Elkhorn Ranch

There isn’t enough space to write what we all feel about this amazing ranch… Charley and Mary are amazing and it trickles down to their staff, the ambiance, the guests, the horses, the riding, the everything…
We love The Elkhorn Ranch and love that it is now our place to visit every year. Thank you for creating a home away from home.

Just back from another great week of unplugged bliss, riding horses and simply lolling about at Elkhorn Ranch. My grandparents came every spring from the 1950s up through the ‘70s and they got my brother & me hooked when we were kids. And I now crave being there so much that I’ve been coming almost every year for the better part of the last decade. Wonderful horses/​wranglers/​rides, private cozy cabins, desert beauty — and a total blast back to pre-​Internet, pre-​television times. Heaven.

This is my family’s favorite vacation — both restful and adventurous, comfortable but not pretentious or fussy, great food, friendly family owned atmosphere but very professional and well managed, beautiful scenery, interesting plants and animals — it’s the perfect escape from our normal hectic ‘city’ lifestyle. And, you don’t have to be a horse owner or experienced rider, the guides never make us ‘city-​slickers’ feel foolish and the horses are so well-​trained there is no reason to be intimidated. Even when our kids were 6 and 10 years old it was a safe and exciting experience for them. Our routine when there is to wake up to a delicious breakfast, then horse back riding in the mountains with a wilderness campfire cook out for lunch, back to the ranch for a rest, then a delicious dinner followed by an evening of card games with the family, then a cozy nights sleep in our cabin. The rides are custom fit to your request — long, short, high up in the mountains, easier rides across the plains, even galloping. whatever you are in the mood for that day. If you need a break from riding you can spend a peaceful day sitting out in the sun, reading, hiking, swimming or playing tennis. Highly highly recommended even if this is not something you ever did before! We’ve been 4 times and hope to visit again soon.

The Elkhorn Ranch has become one of my favorite relaxing family destinations! Looking for a place to take the extended family? «The Ranch» fulfills everyone’s needs. The casitas you’ll stay in offer the quiet privacy you want while parties on the patio and three meals a day at the Long House offer many opportunities to socialize with crew and guests. You’ll make new friends, young and old, from across the country.
Ready for some quiet privacy? Pick up a book from the Long House library and head back to your casita and pick a cozy spot in a sunny window to read. Or, pick up some bird seed and set up camp in the bird blind and watch them come to you! There are little critters and beautiful nature all around — cotton tailed bunnies will come hop hopping outside your bedroom window, birds of all sorts will flock to the Indian grinding stone for water, you might even return from dinner to find a cute green toad waiting to greet you at your doorstep.
Bringing the kids? The Ranch is safe and comfortable enough (just set up some rules about tag games around the pokies — cactus and bushes are sharp when you run into them!) for the kids to hang out at the Long House playing a board game or the piano, play ping pong on the patio, hit some balls or shoot some hoops on the tennis court, explore around for arrowheads or pottery shards and mosey down to pet the colts.
Speaking of horses… there are many for Charlie to match you to so you won’t be disappointed — just make sure you ask how to tell your horse who’s boss so they aren’t lagging behind in the string! It’s easy and the wranglers will keep you safe and moving right along past many amazing views and tiny patches of spring wildflowers and flowering cactus along the trail.
Whether coming in spring or winter, don’t worry about what to bring for the climate. In the office there is not only a little store, but an entire «closet’ full of jackets, Western style shirts, jeans, riding socks, and hats to borrow– in all sizes (kids and adults) — here you can pick out some comfortable, well worn in boots to use during your stay too.
This Ranch will take care of you: laundry, internet available, great food, fun times, safe rides, massage services and an amazing landscape — high mountain or low desert — you’ll find what you are seeking in a relaxing all-​family vacation here. Oh, and the cookies are AMAZING!