RANCH VACATIONS

Vacations at the Zapata Ranch revolve around learning through experience, about real ranch life and about the great outdoors. We have three primary programs:

HORSEMANSHIP EXPERIENCE
RANCHING WITH NATURE
GREAT OUTDOORS EXPLORATION

Additionally we have other activities to provide a variety of options to supplement our primary programs. Day trips off the ranch can be arranged for an additional cost. Itineraries are designed to be flexible and to fit what you want to do every day. Regardless of what guests want, it is our intent to deliver a vacation that exceeds their wildest dreams. Typically, our guests stay for a week or more, and leave reluctantly.

We limit our availability to 25 guests (except for group travel - we can hold up to 30+ family members at one time), to provide more personalized service and intimate experience to our guests. You can expect comfortable accommodations, facilities, and excellent meals in our indoor or outdoor dining rooms.

We provide a simple and high-quality environment, which can be customized for corporate retreats, family reunions and other events. All of our itineraries are flexible so that personal desires can be met.

We are a family-oriented ranch; children are welcome, but must be over 12 years old to participate in our Ranch Experience Program. Exceptions are made for advanced youth riders (no younger than eight years of age). We always encourage families to participate in activities together and accompany their young children on rides. But at times when adults want to ride together, we have youth programs to allow children to have an enriching experience as well. Kid programs must be reserved in advance and are available for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.

HORSEMANSHIP EXPERIENCE

Come ride with us, work and drive cattle, ride through the bison herd and explore the Sand Dunes National Park while we help you to focus on improving your horsemanship and riding skills. We invite you come and ride one of our ranch horses, or to bring your own horse. We welcome guests of all experience levels as we have a solid herd of horses and will take time to provide educational opportunities based on a riders skill set.

Your horsemanship experience will center on the concepts of feel, timing, balance, and patience with your horse. Our staff has spent several years working with young horses, as well as preparing horses for roping, ranch work and the principals vital to the creation of an exceptional ranch horse.

In addition to riding along with us in our day-to-day work, we offer the following programs designed to help you better your horsemanship skills:

ONE-ON-ONE HORSEMANSHIP: At night, guests are welcome to sign-up for an hour of horsemanship instruction the following day. Instruction is given by one of our expert wranglers.
EDUCATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS: At all times, guests are welcome to wander down to the corrals where one of our wranglers is doing a demonstration. No reservation is needed to attend.
OVERNIGHT CAMPING TRIP: Designed to give guests a feel for an old-fashioned cattle drive, this option gives guests the opportunity to work cattle for a day, and then ride out to camp where dinner is served and wall tents filled with sleeping cots and bed rolls are set-up. The night is spent around a campfire and after a good days rest, guests wake to breakfast and then finish the previous days horse work.

RANCH EXPERIENCE

For those interested in learning all about day-to-day ranch life, this is option. Guests are integrated into the daily ranch work for hands-on learning; fixing fences, moving cattle, irrigating, monitoring water and grass and working horses. Guests will also learn about important land conservation management practices, grass-fed/finished cattle and bison production, intensive grazing and cattle handling that emphasizes minimal stress on the livestock.

In early summer, calves are branded and guests are welcome to participate. In the fall, all the cattle on the ranch are driven to the Headquarters pens, which means long days gathering pastures, sorting cattle on horseback and moving them all through the chutes. This is a popular time of year for guests who like to spend long days in the saddle or in the corral working cattle.

Our programs are carefully designed to put guests safely in the middle of large scale ranch daily activities so that they are able to contribute to the day's work.

NATURE EXPERIENCE

Enroll in our Nature Experience and we will take you into the Sand Dunes, on interpretive tours to the Medano meadows, to tour the bison and learn about conservation ranching, or on a hike to the many lakes on the ranch or above timberline. Not all guests who come to the ranch are interested in the Ranch Experience or Horsemanship Experience- they want to experience Colorado. The Great Outdoor Exploration Program is designed especially for these guests.

Trips are organized, either led by a guide, or self-led, to explore the sand dunes, Zapata Falls, or hike into the Sangre de Cristo mountain lakes above timberline. Photography expeditions, wildlife watching, interpretive nature walks and bison tours to learn about bison life can all be arranged daily and are all either on the ranch or a short 10 minutes away. Other options are listed below.

FISHING

Some of the best fly fishing opportunities in Colorado are a day trip from the ranch. In closer proximity, there are creeks filled with trout that can be almost more fun than the gold waters frequented by seasoned fishermen. Guided fishing trips can be arranged through local fly shops. (Fly fishing trips are not included in our price; please call ahead and our office will make reservations and provide pricing for this extra activity.)

PHOTOGRAPHY

A photographers delight, we'll take you on a photo safari, or direct you to the hot spots and secret locations that few know of, for shots of bison, elk, deer, sandhill cranes, birds of all kinds, horses, historic buildings, corrals, and some of the most incredible mountain scenery to be found anywhere.

WHITE WATER RAFTING

Rafting is 1-1/2 hours away and is managed by River Runners in Buena Vista, CO. (This extra activity is not included in our price. Call ahead and we will help you with your reservations and provide pricing for this extra activity.)

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK and PRESERVE

Click here for park website. Take a trip into one of the most geologically diverse places in the world. Trips can be arranged daily to explore the beauty and tranquility of cool mountain streams, towering peaks, and shady ponderosa pines which are part of this park. As part of your vacation you can join us for a day trip exploring the park on horseback, or if you like to challenge yourself to a hike up the dunes, the park is open 24 hours, year round. Walks into the sand dunes at night can be a life-changing experience. The 750 foot dunes and 14,000 foot mountain peaks are a back drop filled with a grandeur that even a camera has a hard time capturing.