Colorado Official State Vacation Guide - 2025
From Rodeos to Dude Ranches: Experience the Old West
2024-12-05 12:12:29
Colorado’s history is etched with tales of travelers drawn in by the promise of wealth after prospectors struck gold in modern-day Idaho Springs in 1859. The Old West spirit predates the Gold Rush, however, as this era is intricately woven with the vibrant heritage of Native American nations such as the Ute, Arapaho and Cheyenne, among others.
After the discovery of potential riches, hopeful settlers from across the nation flocked to the territory to help develop homesteads, advance technology and cultivate booming communities of new businesses and vocations. This rapid expansion not only shaped the landscape but also left a lasting mark on the state’s cultural identity.
While this period as we know it is history, there are still opportunities to appreciate what it was all about, from thrilling rodeos to Indigenous art and chuckwagon dinners. Saddle up and experience the Old West in Colorado.
Horseback Riding
Browns Creek Falls, Salida
Trails among waterfalls and craggy cliffsides make Browns Creek Falls a picture-perfect horseback adventure. Settle into a saddle and experience a quintessential Old West mode of transportation on a laid-back trail ride through pine forests. Gaze upon rocky vistas flanked with aspen trees, hear the gentle babbling of streams and witness the majesty of the flowing Browns Creek waterfall.
Staunton State Park, Pine
Sweeping forests and impressive natural landmarks like the towering Lion’s Head, Chimney Rock and Black Mountain will greet you in this area that once operated as a medical-care homestead in the early 20th century. Sway on a horse’s back along Elk Creek, a trickling waterway supplied by the flowing Elk Falls.
A&A Historical Trails Stables, Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs is rich with Colorado history, and you’ll spot remnants of its storied past on an enlightening ride. Hear gentle hoofbeats as your horse walks paved trails, revel in views of Rocky Mountain peaks, explore a cemetery from the 1800s, learn about Colorado’s Gold Rush background at mines or ride under a night sky twinkling with bright stars.
Hundreds of years ago, members of the Ute Tribe were among the first Indigenous people to integrate horse travel into their lifestyles in the region that is now Colorado.
Chuckwagon Dinners & Sleigh Rides
Flying W Ranch, Colorado Springs
Don’t miss this tribute to Colorado Western heritage nestled at the base of Pikes Peak. Enjoy tender steak or a steaming baked potato and tap your foot to lively country and folk music from the renowned Flying W Wranglers. Walk the grounds outside to see red-granite formations and admire chuckwagon decor nodding to the past of this former cattle ranch.
Bar D Chuckwagon, Durango
Towering Durango plateaus and rock formations are the backdrop as you fill up your old-fashioned tin plate with roast beef, chargrilled rib-eye steak and homemade biscuits, while enjoying live performances at the Supper Show. Roll along on a miniature train ride amid the charming surrounding buildings, learn about the historical importance of leather goods or appreciate local Western-inspired art at the gallery.
Keystone Stables, Keystone
Snuggle up in a provided blanket and watch hills of spruce trees pass by while horses trot on smooth, snow-blanketed landscapes with you in tow. Knowledgeable guides will impart countless facts about the Soda Creek Valley, which once housed one of the region’s earliest ranches in the 1880s. After the ride, warm up with a hearty meal of grilled beef or fish paired with seasoned veggies in a cozy cabin while live bands play.
The chuckwagon was invented by a rancher named Charles Goodnight in 1866. The portable food wagons towed by horses helped travelers carry their eats to Colorado and other states during Westward Expansion.
Ranch Stays
Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch, Cortez
Stay in one of the log-and-stone cabins and greet your neighbors — friendly dogs, cats and farm animals like sheep, chickens and cattle who live here. Nearby trails amid forest-laden hills, the meandering McElmo Creek and numerous historical Native American villages and landmarks allow you to immerse yourself in the area’s nature, culture and history.
Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, Loveland
Preserving its humble, early 1900s beginnings as a relaxing resort with chances to appreciate Colorado’s outdoors, this cattle ranch invites you to unplug and unwind at one of its rustic guest houses. The ranch’s offerings mix traditional Old West fun with modern activities — learn how to ride a horse, venture out on a guided fly-fishing excursion or challenge a friend to a game of table tennis.
Cherokee Park Ranch, Livermore
Livermore is a small town with a mineral-prospecting past tucked off the beaten path for ultimate seclusion. Here, rustic lodging, mountainous landscapes and comforting hospitality await. Take to nearby trails to find fields of wildflowers, cast your fly-fishing line into a Gold Medal stream or simply get away from it all on this northern Colorado ranch.
Ancestral Puebloans once called Canyons of the Ancients home thousands of years ago. Learn more about them at the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Dolores.
Museums
A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art, Trinidad
Opened in 1981, “The Mitch” houses 350-plus paintings of Western action scenes, landscapes, livestock and cowboys created by Arthur Roy Mitchell and his 20th-century contemporaries. Don’t miss the collection of Hispanic, Spanish and Native American folk art, featuring pottery, textiles and intricate retablos — devotional art enclosed in panels, as if presented on an altar.
Museum of Northwest Colorado, Craig
With exhibits showcasing shotguns, Native American artifacts and centuries-old family records, this small-town museum delivers comprehensive chronicles of the region’s past. Check out entertaining and interactive collections detailing the history of gunfighters, cowboys and even dinosaurs in Colorado.
Black American West Museum & Heritage Center, Denver
Learn about the important roles that Black Americans played in developing the West at this museum dedicated to dispelling stereotypes and misconceptions about Black cowboys. The programs and collections tell impactful stories of Black miners, ranchers, teachers, soldiers, blacksmiths and more.
The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center is located in the former home of Colorado’s first Black physician, Dr. Justina Ford.
Rodeos & Fairs
High Country Stampede Rodeo, Fraser
Don your cowboy hat and watch in awe as cowpokes fight to stay on bucking bulls and teams of expert ropers showcase their lassoing skills. In between competitions, indulge in fall-off-the-bone brisket from SMOKE restaurant and enjoy a rodeo clown show, complete with inflatable horses and vibrant face paint, that will have the whole family laughing.
Stampede Ranch & PRCA-WPRA Rodeo, Westcliffe
Soak in the stately views of the jagged Wet Mountain Valley as you witness horseback competitors wrangling calves and steer, and cheer on barrel-racing cowgirls weaving speedy horses in a cloverleaf shape. With plenty of kid-friendly events, including a wooden-horse race, this special function dedicated to preserving Colorado’s Old West history is a must for the whole family.
Evergreen Rodeo, Evergreen
Prepare to be dazzled by entertaining classics like mutton bustin’ and bucking broncos with chap fringes and tassels whipping in the wind. Don’t miss impressive performances from the drill team, the Rocky Mountain Renegades; hear the clops of synchronized horse trotting as the group parades around the arena holding flags and weaving into precise shapes. Stick around for the parade of patriotic floats, air shows and antique automobiles along the idyllic streets of Evergreen.
Colorado’s first rodeo competition happened in Deer Trail on July 4, 1869, sparking popularization of the rip-roaring sensation throughout the territory.
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