Nevada Ranch, USA
Reviews
“Extremely kind, hospitable and generous family. Absolutely amazing scenery - wow! Experience of a lifetime. A true escape from reality. The hosts and staff did everything possible to keep us occupied and happy, show us the area and make our holiday very special. The food was excellent and very copious. A lot of effort went into each meal. The accommodation was very comfortable - totally relaxing atmosphere. ”
Horses
Type of horses:
Quarter horses, Quarter Thoroughbred Crosses, Paints, Draft and Draft Crosses
Nature of horses:
Homebred, sure-footed and gentle. There are horses suitable for the very experienced right down to the novice.
Height of horses:
15 - 16hh on average
Weight limit:
110kgs - riders should be fit enough to ride safely. Heavier riders may be accepted if experienced.
Tack type:
Western
Weather
Current Conditions:
Fair, 23 C
Forecast:
Thu - Partly Cloudy/Wind. High: 25 Low: 7
Fri - Mostly Sunny. High: 19 Low: 2
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Ranch Stay
£183 per person, per day.
This price includes full board accommodation, unlimited riding and ranch activities, use of the ranch facilities.
Children aged 16 and under receive a 20% discount.
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Cattle Work and Horse Drive
£1164 per person
This price includes full board accommodation (sometimes camping), all riding and activities.
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Wilderness Pack Trip
£1197 per person.
Price includes full board accommodation (camping most of the time!), all riding and activities.
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
This genuine working cattle and horse ranch has been welcoming guests since 1952 and is in its fifth generation of family ownership. Located in the northeastern corner of Nevada, in the historic O'Neil Basin (once home to notorious cattle rustlers), the ranch is steeped in history and the family work with the animals as they have done for generations. The beautiful ranch and magnificent mountain ranges are roamed by mule deer, antelope and elk and this corner of Nevada boasts the purest air in the lower 48 states. The rolling sage hills and alpine mountains make this the ideal destination for an authentic western experience.
The welcoming cowboys and their trusty homebred horses offer guests a variety of riding experiences. The exciting horse and cattle drives are a dream for the adventurous traveller looking to traverse the landscapes whilst keeping the herds on the right path. There are few things as exciting as watching a thundering herd of horses as you ride through the open range, crossing rushing streams and passing mountains (some over 10,000 feet). The explorers will love the pack trips here with opportunities to spot a variety of wildlife or perhaps to splash about in the spring-fed Emerald Lake. Historic mining towns and wilderness trails make these trips a real western adventure and they can even be arranged for families so children can have the pack trip experience too!
Ranch stays are the perfect way to experience ranch life in the true wild west and to get involved with the daily tasks. You will ride like a cowboy and eat like one too! It's also a great opportunity to enjoy some of the other activities available at the lodge which offers luxurious accommodation and welcoming and friendly people. There is unlimited riding and a variety of kind and trusty horses to carry you as you check the cattle and try out roping or some games. Special family weeks are also available.
Come and join this family and their friends and staff as they show you how it's really done on a working ranch. Leave behind the worries of daily life and head out to the remote lodge where the air is clean, the horses are beautiful and the cattle are waiting for a cowboy.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
This comfortable and welcoming lodge has seven bedrooms, each with their own private bath, which offer a wide variety of accommodation options to fit the needs of most groups (up to 19 people).
The lodge features a spacious dining room and living room equipped with various seating areas, a bar and a large stone fireplace. There is a cosy reading area behind the fireplace which has internet access. Next to the fireplace there is a game table for chess, checkers or backgammon and you will also find a recreation room with pool table, large flatscreen TV and comfortable seating.
The south side of the lodge has a large deck where guests can enjoy magnificent views of the barn, arena, meadows and mountains and where meals are served during the nice weather. Guests are also welcome to use the hot tub - an excellent way to relax and soothe your body after an exhilarating and unforgettable day in the saddle.
The ranch serves hearty meals which include beef, turkey, chicken and pork as well as vegetarian meals. A salad is always included and meals are accompanied by vegetables, potatoes, rice or pasta and good bread. Yummy desserts finish dinner off nicely.
Breakfast comprises of breakfast meats, eggs, potatoes, juice, fruit and a choice of cereals. These breakfasts are a real hit with the guests. Lunch varies according to the activities of the day but they are always delicious and filling. Riders will often be met by a chuck wagon loaded with cold drinks and great food.
The ranch is not licensed to sell alcohol so guests are asked to take their own should they want it. Wine is usually served with dinner.
Activities
Other activities available on the ranch include trap-shooting, arena games, roping, fishing, camping, hiking, rock-hunting, mountain biking, bird watching, ATV trips, wagon rides and relaxing in the hot tub. In the winter guests can try out a snowmobile or some cross country skiing.
The recreation room has a pool table, large flatscreen TV and there is also internet access available.
Further Details
Languages: English
Health requirements: None Specific
Age limit: 5+ (7+ for riding, unless on a lead rein)
Tuition: No
Included: Accommodation, meals and snacks, unlimited riding and use of lodge and ranch facilities.
Not included: Flights, insurance, transfers, drinks and gratuities.
Travel Information
There are no direct flights available from the UK to either Elko or Twin Falls. Therefore we recommend that guests wanting to visit this ranch take a flight to Las Vegas, spend a night there enjoying the city, then take a direct flight from there to one of the airports mentioned. Allegiant Air offer very affordable flights from Las Vegas to Twin Falls and from here you can rent a car at a great price (or can have a transfer as below). Delta fly direct from LV to Salt Lake City for around $150 return.
Transfers can be arranged from either Elko Regional Airport (Nevada) or Twin Falls (Idaho) Airport for $65 per person each way or $120 for a round trip. If a group can share a car then the $120 cost is split between them. Cars can be rented from either of these or from Salt Lake City.
Estimated driving times to the ranch are as follows:
Elko: 2 1/4 hours
Twin Falls: 2 1/2 hours
Salt Lake City: 4 1/2 hours
Airport: Elko Regional Airport
Alternative Airport: Twin Falls Airport
Programmes
Ranch Stay
|
Stays at the ranch are available from May to October and are the perfect opportunity to experience ranch life at its best. During the day you can ride with the cowboys as they cover the range, checking the cattle and horses, or as they move the herds to maintain the health of the land. The ranch is run in accordance with holistic range management which means that the cattle are moved frequently in order to ensure the good condition of the ecosystem. Not only is there the chance to expand your cowboy skills everyday but there are several other activities on offer. Guests should be sure to take time for arena games, hay and buggy rides, fishing, barbecues and campouts. In the late Spring you can get involved with the horse drive when the high desert is green and covered in wild flowers, the mountain peaks still topped with the last of the snow. In September guests can join the cowboys as they round up the herds and bring them down the mountain, an exciting riding experience amidst the beautiful autumn colours. Evenings are often spent around a campfire, where you might be entertained by a local cowhand poet or musician, and this is a great opportunity to tell tales of your day in the saddle. When you look up, you'll see the sky ablaze with stars. Delicious, hearty meals are served on the old oak table or on the beautiful deck which overlooks the ranch meadows and is a lovely spot to relax in your free time. There is something magical about riding through the expansive vistas astride a horse with whom you have built a special camaraderie. This ranch stay is a flexible holiday and you can spend as many hours in the saddle as you choose. |
|
| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 19 |
| Ability description: | Beginner - Experienced |
| Type of ride: | Based |
| Total riding time: | Unlimited (6 days a week) |
| Departure dates: | May - October (flexible dates) |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Cattle Work and Horse Drive
|
This is a breathtaking western adventure involving one or two full days working the cattle and three or four exhilarating days on a horse drive (the exact number of days spent on each activity is dependent upon weather and other factors). The cattle work days are spent enjoying life at the ranch and on the range, working the cattle as a true cowboy and moving them around. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy ranch activities and to relax in your new surroundings, bonding with new cowboy friends and horses. During the three days of the horse drive you will drive a thundering herd of horses home to their summer pastures. Delicious western meals are served from a chuck wagon and you'll spend your evenings around a campfire before counting the stars and drifting off to sleep in your own comfy bedroll. Watching the horses running free over the range is a truly beautiful sight and an unforgettable experience, especially as you ride alongside them. At the end of the drive you ride into the ranch for a final, celebratory night with your new cowboy buddies.This experience is for easygoing types who are happy to get involved and who do not mind some flexibility within the schedule. At times there can be some waiting before and after meals, depending on the movements of the cattle and horses, and you will usually be riding in a large group. |
|
| Accommodation: | Accommodation during the two nights of the horse drive is in tents. |
| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 18 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate+. We recommend good experience in the saddle, though you may find that a mixture of riding abilities join in with the activities. |
| Type of ride: | Horse drive (effectively a trail ride) with a few days based at the ranch. |
| Total riding time: | Long hours in the saddle |
| Departure dates: | 2012: 17-23 June, 6-14 July, 19-25 August, 9-15 September. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Wilderness Pack Trip
|
A five day journey into the Jarbridge Wilderness Area in the magnificent Jarbridge Mountains. The family here have been taking guests into the wilderness for over 50 years and can't wait to share this magical place with your on their sure-footed mountain horses. You'll spend your days exploring the remote, dramatic mountain range, watching elk or eagle, photographing nature's diversity or just relaxing with your horse in this special place. Relaxing around the campfire and eating delicious food prepared over the fire is a wonderful way to end the days. The forests are filled with quaking aspen, pine, fir, mahogany and meadows full of wildflowers. You will camp at night in the beautiful mountains which form the highest concentration of peaks over 10,000ft in Nevada. The rugged, glaciated terrain and its sensational canyons are home to abundant wildlife and you may spot golden eagles, elk, antelope, mountain lion and deer. There are numerous springs and creeks with beaver ponds and the spring-fed Emerald Lake is a favourite swimming spot. The fall colours are dazzling, especially in contrast with the magnificent Nevada sky overhead. After spending your arrival night at the ranch, you will hit the trail with your trusty horse. You'll cross the mountains, camping at isolated and gorgeous spots, exploring old miner's cabins and taking side trips on foot or horseback to enjoy the countryside. The climax of the week is a descent into the historic mining town of Jarbridge, infamous as the site of America's last stagecoach robbery. This is a step back in time and the townsfolk turn out to welcome you. Here you will enjoy dinner and western dancing in an old west bar and restaurant. The night is spent in an old renovated barn turned into a hotel, the perfect old-fashioned way to end the memorable trip. No motorised vehicles are allowed in this area and the family have held a Forest Service License since 1952. They are committed to protecting, preserving and respecting the wilderness and guests are asked to practice "Leave No Trace" techniques whilst enjoying the beauty of this special corner of the world. |
|
| Accommodation: | Accommodation is in tents at wilderness camps during most of the programme. |
| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 10 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate+ |
| Type of ride: | Pack trip (trail ride) |
| Total riding time: | Long hours in the saddle |
| Departure dates: | 2012: 22-28 July, 27 July-4 August, 12-18 August, 23-29 September. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Copyright ©2005-2012 Far and Ride Ltd.
Financially Protected. Credit cards accepted.
Sitemap | Contact Us