This is a reputable rescue ranch run by a woman who is dedicated to her animals. There is plenty of…read morespace for them to graze and enjoy life in retirement once they are brought to this lovely setting. I highly recommend it

I took a group of 9 people to Music Meadows. Absolutely fantastic. Elin Parker Ganschow is a…read morefantastic guide and teacher. She custom tailored the ride to my kids' more advanced riding abilities, so I'm sure she can do the same for your group. She's a bit more expensive than the other ranch near Westcliffe (Bear Basin), but very worth it. Bear Basin would only do "nose to tail" rides where you're stuck in a line the whole time. Elin at Music Meadows encouraged our group to get to know our assigned horse, get them to do what we wanted and explore the open country. (I'm sure you can do regular trail rides in a line as well). Great variety of terrain on a huge, 3800 acre working cattle ranch. A mixture of open grasslands, rolling sage hillsides, aspen groves, water crossings and amazing views of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Also, each rider was given a very nice Music Meadows aluminum water bottle for the ride, and got to keep them afterwards (probably supposed to be a secret bonus at the end, so shhhhhh!). Music Meadows is home of "Sangres Best" grass-finished beef, and you can buy some on site to take home. Since I was already covering a ride for 9 people, we just bought some all-beef bratwurst and franks, and they were delicious. She also let us sample some of their new beef jerky, which only had a small handful of entirely pronounceable ingredients. Elin also gave us a tour of the cute (and surprisingly big) cottage on the ranch. It's beautifully decorated and can be rented out. It looks like it could sleep quite a few people. I've been on plenty of trail rides throughout Colorado, and Music Meadows is top notch. Hats off to Elin for working tirelessly to carry on Colorado's rich western heritage. The ranch is protected under a conservation easement through San Isabel Land Trust that ensures it remains in its natural state for generations to come. Dang it. I'm gushing. Give these guys a try. You'll be glad you did.

Great experience! I was in Westcliffe for an offsite work retreat. Music Meadows Ranch was…read morerecommended by a fellow coworker. We had a group of 10 and had a wonderful time! Nicole was so easy to work with and talk to when I was planning the trip. We were unable to do a full day of riding so the ladies were very accommodating and we rode from 9am - 12:30/1pm. This was the first time anyone in the group had the freedom to direct their horse where to go and to trot. We had all only been horse back riding when you ride in a single file line which is... fine. This was SO much better!! They give you a lot of training before you ride so you feel comfortable directing the horse on your own. 5/5 stars definitely recommend! The ladies were also fun to talk to while riding! And the kitties at the barn were cute.

100% WORTH IT!! :) I booked a private horseback riding date with my husband for Father's Day and we…read morehad one of the best days of our lives! Matt is extremely helpful, cool and knowledgeable about horses. He is an super experienced rider and he will work with anyone from beginners (people who have never even sat on a horse) to experts. He lets you set the pace and makes sure you are comfortable and having fun the whole ride. He always has his eye on the riders and will be right there in a flash if you need help. Also, his prices are WAY lower than anywhere else. Just stop what you're doing and call this guy. I promise you'll have an amazing time no matter your age or experience level with horses! I can't wait to go back!!!!!!!

Followed me then immediately unfollowed me on Instagram. Getting pretty sick of local businesses…read moredoing this to grow their social media presence. You just so happened to catch me while I'm bored.

My mother was in Colorado visiting from the east cost so I took her and my gf on the day ride…read morethrough the Sangre de Cristo mountains offered by Bear Basin. Mike was great as a guide! He was very personable answering questions, explaining the plan for the day, and making great conversation along the ride. The three of us had some horseback experience but he made sure we were all comfortable before we started out on the trail. The views at the lake were awesome and they even had a nice packed lunch for us to enjoy when we took a break. Some might be hesitant for the mountains ride even though the cost is reasonable but it's worth it to experience the mountains on the back of a horse!

This place is fantastic! Lee and Mike were great with kids and great to talk to and led us on a…read moregreat two hour ride through some beautiful country. Highly recommend checking them out!

This ranch is absolutely amazing. From the accommodations, to staff, to the view and location this…read moreplace is 5 stars! I hope to be able to go back soon. Highly recommended!

From the owner: Zapata Ranch is a 103,000-acre ranch owned by The Nature Conservancy of Colorado where guests can…read moreride through and learn about our conservation herd of 2,500 bison, integrate themselves into daily life on the ranch and participate in extensive nature programs. Managed by Ranchlands, Zapata Ranch in nestled at the base of Southern Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Mountains and shares a border with the United States' tallest sand dunes: The Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.

INTIMIDATING Dog Policy…read more I understand - some previous visitors felt "intimidated" by a 50+ pound Dog so now the rest of us can't stay here as large Dogs aren't allowed. So unfortunate. Yellow Pine Ranch is where I learned about nature in the 1980s: "Cocklebur" the donkey who lived in the grassy field outside our cabin - he happily ate our hand-fed carrots. Horseback riding with my ol' friend "Taco," the great white horse with brown spots. And hummingbirds that would happily sit on your finger. My Senior Retrievers have traveled to Italy, the Texas Coast, and are possibly more well-behaved than some humans. It saddens my heart that a place nestled in what my Dad called "God's Country" doesn't welcome God's creatures. The management here could benefit from a reality check. So I don't meet their reservation requirements. I'm fine with that. SPECIAL NOTE ~ When I spoke to Diane today she could have *not noticed less* when I told her my family stayed here at Yellow Pines 40 years ago. How sad that is.

Wonderful welcoming management. Caught a trout in their trout pond 4$ per fish. Trout was good,…read morebut we prefer southern catfish. Had a geat view from our neat cabin only problem and it caused us to leave two days early was thin air at one.six miles elevation.

So glad we found this place. A beautiful scenic ride that would be hard to beat somewhere else…read more Friendly and helpful staff. Bit of a drive, but definitely worth it.

My best friend and I had so much fun here! Everyone was so friendly and our guide was so nice on…read moreour ride. The horses and the view were beautiful. Clyde was my horse and he was the best lol. I will definitely come back next time I am in Colorado!

Highly recommend! Our wrangler, Maria was great! She was very knowledgeable, kind and helpful! The…read morehorses were friendly and matched perfectly! The Garden of Gods views were spectacular! My 8 year old son and I loved this adventure!

Excellent riding experience with Academy Riding Stables to see the Garden of the Gods. we did the…read morethe 1 hr and that was perfect for kids 8 & 10 to enjoy. We have all ridden before but this ride was good for any level. The guide. Aaron, was wonderful keeping the group on track, communicating and making it fun. I felt very safe and comfortable. These horses know the drill and made it very stress free. The views are beautiful and you can see some wildlife. Really wonderful way to see the area for the whole family. I would recommend for anyone visiting the Garden of the Gods.

SCENIC RIDE ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY September 2024…read moreYou don't want to miss experiencing the Collegiate Peaks on horseback! We are repeat customers and this year took a 3/4 day trip to Brown's Falls surrounded by golden aspen. Our Wrangler, KC, is amiable, a great story teller and terrific at managing horses and riders. My family has done a couple of full day rides with KC, and he'll do his best to get you an eyeful of scenery, rain or shine! I think our ride would be a great match for anyone, couples, singles, and families. Mt. Princeton Stables offers a BIG experience and it sure is a lot easier riding a horse up a mountain than going on foot carrying a 60 lb pack!

We had a great time on our 2 hour trail ride with our 2 kids ages 8 and 11. The guides were great…read moreat picking the right horse for each person based on their experience with horses (our group ranged from never ridden to very experienced). It was a beautiful ride in the fall with the orange Aspen leaves changing all around. The walk through the creek (twice) was a nice touch. The weather was perfect. As an experienced horse person, I found the ride to be enjoyable and those who had never ridden loved it too! I highly recommend it!

I had a little time before my flight home and opportunity knocked as I was very close to this…read morenature walk. Spectacular and easy way to choose your own adventure. There were a lot of people and the park offered tours including jeep and Segway. Spectacular views. Next time, I would like to do the entire loop since I was only able to get 3 miles in on this visit. Please come and create your own adventure.

This is an amazing must-do while in Colorado Springs, NOT to be missed! I recommend starting early…read moreduring the summer. We did our self-guided tour and trail walk mid-morning. We started at the Visitor Center and spoke to the wonderful volunteers about recommended explorations. Digital and paper maps are available there but the road and the trails are also well signposted with maps throughout as well. Our hike with photo stops, a little bit of scrambling and a drive through the park as well as a visit to The Trading Post (cafe, ice cream and extensive gift shop) lasted about 2 hours so we ended about midday and were glad that we had an early-ish start. The main trail is paved with many optional and relatively short unpaved offshoots. The trail walk was an immensely enjoyable experience and we were indeed awed by these rock formations in this incredible setting! Thank you to the City of Colorado Springs for keeping this experience FREE to the public as promised to the original land owners. Visitors, consider a donation to be able to continue to share this wondrous area with all!