Summer Weekend Getaway: Wind River Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado

Located seven miles south of Estes Park in Colorado is Wind River Ranch, a Christian Family Dude and Guest ranch. At an elevation of 9,200 feet, it is nestled in the Tahosa Valley between the majestic Long's Peak and Twin Sisters Mountains.

Wind River Ranch is geared toward families who want to use their vacation to get closer to God and their family. In the fast paced world we live in families need time to reconnect. There is something for every member of the family to do at Wind River Ranch.

The family can start their day with Bible studies while sitting on the porch of your cabin taking in the view of Long's Peak. With the staff taking care of all the essentials such as meals, it gives you a much-needed break. You can rejuvenate your spiritual side by seeing God in action and feeling His presence at this mountain top experience.

There are plenty of kids and teen programs available. There is a 35 member staffed trained for safety and fun. The kids can get involved in activities while mom and dad take romantic walks along mountain trails.

The Wind River Ranch cabins serve up a rustic elegance. The décor of the cabins are warm and inviting. There are cabins that will fit a family of eight or cozy cabins for two.

There are three types of cabins available:

• Chalet - This is their largest and newest cabin. It has three spacious bedrooms with three baths. There is a large living room with gas burning fireplace and a kitchenette.
• Deluxe - These cabins have an extra sitting room and some have fireplaces. There are separate bedrooms with bathrooms.
• Standard - There is no separate sitting rooms in these. There are separate bedrooms with bathrooms. Each bedroom has a futon for seating.

With the elevation of the mountains, there are cool afternoons that allow you to enjoy the Rocky Mountains. There is also a huge barbecue pit on wheels to use. There are lunch cookouts in the upper meadow and breakfast cookouts in the lower meadow.

Horseback riding is available at Wind River Ranch. They have 65 horses available for quests. The ranch only hires the best wranglers to work with the horses and provide riding instruction. The minimum riding age for trail rides is 7 years old and everyone must pass orientation.

There are plenty of other activities to enjoy beside horseback riding. The ranch has a challenging par 3 Frisbee golf course and there are hiking trails along the beautiful Rocky Mountains. There is a recreation hall near the barn with pool tables, foosball, ping-pong, air-hockey, and shuffleboard. There is also river rafting in the nearby Cache La Poudre River that is a class 4 rafting river.

For more information on Wind River Ranch, contact them at:

Wind River Ranch
P.O. Box 3410
Estes Park, CO 80517
970-586-4212
800-523-4212