Badger Creek Ranch is an ALL INCLUSIVE working cattle and guest ranch located high in the spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountains. It is also our home. Here we invite you to enjoy a western vacation adventure of a lifetime. At Badger Creek Ranch you will be an important part of our cowboy crew as we ride fences, round up, doctor and sort our cattle. Even though we are a working cattle ranch, we never forget you are on vacation!
What a wonderful experience! The ranch is situated in a remote mountain area, be prepared for no cell service, high altitudes, dirt roads, star filled nights, new friends, great food, good music, pleasant and comfortable accommodations, spectacular vistas, hours of riding the range. After my 5 night stay with my friend the staff feels more like good friends than staff. Chrissy and Dave are working ranchers trying to make a positive environmental difference and give guests a glimpse into their beautiful way of life. They are out riding, working on fences, checking on the cattle right along with you. Grant and Andrea are culinary geniuses- the food was fresh, healthy, and always delicious. Liz is an artist along with her other duties around the ranch. Brian and Dave are musicians as well as ride guides and ranchers. Music night was one of my favorite times. Gregory drives his Percheron team, helps with guiding rides and is an all around wealth of information. Kasey was another guide (we always had two guides on our rides) - she was riding or fixing fence or tending animals, but always busy. Caitlyn was snapping photos and busy getting to know the guests. This is no nose to tail trail riding, this is a working ranch. We got to learn how to move cattle and either checked on them or moved them daily. We often spent about 5 hours a day in the saddle, packing a lunch in the saddle bags. The places we got to see were incredible! This is riding across the range, often rocky and full of badger, ground squirrel and coyote holes. And yes, we saw a badger the namesake of the ranch! Also saw evidence of large herds of elk. We did see several pronghorn antelope. The wild flowers were glorious- so many colors of flowers. I LOVED the small intimate group of guests which made our daily ventures both flexible and personal. This isn’t a spa resort so don’t be expecting hot tubs and massages, but a soak in the nearby river is worth the hike. The ranch is full of history and Chrissy and Dave are happy to share it. Such a wonderful experience!
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Make sure you print off the directions, you are not going to have cell service and gps doesn’t...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveling the roads in Colorado to Badger Creek Ranch is like stepping back in time to the days where cowboys and their herds roamed the land in the late 1800s. Set about 9000 feet above sea level, Badger Creek Ranch (BCR) is a working cattle ranch set back about a mile from a dirt road. Once set up in their bunkhouse, you hear nothing but the wind, see nothing but rolling hills and valleys, and feel nothing but nostalgia for the days gone by.
Let me be frank on one thing: This is not a dude ranch. There is no pool, no spa, nor big flat screen TV. They don't even have WiFi in the bunkhouse (which is amazing). This is a working cattle ranch. Brian, Natalie, Chrissie, and Dave (apologies for any misspellings) and their amazing employees live and work the land every day to make a living. They own horses, sheep, hogs, chickens, and of course cattle and work each and every day to keep their ranch operating the best it can be. And my wife and I were privileged to be a part of the ride.
Due to COVID-19, there were only 3 guests the week we stayed. The way I see it, this allowed my wife and I the time and opportunity to really get to know the family. Any questions we had on horsemanship were answered in full detail with many demonstrations. Many thanks to Brian and Chrissie for your expertise in horseback riding. When my wife got a little altitude sickness one day and needed a break, Natalie was there to work with her in the arena on different facets of horsemanship.
My wife and I will never forget this ranch in Colorado and the majesty of its landscape. If you are interested in this experience, which you obviously should be, please give them a call. Many thanks to everyone: Grant and Kate for your excellent meals and housekeeping, as well as Casey and Brynn for assisting us in tacking and saddling our horses.
Please believe me when I say: This family goes out of their way to give guests an extraordinary experience. It's not for the money, but rather in their character. BCR embodies the true American spirit of integrity, determination, and diligence.
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Date of stay: August 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I had a wonderful week at BCR. The land, landscapes, nature are stunning, and the ranch is very cozy, authentic, comfortable. I’ve been in a few other ranches before, but my stay at BCR was very unique and holds a special place in my heart, because I really felt “at home”. The owners, the team and all the people on the ranch are very kind, professional, passionate and committed to the land there and their vision for sustainability. They warmly welcome guests and are dedicated to making our stays beautiful and authentic experiences. Also, I’ve learned a lot at BCR about land stewardship and sustainable ranching practices. I love horses and greatly appreciated the nice rides we’ve done, the opportunity to do some ground work, and the pleasure of being with horses throughout the day. Horses there are beautiful, very well taken care of, happy, reliable and for all riders’ levels. I would highly recommend BCR for people who look for a real experience, in a peaceful place like this small family-owned ranch, and who want to learn, discover or simply enjoy the nature, horses and a nice ranch experience.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BCR proved to be everything I expected plus plus plus. Chrissy and the team make you feel like your visiting family rather than going on vacation. Nothing was to much trouble and every request was met with a 'sure, we can do that with you', and that's part of what makes the ranch tick, with you not for you. Walter and Gregory are an absolute hoot and have got endless stories to tell no matter what time of day. The riding is something to experience, breath taking scenery that I thought only existed in the movies was not just the ranch location but hours on hours of range riding on 'your' horse', matched up to you expertly by Chrissy on day one. Warm cosy accommodation and delicious food eaten together in the main house with Chris cooking and Cindy telling stories of lip balm and dog hair, to Dave singing and Brian and us keeping Walter awake singing songs in the bunkhouse all add to the 'visiting family' feel. The best thing I can say is quite simply that I didn't want to go home!
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Date of stay: September 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quite the most wonderful week at an incredible place run by lovely people. If you love beautiful horses & overwhelming scenery, are interested in the US west & its history (this has been UTE traditional hunting grounds for many centuries and then was Kit Carson country for a while) AND want to ride & spend time with horses for significant parts of the day/week, BCR is perfect and the BCR team are your perfect hosts. BCR is a working ranch where the McFarrens & team live their values as current custodians of the land, working to look after & restore the range while explaining & teaching its history and at the same time welcoming you into a warm family environment with the super BCR team (and probably other like-minded guests) with wonderful home cooked food. Above all, if you love horses and wish to go on real trail rides or even muster cattle, you will appreciate BCR and its beautiful remuda and the care taken of the horses by Chrissy & team (and indeed the rehabilitation of some) - and you will have the opportunity to spend some real time with them. Please note that this is not a dude ranch; there are certainly no single file rides or additional SPA offerings as experienced on dude ranches (although there is a real mountain-supplied river within walking distance if you want a really refreshing brisk swim!) - it is definitely a working ranch that gives you an amazing insight into ranching in high Colorado.
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the moment we arrived we was made to feel very welcome and immediately settled in. Our accommodation was wonderful, sitting out on the veranda of an evening in the peace and quiet taking it all in was something I will never forget. The riding was superb and they matched us up to our horses perfectly. One of my daughters is very nervous of horses and Chrissy worked with her to overcome her fear and by the end of day one she was riding like a pro. Our trail rides were nothing short of breathtaking, having Gregory and Walter who were full of knowledge about the area was great, they encouraged my girls to get involved. We loved eating by the camp fire, the music night, going out on the four wheeler and learning to rope. The food is delicious and there's plenty to go round! Sitting all together to eat was fun and a great way to really get to know each other. Honestly there is so much to love about BCR ,never did I think a place would affect us so much. It truly is an amazing place with amazing people.
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Date of stay: July 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BCR ticked all the boxes for a ranch stay but also provided so much more. A stunning location and a welcome opportunity to reconnect with the natural beauty of the landscape and nature. The staff at BCR are an amazing group of individuals who blend together as a family and extend that feeling to their guests. Sharing their knowledge of the ranch history, the land and of course horses, so generously with their guests. Equine experiences are varied and unforgettable. Riding on the open range was a first for me … & an experience I’ll never forget. Equally precious was the opportunity that Chrissy shared when showing me how to engage in some groundwork & natural horsemanship. Gregory & Poncho introduced me to a whole new experience of ‘driving’ a horse and the pure satisfaction that that can bring. I really hope that someday I’ll be able to return to BCR. M.D 🇮🇪☘️
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I cannot praise Badger Creek ranch highly enough. I have never felt so welcome or relaxed anywhere. Chrissie and the team make you feel at home as soon as you arrive and happily share their incredible passion for, and knowledge of, the land and the animals with you. The horses are wonderful. The team teach you horsemanship, ensuring you and your horse for the week get to know each other and are ideally matched before you even start to ride. The scenery and terrain is incredible meaning that, although most of the riding (and there was plenty of it during our few days) is walking, it is far from boring. You can get involved as much or as little in ranch life as you like. My daughter was up at 6am most days helping out with the horses and chickens but that was entirely her choice. Our three fellow guests were also great, ensuring we hardly ever stopped laughing during our stay. The accommodation was rustic, fitting perfectly with the ranch, but clean and comfortable. If you want a luxury tourist ranch with all the facilities, a pool and a set schedule of riding, entertainment etc. (and there is nothing wrong with that) then this is not for you but if you want a small working ranch where you will feel part of the family, all eat together and life revolves around the needs of the animals and the land as well as , of course, the guests, then Badger Creek is for you. Despite living in England I really hope to return to this very special place one day.
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Date of stay: June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you're looking to get away from it all, THIS is the location for you! Our room was comfortable with a private bath. The food was AMAZING. We felt like we had new friends by the time we left. We learned so much about the land, the horses, the history of the area, and so much more. The staff worked tirelessly to make sure our experience was all we hoped it would be. They exceeded our expectations!
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Date of stay: June 2021
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Room Tip:Rooms in lodge, down near barn, and there's a safari tent.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our stay on the ranch was easily the highlight of our 2 week trip. From the moment we arrived to when we left we were treated like family and it was sad to say goodbye to the people and the horses. Meals were delicious and eaten together with plenty of laughter and chatting. Music nights were a wonderful bonus, as was the campfire where us Brits tried proper smores for the first time. We stayed in the glamping tent - such a comfortable bed and plenty warm enough. The only downside was having to leave the tent for middle of the night bathroom trips. Horse riding was new to me and the horse I was paired with, Montana, was just perfect. I was amazed by the distance we covered on the horses and how we could navigate forests and hills on our second day. Going out daily on the horses was really special and we enjoyed seeing the way the ranch is being cared for. We even had a go at roping under Sarah's helpful tuition. Thank you for the best start to our Colorado holiday. I would wholeheartedly recommend Badger Creek Ranch for a holiday and hope we can return again one day.
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Date of stay: July 2022
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:The creek/river which is not on the ranch land but a very short drive away was beautiful and...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes, this ranch could not accommodate a family of 12, but there were a few other guest ranches between Canon City and Salida. Not sure about their 4th of July celebrations but I did see people fly fishing at Chalk Lake near St. Elmo - Hiking is the BEST, but be ready for the thin air at that altitude.
There are more places to choose from in the Canon City area.
LOCATION
United StatesColoradoCanon City
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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