Rainbow Trout, Horseback Riding and Relaxing at Latigo Ranch

Founded as the “Snowshoe Dude Ranch” in 1923, Latigo Ranch is located in Grand County, Colorado. Owners Lisa, Randy, Jim and Kathie offer a mix of activities from fishing to archery, and of course miles of trails on horseback, 50,000 acres of which are part of the Routt-Medicine Bow National Forest.

With a maximum capacity of 35 people, it’s always pretty quiet at Latigo – just relish the sounds of coyotes yipping at the stars or the rhythmic beat of horses trotting and forget you ever knew the sounds of sirens and traffic.   Enjoy your morning coffee and a breakfast of “nouveau ranch cuisine,” on the porch overlooking 100 miles of the Continental Divide Trail, maybe after an early morning of rainbow trout fishing on the Colorado river.

We were impressed with Latigo’s programs to “teach ranch:” guests can take a naturalist hike or an educational horse ride and learn about the area’s geology and archaeology with a knowledgeable guide.  Ranch owners take care to serve as environmental stewards and are look for innovative ways to protect their precious forests.

Check out the Fall Cattle Round Up, which takes place the 3rd week in September. This is when the US Forest Service grazing allotment period is over, and ranchers move their cattle off forest service land.  Guests head into the high mountain summer pastures and help local ranchers round up their cattle and take them home for the winter.

For more information see the Latigo Ranch website or call 800-227-9655.