Whitefish, Montana
Bar W Guest Ranch
A small year-round ranch minutes from Whitefish
All-inclusiveFamilyWinter
Cattle Drive Vacations & Working Ranch Stays
Want to do more than trail ride? These ranches let guests join cattle drives and real ranch work, from a day pushing cattle to multi-day drives across open country.
- 12 ranches
- Updated October 2026
- Checked against each ranch's own information
The short answer
For a true multi-day drive, The Ranch at Wild Rose in Utah pushes cattle about 110 miles to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, camping along the way. Hunewill Guest Ranch in California's Eastern Sierra runs cattle-work weeks and a traditional fall drive to its winter ranch in Nevada.
For working-ranch weeks with real cattle, Sweet Grass Ranch in Montana's Crazy Mountains and the TA Ranch near Buffalo, Wyoming are two strong choices. Several family ranches, including Black Mountain Ranch in Colorado, include a cattle drive in their week.
All 12 ranches at a glance
| Ranch | Location | Season | Typical stay | Kids' program | All-inclusive | Nearest airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar W Guest Ranch | Whitefish, Montana | Year-round | 6 nights, Sunday to Saturday | ✓ | ✓ | Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), about 16 miles; shuttle $55 each way |
| Hunewill Guest Ranch | Bridgeport, California | May – November | 3-night minimum | – | ✓ | Reno-Tahoe International (RNO), about 117 miles; Mammoth Yosemite (MMH), about 60 miles |
| R Lazy S Ranch | Teton Village, Wyoming | June – September | 7 nights | ✓ | – | Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), about 35 miles |
| Rankin Ranch | Caliente, California | March – November | 2 - 7 days | ✓ | ✓ | Ask the ranch |
| Sweet Grass Ranch | Big Timber, Montana | June – September | 7 nights, Sunday to Sunday | – | ✓ | Bozeman (BZN), about 130 miles; Billings (BIL), about 140 miles |
| Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch | Loveland, Colorado | June – August | 5 or 6 nights in summer | ✓ | – | Denver International Airport (DEN), about 67 miles |
| Tavaputs Ranch | Sunnyside, Utah | June – September | Ask the ranch | – | – | Ask the ranch |
| The Ranch at Wild Rose | Alton, Utah | Summer, Fall | Ask the ranch | – | – | Ask the ranch |
| The Resort at Paws Up | Greenough, Montana | Year-round | Flexible; nightly rates | ✓ | ✓ | Missoula Montana Airport (MSO), about 35 miles; transfers included |
| Black Mountain Ranch | McCoy, Colorado | May – September | 6 nights, Sunday arrival | – | ✓ | Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), about 36 miles; Denver (DEN) about 160 miles |
| TA Ranch | Buffalo, Wyoming | May – October | 3 nights | – | – | Sheridan County Airport (SHR), about 50 miles; Casper (CPR) about 105 miles |
| Tombstone Monument Ranch | Tombstone, Arizona | Year-round | 3-night minimum | – | – | Tucson International Airport (TUS), about 71 miles |
“–” means the ranch doesn't list it, not necessarily that it isn't offered. Always confirm details and prices with the ranch.
The ranches
Bridgeport, California
Hunewill Guest Ranch
A working cattle ranch in the Eastern Sierra since 1861
All-inclusiveWorking ranch
Teton Village, Wyoming
R Lazy S Ranch
A classic Jackson Hole dude ranch since 1947, between the Tetons and the Snake River
FamilyFly fishing
Caliente, California
Rankin Ranch
A peaceful country ranch vacation in California’s Walker Basin
All-inclusiveFamilyWorking ranch
Big Timber, Montana
Sweet Grass Ranch
A sixth-generation working cattle ranch in the Crazy Mountains
All-inclusiveWorking ranch
Loveland, Colorado
Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch
A Jessup family working ranch on the Big Thompson since 1946
FamilyWorking ranch
Sunnyside, Utah
Tavaputs Ranch
A six-generation cattle ranch on the rim of Desolation Canyon
FamilyWorking ranch
Alton, Utah
The Ranch at Wild Rose
Multi-day cattle drives from Utah to the Grand Canyon's North Rim
Working ranch
Greenough, Montana
The Resort at Paws Up
Luxury homes and glamping on a 37,000-acre Montana ranch
All-inclusiveFamilyFly fishing
McCoy, Colorado
Black Mountain Ranch
A family-run, truly all-inclusive week between Vail and Steamboat Springs
All-inclusiveFamily
Buffalo, Wyoming
TA Ranch
A working cattle ranch on a restored 1880s homestead from the Johnson County War
Fly fishingWorking ranch
Tombstone, Arizona
Tombstone Monument Ranch
A year-round guest ranch built like an old western town, 2.5 miles from Tombstone
FamilyWorking ranch
Cattle drive or working ranch week?
A multi-day cattle drive means long days in the saddle moving a herd across country and nights in camp. It suits confident riders who want an adventure, and it is the closest you can get to the old trail drives. A working ranch week is based at the ranch: you help gather, sort and move cattle when the ranch needs it, and ride for pleasure the rest of the time. At Sweet Grass Ranch, for example, cattle work depends on grass, water and the herd and is never staged.
How much riding experience do you need?
For multi-day drives, you should be comfortable at a trot and a lope and fit enough for six or more hours in the saddle. Working-ranch weeks are more flexible, and many ranches teach beginners. Ask each ranch about weight limits, minimum ages and how they match riders to horses.
When cattle drives happen
Drives follow the ranch calendar, not the holiday calendar. Cattle usually move to summer grazing in late spring or early summer and come down in the fall, and branding often happens in June or July. Dates are set each year, so ask the ranch for its schedule early.
Frequently asked questions
Can you go on a real cattle drive as a guest?
Yes. Ranches such as The Ranch at Wild Rose in Utah and Hunewill Guest Ranch in California run cattle drives with guests, and working ranches such as Sweet Grass Ranch and the TA Ranch let guests join real cattle work.
How long is a cattle drive vacation?
From a single day at a guest ranch to multi-day drives of several days. The Ranch at Wild Rose's drive covers about 110 miles to the Grand Canyon's North Rim.
Do I need riding experience for a cattle drive?
For multi-day drives, yes: you should be comfortable at a trot and lope and fit for long days in the saddle. Working-ranch weeks often welcome less experienced riders.
When do cattle drives take place?
Usually in late spring or early summer, when herds move to summer grazing, and in the fall, when they come back down. Each ranch sets its own dates.