My family and I have visited the ranch over the years, literally, going back 15 years. Our first and subsequent visits were incredible; the ranch was well maintained, staffed by seemingly experienced wranglers, decent chefs/menu and although the accommodations were dated at the time, they were well maintained with daily cleaning service. The last two times my family visited (last summer and a couple years prior to that), I left feeling very disappointed if not dissatisfied. Were it not for the location being what I like to call, "God's Country," unbelievably beautiful and serene, I would have chosen to leave after the 2nd day. But I stuck it out for the scenery of the mountains. They built a new structure for the staff but In the span of 15+ years, there have not been any upgrades to the accommodations provided for guests. And as I read in another review, the carpeting, beds, furniture, lighting is all the same, which is that much more "dated," and undeniable dirty. Riding horses all day I expect to track in dirt and I don't expect to be pampered on this type of vacation but during our stay, no one vacuumed/swept the rooms, tidied let alone cleaned the bathrooms. At the very least, provide me a workable vacuum cleaner and I will do it myself but for the amount of money, which is competitive with other dude ranches, that shouldn't even be a consideration. The food was genuinely average. Again, I don't expect nor need gourmet cooking but a few of the meals, I truly picked through or left hungry for lack of appeal (and I am not a picky eater). For the cost of the stay and the time it takes to travel to the ranch, it's truly disappointing that the owners (Dan & Ellen) haven't upgraded for the benefit of the guests.…
Our horseback day ride at Sundance Trail Guest Ranch was outstanding. Our nine year old granddaughter was coming for a visit and loves horses. I researched several places and contacted Sundance. I spoke with Dan (owner) and explained I was looking for someplace that would teach my granddaughter the basics of horses and horseback riding as well as a ride. Based on Dan's and my conversation, we booked our ride at Sundance. When we arrived, the personnel were exceptionally friendly and helpful. We watched an informational/educational video about horses and then attended a demo at the barn with the horses. Chrissy, our wrangler, went above and beyond teaching our granddaughter about horses and safety. She helped her with getting on the horse and showed her how to stop, start and turn making sure our granddaughter understood it all. After the ride, Chrissy and Sydney showed her how to untack a horse, brush it down, and even allowed her to return the horse to her pen. What an incredible experience for our granddaughter and what an amazing place Sundance Trail Guest Ranch is.…
My daughter and I came to Sundance Trail Guest and Dede Ranch in February of 2022. Making the arrangements over the phone was very easy. The staff graciously took a lot of time to answer all my questions - even walking me through how to dress in layers. They picked us up from the airport with clear communication and stopped so we could grab lunch on the drive to the ranch. My daughter had a ton of questions about horses, and Grace thoughtfully answered each one. Our room, the Eagle, was perfect for our needs. We especially enjoyed the wood burning fireplace. The staff pointed out which way the sun rose, and the sunrises did not disappoint. We enjoyed our trial ride each morning. Grace, John, and Peter were very generous in sharing about the wildlife, National Forest information, the flora and fauna, and points of interest. They gave us an unforgettable experience of hiking and riding. The food was exceptional. We don't eat beef, and this was generously accommodated. We especially enjoyed the cookies, muffins, and tea and hot coco which were always available. Eating with the staff was such a fun experience. They were generous in sharing stories of interest, and in listening to our experiences. We really enjoyed hearing from Dan and Ellen about how they acquired and ran the ranch. My daughter loved playing in the snow each afternoon, and the staff located some sleds for us (and gave us some pointers!). We really enjoyed the game room with pool, shuffleboard, and fooseball. I cannot speak highly enough of the experience we had. My daughter LOVED using the wood burning tool to make her own brand on the wall. I would love to return and bring my entire family to enjoy the beautiful, fun, and exceptional place.…
I have been to the ranch 4 times. The reviews reflect it is a repeat destination for many people. Personally I cannot wait to go back and recommend it for everyone. My son went when he was younger and whenever I go back without him (in college now) he is extremely jealous. It is a big world with a lot to see but I will keep going back.
Sundance Trail Guest Ranch met and exceeded our expectations! The place was so beautiful and peaceful, just what we need after a long exhausting year. The staff was so much fun to spend time with, so incredibly accommodating, food was incredible, and we made instant friends with the other guests. We enjoyed every minute of our time there. As we were reminded of our love of country and horses, we came home and added a new member to our family; an American Saddlebred to love and cherish. Next step is getting a farm outside of the city. Thank you for the great vacation, the feeling of family, and reminding us of what are truly the important things in life. Sincerely, Pat and Sue
We returned to Sundance for what is either the fourth or fifth year in a row - I can't remember exactly. Through our years visiting we have watched our son develop skill and confidence in his horse riding and he is now sometimes mistaken for a wrangler by the other guests (he is tall for his young age.) If you are looking for a Waldorf Astoria you would be better off elsewhere, but if you want to get your family riding horses through fantastic countryside with knowledgable and fun wrangler guides, in a setting that allows experienced horse riders more freedom to ride at their own skill level, I can think of no place better than Sundance Trail. We will return again next year.
My wife and I wanted to do something different and just relax for a vacation instead of getting an Air BnB and travelling around sightseeing. For once we wanted to just be in one spot and not have to worry about anything. Almost as a joke, I suggested a Guest Ranch and was surprised at how eagerly she agreed. We checked around and Sundance Trail was highly recommended and was very affordable. Communication was great, even when we had to make a couple of sacrifices for a large wedding party coming in after us. Full honest review: Cons: The place isn't Disneyland or high end. It's a bit dirty (it's a ranch!) and a little old. Things aren't fancy. The food can vary as they don't have a permanent cook. A great cook one year could be totally different the next. Our cook was up to the task. Good solid family fare. I was expecting more actual horse training. But generally we had a trail ride in the morning and that was it. Note that we were in the "B&B Phase" so it may be more intensive during regular season. Spotty wi-fi even in the one building with wi-fi access. This can be good and bad. Pros: Great prices. Great people. Beautiful scenery. Fantastic horses. The world's best barn cat. When I arrived I had a bit of experience with horses but was a bit scared of them and wanted to know more. By the end of the week I was able to groom them, saddle and unsaddle, put on and remove the bridal, and take rather challenging trail rides. I went from barely experienced beginner to intermediate and loving horses. The most important Pro. By the end of our stay, we didn't feel like guests. We had kind of adopted all the hands. Heck, one night I even cooked dinner for the staff. The owners are absolute joys. The horses are amazing. The beds comfortable. After we left, all I wanted to do was go back "home" and go ride "my" horse.…
The cabin we stayed in was quite, well, rustic. Which would have been fine, but the housekeeping was almost nonexistent. Our cabin was never vacuumed or swept in the week we were there. Guests were responsible for making the coffee for everyone in the morning. There was a great cook for most of the week, the food was simple but good. On a few days, however, a substitute cook prepared our meals, many of which were inedible. The horses were great, and obviously well tended and trained. The little boys (7 - 10 age range) staying there were having an absolute blast. If you have school age children this might be the place for you. Be advised, however, that a bunch of 20-25 year-olds run the place without any adult supervision that I could see -- and they run it for their own convenience.…
We just returned from Sundance Trail and we can't say enough good things. We had a large group of family celebrating a decennial birthday and everyone from the young grandkids to the newly-minted 70-year old had a fabulous time. The experience exceeded all of our expectations. Vaccinated staff, outdoor eating, and keen attention to COVID protocols helped us all have a relaxing week. If you had told me that this 62-year old riding novice would be loping on a horse at the end of the week, I would have said you were off your rocker. But lope we did - a couple of the adult "kids" actually galloped on the last ride. The 5-year old was trotting on her last ride. Dan and Ellen were terrific hosts. Dan's horse and safety lecture was the springboard to us having a really excellent week. I had not been on a horse for over 20 years and had never really had any training. That all changed at Sundance. The staff and wranglers were top notch and focused on safety and fun all week. The horses and the humans were great - we learned so much and really felt the attention of the staff. We hiked, did rock climbing, white water rafting, watched the hummingbirds, threw hatchets, did target practice with 22s, played pool, Jenga and disconnected for a week. In-between all the activities, we ate wonderful meals (they skillfully accommodated 2 vegetarians and 3 dairy-free folks), took in the amazing scenery and rested up and did it all again. We are already making plans to return. Our heartfelt "thank you" to everyone at Sundance for becoming a beautiful thread in our tapestry of family memories. It was so very special.…
We had a wonderful time at the dude ranch. Incredibly beautiful along with great activities. We would highly recommend the Sundance Trail Guest & Dude Ranch. Also, the food was great and the staff was very friendly and helpful.
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