There is no finer place to reconnect with nature than at our vacation ranch in the southern Colorado Rockies. Come for fly fishing, horseback riding, or just to relax.
Find beauty and tranquility at our Creede Colorado vacation ranch.
Posts Tagged ‘colorado’
Experience the Rockies of Southern Colorado
Thursday, August 26th, 2010Why Fly Fish?
Monday, July 19th, 2010The fly fishing at our Colorado guest ranch is catch and release, so we’re not fishing for food. Why, then, do we fish? Why do people come to our Guest Ranch in Colorado with dreams fly rods in their heads? Why indeed.
Fly fishing is an art.
The first mention of fly fishing in recorded history is said to be by the Roman Claudius Aelianus, in the second century. He had heard of Macedonians luring fish to the surface with colorful imitation flies attached to a line and rod. They apparently took the idea from watching fish surface to consume strange flies that hovered over the water. Undoubtedly they did so for food, as people have been doing for thousands of years.
In the Treatyse on Fysshynge with an Angle, written at the end of the 15th century, the author firmly states the fishing with an angle is the best form of sport – the least uncomfortable and the most pleasurable (when compared with hunting, hawking and trapping). The author goes on to discuss crafting the ideal rods, hooks, floats and lines for various waters and fish.
Fly fishing may not be too taxing, but it certainly requires skill and knowledge, from creating the proper equipment to understanding the fish and fishing conditions in each location. This, perhaps, is why it appeals to so many. Each minute spent on the water with rod in hand is a chance to better oneself. Each cast is a new start.
The guides at our guest ranch, lead by Andy Lee, know the waters and the fish that dwell in them well. They are expert teachers, adept in the art of bringing forth the angler in every man and woman. That said, fly fishing is ultimately a private sport. Only you can catch the fish.
We think that’s why people come here to fish. They want to stand in a gloriously beautiful setting and rise to the challenge of each minute. They feel that somehow, no matter the outcome, just being here and trying their best makes them a little bit better.
Thinking about Colorado Dude Ranches?
Thursday, March 11th, 2010There is something very special about Colorado. Along with the rich history and stunning landscape, Colorado holds a balance between the wild west and the new west.
We love our horses, and wide open spaces, but we also practice sustainable land practice, and natural horsemanship.
We have a delicious steak ride every week. Steak ride is when we jump on horseback and ride up the valley to a delicious cook-out dinner with our chef Wray Warner. But steak ride also means fine wine and cocktails, a delectable array of cheeses and snacks, along with big, juicy steak.
Our Rocky Mountain Vacations also include fly fishing in some of the most pristine waters you could hope for. In what is called “private tailwaters“, we have only catch and release fishing. So we give every angler the excitement of the catch.
Come and experience a more than a horseback riding vacation - 4UR ranch will bring you back in time while caring for the land so that it will be pristine for your grandchildren and ours.
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Colorado Horseback Riding Vacation
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009The ranch here at Wagon Wheel Gap has been a destination for over 100 years. In the 19th Century, the valley was a popular because of our natural hot springs. The appeal expanded to fisherman, seeing how plentiful fish were in clear, clean Goose Creek.
However, owners Pete and Lindsey are avid equestrians, and once they became the caretakers of 4UR ranch, they were excited to integrate an active horse program into their Rocky Mountain Vacation destination.
Now, 4UR Ranch has a thriving Natural Horsemanship program that is spearheaded by head Wrangler Damon Gibbons. Because of his dedication to the animals, riders reap the benefits.
Remember how much you love Riding, or learn what it's all about in 4UR's Equestrian Program
When you ride with Damon and our other wranglers, be prepared to learn some new techniques for interacting with your horse. He and the other wranglers will help you learn the basics of approaching and mounting a horse, if you are new to the saddle. If you have been cutting cows and bending barrels for years, than be prepared to enjoy some active rides over the wild Colorado landscape during your Western Vacation.
We also want to share with the children the tenements of natural horsemanship. So many boys and girls are in love with horses, or the idea of horses, without actually knowing anything about what it really takes to be a rider. We help your children to understand what it means to be an equestrian.
At the end of the week, we have a “kiddie rodeo”, where the kids get to show off the skills they learned over the week with their wrangler. It is a fun time for them and their families, and one of the events that makes a visit to our Colorado Dude Ranch so memorable.
Family Ranch Vacations in Colorado
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009Fall has arrived at the 4UR Guest Ranch, and the morning temps are hovering around the freezing point already. That’s what happens when you sit at over 8,000 feet elevation! It gives you some smokin’ hot and sunny days and cool nights and early mornings. Great for the tan, we always tell our young lady guests – just don’t get burned!
We aren’t seeing any changing leaves or fall colors yet – but that is just one reason to take your fly fishing vacation later on in our season. The fish are still biting, with some nice plump big boys being caught! Our varied waters hold an abounding array of trout: rainbows, browns, snake river cutts, cutt-bow hybrids and even brookies.
We are starting some renovations and construction on our Cabin at Lost Lake, one of our more secluded lodging options here at the dude ranch. Couples seem to really enjoy that cabin during their rocky mountain vacation.
The Wildflowers have been hanging in - it was a nice wet summer
We continue to have some exciting wildlife sightings. One of our fisherman saw four bull elk swimming across the lower lake. He was really excited about it, I think it must have been quite a sight! We have also continued to see our friendly black bear, and some guests have seen moose. It was been a wonderfully full and busy summer. Lots of families enjoying horseback riding and the kids especially have been doing a great job in their horsemanship and riding classes. Lots of kids have been in fly fishing school as well this summer.
The first of our staff is heading back to the “real world”: medical school, nursing programs and accounting studies. We will miss them, we had such a great group this year!
Next month we are looking forward to hosting an undersheriff convention, it should be a great time!
Rocky Mountain Vacation
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009August in the Rockies is a glorious thing! The weather is pleasantly hot during the day. It’s a great time to take a dip in the pool after a morning ride, or enjoy a cool drink in the shade.
August is also one of the nicest times of the year at 4UR ranch for your family ranch vacation. The fly fishing crowds start to thin out, and you can really feel like you’ve got the run of the ranch. We have a great kids program, and also a lot of spaces on the ranch that we have dedicated to a family experience, like our pool.
Come and explore Southern Colorado
Come to the pool every Wednesday for a Mexican food fiesta. Our talented chef Wray Warner makes amazing guacamole, delicious sizzling fajitas and fresh grilled veggies. We also serve ice cold beers, margaritas, lemonade and tea. This little party is a great time to meet some of the other guests at 4UR as well as have a relaxing lunch by the water. It is these kind of small niceties that have kept some of our guests coming back for years, some of our guests have been coming to our family dude ranch since they were small children, and now they bring their own children to the ranch. It is these stories that we feel makes our guest ranch the most unique place to vacation in Colorado.
We still have plenty of time in the summer and into September for you and your family to become part of the tradition at 4UR. Visit the contact page for our Colorado Dude ranch to inquire about becoming part of the 4UR family!
Dude Ranch Vacations in Colorado
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009What are the ingredients for a perfect family dude ranch? Well, we think that excellent and inviting accommodations are the first step.
We have a variety of lodging options that our dedicated staff work hard to plan perfectly for your family trip. For example, we try to put couples in the same lodging area, and families in another, so that kids can become friends with their neighbors, and no one has to worry about a sleepless night.
Some 4UR Guests Relaxing in front of the Lodge
Most of our lodging is structured Adirondack-style, with a long shared porch. The lodges are centrally located by and large; close to our dining room, lodge and pool area. However, we do have some homes that are pulled away for the rest of the ranch, and offer a quiet and secluded option.
Step two for a family ranch vacation is a great variety of activities to keep everyone in the family happy and entertained. We have Goose Creek of course, our world-class fly fishing creek, with seven pristine miles of private waters for anglers of all skill levels. Our head guide, Andy, can often be seen on the lawn in the morning with a group of young folks, showing them fly fishing techniques and tricks.
Then there is our equestrian program, which we are so proud of! Head wrangler Damon is trained in natural horsemanship, and when you come to ride at 4UR, you won’t just plot along behind the next horses’ bottom. We will lead you through our beautiful valley onto mesas and mountaintops for stunning views or delicious meals, like the Steak ride and the Fish Fry. We have a great riding program for the kids as well, which culminates in a hilarious kids rodeo.
There is our pool, and hot springs, as well as massage and yoga classes to partake in.
The last step for a great dude ranch experience is, or course, relaxation. With the quiet and peace of our little valley here at Wagon Wheel Gap, you are sure to find pure moments of serenity. After all, people have been visiting this valley for just that purpose for more than 150 years. I guess that is what keeps folks coming back again and again to our Guest Ranch. We provide a place for effortless and pleasant memory-building. That is what 4UR Ranch is all about.
Colorado Guest Ranch 4th of July
Friday, July 17th, 2009Things at the 4UR are rolling right along through this lovely summer. With July slipping away, we had a great Independence Day here at the Dude ranch; the chef prepared a Southern BBQ with all the trimmings! It was really a feast, and with all the riding and fishing that goes on around here, a good hearty lunch is appreciated by all!
Most of the guests went into Creede for a fireworks show, the town nearest our horseback riding vacation ranch. If you haven’t ever been into the little oasis of Creede, that town is bound to surprise you! It is full of great little artist and artisan shops that reflect the creative and unique community where our ranch is set.
Watching the lights and fireworks playing off the cliffs in North Creede was really a sight to behold!
A Late Summer has left 4UR Ranch green and lush
We, as always, have lots of repeat guests come for their Rocky Mountain vacation at 4UR. Joan Shelton was with us this month. She has been coming to our ranch at Wagon Wheel Gap since she was nine; and now she brings her grandchildren! She is such an extraordinary person, and we were thrilled to see her again! This year we also have new and diverse guests from California, Oregon, Kentucky & Florida. It is great to see the 4UR family grow, and to be able to share this special valley with more folks.
We have had a friendly visitor to our dumpster lately; a bear continues to come scrounging around for scraps, and it is now even showing up in the daylight sometimes! The bear is definitely a fascination to the kids, but our great kids counselors keep them at a safe distance.
It has really started to get hot here in Creede CO. For a few weeks there, we were wondering if Mother Nature had decided to skip summer completely and just go straight from Spring to Fall. The pool is becoming a very popular spot! We have a Mexican food lunch out there on Wednesdays, and it is becoming quite the Fiesta!
Colorado Fly Fishing Vacation
Thursday, July 9th, 2009The mouth of the Rio Grande river originates in the mountains neighboring 4UR Ranch. Our private creek, Goose Creek, feeds into this mighty river at the end of our little valley.
For many, many years, the Valley that has recently facilitated horseback riding vacations for families, was known solely for it’s amazing fly fishing conditions. Goose Creek is quite unique; flowing from the Weminuche Wilderness, it passes through only two pieces of private property before reaching the Rio Grande: the 4UR Ranch and our neighbors upstream. On the neighboring property, a reservoir feeds the creek from the cool and pure waters at the bottom of their 80-foot dam. This makes Goose Creek one of only a few “private tailwaters” in America. We are very proud of how well we maintain our stream. Our ranch manager Aaron Christensen and head guide Andy Lee have taken great care to maintain the integrity of the stream through careful stewardship. Water temperature, flow, fish size and algae growth are some of the things that these two men monitor. Years of rigorous catch and release practices make for some surprisingly big, well-colored trout.
Horses in the Valley at 4UR Ranch
We have a very fun and fair lottery each night to determine who will fish where on the stream and when. We have broken up our approx. 7 miles of stream into 15 stations, each about 1/3 mile. Through our lottery system, each angler gets privacy and fresh water for himself, every day.
We want your Rocky Mountain vacation here at 4UR to be memorable for everyone in the family, not just Dad and his fishing rod. Sometimes Dad can drag out his teenage daughter for a few casts, and sometimes a teenage son is excited to learn about fly fishing. But even if fly fishing is not your primary interest, the 4UR ranch will keep you pleasantly occupied. How about a dip in the pool? Or maybe a soak in our natural hot springs, which have been drawing visitors since the early 1800’s. We have miles of trails to explore, trapshooting and lots of room to just let your mind unwind.
Welcome to 4UR ranch. Whether your here for big fish or big relaxation, you’ll catch it here.