Every ranch on Brand Book is sorted by how much of the real work guests do. These are the 41 where the work is part of the week: 16 where you ride out with the crew to move, sort and brand cattle, and 25 more where the work is there if you want it.
The work follows the cattle, not a booking calendar. Brandings tend to fall in spring and gathers in fall, so if working cattle is the point of the trip, ask the ranch what will be happening the week you go. What the days are actually like is in what a working ranch week is really like.
Filter working ranches by state, month or stay lengthThe work is the week. Guests ride out with the crew to move, sort, gather and brand.
Photo: Arizona Cowboy CollegeScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale cowboy school whose 5-day sessions end working cattle on an Arizona ranch.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know It's a school, not a guest ranch, and the host cattle ranch changes each session
Photo: Burnt Well Guest RanchRoswell, New Mexico
Small family cattle ranch near Roswell where guests ride out on real cattle work.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know 2026 is the last year of the adults-only camp-out cattle drives, and they're sold out; regular stays still include cattle work
Photo: Cold Creek RanchClifton, Arizona
Off-grid cattle ranch near Clifton where guests join daily chores and cattle work.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know Plans change with what the ranch needs each day
Photo: Diamond 7 Bar Guest RanchAlva, Wyoming
Crook County ranch offering customizable weeks that include a cattle drive day.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know You choose how much ranch work goes into your week
Photo: Double Rafter Cattle DrivesRanchester, Wyoming
Multi-day Bighorn Mountain cattle drives with tipi camping and a horsemanship clinic.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know It's a camping trip: cots in tipi tents, not cabins
Photo: Dryhead RanchDryhead Canyon, Montana
Family-run cattle ranch where guests ride long days on drives, brandings and roundups.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know One-week, all-inclusive stays with pickup in Billings
Bridgeport, California
Sixth-generation Bridgeport cattle ranch with family weeks and separate cattle-work weeks.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know A three-night minimum applies
Photo: Kara Creek RanchSundance, Wyoming
Sundance-area cattle operation where spring and fall guests brand, drive, and sort cattle.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know Seven-night, all-inclusive stays
Photo: Klondike RanchBuffalo, Wyoming
Bighorn foothills cattle ranch where guests ride with the herd and help at cow camp.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know Week-long stays, Sunday to Saturday
Photo: La Union RanchLa Union, New Mexico
Cattle ranch at La Union with a spring ride-along week and a fall cattle drive.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know It's dry country, and some days no cattle are found
Bridger, Montana
Family ranch near Bridger where guests join seasonal branding, gathers and long rides.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know Branding and gathers depend on ranch needs and dry weather
Photo: Paintbrush Adventures (Barron Ranch)Absarokee, Montana
Stillwater River cattle and sheep ranch offering flexible stays built around ranch chores.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know Days are tailored to each guest, so cattle work depends on what's happening
Photo: Ponderosa RanchCrawford, Nebraska
Pine Ridge cattle and hunting ranch with a weekday stay built around calving and branding.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know The ranch-work week is a new program, so confirm details with the ranch
Photo: Brand BookBurwell, Nebraska
Adults-only Sandhills cattle ranch where guests ride daily and help gather and sort herds.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know No riding on weekends unless the cattle need it
Parkfield, California
Parkfield cattle outfit running guest weeks on set dates around the ranch's own work.
Hands-on cattle work
Good to know Riding is age 7 and up, with a published weight limit
A ranch week with the work there if you want it, alongside trail rides and everything else.
Photo: Bar W Guest RanchWhitefish, Montana
Whitefish guest ranch with arena penning, drive days and separate adults-only drive weeks.
Ranch work available
Good to know The real cattle work happens off-site, about three hours away, with camping
Photo: Bitterroot RanchDubois, Wyoming
Dubois horse ranch with set weeks for a summer cattle drive and a fall roundup.
Ranch work available
Good to know Cattle work happens only in set program weeks, booked separately
Photo: Black Mountain RanchMcCoy, Colorado
McCoy ranch near Vail and Steamboat with a weekly longhorn drive, pack trip and rafting.
Ranch work available
Good to know Cattle work is one day a week, not the focus of the stay
Photo: Brush Creek RanchSaratoga, Wyoming
Saratoga-area ranch resort combining North Platte fishing, horseback riding, and shooting.
Ranch work available
Good to know Lodging, meals, select drinks, and on-ranch activities are included
Photo: Cherry Creek LodgeYoung, Arizona
Lodge near Young on a 40,000-acre Tonto National Forest cattle ranch with cattle drives.
Ranch work available
Good to know The cattle drive uses your included activity plus $95, and the site doesn't say how often cattle work is available
Photo: Circle Bar Guest RanchHobson, Montana
Judith River ranch in central Montana where families ride, shoot and try archery together.
Ranch work available
Good to know No separate supervised kids program
Photo: Concho Hills Guest RanchMagdalena, New Mexico
Small horsemanship ranch near Magdalena where guests may help neighbors work cattle.
Ranch work available
Good to know Rides are split by ability, and riders are assessed before they go out on the open range
Photo: Dennis RanchRed Owl, South Dakota
Multi-generation prairie cattle ranch that hosts visitors in the family's own log home.
Ranch work available
Good to know No rates, packages or age policy are published, so contact the ranch
Photo: Latigo RanchKremmling, Colorado
Kremmling ranch with twice-daily rides, a Friday cattle roundup and winter Nordic trails.
Ranch work available
Good to know The cattle roundup is an alternative to that day's rafting trip
Photo: Lost Creek RanchMoose, Wyoming
Weeklong Teton-view ranch stays built around twice-daily rides, float trips, and a pool.
Ranch work available
Good to know Meals, house beer and wine, activities, and airport shuttle are included
Photo: Majestic Dude RanchMancos, Colorado
Mancos ranch beside a state park lake with a mini cattle drive, kayaks and a kids' camp.
Ranch work available
Good to know Drinks, excursions and airport transfers are included; gratuity is not
Photo: McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest RanchLibby, Montana
Horsemanship ranch in northwest Montana with dedicated stockmanship and cattle weeks.
Ranch work available
Good to know Programs are five full riding days
Photo: Mountain Sky Guest RanchEmigrant, Montana
Upscale Paradise Valley ranch offering an optional long day helping its cattle crew.
Ranch work available
Good to know Seven-night stays, Sunday to Sunday
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Broadmoor cabin retreat in Pike National Forest with rides, lake fishing and kayaks.
Ranch work available
Good to know All-inclusive, plus a 20% daily service charge
Photo: The Ranch at Rock CreekPhilipsburg, Montana
All-inclusive ranch resort on Rock Creek pairing guided riding, angling, and shooting.
Ranch work available
Good to know All-inclusive, with a suggested stay of five to seven nights
Photo: Red Rock RanchKelly, Wyoming
Gros Ventre valley ranch with a kids riding program, creek fishing and cattle sorting.
Ranch work available
Good to know Six-night minimum in summer
Photo: The Resort at Paws UpGreenough, Montana
Blackfoot River ranch resort with homes, glamping tents, and guided Western outings.
Ranch work available
Good to know Four-night minimum in summer, two the rest of the year
Photo: Sprucedale Guest RanchAlpine, Arizona
Alpine ranch in the White Mountains with summer family weeks and fall cattle weeks.
Ranch work available
Good to know Riding costs extra in summer family weeks but is included in specialty weeks
Photo: Sweet Grass RanchBig Timber, Montana
Big Timber-area family ranch where guests can join cattle moves when ranch work arises.
Ranch work available
Good to know Cattle work is scheduled as needed, so it isn't guaranteed in a given week
Photo: Sylvan Dale Guest RanchLoveland, Colorado
Loveland foothills horse and cattle ranch with themed weeks, one devoted to cattle work.
Ranch work available
Good to know Most weeks have a theme, and many 2026 weeks show as sold out
Photo: TA RanchBuffalo, Wyoming
Historic Buffalo ranch where longer-stay riders can qualify to work its cattle herd.
Ranch work available
Good to know Cattle work needs a stay of four nights or more
Bellville, Texas
Working Bellville ranch with longhorns, restored 1850s houses and cattle work for guests.
Ranch work available
Good to know The ranch does not publish a season or an age policy
Photo: Tombstone Monument Ranch & Cattle Co.Tombstone, Arizona
Tombstone ranch laid out like an 1880s town, with two 7-night cattle round-ups a year.
Ranch work available
Good to know Round-ups are priced separately, at about $2,578 to $2,905 per person
Photo: Triple Creek RanchDarby, Montana
Bitterroot Valley cabin retreat for guests 16+ with trail rides and paid cattle drives.
Ranch work available
Good to know Meals, house drinks, and ranch activities are included
Photo: Vee Bar Guest RanchLaramie, Wyoming
Laramie-area family guest ranch with weekly summer cattle moves and team penning.
Ranch work available
Good to know Three- and six-night stays
