Working Ranch Stewardship Experience

If you have you ever dreamed of living the life of a rancher, our Working Ranch Stewardship Experience is for you. Designed for guests who want to get their hands dirty and be part of our ranch crew, this 5-night experience is a blend of education and hands-on experience.

Come join our team for a unique experience; become part of our ranch crew, experiencing our day-to-day life of caring for our livestock and fulfilling our mission to serve, restore, and protect our ranch lands for many generations to come.

Working Ranch Stewardship Experience includes:

  • Learn about Regenerative Agriculture/Ranching

  • Build natural horsemanship skills

  • Move cattle on horseback and learn basic stockmanship

  • Learn about and help with our rotational grazing program, a key tool in land restoration

  • Learn about and observe riparian restoration projects

  • Mend fences

  • Feed and care for horses, sheep & guard dogs (Frankie and Gracie), pigs, and chickens

  • Horseback riding - some of our work is done on horseback. Be prepared to ride three days during your experience. Check out Horsemanship to get a better understanding of the riding offered with the Working Ranch experience.

  • Travel back in time with our draft horse team for a carriage ride and/or hauling supplies to a ranch project

We take pride in what we do as stewards of the land we love and have fun doing it. We want to share that with our guests. That means keeping it small and family-run, allowing for a uniquely intimate environment that will give you a more personal, authentic, and educational experience.


Working Ranch Stewardship
Experience

5 nights (Sunday - Friday) Includes all meals, lodging and educational ranch activities.

Options for lodging are a room with a private bathroom, or a glamping tent with a shared bathroom.

We start each day with a hearty breakfast eaten together. Lunch is picnic style and is either eaten at the ranch or packed in your saddle bag. Dinner is prepared by our staff.

Pricing for a room w/private bathroom*:
$2,850/person - single occupancy
$2,250/person - double occupancy

Pricing for glamping tents w/shared bathroom*:
$2,650/person - single occupancy
$2,050/person - double occupancy

Offered on the following weeks in 2025:
June 8 - 13, 2025
June 29 - July 4, 2025 (SOLD OUT)
July 13 - 18, 2025
Aug. 3 - 8, 2025
Sept. 14 - 19, 2025
Sept. 21 - 26, 2025

Check in is Sunday afternoon.
Max is 6 guests per week.
Adults only - 18 and up

*Prices do not include 7.4% sales & lodging tax.

 

Badger Creek Ranch is featured in “Skip the Dude Ranch. A Hands-on Vacation at these Working Ranches is Far More Authentic and Gratifying”, Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2021.

“What a wonderful experience! The ranch is situated in a remote mountain area, be prepared for no cell service, high altitudes, dirt roads, star filled nights, new friends, great food, good music, pleasant and comfortable accommodations, spectacular vistas, hours of riding the range…I LOVED the small intimate group of guests which made our daily ventures both flexible and personal.”

—Beth M, 2021

“I gave Badger Creek Ranch a 5 only because 6 wasn’t an option. It was as if someone in my family owned this ranch and invited us to stay for a week. Genuine hospitality. There were only 4 of us guests which made for an intimate and friendly atmosphere…Five days on horseback exploring the thousands of acres available was bliss. I can’t wait to come back.”

—Chuck L, 2021

Available to All

Enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, fishing at the local Badger Creek or enjoy the scenic 45 minute drive to the historic mining town of Salida—gateway to the Arkansas valley which is notorious for its river rafting,
fly fishing, easy access to the continental divide and its alpine trails.