Ranch Brand Book

Family dude ranch vacations

These are the 82 ranches on Brand Book that welcome families, split by the question that decides most bookings: does the ranch run a program for children, or only welcome them? 46 run their own kids' program. The other 36 welcome children but list no program of their own.

Every ranch here is checked against its own website. Ages matter as much as programs, so each listing shows the youngest age a child can ride wherever the ranch publishes one. If you are choosing between a family week and something else, start with working, family, or luxury.

Filter family ranches by state, month or stay length
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  • Working
  • Family
  • Luxury

Dots mark each ranch's nearest town. Pinch or use + and − to zoom. Tap a dot to see the ranch.

Family ranches at a glance

Kids' program
46
Kids welcome
36
Short stays OK
38
States
13

Runs a kids' program 46

The ranch runs its own program for children, with activities organized for them.

A herd of horses running across a sagebrush valley below bare hills.Photo: Latigo Ranch
Family ranch

Kremmling, Colorado

Latigo Ranch

Latigo Ranch brand: A letter R with a short foot, above an arch

Kremmling ranch with twice-daily rides, a Friday cattle roundup and winter Nordic trails.

Ranch work available

Season
Jun – Sep, plus winter
Ages
All ages; 18+ late

Good to know The cattle roundup is an alternative to that day's rafting trip

  • Cattle work
  • Family programs
  • Fly fishing
More about this ranch: Latigo RanchWebsite for Latigo Ranch (opens in a new tab)
A rider on horseback among saguaro cactus with mountains behind.Photo: Tanque Verde Ranch
Luxury ranchFamily ranch

Tucson, Arizona

Tanque Verde Ranch

Tanque Verde Ranch brand: An R and a C separated by a slash

Tucson resort ranch by Saguaro National Park with daily rides, a spa, and a kids program.

Ranch work available

Season
Year-round
Ages
Kids program 4-12

Good to know All-inclusive covers lodging, meals, riding, hikes and the kids program; spa, private lessons and alcohol are extra

  • Family programs
  • Horsemanship
  • Hot tub
More about this ranch: Tanque Verde RanchWebsite for Tanque Verde Ranch (opens in a new tab)
Riders crossing a rocky creek in a green canyon.Photo: Rankin Ranch
Family ranch

Caliente, California

Rankin Ranch

Rankin Ranch brand: A U under a quarter-circle arc

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)

Kids welcome, no program listed 36

Children are welcome. The ranch lists no program of its own for them, so ask what there is for kids to do.

A rider in a black hat leads a line of guests on horseback past an old fence post, below a desert ridge.Photo: Mason Cameron, RMBLN Media, for Bar 10 Ranch
Family ranch

Whitmore, Arizona

Bar 10 Ranch

Bar 10 Ranch brand: A bar over the numerals 10

Whitmore cattle ranch on the Arizona Strip with ATV tours to the Grand Canyon rim.

Ranch demonstrations

Season
Mid-Mar – mid-Nov
Ages
All ages; rafting 8+

Good to know Access is by charter flight from Boulder City or a long dirt road from St. George, Utah, 70 miles north

  • Boating
  • Sport shooting
  • Trail riding
More about this ranch: Bar 10 RanchWebsite for Bar 10 Ranch (opens in a new tab)
Riders on a desert trail through blooming ocotillo with mountains in the distance.Photo: Elkhorn Ranch
Family ranch

Tucson, Arizona

Elkhorn Ranch

Elkhorn Ranch brand: A J beside a T lying on its side

Family-run ranch 50 miles southwest of Tucson with weeklong winter riding stays.

Recreation-focused stay

Season
Mid-Nov – late Apr
Ages
Riders 6+

Good to know The rates sheet says the season opens November 25, but weeks are listed from November 15, so confirm your dates

  • Horsemanship
  • Pool
  • Trail riding
More about this ranch: Elkhorn RanchWebsite for Elkhorn Ranch (opens in a new tab)
Three riders on a golden hillside above a lake and green mountains.Photo: Alisal Ranch
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 family dude ranch vacations

What is a family dude ranch?
A dude ranch that welcomes children, usually for a week of riding, meals and ranch life together. Of the 111 ranches on Brand Book, 82 welcome families, and 46 of those run a program just for children.
Which family dude ranches have a kids' program?
46 of the 82 family ranches here run their own program for children, and they are listed first on this page. The other 36 welcome children but list no program of their own, so ask each one what there is for kids to do.
What is the best dude ranch for families?
Brand Book does not rank ranches. For most families the deciding question is whether the ranch runs a program for children or only welcomes them, which is how this page is sorted. The next is the youngest age a child can ride, which each listing shows under Ages wherever the ranch publishes it.
Where are the family dude ranches?
Across 13 states: 20 in Wyoming, 15 in Colorado, 13 in Arizona, 13 in Montana, 6 in California, 4 in Texas, 3 in Idaho, 3 in New Mexico, 1 in Georgia, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Tennessee, 1 in Virginia and 1 in Washington.
Can you take kids to a dude ranch for a long weekend?
Yes, at a lot of them. 38 of the 82 family ranches here take stays of four nights or fewer. 21 sell only a full week, and 18 do not publish a minimum.