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The consensus these days, it seems, is that the best kind of getaway is one where you’re unreachable. Seclusion in the wilderness, all while in the lap of luxury, is currently among the most popular ways to vacation. And the best ranch hotels have cracked the code on this, creating a seamless bridge between the great outdoors and lavish amenities worthy of a cattle baron (Yellowstone, anyone?).
Staying on a working ranch is like a mix between indulging your inner child and calming down your frazzled adult brain. Scenic horseback rides and languid mornings spent fly fishing are common fare, and afternoons reading by the creek or savoring a deep-tissue massage are easy to find. At the best ranch hotels below—compiled in honor of Vogue’s October cover story photographed on a Wyoming ranch, and starring Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid—nothing is off the table and everything is off the grid.
Quercus (Gay, Georgia)
While Montana and Wyoming have the lion’s share of luxury ranch resorts, the newly opened Quercus is shining a light on a sleepy hamlet in Georgia that is defined by its pastoral landscape. Sustainable and biodynamic are the driving principles for the property’s farm, while the working ranch is home to grazing cattle, a herd of Quarter Horses, and a flock of pastured chickens. If you’re an animal lover, ask to pay a visit to the hogs, miniature donkeys, and sheep they are raising.
Beyond its regenerative agricultural concept, what sets Quercus apart is the design. Breaking tradition from the expected cowboy-clad interiors, the owners handpicked a striking assortment of antiques and artwork that deliver an elevated take on the ranch aesthetic. But don’t worry—outdoorsy activities are in strong supply here, with fly fishing, equestrian, kayaking, and hiking taking place across the surrounding trails, Red Oak Creek and Flint River. As an extra special touch, concierge provides essentials like sunscreen, natural insect repellent, a canvas tote, and a small cooler for your outings.
The Ranch at Rock Creek (Philipsburg, Montana)
All it takes is a few days at The Ranch at Rock Creek to convince one that living off the grid in nature is the only option. The property (originally a 19th-century homestead) is slotted inside a secluded canyon and surrounded by 6,600 astonishing acres of Montana wilderness and ranch land. The experience is all-inclusive, with more than 35 guided outdoor activities—from horseback riding and fly fishing in the summer, to cross-country skiing and sleigh rides in the winter. When you’re not mountain biking past a herd of wild bighorn sheep or sharpening your archery skills, you can unwind with an evening at The Silver Dollar Saloon with its billiards, bowling alley, and bar with stools made out of saddles.
Accommodations range from the original homestead barn and luxury log cabins to glamping. But rest assured, those who opt for tents won’t be roughing it: these hybrid structures are made of wood and canvas and come equipped with lavish amenities (cue the standalone bathtub). After a day on the frontier, settle in with a meal at the Buckle Barn where live music and line dancing often ensue.
Alisal Ranch (Solvang, California)
Since 1946, this luxury working ranch has welcomed guests onto its 10,500 acres bound by a river on the northeast and a mountain range to the southwest. The Chumash originally inhabited the land, who named it Nojoqui (“honeymoon place”), and in 1843 it became part of a land grant known as Rancho Nojoqui, awarded by the Mexican government. Over the years, the property changed hands several times before being purchased by Charles D. Jackson Jr. in 1943, who opened it as a guest ranch three years later. This is a California landscape where the term rolling hills hits its stride, many of which are often dotted with historic trees (Alisal translates to “grove of sycamores” in the Chumash language).
Expect all the accoutrements of a luxury ranch experience, like riding horses along 50 miles of trails and fishing in their spring-fed lake. When you’re not reveling in nature, don’t miss the opportunity to swing by Alisal’s famed library (it’s where Clark Gable married Lady Silvia in 1949). The ranch-style dining is also a highlight, with classics like smoked beef ribs and black blue bread pudding driving home a sense of place.
Dunton River Camp (Dolores, Colorado)
Once a mining town, later a cattle ranch, Dunton is one of Colorado’s most fascinating destinations. Its current owners purchased the land in 1994 and spent seven years renovating, reshaping it into a collection of resorts and homes—one of which being the adults-only Dunton River Camp. While there is no longer the cattle ranch that once occupied Dunton River Camp’s 500 acres, free-range cattle still graze the landscape and the farmhouse still stands in its original location. There are eight safari-style tents that feature en-suite bathrooms, double vanities, and towel warmers. Each tent is assigned two mountain bikes, giving guests carte blanche to explore the surrounding splendor.
Nightly rates include all meals and beverages, which are presented by a culinary team that emphasizes sourcing locally, from lamb to tree-ripe fruit. As is expected from an outdoor destination like this, mealtime is an extra special affair, and often concludes with a cozy cocktail by the fire pit beneath a blanket of stars.
Brush Creek Ranch (Saratoga, Wyoming)
This collection of all-inclusive guest ranches set across 30,000 acres of Wyoming is praised for both its heritage as a cattle ranch and its stewardship of the land. The resort (which is between the Sierra Madre and Snowy Mountains) takes all the immersive activities you’d expect from a luxury Wyoming ranch, and combines that with an ultra-luxury experience that pays homage to the Old West. On any given day, one can embark on a cattle drive with the ranch’s team of experts, drift off on a scenic river float, or adopt an even slower pace with a forest bathing nature meditation.
Brush Creek Ranch is also well-known for its events—Karlie Kloss married Joshua Kushner here in 2019—and the culinary team is always dreaming up fresh ways to immerse guests in flavors of the region, from a cheese making apprentice program to the property’s very own small-batch distillery where bourbon, rye, vodka, and gin is crafted.
Triple Creek Ranch (Darby, Montana)
Escape to the Montana Rockies for a 2 Michelin Key getaway at Triple Creek Ranch. This Relais Chateaux forested retreat offers private log cabins and ranch homes, with a grand lodge as the property’s beating heart. The atmosphere here is distinctly Western: original art is peppered throughout the spaces, native wildlife roams the landscapes, and days are spent relishing the natural surroundings (perhaps from the vantage point of the Chipmunk Cabin? Or perhaps the Stage Stop Ranch Home?)
Their vast range of experiences means no one is going to have the same vacation—mix and match activities to your heart’s content, whether it’s focused on authentic ranch activities like cattle working and horseback riding, or more leisurely pursuits such as fly fishing or stargazing. If you’d like to leave with a souvenir, swing by the Double H Hat Workshop, or sign up for a leather working class where you’ll burn, stamp, and tool your very own leathergoods (including ornaments during the Christmas season).
Paintrock Canyon Ranch (Hyattville, Wyoming)
Set across 80,000 rugged acres at the western foothills of the Bighorn Mountains (beneath iconic Cloud Peak), Paintrock Creek carves an eight-mile canyon flanked by red limestone and sandstone cliffs. At base camp for Ranchlands’s newly opened Paintrock Canyon Ranch, private safari-style canvas tents are embellished with full-size beds, dressers, showers, and lantern-lit pathways (bring a power bank—there’s no electricity).
Activities fluctuate daily and are intended to be entirely customized for guests: horseback rides, fly fishing, hiking, and cold plunges in the creek are all up for grabs. Meals are prepared in an open-fire “kitchen” by a private chef, and ingredients—such as the Ranchlands beef—are sourced locally. Lunches are packed in saddle bags for field excursions, while dinners are often enjoyed at a long, communal dinner beneath the sky. Paintrock also offers seven-night horseback expeditions for the more intrepid types, which take travelers into the heart of the Bighorn National Forest.
