Cowboy culture—or cowboy core—is having a moment. From Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” tour reigniting a global fascination with the glamour of brimmed hats, leather boots, and guitar sounds of the Wild West, to shows like Yellowstone and the 2024 movie Landman, showcasing the beauty and complexity of the American West, there’s an undeniable renaissance underway regarding the rancher lifestyle.
And that’s true in travel, too, with dude ranches across the West continuing to see strong demand. But when we think of the classic dude ranch experience—ambling on a horse along remote trails, lazing on a lake while trying to catch fish, or gathering around a fire to roast s’mores—we often conjure images of the vast wildernesses of Montana, Wyoming, and Texas, classic settings for these cowboy culture-inspired escapes.
As a native Californian, I recently discovered a perhaps lesser-known guest ranch tradition right here in the Golden State after spending time with my husband and two young kids (ages six and eight) at the historic Alisal Ranch in Southern California’s Santa Ynez Valley, slightly north of Santa Barbara.
Learning how to lasso at Alisal Ranch.
Photo by Michelle Baran
Alisal’s combination of a laid-back atmosphere around the pool and property, endless ranch-style activities like horseback riding, well-appointed luxury cottages, and barbecue-forward cuisine offered an immersive cowboy-centric experience and a true escape into nature. And it offered a reminder that while California is known more for its beaches, mountains, deserts, and redwoods, that doesn’t mean it isn’t very much part of the history and lore of the Wild West.
An added benefit to being located in California: Thanks to the moderate weather, some ranches like Alisal are open year-round, which is not always the case—many shut for the winter in colder climates. We went during April and the weather was perfect (cool in the mornings and warm enough for pool time by the afternoon).
Another big draw of dude ranches is that the properties are very family friendly, and Alisal is no exception. Before and after meals when our kids were too antsy to remain at the table, they quickly joined forces with other young guests, or we simply signed them up for the kids club. (Yes, dude ranches also often have kids clubs, making them great options for multi-generational vacations.)
Whether you’re looking to have a ranch experience in the scenic Sierras or closer to the beach, grab your boots. This roundup from Afar’s Hotels We Love series spotlights California’s top dude ranch stays.
All cottages at Alisal Ranch have been recently updated, including with Pendleton blankets.
Courtesy of Alisal Ranch
Alisal Ranch
- Location: Santa Ynez Valley, near Santa Barbara
- Why we love it: A historic, 10,500-acre ranch with luxury Western-style cottage with family-friendly activities
- Loyalty program: I Prefer (Preferred Hotels & Resorts)
- From $450
- Book now
Set on 10,500 acres of rolling oak-covered hills, Alisal has been a working ranch since 1843. As with many other dude ranches, it’s a mostly inclusive ranch experience, meaning that all meals and some experiences are included in the nightly rate.
Alisal’s private guest cottages were recently renovated with a nod to Old West style. The redone rooms are accented with artwork and artifacts from the Wild West as well as with luxury touches such as Ralph Lauren fabrics and Pendleton blankets.
On a recent weekend at the ranch, my husband, eight-year-old son, six-year-old daughter, and I kicked things off with a 8:30 a.m. breakfast hayride to a reconstructed historic adobe house where a feast of eggs, bacon, pancakes, coffee, and juice was served to the soundtrack of live western music and cowboy poetry.
Other activities we loved included a guided e-bike ride around the sprawling property (there are also free loaner bikes available to guests); fishing in the 100-acre lake; petting goats and pigs and gathering eggs at the barn; horseback riding (there are 50 miles of trails); an archery and air rifle session; and a fun ropes course. Guests can also opt for playing golf on the two 18-hole courses, hitting balls on the six tennis courts, or relaxing at the 6,500-square-foot spa.
Alisal Ranch hosts numerous barbecue events during the high season, including this one at the on-site lake.
Courtesy of Alisal Ranch
Meal times are fun, too, especially dinners when “country formal” attire is required, allowing guests to don their funnest cowboy core outfits. During the spring and summer there are numerous barbecue events throughout the week, including the all-ranch barbecue on Saturdays, and a rodeo barbecue on Wednesdays. During the rodeos, guests are treated to roping, racing, and sorting (in which teams of riders drive cattle into a pen). The events are followed by a western-style barbecue, live country music, and dancing at the rodeo arena.
All breakfasts and dinners as well as several activities are included in Alisal’s nightly rates, which start at $450 per night for a studio cottage and at $950 per night for one of the newly remodeled 760-square-foot accommodations.
Circle Bar B Guest Ranch & Stables
- Location: Goleta, near Santa Barbara
- Why we love it: A coastal ranch retreat where guests can combine trail rides and beach time
- From $495, including meals
- Book now
Located just outside Santa Barbara, Circle Bar B Guest Ranch & Stables is a family-owned and operated ranch that is available just for horseback riding or for an overnight in a deluxe room, private cabin, or an upscale two-bedroom, two-story hillside homestead. In addition to hiking and riding along the coastal mountain trails, guests at the Circle Bar B Guest Ranch & Stables have access to the pool, spa, and game room and will be provided with all daily meals (which are included in the rates). This ranch has the added advantage of being a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean, so visitors can combine their western-style ranch getaway with some beach time.
Greenhorn Ranch
- Location: Quincy, Eastern Sierra, about 90 minutes north of Lake Tahoe
- Why we love it: A retreat on 600 forested acres with plenty of activities, including family-friendly rodeos
- From $375, including meals and activities
- Book now
Having opened to overnight guests in 1962, Greenhorn Ranch has served as an outdoor retreat in the Eastern Sierras for nearly 60 years. Located on 600 acres about an hour and a half north of Lake Tahoe, the property offers horseback riding, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and archery in its scenic forested setting. Accommodations consist of a 12-room lodge, 16 cabins that can sleep between four and six people, and a 1972 Airstream camper for two. Events and activities include a weekly rodeo, barbecues and cookouts, bonfires with s’mores making, tequila and whiskey tastings, live music, and line dancing.
At Greenhorn Ranch, guests are immersed in the beauty of the Sierras.
Photo by Kyle Cannon
Hunewill Guest Ranch
- Location: Bridgeport, about an hour north of Mammoth Lakes
- Why we love it: A riding-focused ranch where guests can help move cattle and take part in square dancing and cookouts
- From $2,250 per person for a five-night stay, all inclusive
- Book now
An hour north of Mammoth Lakes in eastern California, Hunewill Guest Ranch offers three-, four-, five-, six-, and seven-night packages that include the opportunity for guests to work cattle on horseback. This ranch is for serious horse lovers and is very focused on riding, so much so that pull-on cowboy boots are not optional. The property is open from late spring to late fall (for 2025, that means Memorial Day Weekend through November 8) and stays include all meals, horseback riding (kids must be at least six to ride), accommodations, and activities such as hayrides, cookouts, and square dancing. The guest cabins are simple and comfortable, far from the over-the-top luxury you can expect at ranches like Alisal.
Rankin Ranch
- Location: Caliente, near the southern end of Sequoia National Forest
- Why we love it: One of California’s oldest family-run working ranches with a full children’s program
- From $250 per person, including meals and activities
- Book now
The 158-year-old Rankin Ranch—a 31,000-acre operating cattle ranch still being run by the Rankin family—is set in the Tehachapi Mountains at the southern end of the Sequoia National Forest. Like Hunewill, this is a traditional, old-school ranch with simple lodgings that consist of 7 duplex cabins (14 rooms total) that can accommodate up to 50 guests. Breakfast and dinner are served in the main dining room; the buffet lunch is on an outdoor terrace overlooking the swimming pool. In addition to ample horseback-riding opportunities, guests can go hiking, fishing, biking, or simply relax at the pool. The property also offers a daily children’s program from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (with a break from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.) with planned activities such as arts and crafts, nature hikes, and scavenger hunts for kids ages 4 through 11. Babysitters are available for an additional fee.
V6 Ranch
- Location: Parkfield, 45 minutes east of Paso Robles
- Why we love it: For its immersive, hands-on experiences on a real working cattle ranch
- From $300
- Book now
Situated about 45 minutes east of Paso Robles along California’s Central Coast, is V6 Ranch, a working cattle ranch that was founded in 1961. Guests stay at Parkfield Lodge, 2.5 miles from V6, where accommodations consist of a converted water tower, post office, individual lodge rooms, and a cowboy cabin that can accommodate up to four people. Since V6 is a working ranch, travelers have to book specific rides and dude ranch getaways for a chance to get a real-life look at the inner workings of cattle rides and being a ranch hand. There’s a detailed schedule online. Accommodations at Parkfield Lodge and V6 ranch experiences are booked separately.
