3 Rocky Mountain Ranches for a Winter Escape
A guest ranch getaway may seem like a summer activity, but these three destinations offer winter stays that include scenery that’s bar none. Whether guests spend the day cross-country skiing or playing board games with the family, a winter dude ranch experience is a true getaway.
A Sleigh Ride at Lone Mountain Ranch in Montana:
Photo courtesy Montana Pressroom
More than 100 years old, Lone Mountain Ranch is 18 miles from Yellowstone and 40 minutes from the Bozeman Airport, in a land so mystical that it’s been the stuff of stories for hundreds of years.
During the winter, Lone Mountain is a wonderland, and snow-filled activities abound. Dubbed the number-one Nordic ski destination in North America by Cross Country Skier magazine, Lone Mountain Ranch is popular with skiers, but there are also many other activities available, including the Sleigh Ride Dinner.
A sleigh ride under the stars in Big Sky Country transports guests to the ranch’s North Fork Cabin where they enjoy Montana-raised prime rib and cowboy songs next to a crackling fire. It doesn't get much more Western than that.
Ski Backcountry at C Lazy U Ranch in Colorado:
Photo courtesy C Lazy U Ranch
One of Colorado’s most glamorous guest ranches is located in Granby, about 40 minutes from Winter Park. Billed as an "all-inclusive luxury dude ranch," C Lazy U offers deluxe cabins and gourmet meals, and features an onsite full-service spa. No one roughs it here.
During the winter, the ranch offers an array of activities from snowshoeing to horseback riding, but perhaps the most unique outing is their private snowcat ski package. This excursion involves exquisite backcountry skiing via the ranch’s snowcat. The ranch describes this experience as “like having your own private ski lift complete with cocoa and snacks.”
If guests want to book a few ski days at nearby Winter Park Resort or Ski Granby Ranch, C Lazy U will set up those packages as well.
Stay inside Grand Teton National Park at Triangle X in Wyoming:
This Wyoming dude ranch is located inside Grand Teton National Park. That’s right, Triangle X is the only concession open in the park during the winter, and guests can stay and play at this one-of-a-kind property.
Of course, two of the big draws here are the stunning views and the four-star dining—and there are lots of ways to work up an appetite in this beautiful environment.
Just imagine spending the day cross-country skiing or snowshoeing through the sparkling landscape of Grand Teton National Park or nearby Yellowstone National Park. Guests also enjoy snowmobiling, relaxing near a roaring fireplace or soaking in the outdoor hot tub.
Triangle X only requires a minimum one-night stay in the winter, making this is a unique opportunity to enjoy these two great National Parks at a serenely quiet and particularly magical time of year.
