“Explore the beauty of Wyoming on horseback!”
5 Day Dude Ranch Vacation with Daily Riding in Carbon County, Wyoming
Medicine Bow Lodge, 5556 State Highway 130, Saratoga, Carbon County, Wyoming, USA
Exceptional Ranch Vacation in Wyoming
Medicine Bow Lodge invites you to relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with your loved ones in the beautiful Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming, USA! The best way to see this unique, picturesque mountain range is by horseback. The ranch is situated in the perfect area for riding and their horseback riding program is like no other. Medicine Bow Lodge has a ride for everyone and does it's best to tailor the horseback riding program to meet your individual needs.
Key information
- Rider weight limit: 99 kg
- Horse breed: Appaloosa and Paint
Highlights
- Daily horseback riding lessons
- Guided by the well-trained wranglers
- Campfire with s'mores and great music
- Barrel riding, target shooting, and trap shooting
- Sit back and relax in the hot tub or sauna
- Learning the basics of roping techniques
- Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
- 4 nights of accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
3 days with instruction
Accommodation
Facilities
- Hot tub / Jacuzzi
- Sauna
- Volleyball court
- Dining area
- Fireplace
- Kitchen
- Internet access
- Pet care / grooming
The cabins are simple, rustic, cozy, and clean. The majority of the cabins are duplexes with adjoining rooms. Each room has its own private bathroom and shower with some cabins sleeping up to eight. Medicine Bow Lodge also has single cabins as well as king beds in several cabins. The cabins are uniquely named after fly fishing lures, and Medicine Bow Lodge is able to sleep up to 34 guests.
The main lodge
Cabins are located in close proximity to the main lodge where homemade meals are served three times a day. The recently refurbished lodge has added a touch of class to the Medicine Bow Mountains. It features vintage log walls, comfortable furnishings, a huge stone fireplace and space for games, entertainment, and dancing, as well as internet access.
The lodge is the cornerstone of the ranch. It is the ideal place to play games, enjoy billiards, foosball, and ping pong. There are lots of comfy sofas and chairs to settle in with a good book. The dining room is always open to getting something to drink or grab a snack. Debbie and her kitchen staff always have something yummy in the cookie jars or on the snack table.
Program
You can arrive at the ranch anytime after 15:00. The horseback riding is included and there are lessons for you to book every day according to your own needs. You will also enjoy three delicious meals a day during your stay. There are activities that families, friends, or a single guest will find entertaining after riding. Medicine Bow Lodge has a horseshoe pit, roping 101, archery, volleyball, barrel riding, target shooting, trap shooting, pottery, and lots of board games.
After a day of riding or hiking, you may like to sit back and relax in the hot tub or sauna. Every evening during the summer and fall, there is a campfire (as long as there isn’t a fire ban) after supper with s'mores and all the fixings, and on some nights, there is a great music along with fun and memorable conversations. On the last day, you will depart after breakfast.
Horseback riding
Guests who have riding experience can be more adventurous and go on fast rides which includes loping and trotting guided by the well-trained wranglers. Medicine Bow Lodge has a lot of first-time riders - you will be in great hands! Their wranglers will make sure that you are comfortable in your saddle and on each ride, you will become more confident. Before you know it, you will want to go on the all-day ride or even join Medicine Bow Lodge’s popular overnight pack trip.
Children and teens love riding at Medicine Bow Lodge. Families are encouraged to ride together, but at the same time, Medicine Bow Lodge does not want to hold guests back that are more advanced in their riding abilities. They allow children from six and up to ride horses. Children and teens will have the opportunity to play games on the horses, in Medicine Bow Lodge's way. For the younger children under five, the kid’s wrangler will gently lead them on a horse around the grounds of the ranch. This is a great time to take advantage of a picture moment.
Horses
Their remuda of 20 horses are all well-trained, sure-footed, and easy riding for the beginner as well as the advanced rider. Meet the wonderful horses who love to ensure guests and visitors alike enjoy their wonderful rides throughout the Medicine Bow National Forrest.
Bay
Bay is a really pretty bay about 15 hands tall. The staff and guests have really enjoyed him this summer.
Beauty
Beauty is a black Paint with some white spots. She is a pretty small horse compared to all of the others.
Bell
Bell is a pretty Paint mare and an easy smooth ride. A lady's horse or easy going man's horse.
Comanchie
Comanchie is a solid Paint, very easy to ride. He has a wonderful blue eye.
Diesel
Diesel is a black bay with a white stripe in the middle of his face. Diesel is an easy going horse, fast, and smooth.
Hidalgo
Hidalgo is big stout paint. He has perfect markings with a saddle on his back. He is green right now but will be ready to ride sometime this summer by staff. He is becoming a great trail horse sturdy, and solid. Hidalgo is still a work in progress so be prepared if he acts up.
Kiowa
Kiowa is small sorrel, fast, and steady. He may be a pasofina cross.
Mille
Millie is Tim's mare and she knows she is pretty. Just under 16 hands with black and white paint. She is a smooth ride.
Mona
Mona is the pretty bay Appaloosa. A super calm and easy mare.
Pedro
Pedro is a man's horse. He has an exceptionally smooth walk. Women like him too, and he never lets you down.
Rocket
Rocker is a big good looking sorel, with three white socks and full blaze and a roman nose. Rocket has been with the ranch for about four years and has become a favorite of the guests.
Rocky
Rocky is a red sorrel with two white socks and easy going.
Stue
Solid favorite and doing very well this summer. Stue always travels with his girls, Cassie, Beauty, and Mona.
Tex
He is a leopard Appaloosa, smart, and has a personality that you won't forget. He never meets a stranger. Tex is 14.2 hands and a great ride for the right person.
Location
Medicine Bow Lodge is located in the Medicine Bow National Forest of Wyoming, USA. It is nestled up against Barrett Ridge along the Barrett Creek that runs into the North Platte River. Medicine Bow Lodge is surrounded by the mountains including Kennaday Peak, Medicine Bow Peak, and Sugar Loaf. This mountain range, appropriately named the Snowy Range, is a great terrain for horseback riding, hiking, camping, hunting, and more during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. When winter hits this area, it becomes a snowmobile haven with over 300 miles of trails with endless powder riding. Guests also enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as many hills to sled down with family and friends.
Medicine Bow Lodge is proud of its long heritage and welcomes its guests to come to see one of the most beautiful areas of the West. The Snowy Range with its alpine terrain is unique in its beauty and splendor. Old mining and logging towns can be seen on horseback rides within just a few miles of the lodge. Hundreds of lakes, ponds, and streams fill the valleys. There are breathtaking views that pictures just can't capture on film and represent the majestic scenery and history of the area.
Nearby places
- Saratoga - 25 minutes
Features
Activities
- Horse riding
- Hot tub / Jacuzzi
- Sauna
- Volleyball court
General
- Dining area
- Fireplace
- Hammock
- Kitchen
Services
- Internet access
- Pet care / grooming
Food
You will be served three meals a day during the vacation. The meal plan is great, lots of good food, and plenty of snacks. Medicine Bow Lodge can provide special diets if you let them know your needs. Medicine Bow Lodge has coffee, tea, and other refreshments available for you at your convenience.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
- Animal tracking
- Birdwatching
- Crafting
- Cookout on the ridge
- Cooking lessons
- Day spa, shopping, or golfing in the town of Saratoga (25 minutes from the ranch)
- Floating in the North Platte River
- Outdoor photography
- Overnight pack trip
- Rock collecting
- Site seeing or visiting museums
What's included
- Horseback riding lessons
- Three meals a day
- 4 nights' accommodation
How to get there
Driving direction from the central plains and south
- Take Highway 1-70 to Denver, then 1-25 North to Fort Collins, and then Highway 287 northwest to Laramie.
- From Laramie, in the summer, take 130 west to Centennial and then up over the pass to the ranch.
- Medicine Bow Lodge is 55 miles from Laramie between Mile marker 55 and 56. If you pass The Ten Mile Inn, you have gone too far.
- In the winter, the pass is closed, so it is necessary to continue to 1-80 through Laramie, west, past Arlington and Elk Mountain to Highway 130 at Walcott.
- Exit I-80 at Wallcot Saratoga Highway 130.
- Take 130 south past Saratoga and then go 8 miles.
- Turn left on 130 to the east, go 12 miles, and Medicine Bow Lodge is on the right.
Driving direction from the east
- In the summer, take 1-80 to Laramie exit on 311 the Snowy Range Byway and go left under the interstate.
- Then, turn right before the shell station and head toward Centennial, Wyoming.
- You will go about 55 miles and turn left into the drive between mile marker 55 and marker 56, directly across from the Brush Creek Visitors Center.
- In the winter, take the Walcott / Saratoga exit.
- Exit 235 and turn south to Saratoga about 20 miles.
- Continue south past Saratoga and then go 8 miles.
- Turn left on 130 east, go 12 miles, and Medicine Bow Lodge is on the right.
Driving direction from the west
- Take 1-80 east to the intersection of 1-80 and 130 at Walcott
- Take Saratoga exit 235.
- Take 130 south past Saratoga and then go 8 miles.
- Turn left on 130 east, go 12 miles, and Medicine Bow Lodge is on the right.
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Laramie Regional Airport (LAR). Transfer from and to this airport is available upon request.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
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