Tumbling River Ranch Is An Epic Dude Ranch Experience

For as long as I can remember, my husband has wanted to take our boys on a family dude ranch vacation. One of his all-time favorite family vacations as a child was at a dude ranch in Colorado. He thought a dude ranch was the perfect getaway for three boys (and I was inclined to agree), so with the help of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, I began a search to find the best dude ranch for our whole family. 

We settled on the award-winning Colorado dude ranch Tumbling River Ranch, a family-owned dude ranch about an hour west of Denver. The place looked like it had plenty of activities to keep my kids busy and the online reviews made it seem like the right fit for us. We were excited to head out west and see what Tumbling River Ranch was all about.

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*We were guests of Tumbling River Ranch for this review. As always opinions are 100% our own.

Tumbling River Ranch Dude Ranch Vacation in Colorado

Where is Tumbling River Ranch

Tumbling River Ranch is an inclusive dude ranch located near Grant, Colorado. It is about an hour and a half from the Denver International Airport. The location is just off Highway 285 and Geneva Road (which becomes Guanella Pass Road). For those who aren’t renting a car, shuttle programs are offered for both pickup and drop-off.

The property is nestled in the pines and aspens of the Pike National Forest, and beautiful clear streams of fresh mountain water run through the property.

Accommodations at Tumbling River Ranch

There are a variety of cabins for families at Tumbling River Ranch. Individual cabins are anywhere from 2 beds/1 bathroom to 3 beds/2 bathrooms. We stayed at The Ranch House, which was perfect for our family of five. 

On the lower floor are three bedrooms, each with their own full bath and fireplace. The boys each had their own room, and they shared a hallway. 

Our room was on the floor above and it was a very spacious suite with a king-size bed, full bath, kitchenette, and living room. Each cabin, like our own, houses cozy fireplaces, which staff are more than willing to set up.

The space was very tastefully furnished and had breathtaking views of the property and nearby mountains. It was lovely to wake up to this view every morning and have privacy from the kids when we needed it. 

Tumbling River Ranch Amenities

One of the best things about a family dude ranch vacation is that everyone can find something they want to do on the property. Tumbling River Ranch had a wonderful heated swimming pool and hot tub, game room with ping pong and foosball, basketball, bocce, and fishing ponds (they even have a free fly fishing lesson one day). 

Several days during the week, the masseuse came to the ranch (don’t miss this if it’s available), and yoga was offered a couple of days. On any given day, the kids would be off playing games somewhere, while I relaxed and read a book or swam in the pool.

Riding horses at the ranch

Before we even thought about riding, we made our way to the Boot Barn, where they had hundreds of pairs of cowboy boots to choose from. It was nice not to have to buy your own boots for the dude ranch or pack them.

On the first day of riding, we were matched up with our horses for the week and fitted to our saddles. My boys had little to no riding experience, so they were given horses that matched their abilities.

Prior to any trail rides, everyone met for a riding lesson in the arena. For about a half hour, the wranglers went over the basics of horseback riding which I thought was very helpful.

Our first trail ride was the “most difficult” so everything after that would seem comparatively easier. We rode to the top of a nearby mountain and I’m not going to lie, it was one of those don’t look down kind of rides. 

Every day, groups meet down at the corral, which has a sort of rustic charm. Its wood exterior and Western-style signs are sure to bring out the cowboy and cowgirl in everyone.

Different ride options exist for varying skill levels, from long day rides to kids rides, so guests can ride as much or as little as they want.

These rides also offer a chance to see some of the abundant wildlife in the area, with one possible sighting being a moose! At the end of the week is the rodeo, where guests and wranglers show off their riding skills. It’s a fun way to wrap up the week.

Hiking in Pike National Forest and the surrounding area

This area of Colorado is perfect for hiking, and there are daily hikes to showcase the local beauty. Two nearby peaks are over 14,000 feet and just across the road is Tumbling River’s Flag Mountain which many guests like to climb. 

I’m not big on climbing at high altitude but I did take a hike along the Colorado Trail with my middle son and the scenery was spectacular. We also saw moose and deer along the way, so I call that a win!

For those who prefer bikes to walking, bring your own bike! The rolling hills and steep uphill surrounding the camp offer the perfect opportunity to do mountain biking- whether that be biking on the road through the mountains, or on trails surrounding the area!

Kids activities at Tumbling River Ranch

If you’re looking for a dude ranch kids will love, Tumbling River might be the most kid-friendly ranch. Tumbling River has premier kids programs for all ages, starting at age 3. They offer babysitting for younger children.

The children’s program is broken down into ages 3-5, 6-11, and teens. The week we were there, it was all teens, with a couple of 6-year-old twins who joined at the end of the week, so our kids had counselors devoted just to them.

Their only rules for kids on the ranch are: Kids must be 8 years old to ride a horse on their own and the overnight pack trip is a 14+ only activity.

The teens had one day where they went to experience activities such as rock climbing, horseback riding, and their own dinner away from the parents with a game of capture the flag.

Another night they had a pasta dinner and games with the counselors while some of the older teens chose to go on the overnight pack trip (more on that later).

One day, the kids learn gun safety as some of the older children have the opportunity to go trap shooting at a range on ranch property.

There was also a teen hike and several days of horseback rides that were for their group only. Our kids enjoyed every minute.

Evening activities at Tumbling River Ranch

Every evening after dinner there was a different activity for guests to enjoy. The first night was a hayride, s’mores, and live music from a local musician. Another night was story time with a mountain man (which my kids LOVED).

Friday nights feature an evening of square dancing and a hootenanny to close out the week. Staff are also more than willing to teach anyone who doesn’t know how to square dance, which my kids needed. Most evenings ended at the pool or spa so we could just relax after a long day in the saddle.

Extra activities at the dude ranch

Tumbling River Ranch offers a vast array of activities, both on and off the ranch! All of the activities are included at the ranch with the exception of fly fishing and white-water rafting. Guests pay an extra supplement to participate. My husband did the day of fly fishing with 5280 Angler and loved it! 

The next day we all went white water rafting on the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon. Water levels were low which made for some difficult maneuvering, but our guide Tony at Wilderness Aware Rafting, made sure we had the time of our lives!

Mid-week, guests have an opportunity to go on an overnight trail ride and camp out. This is only for adults and teens, and since our youngest couldn’t go, my husband went with our oldest.

They were on horses for about 11 hours total, but they saw mountain tops, an abandoned mining town, Geneva City, and slept under the starry night sky. After a good night’s sleep, lucky guests get to wake up to blue skies and horses throughout the camp. Both my husband and son said it was an experience they’ll never forget.

Fabulous food at Tumbling River Ranch

I had to save the best for last, and that’s the food. We were EXTREMELY well fed at Tumbling River. Every breakfast had a spread of yogurt, fruit, juices, and cereal, then the “real meal”. This was anything from French toast to pancakes, to eggs, bacon, and sausage. 

There were cookouts of all shapes and sizes with burgers, BBQ, baked beans, and all the fixings. Our family favorites were the formal adult dinner, which offers a romantic escape for adults while the kids’ program entertains families, the fajita cookout, which takes place on a campground, and the pancake breakfast, a final goodbye to Tumbling River.

The good news is the ranch sells their Tumbling River cookbook in their store, the Trading Post, so you can pick up the recipes to take home.

A few extra special touches

• I hate doing laundry on vacation, but it’s a necessary evil with a family of five. Thankfully, Tumbling River has a laundry room for guests to use free of charge. They even provide detergent and dryer sheets. Hallelujah! Don’t know what to bring? Check out our dude ranch packing list.
• There’s a small corral with farm animals kids can pet. My kids loved chasing the chickens and letting the calf lick their hands. Some donkeys aimlessly roam the property, so don’t be surprised if you meet them on the road at night. And guests will love Winnie the ranch dog who roams the ranch and often goes along on trail rides.

• Each house has cabin attendants who clean up each day. Ours would leave us very nice notes and make sure everything was spic and span. This mom of three boys really appreciates the hard work they put in cleaning up after my kiddos.

Tumbling River Ranch Staff

The friendly staff of Tumbling River Ranch offered unparalleled service. Scott, the owner, explained how they bring in college students each summer to “work on the ranch”. Some are returning and know the expectations, but others have to be “trained” to the highest level of service.

Scott and his wife Meagan refer to this as the ‘Dugan Way’, and must be great teachers because every single staff member was polite, friendly, and charming.

Note: My son was one of the lucky college students who worked on the ranch in the summer of 2023. The Dugans have since sold the ranch, but the new owners are committed to making this one of the finest guest ranches with outstanding programs and I’m sure they will continue to welcome families with open arms!

Check out this article for the best dude ranches for a family reunion, or head to the Dude Ranchers’ Association website.