Vista Verde Ranch 58000 Cowboy Way, Clark, CO. 800.526.7433
My husband and I were giddy as we threw our bags in the car and headed out on a road trip from Kansas City to the spectacular Vista Verde Ranch in Clark, Colorado, for a fall get-away, just the two of us! Vista Verde offers many wonderful options for the whole family, which we will touch on in a bit, but for us, this adults-only get-away was just the ticket! Although Vista Verde is also easily accessible from the Denver Airport, being just a bit past Steamboat Springs, we enjoyed the drive across Kansas and into Colorado, and the road trip became part of our adventure together.
Once past Denver, the drive to Vista Verde took on a true postcard feel with the climb into the mountains, ranches on either side and, before too long, gurgling streams as well. We were venturing deeper into the wilds of Colorado! But our arrival at Vista Verde made us feel that we had journeyed to someplace truly remarkable that would feel like our home for a few days. Nestled in its own valley at the foot of the mountains, the Vista Verde property is both remote and friendly. Stopping off at the beautiful lodge with soaring raftered ceilings and a roaring fire to get the key to our own cabin, we were engulfed immediately in friendly conversation and a true ranch welcome by the Vista Verde staff.
Vista Verde boasts five-star service, so everything was ready and waiting, and we were helped to our cabin by Matt, one of the friendly staffers, who informed us we had time to stop by the stables and be fitted for our saddles before dinner. Our cabin was a two-story cozy delight, complete with fireplace, two-bedroom on the main level and a master loft. It could easily accommodate a large family comfortably. A wet bar and stocked fridge greeted us, and our private outdoor hot tub was steaming, bubbly, and ready to go.!
A stop at the stable and the helpful staff had us fitted for saddles in no time. After a few questions about our comfort level and horseback riding experience, we were each matched with our very own horse for the week. My husband was paired with “Rocky” and I was to be the proud rider of “Scotch.” We were also informed that we could choose from a wide assortment of cowboy boots. We quickly realized that all of the “work” of riding a horse was done and only the enjoyment was left for us! (This is the Vista Verde mode for all activities!) Plus, the ranch staff assured us that no matter our comfort level on horseback, we would be well equipped and put with just the right kind of horse for our experience level. Perfect!
At this point, it was time for dinner. The dining room experience was warm and friendly, and we had the opportunity to enjoy a meal with some of the other ranch guests. Walking back to our cabin after a gourmet meal, my husband remarked that, just in our first afternoon and evening at Vista Verde, we’d already felt the trip worthwhile with the drive from Kansas City, and this was just the beginning!
Every day we were on the Vista Verde property we had the opportunity to choose both a morning and an afternoon activity or to feel free to roam around the ranch on our own, relax, and just enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We jumped right into the offerings and tried horseback riding, hiking, fly fishing, mountain bike riding, and photography clinic during our stay. For each of the planned activities, the ranch provides super knowledgeable and friendly staff to get their guests comfortable and support us in every activity. During the fly-fishing outing, I caught my first trout, and my husband caught several! He was a reluctant fisherman in the beginning, but enjoyed fishing so much he chose to go back and do some more on another afternoon! The quintessential horseback riding was probably my favorite activity, and the ranch offered several options for different types of riding experiences, including trail riding and arena riding clinics. It was all so much fun and so very “Colorado!”
All the outdoor activity tends to make a person hungry, and this is another area where the all-inclusive vacation experience shines. Every meal is both effortless and delightful, with multiple entree options and delicious coffee and dessert to boot. All the guests have to do is show up hungry! There were traditional entrees, vegetarian, and fish to choose from and each meal was a masterpiece prepared by Vista Verde’s in-house chef! In fact, it would be hard to pick a favorite as the varied breakfast and lunch menu was every bit as good as the nightly dinners. It was also enjoyable to eat with other guests and ranch staff and, by the end of our stay, we felt we had made some wonderful friends!
Evenings at Vista Verde don’t consist merely of dinner. Not by a long shot. There was the nightly happy half hour with wine and beer in the big lodge. One evening there was a line dancing lesson, and on the last night we were there we enjoyed a live band and more dancing, complete with the line dances we’d been taught and some swing dancing! One of the wonderful and unique aspects of the ranch is the way the staff serves and also becomes your friends. They can all dance, too!
My husband and I enjoyed our couples’ getaway and would also love to bring the whole family back to Vista Verde. The ranch offers first-rate inclusive vacations with seasonal activities for the whole family. Kids’ programs enable families to separate for a while and enjoy their own interests or enjoy full-family activities together. The summer season at Vista Verde offers family get-aways with a traditional dude ranch feel with horses, cookouts, etc.. September and October shift to adults-only times at the ranch, and Christmas and New Year’s weeks are for families once again with sledding, snowmobiling, and more opportunities to make some incredible winter-wonderland memories. Early January through mid-February shift back to adults-only times. The ranch is also open for families from President’s Day weekend through mid-March (when the snow begins to melt!) and offers an amazing late winter, spring-break season. Whatever your choice, you’re sure to make amazing memories at Vista Verde!
Some of the memories we made:
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This way to dude ranch adventure!
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Our very own retreat!
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Beautiful lodge, just pull up a chair by the fire!
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No need to worry about gear; Vista Verde’s got you covered!
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My good buddy for the week, “Scotch”
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Up close and personal with a real sweetie!
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Mtn trail ride with view: New friends, both equine and human! The view is a bonus!
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Don’t be afraid to try something new; VV staff have you every step of the way!
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It had been awhile, but that didn’t stop this mountain biker from having an awesome go of it!