{"id":34538,"date":"2018-07-27T12:20:20","date_gmt":"2018-07-27T19:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bucketlistjourney.net\/?p=34538"},"modified":"2025-04-08T02:35:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T09:35:33","slug":"a-colorado-dude-ranch-vacation-drowsy-water-ranch-in-grand-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bucketlistjourney.net\/a-colorado-dude-ranch-vacation-drowsy-water-ranch-in-grand-county\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand County Colorado Dude Ranch Vacation: Drowsy Water Ranch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Going to a dude ranch has been on my bucket list<\/a> since watching the movie City Slickers with Billy Crystal. There was just something intriguing about going back to simpler times on cattle ranches\u2014of wide open spaces, cowboys, and clear blue skies. A place with no television sets, zero bars of cellular service and such limited internet that it’s as good as not having any.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I grabbed my cowboy hat and some of my favorite girlfriends, then traded the San Francisco skyscrapers for mountain ranges, cars for horses, and the ocean for icy rivers. I vacationed at the Drowsy Water Ranch<\/a> in Grand County Colorado to see if the wild, wild west lived up to its romantic appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 and I\u2019m so glad I did. Giddy up!<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Colorado Dude Ranch Vacation: Drowsy Water Ranch in Grand County<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What is a Dude Ranch?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dude ranches celebrate the western lifestyle. They are typically functioning ranches and interactive guest accommodations. Each dude ranch has their own set of activities available on site but the most popular activities are horseback riding, fishing, and hiking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dude ranches are typically family homes first, and guest accommodation second. So visitors are considered guests of the family and are treated as such (this was especially true at Drowsy Water!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term \u201cdude\u201d was coined ages ago by the Yellowstone Park rangers. In the late 1800\u2019s they used the term \u201cdude\u201d to refer to visitors from out East. Soon enough it came to include anyone who was not a long term resident of the Rocky Mountain area too. This included tourists, as well as new settlers to the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dude ranching really began when the railway started making it easier than ever for people to travel out west. Travelers, and hunters especially, began popping up in remote western areas to see for themselves the mythical west. They would hire locals to show them the area, the best places to hunt, and to set up camp for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Somewhere along the way these western locals started renting out part of their ranches to dudes, while they acted as a local guide for them. From there the dude ranches grew into the modern agro-tourist industry it is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Colorado<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Drowsy Water Ranch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Drowsy Water Ranch I visited in Colorado, is exemplary of a modern dude ranch despite feeling like I stepped back in time. The Fosha family has been operating the ranch in Grand County since the 1970\u2019s, and they will surely greet you with a \u2018howdy\u2019 upon arrival\u2014it won’t take long for you to begin using the greeting regularly too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their dude ranch is set on over 700 acres of pristine land just a few miles west of Granby. It is set amongst iconic Western scenery like deep mountain valleys, and rolling meadows dotted with wildflowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This dude ranch is not a luxury spa, it\u2019s a genuine ranch. There are No TVs, and only WiFi in the main lodge, otherwise you can truly disconnect. You are on vacation forget about everything back home\u2014for a week you are a cowboy or cowgirl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ranch is typically very family-friendly, and even has a fantastic children\u2019s program. However, during the fall the Drowsy Water Ranch is reserved for adults only.   <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cabins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dudes and dudettes stay in lodge rooms or utterly cozy cabins tucked into the woods. I stayed in the main lodge which was rustic-chic with exposed wooden beams, Country & Western blankets and several bedrooms. There are cabins and rooms to suit couples, and families alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Colorado<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Colorado<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Horseback Riding Program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The dude ranch is home to almost 120 horses of all shapes, sizes, colors and personalities. And they are the main reason vacationer’s choose to come dude ranching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crew matches each guest to a horse based on the rider\u2019s abilities, and the horse\u2019s temperament. For newbies lessons are given, experienced riders are given more freedom with an option to learn advanced skills at daily clinics. I saw the wranglers turn the most nervous guests, into confident horsemen in no time at all. I was jogging with my horse on my first ride, and loping (a little slower than a gallop and faster than a trot) by my second! You will learn something new and become a better rider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the first day I was give a brief introduction on how to mount and basic riding instructions like an explanation on different gaits and how to properly sit in the saddle. Then I got to meet my horse. You are assigned one for your entire stay so you can learn about their personality. The challenge for the week is to learn to work with your horse as a team. My horse was named Black Jack and I quickly learned that he couldn\u2019t poop and walk at the same time. Can you really blame him?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Colorado<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Trail rides<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each day there are two trail rides, a morning and afternoon. On some days there will be a full-day ride too. You will be taken to peaks and valley, through forested areas and open meadows, plus through all sorts of different terrain, rocks, dirt and streams. And <\/i>the huge property means you will never bore of the scenery. Make sure to ask to ride the Irrigation Ditch trail, it’s the most requested half day ride and is a beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wildlife spotting is not uncommon during these rides. Lots of elk, moose, antelope, coyote, foxes, badgers and dozens of varieties of birds (bald eagles, golden eagles, blue herons, hawks, robins, hummingbirds).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More Information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n