This Wyoming Cowboy Camp Inspires Young Adventurers

Dude ranch vacations are a popular way for family travelers to spend a week together and experience some of the lure of the Old West. These immersive Western experiences can include roping clinics, horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking and plenty of outdoor time in beautiful western landscapes.

One of the country’s oldest family-run ranches, 140-year-old Eatons’ Ranch, is a working cattle ranch set on 7,000 acres on the eastern slopes of the Bighorn Mountains in northeastern Wyoming. Its all-inclusive family programs give all ages a chance to sample some cowboy life, with daily horseback rides, barbecues, swimming in a creek and dancing to Western music.

Activities span all ages and energy levels: Guided hikes in the Bighorn Mountains and flyfishing in the pristine waters of Wolf Creek or from a rowboat in a stocked lake on the range. Or guests can just enjoy the fresh mountain air and watch deer, rabbits and birds feed outside the family’s cabin. Kids can play in the creek or swim in the giant pool among the pines, or families can take a short hike to a secluded swimming hole with small waterfalls, less than a mile into the canyon.

Along with horseback riding, daily kids’ programs include crafts, hikes, scavenger hunts and movie nights with popcorn. Staff is available during children’s activities and babysitting is available.

Ranch vacations at Eatons’ are all-inclusive, and families can expect three hearty country-style meals a day, along with outdoor barbecues. Special events highlight each week, including Sunday bingo, Wednesday baseball games and Friday night dances.