Your Next Great Escape is a Cowboy-cation
With Western-inspired TV shows and country music albums climbing the mainstream charts, the renewed fascination with cowboy culture has sparked a desire for a modern-day frontier experience. Offering a reimagined Wild West experience that blends adventure with comfort, the following “ultra-ranches” offer a chance to escape daily life while connecting with nature. From some of America’s most breathtaking national parks, including Montana’s Yellowstone, to hoodoos and stunning red rock in Utah, nowhere else on earth offers such a combination of wide-open spaces, mountain ranges, and pristine alpine rivers and lakes. Navigator seeks out the off-the-beaten-track, rural destinations for your next cowboy-cation.
As the first Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Guest Ranch, The Ranch at Rock Creek takes the concept of luxury ranching to the next level. Originally a homestead, the 6,600-acre working ranch is nestled in a Montana valley in the shadow of the John Long Mountains. While this is the place to ride out into the sunset, horseback riding is but one of the outdoor pursuits on offer. Rock Creek is a “Blue Ribbon” fishing spot and offers some of the best fly fishing in the country, while back at the ranch guests can try skeet shooting, rodeo riding, rope throwing, or take a swim in the outdoor pool.
Thirty-one rooms, including log cabins and historic barns, offer a mix of rustic charm and high-end amenities, while a luxury tented camp sits on the Creek itself. For a break from the equestrian lifestyle, guests can also indulge in a treatment at the spa, enjoy “frontier-to-table” dining at one of five restaurants, watch a movie in the on-site cinema, or aim for a strike with some ten-pin bowling. theranchatrockcreek.com
Best for…
Families seeking a luxurious Wild West adventure
Known for its fine dining and five-star service, Triple Creek Ranch is the ultimate wilderness resort-style ranch. Sprawled across 26,000 acres of pristine Montana countryside and surrounded by four million acres of National Forest Service land, the adults-only retreat features twenty-five log cabins and luxury ranch homes nestled in the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountain Range. Activities include cattle-herding, hiking, fly fishing (there is a fly-casting clinic), sapphire panning (unique to Montana), archery, tennis, yoga, or simply relaxing by the pool. triplecreekranch.com
Best for…
Romantic getaways in a wilderness setting
Opening this summer, One&Only Moonlight Basin is the first One&Only opening in the U.S. Bordered by the protected lands of the greater Yellowstone National Park, the Big Sky resort area is a true four-season terrain with year-round adventures. The new property may be a hotel rather than a ranch, but this cowboy country offers something for everyone – not just horse riders and anglers, but also walkers, mountain bikers, nature enthusiasts, and, come winter, skiers.
Whatever the season, guests will be immersed in nature, with no risk of feeling restless or bored. Those seeking a leisurely, slower-paced escape can expect One&Only’s renowned hospitality while staying in one of the 73 guest rooms and suites, or the 19 secluded villas, along with a spa and six restaurants. oneandonlyresorts.com
Best for…
Outdoor enthusiasts, relaxation, and recreation
The scenic solitude and gorgeous accommodations of Sorrel River Ranch are perfect for nature lovers wanting to explore Utah’s iconic landscape. Located near Moab’s red rocks, Sorrel River Ranch invites guests to fill every moment with adventure, whether exploring the vast terrain by horseback, off-roading and hiking (or even canyoneering) through Canyonlands National Park, or white-water
rafting down the Colorado River.
Glide over the Arches National Park in a hot air balloon – with over 2,000 arches, rocks, and pinnacles, the area boasts the world’s greatest concentration of sandstone arches, including Utah’s famous icon, the Delicate Arch. Back at the ranch, try out the yoga retreat or head to the spa. Rest assured, after so much activity, a deep slumber awaits in luxurious log cabin accommodations with views over the Colorado River. sorrelriver.com
Best for…
Scenic solitude and adventure
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