1 May 2025
It’s official: Cowboy Core is back. According to a recent survey by American Holidays, 23% of British travellers to the US are planning a Western-themed holiday. If horseback riding and remote ranches sound like your ideal holiday, dust off your Stetson and head to Northern Colorado for a true Wild West-inspired cowboycation.
Horseback Rides
The Tattered Saddle offers a truly unique experience, allowing you to choose your own style of adventure. Located in Livermore, just 35 minutes from downtown Fort Collins, the Stables at Gordon Creek provide everything from beginner-friendly trail rides to sunset excursions, advanced options and a “Scratch-and-Ride” experience where you can be a cowboy for the day. With premium touches and knowledgeable guides, every ride is designed to be memorable for all the right reasons. The Tattered Saddle also offers Western riding lessons and horse training.
Cowboy Cuisine
Originally opened in 1946 by the Nelson brothers – Willard and Vern – as a small roadside diner, sporting goods store and filling station, Vern’s Place quickly earned a reputation for its friendly service and homestyle cooking. Over the decades, several owners have taken the reins, with Harvey and Dinah Kittle making a lasting impact during their 33-year tenure. In 2023, local restaurateurs Alan and Jackie Jantzen took over, bringing personal history and community spirit to the table. As a teenager, Alan would stop by Vern’s for a cinnamon roll and a bottle of pop before heading into the Poudre Canyon to fish – a tradition that now inspires his commitment to local focus and hearty, comforting food.
Fantastic frontier in Red Feather Lakes
Red Feather Lakes, a mountain community northwest of Fort Collins with a population of around 740, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. The rustic hamlet of Red Feather Lakes Village is nestled within the 612,000-acre Roosevelt National Forest and features a trading post, tavern and a selection of boutique shops and restaurants. The area is also home to Rawah Ranch, an authentic “all-American western luxury guest ranch and fly fishing lodge”; Marr’s Mountain Cabins, offering six fully furnished lakefront cabins and an on-site tavern; and Beavers Meadows Ranch Resort, which provides lodging, camping, horseback riding, fishing and hiking.
Dress like a cowboy
Greeley Hat Works, the official hat-maker for the hit television series Yellowstone, handcrafts cowboy hats using the same traditional Parisian hat-making tools the company started with back in 1909. Trent Johnson, the fourth owner and a former apprentice, is a passionate hatmaker and entrepreneur who has made it his mission to create exceptional hats for everyone. From rodeo cowboys and ranchers to U.S. presidents, dignitaries and celebrities, Greeley Hat Works is renowned for its outstanding craftsmanship and impeccable service.
Last Cowboy Standing
The PBR’s hugely popular Last Cowboy Standing event is coming to Fort Collins this summer. Taking place on 21–22 July at CSU’s Canvas Stadium, the event will showcase 40 of the world’s top bull riders competing for major prize money. Adding to the excitement, country music stars Tim McGraw and multi-platinum artist Jon Pardi will also perform live.
Where to stay, authentic dude ranches:
Sundance Trail Guest Ranch
Sundance Trail Guest Ranch is the smallest member of the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association – a distinction they wear with pride. This allows for a relaxed, intimate atmosphere and plenty of time to connect with each guest. Open year-round, the ranch offers seasonal activities and a range of cosy guest cabins and suites. Activities include horse riding (of course), rock climbing, disc golf, tomahawk throwing, guided hikes, target shooting, archery and campfires. In winter, guests can enjoy horse riding, hiking or snowshoeing.
Cherokee Park Ranch
Cherokee Park Ranch is a family-owned, all-inclusive Colorado dude ranch that has been welcoming guests to the Rocky Mountain wilderness in Livermore since 1886. With historic accommodation in the 120-year-old log lodge suites and six surrounding cabins, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. The ranch’s tranquil mountain setting offers complete relaxation, while the nearby river provides a calming backdrop. From your front porch, you might spot elk, mule deer, coyotes and bald eagles. Daily adventures include everything from rafting and rope swinging to horse riding, fly fishing and hiking.
Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch
Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch offers an authentic cowboy experience in the foothills west of Loveland. Guests can enjoy horseback riding year-round (weather permitting) across the ranch’s 3,200-acre property, where eagles soar above red cliffs and mule deer find shade in the ponderosa pine forest. The ranch also features a wide range of activities and amenities, including skeet shooting, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, horseshoes, ping pong, billiards, shuffleboard, foursquare, fly fishing, an outdoor heated pool (seasonal) and basketball.
For more information, visit www.colorado.com
