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.

I flew out to Colorado to get my best friend back on a horse. The road to get up to the stables was…read morelong, narrow, and a bit scary, however it is worth it! We were greeted by a very nice lady and our group was small with only 4 guests. The trail was lovely. We got to see so many beautiful sights. The ranch itself is cute and perfect for photos. The cantina also had the best brisket Mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. It was so tender and flavorful. The Alabama white sauce and hot bbq sauce were a perfect addition!

This was the best horseback riding experience we've ever had! Our guide, Aaron, was very nice and…read moreknowledgeable. The horses were very well behaved and sweet. The views were absolutely breathtaking and the trails were well maintained. We would definitely recommend Academy Riding Stables!

Jaden was wonderful! My kids and I loved the experience! Would highly recommend! The Garden of the…read moreGods park was beautiful!

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!

Millions of years ago, natural forces pushed massive sheets of red rock hundreds of feet straight…read moreup into the air, presumably because standard horizontal dirt seemed boring. Humans eventually discovered these giant stone slabs and named the location Garden of the Gods. The gods themselves left no forwarding address, but they clearly possessed a flair for dramatic architecture. In 1909, the family of a railroad executive named Charles Elliott Perkins deeded four hundred and eighty acres of this land to the City of Colorado Springs. They attached a single mandatory condition: the park must remain forever free to all people of the earth. In a world where people routinely attempt to place turnstiles around ordinary scenery, this legal clause remains a magnificent anomaly. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Inside the main park, paved paths such as the Perkins Central Garden Trail allow our fragile bodies to walk among giant monoliths without tripping over tree roots. Famous formations with names like Balanced Rock and the Kissing Camels sit silently against the backdrop of Pikes Peak. You can hike, ride a bicycle, scale the sandstone with ropes, or simply stand on the asphalt staring upward with your mouth slightly open. The entire landscape manages to remain accessible without feeling like a commercial theme park. The rocks are the main attraction, and they do not require artificial lighting, recorded sound effects, or ticket booths to command respect. If you spend a day in Colorado Springs, you will likely spend the rest of your life comparing every other rock formation on Earth to these red stones. Most of them will disappoint you.

I wish I could give this attraction a higher rating, but our experience was negatively impacted by…read moretiming and crowd levels. Due to scheduling constraints, we were unable to visit Garden of the Gods until mid-afternoon. Based on other reviews, this appears to be one of the busiest times to visit, and that was certainly our experience. The roadways and walkways were extremely crowded, with people frequently crossing roads and climbing on the rock formations. Parking was also completely full, making it difficult to stop and explore. As a result, we ended up driving through the park without getting out of our vehicle and were unable to fully enjoy the experience. I would recommend visiting early in the morning or closer to closing time to avoid the crowds. A midsummer Sunday afternoon is likely not the best time to experience this beautiful destination.