Best Luxury Ranches In The U.S.A

Why should Kevin Costner have all the fun? Here are the top U.S. ranches where you can live out your Yellowstone moment

01

BRUSH CREEK RANCH, WYOMING

This sprawling hideaway set in the wilds of Wyoming is where you’ll want to lay down your Stetson and kick off those boots. Log cabins are scattered around the grounds. But this is less Little House on the Prairie and more Yellowstone. If you’ve plumped for one of the edge of the prairie, you don’t have to worry as you’ll be given your own personal golf cart to help whizz around. You’ll want to wake early as there is so much to do. You can take part in a cattle drive, join a trail ride or take a 4WD ride with a ranger. But you can also try some of the ranch’s other pursuits, such as archery, rock climbing and mountain biking. The working ranch also comes with The Farm, which features a distillery, bakery, creamery, spirit vault and wine cellar. You can let the chef cook for you or take a cooking class and make a dish for yourself. If you want to relax even further, you can visit one of the two spas where you can enjoy a hot stone massage with river stones an aromatherapy massage with poultices made from native plants.

02

THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK, MONTANA

Expect rustic cabins, campfires, and endless adventures at The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana. The ranch celebrates the storied West, which is why there’s a rodeo in the grounds and you’ll be able to spend the night in a 19th-century-style log cabin that is inspired by the original homestead. Each cabin has its own bespoke vibe, though after a day in the saddle you might also like the Bluebird log cabin that has its own sauna. If you’re worried that you might not be able to tear yourself out of bed, the chef’s lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes will do this. So will the thought of venturing around sprawling grounds. You can go fly fishing in the Blue Ribbon trout stream, try clay pigeon shooting or join the wranglers and practise roping at the rodeo. This is a ranch that focuses on the details. This is probably the only place where you can go for a Wells Fargo Stagecoach ride, drop by a horsebox turned cocktail bar for sunset drinks and book a massage at the covered wagon that’s also a spa.

03

THE RESORT AT PAWS UP, MONTANA

For Hollywood-worthy landscapes look no further than The Resort at Paws Up in Montana. Within its 37,000 acres that lie on the shores of the Black Foot River you’ll find pine forests, sage covered shrublands and rolling pastures. During the summer months you can join a cattle drive, go fishing on the Black Foot River or take an ATV ride through the backcountry. In the winter, you can go downhill skiing or enjoy a dog sled ride through the forest. While you can sleep under canvas, you can put those thoughts of roughing it out of your mind. Here you’ll find sumptuous tents with freestanding copper bathtubs that come complete with ensuites and a butler. Or if you really want to get away from it all you can book into the new Green O enclave deep in the forest that features 12 designer cabins, each worthy of a feature in Architectural Digest. Foodies be satiated with dishes such as a ricotta beignet dusted with raspberry powder. But if you if you want to really have your dude ranch moment, you can enjoy Angus prime rib cooked over a campfire at the Chuck Wagon, followed by marshmallows toasted over the fire.

04

SORREL RIVER RANCH, UTAH

If the jaw dropping monoliths that form the backdrop don’t blow you away, the Sorrel River Ranch will. Book into one of the cabins that offer you Instagram-worthy views of the Colorado River. The most sought-after is the Ranch House Estate that sleeps 12 and features its own private deck and sauna. Those who want to live out their ranching dreams, can saddle up and join the wranglers on the trails. Beginners and experienced riders can have an equal amount of fun, as the wranglers will find the perfect adventure for you. Or if you’re looking for even more action in the desert, you can ride in a dune buggy to 8,000 feet and look out for dinosaur tracks enroute. If you’re keen to take life at a slower pace, you can try your hand at yoga or meditation sessions or even join a sound bathing labyrinth walk. You will have definitely built up an appetite after all these activities, but the ranch has the solution for that too. You can dine on bison porcini ragu and Colorado lamb rack in the River Grill restaurant or enjoy a one-of-a-kind dinner under the stars in the resort’s Homestead Garden.

05

CARMEL VALLEY RANCH, CALIFORNIA

Set in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains is Carmel Valley Ranch. You can gather around the outdoor fireplace and sip a glass of the ranch’s own pinot noir or take a dip in your outdoor tub and enjoy some stargazing. There are five different suites though if you want the outdoor tub you need to choose the Vineyard Oak Studio. Farm to fork fans will also love the fact that the ranch comes with The Market & Creamery where you can sample cheese from their goats and honey from their very industrious bees. You’ll be able to burn off any calories going for a hike along the horseshoe trail, taking an outdoor yoga class with mountain views or even playing a round of golf. But as you’re on a ranch, you’ll also want to check out the Corral where you can try your hand at horse whispering. Tiny ranchers can take lasso lessons, feed the chicken and the calves and even go for a picnic with Pablo and Paco, the ranch’s two donkeys.