This article is one in a series about Colorado Dude Ranches.
So what happens when a girl from downtown Denver gets an opportunity to write a story about Colorado dude ranches? She packs anything that looks remotely like western wear, grabs her old English riding boots and a hiking hat that may pass for a cowboy one. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve ridden horses since I was five, but I hadn’t been around my four legged friends for at least four years. Now I get to go out on multiple trail rides and hang out with folks from around the country that have been coming to these types of ranches for years.
My writing assignment takes me outside the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park near Granby, Colorado to the Drowsy Water Ranch. It’s June and the weather is forecast to be sunny for the next several days. Perfect. The guest packet I was sent from the Drowsy Water outlined everything that I would need and what activities I would expect to participate in. This is extremely helpful when you are used to going on backpacking trips but have no idea what to pack for a dude ranch. I drive up Interstate 70 and turn onto a dirt road which winds up a narrow valley outside of town and find myself in another time.
I’m greeted by ¾ of the Fosha family who have owned the ranch since 1977 who take turns giving me the tour. All guests are oriented to the ranch this way so you’ll know where your quarters are, where the food is served and eventually which horse you are assigned to. My horse is named Charlie, an amicable brown gelding with some cute white speckles on his hind quarters (easy to identify). We are friends immediately.
Once I’ve settled in I head down to the dining hall and am greeted by a group of friends that have come to the ranch together. This particular group takes pity on me since I’ve traveled here alone and adopt me into their clan. They call themselves the Echo Park Gang after another ranch they used to visit every year until it closed down. Now the Drowsy Water is the new stomping grounds for their western vacations. I wondered if all guests formed groups this way when going to a dude ranch and how did I find friends like these?
The next two days I spent at the Drowsy Water Ranch were packed full of activities. Normally guests would stay for the entire week, but I was fortunate enough to get in a few days. For the “regular” guests” activities include fishing, hayrides, campfires, jeep tours and much more. For me there were multiple trail rides up the sage covered mountains, family style meals, country dancing and riding clinics. The wranglers that are employed here are mostly college age and are excellent riders (and comedians as demonstrated on the longer rides). Everyone chats while we ride and I hardly noticed that my backside was getting really sore from my lack of previous saddle time.
If you ever wanted a vastly different vacation experience, there is little to compare to staying at a dude ranch. Especially one in Colorado where we are known for having gorgeous mountain scenery, 360 days of sun a year, gold medal fly fishing and some of the best horse people around. Witness what it was like to live in the old west and treat your family to the genuine hospitality of the Fosha family, they know how to do it right. Just look them up on TripAdvisor and see what you’ve been missing.
Drowsy Water Ranch: PO Box 147, Granby, Colorado
800-845-2292
www.drowsywater.com
Winner: TripAdvisor's #1 all inclusive resort for 2010
Members: Colorado Dude Ranch Association, Dude Rancher’s Association and Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association
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