay in a hotel room that is comfy rather than under the stars?  Yes, some people want to experience the horseback riding and everything else, but not the sleeping part.

Where can I find the best Dude Ranch?

Keep in mind that 99% of your ranches are going to be out west in states such as Arizona, New Mexico, and more.  A side called duderanch.org has a great search engine that allows you to find something in your local area.  It doesn’t hurt to look up reviews as well to see what other people thought of their experience.

What should I look out for?

You will want to look into pricing, how long the experience is going to last, as well as what you’re going to do.  You will be able to get most of this information online.  If you ever have questions, you will want to contact the ranch directly.