We wanted to do something extraordinary for and with our granddaughters age 15 and 18....So we decided on Waunita Hot Springs Ranch on the recommendation of friends.....
We loved it all!!! The girls still talk about it months later and dream of going back someday...
It is the very best of everything you could ask for....
You are treated as family....by a wonderful family who own the ranch....
There is no way we can express the joy we felt in giving this to our sweet girls....It is a week they will never forget....Nor will we...

This was our third experience with a Horse/Dude Ranch and first with WHSR and all I can say is WOW! The family owned and operated ranch treats you like family and really makes an effort to get to know you as an individual. Many of the other quests were returning for the 6th, 7th or 8th time. Our week happened to be an "adults only" week, but other guests had previously brought their kids and grandkids and couldn't say enough about the experiene. From home cooked food and lot's of it, to being assigned your own horse for the week, to "rides" based on time, ability and/or difficulty, to soaking in the hot springs-fed pool, the experience was wonderful. The ranch sits in a valley and is surrounded by mountains so every ride provided spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains.

This was our first vacation at a dude ranch as a family, and it was a total success. Our group: my wife & me, our 2 girls (7 & 9), another couple and their kids (4 & 9), and my parents.

The family that runs the ranch are very welcoming. Within 30 minutes of arriving, our older daughter said "I love it here!". The kids loved being able to run around wherever they wanted (except the pool). There were a dozen wild marmots visible outside the window of our room.

We were able to ride together as a family when we wanted and also with the kids separate from the adults. The scenery is beautiful, and surprisingly varied (some open plain, some rocky cliffs, some meadows, some forest).

They have a full-time wrangler just to take care of the kids, so our friends with the 4-year-old boy were able to leave him behind and ride whenever they wanted. He got to ride around the grounds being led by the wrangler.

The rooms, while not luxurious, were comfortable, and our girls liked being in a connected room. Our girls sometimes had nosebleeds at night, I assume because of the dryness associated with the high altitude.

The food was excellent.

I'd highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a dude ranch, except if you require alcohol -- it's a dry ranch. We didn't miss it.

The drive from Denver is beautiful, though next time we might fly into Gunnison so we don't have to rush out on the last morning.

This is our second trip...sitting at the airport now missing waunita! It truly is the best week of the year! Our family of nine went as a group. This is a family run and operated authentic western ranch celebrating their 50 year anniversary. All I can say is go! You won't regret it!