Cattle Drive Vacations & Working Ranch Stays

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.