Brand Book

California dude ranches

California's guest ranches are further apart than any other state here. Alisal sits in the Santa Ynez Valley behind Santa Barbara, Rankin in the Tehachapis north of Los Angeles, V6 on the Central Coast at Parkfield, Greenhorn and Hunewill up in the Sierra, and Marble Mountain away north on the Klamath. Picking a ranch here is mostly picking a part of the state.

Two of them are working cattle outfits that take guests into the work: Hunewill at Bridgeport, which runs dedicated cattle weeks, and V6 at Parkfield, which sells dates around its own ranch calendar rather than a season. Rankin is a working cattle ranch too, but guests ride rather than gather. Alisal is the resort end, where riding and golf are booked on top of the room rate.

Filter California ranches by month or stay length
Alisal RanchGreenhorn RanchHunewill Guest RanchMarble Mountain RanchRankin RanchStagecoach Trails Guest RanchV6 Ranch
Dots mark each ranch's nearest town. Select one to open the ranch.

California at a glance

Ranches
6
Offer cattle work
2
Short stays OK
3
Main season
May to October

Working ranches 2

California countryRanch photos coming soon
Working ranch

Parkfield, California

V6 Ranch

Parkfield cattle outfit running guest weeks on set dates around the ranch's own work.

Hands-on cattle work

Season
Set dates only
Ages
Guests 7+

Good to know Riding is age 7 and up, with a published weight limit

  • Cattle work
  • Horsemanship
  • Trail riding
More about this ranch: V6 RanchWebsite for V6 Ranch (opens in a new tab)

Family ranches 3

California countryRanch photos coming soon
Family ranch

Caliente, California

Rankin Ranch

Fourth-generation Tehachapi cattle ranch with an all-inclusive rate and a kids program.

Ranch demonstrations

Season
Late Mar – late Sep
Ages
Riders 6+, kids program 4-11

Good to know Riding has a 250 lb weight limit and is not available to pregnant guests

  • Family programs
  • Fly fishing
  • Pool
More about this ranch: Rankin RanchWebsite for Rankin Ranch (opens in a new tab)

Luxury ranches 1

California countryRanch photos coming soon
Luxury ranchFamily ranch

Solvang, California

Alisal Ranch

Santa Ynez Valley resort ranch where riding and golf are booked on top of the room rate.

Recreation-focused stay

Season
Year-round
Ages
Not stated

Good to know The nightly rate covers the room, breakfast and dinner; riding, golf and spa are extra

  • Fly fishing
  • Hot tub
  • Pool
More about this ranch: Alisal RanchWebsite for Alisal Ranch (opens in a new tab)

Common questions about California ranches

How many dude ranches are there in California?
6 on Brand Book, each one checked against the ranch's own website: 2 working cattle ranches, 5 family ranches and 1 luxury guest ranches. A ranch can count in more than one of those.
When is the best time to visit a dude ranch in California?
Most California ranches here host guests from May to October. 1 of them stays open all twelve months.
How long do you have to stay at a California dude ranch?
It varies more than people expect. 3 of the California ranches here take stays of four nights or fewer, the shortest being 2 nights. 3 do not publish a minimum.
Can you do real cattle work at a California dude ranch?
2 of the 6 California ranches here offer cattle work. 2 of those put guests in the work rather than alongside it: Hunewill Guest Ranch and V6 Ranch.
Are California dude ranches good for families?
5 of the 6 are family ranches, but none of them runs a children's program. Children are welcome; nothing is organized for them, which is the difference worth checking before you book.