The Best Lodges & Ranches in the American West

The American West, with its vast expanses, beautiful vistas and opportunities for outdoor excursions is particularly well suited for the adventure-loving hopeful traveler. The region is also home to some of America’s most appealing ranches and lodges, offering luxe accommodations combined with old-time adventure. Read on for the best lodges in the West.

Located on 6,600 acres, the all-inclusive The Ranch at Rock Creek offers a gorgeous interpretation of a Wild West adventure, with an excellent dining program and incredibly stylish accommodations.

• Best for: Couples, families and groups of friends who love exploring outdoors and enjoy a plush but authentic Western setting—plus, the ranch is a fabulous place to take over as a larger group for a special occasion, like an anniversary or birthday.
• Room to Book: Sweet Grass, a two-bedroom canvas cabin
• Keep in Mind: Because of the variety of accommodations tailored to specific needs and interests, those considering a trip should contact Indagare for more information.
• Favorite Activities: Clay shooting, fishing, paintball, skiing, snowmobiling, bowling and foosball at the Saloon

Set on 3,500 acres in Utah, the The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Collection is a contemporary ranch with a design focus, elevated cuisine and renowned horsemanship and wellness programs.

• Best for: Those looking for a high-design, extremely accessible retreat with excellent food, a contemporary aesthetic and many activities both on and off property; multi-generational families may prefer this location for skiing, as some members can ski while others relax on property
• Room to Book: One of the five Creek Cottages, located at the bottom of the hill—these are extremely private and adults-only
• Keep in Mind: The design is contemporary, so those looking for an old-school ranch with a traditional atmosphere may prefer another property.
• Favorite Activities: Hiking with or without a guide, biking and fly-fishing in nearby rivers, horseback riding, helicoptering to mountain yoga and clay shooting in the summer; snowshoeing and cross country-, alpine- and heli-skiing in the winter

A collection of historic log cabins that were reassembled with a lot of taste, style and money, Dunton Hot Springs makes a luxe base from which to explore the great outdoors.

• Best for: Anyone who wants a glamping experience, including couples who are looking for a romantic cabin adventure and families who want to do outdoors activities from a comfortable home base
• Room to Book: Each cabin is unique and has special touches: Bjoerkmans has a sunken tub and living space, Potter house is great for families because it can hold up to ten people and Echo has an outdoor shower. Contact Indagare for help deciding which is right for you.
• Keep in Mind: Dunton is not right for those who are looking for sleek, 24-hour service and want to be surrounded by people and a scene. It is also not for those who need to get there on a direct flight.
• Favorite Activities: Bathing in the hot springs, hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing, yoga, Pilates, skiing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing

Originally a hunting retreat and passion project, today Three Forks Ranch is a wellness- and wilderness-focused western lodge with top notch hospitality and 200,000 acres of wilderness—but the property’s beating heart is its restored river.

• Best for: Avid fly-fishers and families, couples and groups of friends seeking abundant outdoor activities paired with wellness offerings who are okay with a few quirks
• Room to Book: For couples, one of the two Master Suites; families or groups should consider the six-bedroom Cardinal Lodge, which comes with its own chef
• Keep in Mind: Guests are coming here for the experience, be it the activities, the Mayo Clinic or the relationships they’ll make with the welcoming staff—not for the finest room product and design in the west.
• Favorite Activities: Fly-fishing, horseback riding, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, cooking classes

Set on 30,000 acres in the middle of Wyoming’s unspoiled Platte River Valley, this designer-chic guest ranch celebrates Western heritage and adventure with elegance.

• Best for: Discriminating travelers who are ready to fall in love with the west through active pursuits and luxurious accommodations
• Room to Book: Magee Homestead, located five miles from the main ranch, which comes with its own dedicated staff and can be taken over by a group, or the 700-square-foot yurt, which can be accessed on horseback and includes gourmet dinners cooked over open fires
• Keep in Mind: The lodge is open only from May through October and is very hard to get to: guests fly into the Denver airport and then drive four hours to the property.
• Favorite Activities: Horseback riding, big game hunting, fly-fishing, rock climbing

Set among the towering Douglas firs of Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, the Triple Creek Ranch | Relais & Châteaux is a Relais & Châteaux property with 24 cozy, well-appointed cabins.

• Best for: Active adults who want to experience the West through adventurous activities, gourmet cuisine and a comfortable cabin in the woods
• Room to Book: Chipmunk for couples; Osprey, a restored fishing cabin on a river bank, for those who want to fish from sunrise to sunset
• Keep in Mind: Guests under 16 are not allowed.
• Favorite Activities: Cattle drive (book in advance), hiking the Lewis and Clark trail, sapphire panning, dog sledding

Located just seven miles from the lifts at Big Sky ski resort and twenty miles from Yellowstone, this historic ranch offers one-week packages (Saturday through Saturday) for adventurous vacations in the summer and prime Nordic skiing in the winter.

• Best for: Travelers who want an affordable way to explore the beauty of Montana and experience the charm of a historic dude ranch
• Room to Book: The Ridgetop Lodge, a six-bedroom cottage set away from the heart of the ranch and perfect for larger groups
• Keep in Mind: The atmosphere is truly old school, with meals served family-style, which some will love and others will not.
• Favorite Activities: Whitewater rafting, zip-lining, skiing, ropes courses

The ranch that pioneered the concept of glamping (luxury tented camps) has an exquisite setting and continues to draw a loyal following.

• Best for: Low-key families who want a ton of activities
• Room to Book: One of the two- to four-bedroom homes
• Keep in Mind: Activities are not all-inclusive, so the cost can add up.
• Favorite Activities: Clay shooting, whitewater rafting, ATV riding, snowmobiling, hayride

The gold standard for summertime family ranch vacations, Montana’s 10,000-acre Mountain Sky Guest Ranch offers impeccable service, charming log cabins and fabulous activities in an idyllic mountain setting.

• Best for: Active travelers and families who seek adventure and Western tradition in breathtaking surroundings with deluxe comforts
• Room to Book: Pony, an original cabin from the 1930s, and Big Horn are ideal for families. Book as soon as possible, as this Montana icon sells out up to a year or even two in advance.
• Keep in Mind: There are no TVs in the rooms and no cell service.
• Favorite Activities: Golf, horseback riding, hiking, fly-fishing

From the same family that pioneered glamping in the west, come some of the country’s finest treehouses and modern cabins, all enveloped in the pines and set on the same 37,000-acre property as Paws Up.

• Best for: Couples seeking a sleek forest retreat at an adults-only property
• Rooms to Book: One of the four Tree Haus accommodations, elegant, multi-level one-bedroom cottages elevated among the trees
• Keep in Mind: Though immersed in nature, the accommodations at The Green O do not have the same rustic, western feel as some of the other American West lodges, though many of the activity offerings are the same.
• Favorite Activities: Equine activities (they have a world-class equestrian center), fly-fishing, mountain biking, archery, hot-air ballooning and white-water rafting