laramie river dude ranch

My wife and I just returned from a wonderful week at Laramie River Guest Ranch.Plainly said, if you want a horseback vacation second to none, Laramie River Ranch is the place for you. If you dislike riding nose to tail, and want to spread out a bit, Laramie River Ranch fills the bill. If you are new to horseback riding and need instruction they got it. If you always wanted to herd cattle, they got it. If you want to go fast they got that too. Oh, and if you want to know what natural horsemanship is all about, you can find out at Laramie River Ranch, In short horseback riding is the priority at this ranch and that's what sets this ranch apart from many of the others.The entire staff is well trained and knowledgible, They definately go out of their way to be flexible in meeting the needs of their guests. The rooms and cabins are cozy and well taken care of. Krista, Natilie and Brian are top notch in keeping thing well organized. This is certainly one of the best run vacation operations I have ever visited of any type. It's very hard to think of anything they have not thought of. Laramie River Ranch is not fancy. It will appeal most to folks you want to experience western riding at it's best and to that end Laramie River Ranch is in one word GREAT!We will be back,,,,,,

We spent a few days at Laramie River Ranch last week before they closed for the season and it was absolutely spectacular. The ranch is perfect with top notch food, great accomodations and the owners and management really know hospitality! I was most impressed with all the wranglers. They were very freindly, all the while being completely professional and very conscious of safety. They checked and communicated with the riders and consistently checked the cinches throughout the rides. Besides the spectacular riding, ask Brain for tips or instruction on fly fishing. You don't have to go far as the Laramie river is just a few steps from the main lodge. Even the resident brown trout were accomodating and eagerly took the flies presented to them. I am positive that we will be back soon.

This is our 11th trip to a Western Ranch and I can say without a doubt that as an all around experience that Laramie River Ranch went to the top of our list of Western Ranch vacations. The horses, tack, food and staff were excellent and far beyond what we expected. The riding is top notch and the terrain is varied enough to allow riders of all levels to experience varied vistas and awesome views. We will DEFINITELY return to this ranch again Though their mailing address is in Wyoming, the ranch itself is actually in Colorado.

Great ranch family vacation! The kids had only been on a horse once before and had no idea what to expect, but ended up having the best week ever! The best part of the week was being away from all cell phones and Internet connection all week. We played games and visited with other families and enjoyed good old-fashioned fun!

Wonderful ranch and horses. The landscapes are awesome - like you are in a western movie.

We have done our fair share of traveling and can categorically say that Laramie River Ranch (LRR) is the perfect family vacation. In 2009 our girls were one and seven and the prospect of a relaxing vacation was hard to imagine. We found LRR after an exhaustive web search and were particularly drawn to the children’s program. After a week at LRR we were hooked on the beautiful location, wonderful staff, amazing horses and spectacular food. It is a small, initiate dude ranch that offers top notch riding, fly fishing, nature walks and a variety of activities that provided fun, excitement and relaxation for the entire family. Krista & Bill Burleigh, the proprietors, treat everyone like family and work tirelessly to insure that every guests stay is enjoyable. This is not exactly "roughing it". Example - on the all day ride we left our one year old at the lodge with a children's counselor. Our baby was brought in a car seat to the lunch location so we could enjoy the experience as a family. Another example was the overnight ride (highly recommended) - we arrived at the campsite to find tents pitched and steaks on the grill). The lodge and cabins are extremely well kept - we stayed in the lodge so we could leave a baby monitor upstairs and spend each evening downstairs with other guests and participate in the many evening activities.We loved LRR so much we returned for another week in 2010 and just finished booking a week for this coming August (2012). The only negative on LRR is having to leave. That said, we leave relaxed, recharged and grateful to have found such an amazing place.

It is so easy to take the Green Ride shuttle from the Denver Airport. The food was fantastic, always with alternate choices. Highlights for me were the barbeque ride in the high meadows, surrounded by yellow aspens and the snow-peaked Rawah Mountians, and the old-fashioned photo shoot. Of course, the horses were great. I was impressed at how well they were kept. We visited the first Adult Week in 2010 and I'm going back this (2012) September. I can't imagine any dude ranch vacation that could be more perfect. I just wish I lived closer to this paradise! Jody Phillips (from eastern PA)

This is truly a special place. If you are looking for a lot of horsebackriding on the trails, this is the one! They had wonderful horses, fun and knowledgeable wranglers, great accomodations and fabulous food (and a LOT of it!). A lot of personal touches made the difference for me. It was exactly what I wanted and I would definitely go back.

After a week spent at The Laramie River Ranch, I knew that someday I will go back.The owner Bill Burleigh, was equally a wonderful host as well as a great source of knowledge in many fields. His care for his horses and the environment was also very important to me. The staff members were all very friendly and took good care of everybody at the ranch.My experience as a rider was english, but I must say that I really enjoyed riding western in the beautiful surroundings of Northern Colorado. The vistas are absolutely amazing !So I hope that you will enjoy your stay as much as I did.LaurenceNew York City

We just got back from a family vacation here with our two sons (6 and 3 years old). We have never ridden horses. We had an absolutely wonderful time. The people (including staff and other guests) were great and a lot of fun. Within a week, my wife and I progressed from walking to trotting to loping on our horses. The scenery is magnificent, the food was great, the staff was awesome. The kids loved the kids counselor Jess!I cannot recommend this ranch highly enough for a family vacation. It is a small ranch and the intimacy provides a top notch experience. Don't miss the overnight trip!Make sure that you don't confuse thi ranch with other, similarly named imitators!!!

I just got back from a wonderful vacation at the Laramie River Dude Ranch. I can't say enough about my wonderful experience as a "never been on a horse before" rookie. Bill and Krista with their wonderful staff, stable of horses and family pets made my learning experience a delight. I highly recommend this dude ranch for adults and families who love horseback riding (or want to learn), beautiful scenery, hiking, fishing, eating, and just lounging around. With daily rides over a variety of trails for all levels of ability one can enjoy the beautiful countryside and make new friends. It was hard to leave, but I hope to return soon for another trail ride.

I went to the Laramie River ranch with a group of friends last July. We al love horses and looked forward to it. One couple were there before. It surpassed my expectations in all regards. The riding was wonderful, the food great and the young people who worked there made the whole week special. I celebrated a "BIG" birthday there and everyone helped to make it special.

Took our 3 and 8 yo boys. Had a great time. Excellent wranglers, horses, accommodations, food and fun. Easily the best family vacation I have ever been on. Will be back in a year or two!

Our family of 5 visited the Laramie River Ranch in the summer of 2005. We had such a great time, we went back for another week in the summer of 2006! This is just the greatest place! The people who work there are wonderful, the horses are perfect, the cabins comfortable and the food great! We especially love the long rides with our knowledgable and fun wranglers. This past summer we had a family fly fishing lesson and we all caught fish in the Laramie River! Having your family out in the river with boots and rods, is so much fun! Tubing down the cool river after a long ride was fun. Coming out of the river and stepping into the hot tub surrounded by the mountains is so relaxing! We all had smiles on our faces the entire week. When we all get together , the first thing we talk about is the ranch!We cannot wait to go back to ride the horses, see the ranch and meet some great people! We travel a lot and this is by far the best place to vacation and have lots of fun! One more thing...you don't need to know how to ride before you get there, they teach you! Try it, you will love it!

In 1999, my then 7 year old son, was on his way in becoming a professional indoorsman. I felt that a dude ranch might be the answer in introducing him to the outdoors. I searched the internet and found many to choose from. The majority of the ranches advertised that they offered distinct adult and childrens' programs. I wanted my son to experience the outdoors but I wanted to be with him while doing it. Laramie River Ranch advertised just the opposite. "Enjoy the outdoors with your family" was in essence their message. Eight years later, we both look forward to our seventh visit to LRR. The ingredients of LRR mix well. The owners, camp boss, wranglers, hotel/restaurant crew, horses and, of course, the outdoors make for an enjoyable and different vacation.E. HukillJanuary 10, 2007