Winter ski holidays are a great way to enjoy the snowy season without getting too cold - and working up an appetite for the all-important apres-ski! And even better when you can combine it with a dude ranch vacation, which is exactly what you can experience at Lone Mountain Guest Ranch in Montana, USA. Catch the last of the snow and winter sun with a dude ranch vacation at this Montana dude ranch's snowy peaks AND save money, to (ski) boot...

Lone Mountain's special winter sun offer for March 2012 is such great value, it's made it as Top50 Ranches' 'Ranch Special of the Month'.

Lone Mountain Guest Ranch:  7-night ski package Special - March 2012

Work up an appetite for Apres-Ski at Lone Mountain this March

 From March 3 to 17, 2012, book a 7-night stay at Lone Mountain Guest Ranch and each guest receives both a FREE pair of Fisher Nordic Touring skis with bindings, and a FREE Yellowstone Wildlife Snowcoach Tour! This incredible offer includes lodging, all meals, access to 85km of Nordic ski trails and 30km of snowshoe trails, a sleigh ride dinner, free skis, a free snowcoach trip into Yellowstone, evening programs and live music.

Valid March 3-March 17, 2012; offer cannot be combined with any other special. Rates start at $2084 for adults

View Lone Mountain's Top50 ranch profile for rates and more information

Romantic ranch retreats are the ideal way for you and the special someone in your life to get away from it all on Valentine's Day. It's not to late to book a last-minute dude ranch vacation at one of Top50 Ranches' romantic ranch retreats, but if you've already made plans for the big day, why not surprise your loved one and book a ranch vacation for later in the year?

Last-minute Valentine's ranch vacations

Your own luxury cabin at Triple Creek Ranch

Iconic romantic images from Legends of the Fall spring to mind when you think of Montana dude ranches, so jet of to Big Sky Country Valentine's for a romantic ranch vacation. Triple Creek Ranch is a couples haven: the mountain retreat has luxury private log cabins in the woods, complete with welcome basket of wine and goodies, private hot tub, and his-and-hers bathtubs - perfect for a secluded romantic getaway. Dine at the chef's table or enjoy candlelit dinners in the romantic dining room with dramatic views of the Bitterroot Mountains, plus moonlight strolls and movies under the stars. This Valentine's Day at Triple Creek, pastry chef Troy Himmelmen will offer a selection of chocolate delights, while sommelier, Jerry White, will suggest the right wine for each treat.

Montana dude ranch The Ranch at Rock Creek's winter season offers an ideal alternative to busy, expensive ski resorts, with phenomenal skiing hidden just minutes away. Offering tailor-made experiences and with no strict schedule, Rock Creek's secluded environment is perfect for a romantic getaway. Enjoy a couples massage in the full service spa and 5 star dining in The Granite Lodge, or for real romance take an evening horseback ride or intimate 2-seater winter sleigh ride.

Montana dude ranch Lone Mountain offers 85km of Nordic ski trails and world class downhill skiing just 6 miles away. Or why not head off the ranch and explore Yellowstone National Park? For a more relaxing vacation, enjoy a romantic on-the-snow buffet or sleigh ride dinner, gourmet ranch cuisine and relaxing massages.

Romantic sleigh rides on C Lazy U's Valentine's Special

For an extra-special Valentine's weekend dedicated to couples, head to Colorado dude ranch C Lazy U Ranch, and book the Valentine’s Day and Weekend Special* where you can enjoy a 39% discount on normal rates, plus 2-for-1 on couples massages. The romantic package includes afternoon arrival, a candlelit dinner for two, overnight accommodation in a luxury cabin, breakfast the next morning and a horseback excursion or sleigh ride prior to departure. *Available February 10-15, 2012, priced at $399 per couple/$199.50 per person. Standard two-night winter minimum waivered for couples. Additional nights, including standard meals and activities, priced at normal rate.

Or head to Echo Valley Ranch and Spa in British Columbia, Canada, which offers winter packages ideally suited to couples. A welcome glass of champagne or mulled wine awaits in your private deluxe cabin or sumptuous Baan Thai suite, and you can take a dip in the outdoor hot tub or indoor heated swimming pool, and indulge in one of the many treatments offered by the full-service spa. With self-guided snowshoeing & ski trails, you and your partner can get away from it all in the snowy Canadian wilderness.

Couples' ranch vacations for 2012

If booking a last-minute ranch vacation is out of the question, you can still surprise your loved one on Valentine's Day by booking a romantic ranch vacation for you both to take later in the year. A good option if you prefer your holidays to involve warmth and sunshine! Best of all, during the summer season you have the choice of all of Top50's best romantic ranch escapes. Here's our top pick of romantic ranch vacations for couples...

Relax during couples' week at Free Rein Ranch

Free Rein Guest Ranch in British Columbia, Canada, is all about letting you do what you wish, when you wish - whether that's horseback riding, bathing in secluded lakes, picnicing by the shoreline or simply enjoying a snooze in the shade. For a romantic ranch getaway, the best time to visit is in October, when Free Rein waves goodbye to the kids and dedicates the entire month to adults, meaning a quieter and more intimate atmosphere. As the nights start to draw in, drinking, partying and long lie-ins become more commonplace that action-packed days, so if you're looking for true relaxation and the freedom to do what you choose, this is the ranch to come to.

Kick back during Couples Bootcamp at Alisal

Also in October, Alisal Guest Ranch in California, USA, will play host to 'Couples Bootcamp'. From October 18 to 21, 2012, treat your other half to daily horseback rides, breakfast rides to the historic old Adobe, nightly entertainment, and all meals including gourmet wine dinners and a special lakeside dinner. The two of you will also enjoy a moonlight hay ride, romantic turn-down gifts and, of course, plenty of time for relaxing in each other's company.

Head to Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado, USA, and enjoy the privacy of your own private log cabin and private dining opportunities. Dining at Vista Verde is a real treat, with wine an integral part of the dining experience and Executive Chef, Matt Campbell, leading wine tastings and cookign classes.

Three Bars Ranch in British Columbia, Canada, offers wonderful spa facilities if you or your other half want a pampering ranch vacation. Here, high season for couples is concentrated more in spring and fall, so visit at these times of year for a more intimate and adult-oriented dude ranch vacation.

The Resort at Paws Up in Montana, USA, offers first-class service and luxurious accommodations. Think gourmet cuisine, couples' spa treatments, personalized service, and amenities such as heated bathroom floors, rain showers, organic spa products and hot tubs. Romantic accommodations don't get better than private luxury homes and luxury tents, and with the ranch staff's attentive, anticipatory service, first-class hospitality is guaranteed at Paws Up.

Siwash Lake Ranch in British Columbia, Canada, is a small, private and truly intimate hideaway perfect for a romantic ranch retreat. Enjoy private fine dining, couples' massages magically delivered in the woods under canvas, and private horseback rides. With a high staff:guest ratio, you and your partner are guaranteed royal pampering and personal service.

Luxury safari camp at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

Another British Columbia luxury Canada guest ranch is Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Top50's only luxury tented safari camp. Just like Prince William whisked Kate off on a safari adventure to pop the question, you can treat the love of your life to the ultimate romantic safari setting. Privacy is ensured in your own luxury tent complete with King bed, full en-suite bathroom with double sinks, heated floors, and indoor and outdoor showers. Take guided wiildlife safaris to see orca whales, sea otters and black bears, then relax back at the ranch with a couples massage and private 5-course meal.

Elk Mountain Ranch in Colorado, USA, might be a family ranch, but visit in September for adult weeks and you'll experience a much more intimate and relaxed atmosphere, thanks to a reduced guest capacity and an emphasis is on riding and relaxing. Think romantic trail ride cookouts, champagne brunches and a country candlelight dinner, as well as massages and hot tub facilities.

The Castle Room Suite at Estancia Ranquilco

For a more exotic romantic ranch vacation, head south to Argentina where adventure at Estancia Ranquilco awaits. Head out into the romantic wilderness for a pack trip into the mountains for all or part of your stay, or base your entire stay at the beautiful estancia where you'll have your own 'wing' of the stone lodge. We recommend The Castle Room suite, boasting a raised double bed offering amazing views of the river canyon below, and French doors to your private stone patio overlooking the river and mountains where you can enjoy private meals. When night draws in, cozy up in the adjoining sitting room by the stone fireplace complete with natural “heart” stones from the area, with a glass of Argentine Malbec. Sumptuous meals can be enjoyed out on the terrace with sweeping views of the Trocoman River or, for a more romantic setting, silver-service style with crystal and fine china in the dining room.

For more information on any of Top50's romantic ranch vacations, visit Top50Ranches.com

Montana dude ranches are not hard to come by, this being one of the most iconic 'cowboy states' in the USA. That could make choosing Montana dude ranch vacations a little more difficult, but luckily Top50 has selected the 10 very best Montana dude ranches to make finding your perfect western dude ranch vacation that little bit easier - and there's something for everyone...

Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge, Montana

Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge in north west Montana is perfect for keeping the whole family happy on your dude ranch vacation - with a seemingly endless list of acitivies for riders and non-riders alike, no one will get bored here. The Averill family create a rustic ranch atmosphic and first class hospitality to make your stay at this family friendly Montana dude ranch a truly memorable experience.

  Bar W Guest Ranch, Montana

Bar W Guest Ranch in north west Montana is great if you're looking for an authentic yet family-friendly dude ranch vacation with plenty of opportunities for horseback riding and traditional western ranch activities. This Montana dude ranch is set among heavily timbered mountains, open prairies, clear running rivers and streams, and - of course - big skies. Bar W's special string of horses and cattle, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, and mile upon mile of riding trails and open prairies will make dude ranch vacations here something that'll be cherished for a lifetime.

Bonanza Creek Ranch, Montana

Bonanza Creek is not just any Montana dude ranch - it is also a fully working cattle ranch, making this the ideal choice for those looking for truly authentic dude ranch vacations. This family operated guest ranch runs 1,500 head of cattle on 25,000 acres, meaning lots of places to ride and lots of work to do on your dude ranch vacation - this is one for the truly horse-oriented!

Lone Mountain Guest Ranch, Montana

Lone Mountain Guest Ranch is located in south west Montana near Yellowstone National Park, meaning great dude ranch vacations for those wanting to explore one of the USA's greatest national parks. This Montana dude ranch will make you feel like part of a very large family, with genuine staff offering little personal touches that will really make your stay. It also has a great children's program, including a ropes course that's great for building confidence in your kids. Great riding, great scenery, great hospitality - that's what dude ranch vacations are all about.

McGinnis Meadows Ranch, Montana

McGinnis Meadows is a cattle and guest ranch in the north west corner of Montana, so it's great if the priority of your dude ranch vacations is to get into the saddle and learn how to be a cowboy. Riders of all levels are welcome, from beginners to advanced, and each individual's stay will be tailored according to their needs, desires and abilities. Come to this authentic Montana dude ranch and you'll leave a bona-fide cowboy or cowgirl!

Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana

Ranch at Rock Creek offers family-friendly luxury dude ranch vacations to guests who want nothing but the best. While some Montana dude ranches sacrifice authenticity in favour of luxury, what Rock Creek does is offer the feel of the 'True West' without sacrificing true comfort. This might be one of the finest and most luxury dude ranch vacations you'll ever experience, with its outstanding accommodations, cuisine and full-service spa, but you'll feel the authenticity of the most authentic western ranches nevertheless. Great for families, couples, friends - and skiers!

Sweet Grass Ranch, Montana

Sweet Grass Ranch is part of a sixth generation family-owned and operated working cattle ranch secluded in the Crazy Mountains of Montana. If horseback riding is what you want to do on your dude ranch vacations, Sweet Grass can provide - with exceptional riding opportunities over thousands of acres of meadows, mountain trails and plains. This Montana dude ranch has an unstructured riding program tailored to your needs and abilities, with opportunities to get involved in ranch work. One for the riders!

The Resort at Paws Up, Montana

The Resort at Paws Up is one of those dude ranch vacations you'll never forget. Screaming luxury and first-rate hospitality, Paws up is unique from any other Montana dude ranches. It might be a 37,000 working cattle ranch, but there's no 'roughing it' at Paws Up. If you've ever wanted to try 'glamping' then this is the place to do it - combining utmost luxury with tent-style accommodations, you'll never want to sleep  indoors again! Drag yourself from your luxury bed and you'll find great horseback with opportunities for real cattle work on real ranch horses, plus riding lessons and natural horsemanship.

Triple Creek Ranch is located high in the Bitteroot Mountains, and one of the few Montana dude ranches to offer a winter program as good as its summer program. In summer, enjoy horseback riding, non riding activities and water sports; then in come back for your winter dude ranch vacations and try snowshoeing, nordic skiing, snowmobiling and winter ice fishing. You can even get married here!

For more information on these Montana dude ranches, view their ranch profiles on Top50Ranches.com

Temperatures are dropping, frosty mornings are setting in and you’re feeling very wintry. And what better place to embrace the wonders of winter – apart from snuggled up on the sofa next to a roaring fire – than a winter dude ranch vacation? Top50 has found the best winter dude ranches where you can embrace the big chill and all that the snowy season has to offer...

A winter vaca at Lone Mountain Guest Ranch in Montana, USA, makes for a truly special dude ranch vacation – not to mention action-packed! With access to 85km of groomed cross-country ski trails and 20km of snowshoe trails, there’s no excuse for not hitting the snow – even beginners, who can get to grips with the snow with Nordic ski lessons. Lone Mountain is ideal for family dude ranch vacations in winter, with sleigh rides, dog sledding and evening programs on offer. 

Bar W Guest Ranch in Montana, USA, is transformed into a dude ranch winter wonderland in the colder months. With a plethora of winter sports on offer including winter ice fishing and snowshoeing, as well as more relaxing winter activities like sleigh rides, Bar W offers dude ranch vacations perfect for winter family holidays. Ski packages are flexible at Bar W, so whether you can to ski all day, or split your ski time with days spent horseback riding in the snow-capped mountains or in the arena, there’s an option for every taste. Dude ranch vacations at Lone Mountain in winter are as packed as their summer season options, with opportunities for everyone to enjoy evening programs including square dances and waltzes, and campfire stories.

Triple Creek Ranch is another of the USA’s Montana dude ranches, offering all-inclusive winter ranch vacation packages that are hard to beat. Winter holidays include meals and lodging, fitness center facilities and all on-ranch activities – including horseback riding, fly fishing and ice fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, Alpine and Nordic Skiing, nature tours, plus any special weekend activities and holiday celebrations that might be going on during your dude ranch vacation. Not forgetting additional opportunities for snowmobiling, ATV tours and off-ranch horsebacking riding to explore the vast wintry surroundings.

Another Montana dude ranch is The Ranch at Rock Creek, where the ranch’s terrain is perfect for both novice and experienced skiers. Skiing at Rock Creek is not like skiing anywhere else – it’s something of a hidden gem in the ski world, rather like having your own private mountainside, and the peaceful environment is ideal for couples or those wishing to ‘get away from it all’. For those coming to the ranch for a horseback riding holiday, there’s plenty of opportunity for winter horse riding as well as horse-drawn carriage rides. This is a great one for family dude ranch vacations, thanks to sledding hills, hockey and ice skating on the frozen ponds, plus indoor activities like bowling and movies.

Head further south to Colorado and you’ll find Vista Verde Ranch, where you’ll find dude ranch vacations that’ll have you loving the cold weather. Try your hand at cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, tubing and sledding, or saddle up and hit the snowy trails with horseback riding over 50,000 acres of Routt National Forest land. Back at the ranch, take off the chill with a soak in the hot tub or a relaxing spa treatment.

Another of Colorado dude ranches perfect for winter horseback riding vacations is C Lazy U Ranch. Offering winter ice fishing, backcountry snowmobile and horseback riding tours, snowshoeing, private snowcat skiing, ice skating, tubing and the famous ‘C Lazy U Luge’ this children-friendly dude ranch is the ideal choice for family dude ranch vacations in Colorado. With outdoor hot tubs and heated pools to boot, this is one luxury dude ranch vacation for your winter diary.

Give your children the ultimate Christmas present – a festive vacation at a Top50 Ranch!

Imagine the look on your children’s faces when they discover that they’ll be going on a western ranch vacation this winter – maybe even on Christmas day itself! Whatever you’re looking to get out of your winter ranch vacation, you can be sure that one of Top50’s distinctive ranches has something for you. Top50 has found some unique opportunities from its selection of the best ranches in the USA and Canada, so every family can find the ultimate Christmas vacation...

Lone Mountain Guest Ranch, Montana
Yellowstone National Park is an incredible place to visit at any time of year, but none more so than at Christmas, when the snow-capped peaks fit right into the spirit of the festive season. That’s what makes Lone Mountain Guest Ranch North America’s no.1 Nordic ski resort – with back-country ski and snowshoe tours on the endless trails that Yellowstone has to offer, the whole family will experience the ultimate snowy adventure. Lone Mountain goes a step further and transforms the ranch into a winter wonderland at Christmas, the highlight being its evening sleigh rides back to the cozy log cabin accommodations, making Christmastime extra special for both adults and children alike.

C Lazy U Ranch, Colorado
How would your children like Santa to pay them a special visit on Christmas Eve – on horseback, no less? For this unique Christmas experience and more, head to the C Lazy U ranch during its two-week festive celebration, which encompasses both Christmas and New Year. Guests are even given their own Christmas tree in their lodge cabins to decorate however they wish – making being on vacation over the festive period feel every bit like home. Stick around for New year and the whole family will enjoy a blowout New Year’s party. With ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing and sledding all included in this special package, the kids will never get bored! Guests are free to choose when they’d like to come – from the minimum five days to the whole two week celebration – offering ultimate flexibility during what’s inevitably always a busy Christmas schedule.

Triple Creek Ranch, Montana
Do your teenagers still hanker after the excitement of Christmas, even if they’d rather not admit to it? As a strictly over-16s ranch, Triple Creek is ideal for older looking for a more sophisticated winter family vacation. What better way to spend Christmas than in the pristine Bitterroot Mountains of Montana, taking a brisk horseback ride in the fresh snow or an invigorating snowmobile expedition through a glistening winter wonderland. Adorned in its Christmas finery, the ranch hosts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day gourmet dining, complete with fine wines and live entertainment.

Hang around a little longer and you can ring in the New Year Triple Creek style - the evening's celebrations include a gourmet dinner, live entertainment, a western themed gambling saloon and a special champagne toast at midnight against the backdrop of a fireworks extravaganza. Or if you prefer to spend your New Year in the real outdoors, take a night time horseback ride or go ice-fishing on Elk Meadow pond, for a unique and special way to see in 2012.

Or why not give your loved one a Christmas present in the form of Triple Creek’s L'école de la Cuisine 2012, from January 12th to 15th? Executive Chef Jacob Leatherman and his team will teach the basics of cooking gourmet cuisine, preparing delectable desserts, and even wine pairing. This an exclusive culinary opportunity no foodie will want to miss.

Bar W Guest Ranch, Montana
If it’s action and adventure your family hankers after, Bar W’s plethora of winter sports will satisfy every adrenaline junkie! There’s something to get every age into the Christmas spirit - from dog-sledding, horseback riding and sleigh rides through the snow, to ice-fishing and skating, to a full range of incredible winter sports. When all your energies are spent, you can come back to the ranch for amazing cuisine and fine wine, and spend a relaxing evening at the local spa.

Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, California
If it’s tradition you’re after in your Christmas vacation, look no further than Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort. Christmas here has been a tradition since 1946, and there is no shortage of activities during the ranch’s month-long holiday. During December, the working cattle ranch is transformed into a winter wonderland evoking memories of Christmas past. Uniquely themed Christmas trees are dotted throughout the ranch, and every available inch is adorned in festive decorations. Families can get into the spirit of Christmas together while making gingerbread houses and tree ornaments, decorating Christmas cookies, and joining baking demonstrations with Alisal’s pastry chef. Evening festive activities keep the children entertained – from storytelling and cowboy waltzing, to Christmas movies and holiday bingo – with Santa himself calling the numbers!

Speaking of Santa, you can forget Santa’s Grotto in your local mall. It doesn’t get any more real than Santa’s regular appearances on-board his “reindeer” horse in the run-up to Christmas at Alisal, when children will get the chance to tell him exactly what they want for Christmas. Take a breakfast horseback ride on special days and Santa comes along too, passing out candy to the children along the way.

But there’s no time more special at Alisal than Christmas Eve. Festivities begin after dinner as Santa arrives in his sleigh, picking up all the children and taking them to his ‘grotto’, where a roaring fire, carols and homemade treats await. Santa presents each child with individually wrapped gifts and, on returning to their rooms, they’ll find a filled stocking waiting for them.

Christmas Day features a traditional holiday dinner with all the trimmings, with treats of hot chocolate, hot apple cider, homemade cookies and treats served up in the evening. And so that no one forgets the magic of an Alisal Christmas, guests can purchase an inscribed holiday picture frame by which to remember their festive time at the ranch forever.

Choose a special 2-night all-inclusive Holiday package throughout December and January, and children under 2 go free!

The Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana
Perfect for families who don’t always want to do the same thing is a winter vaca at The Ranch at Rock Creek. Offering traditional holiday celebrations, the guest ranch achieves the perfect balance between invigorating exercise and relaxing tranquillity. Skiing and hiking on the ranch is perfect for families of all ages and abilities, with terrain suitable for both the experienced and the novice. While the kids (and adults rediscovering their inner child!) can get into the festive spirit with horseback riding in the snow, downhill sledding, skeet shooting, snowball fights, and hockey or ice skating on one of the ranch’s frozen ponds, Mum and Dad can enjoy a relaxing treatment at the ranch’s state-of-the-art spa. Perfect for bringing the whole family together is an evening festive sleigh ride through the snow.

Tod Mountain Ranch, British Columbia, Canada
Christmas can be a stressful time of year, but you can escape the mayhem on a winter vacation in the quiet beauty of Canada’s Louis Creek Valley, at Tod Mountain Ranch - the perfect Christmas destination for peace and tranquillity. Hearty, home-cooked meals by the fire will keep you warm in the freezing temperatures, and cabin accommodation is nothing short of luxurious.

Running from December 2010 through March 2011 are Tod Mountain’s all-inclusive winter packages, which include full use of hiking, snowshoeing and on-site skiing facilities. If you want the children to open their presents on Christmas Day at the ranch, take advantage of the Christmas at the Ranch package, running from 23rd to 27th December.

And when it comes to Christmas spirit, Tod Mountain knows how to do the festive holiday in style. The ranch’s Christmas tree was grown right there on the ranch and each year, is decorated with hundreds of twinkling lights and shimmering baubles. Take the kids to nearby Sun Peaks Ski Resort on 23rd and Christmas Eve, and they’ll get to ski with Santa himself! Christmas Eve is spent with local ranchers at the country church’s annual carol service, with mulled wine and mince pies served back at the ranch. If you’ve any room left on Christmas Day, you can tuck into a traditional Christmas feast of roast turkey, baked ham and all the trimmings, before relaxing and enjoying the comfort, calm and tranquility of the ranch.

Latigo Ranch, Colorado
If skiing is your family’s passion, you won’t find better than Latigo Ranch – visit during winter and you won’t know whether you’re in Colorado or Norway! While pampering you with true western Christmas hospitality and home-style festive cooking, Latigo also offers Nordic ski lessons and use of 60 kilometres of Nordic Ski Trails – most of which guests will have to themselves. Complete with tubing hill, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding, the slopes offer the ultimate in adventure during the day, while at night you can recharge your batteries for the next day in your cozy cabin, with a hearty meal and a soak in the hot tub.

Vista Verde Ranch, Colorado
Children nagging you for a pony for Christmas? Give them the next best thing and take them to Vista Verde Ranch for an unbeatable winter horseback experience! The whole family can further their riding skills, thanks to training from horsemen in Vista Verde’s heated indoor arena - there’ll be no complaints of chilly toes here. But this Christmas vacation is so much more than a riding lesson – Vista Verde captures the true magic of the festive season, from its sleigh rides and horseback riding through the snow, to sledding, tubing and snowshoeing activities that mean the kids are never bored. And if you want to leave the children in the capable hands of Vista Verde’s kids’ counselors, give yourself and your partner the Christmas present of cooking classes and wine tasting.

Each Christmas, Rancho de los Caballeros in Arizona, turns into a western holiday hideaway as flickering luminaries line the paths throughout The Ranch. With fresh pine Christmas trees adorned with vintage ornaments, bursts of bright red poinsettias and colorful Christmas lights, you’ll get to experience a traditional Christmas with a unique Southwestern flair. Don’t forget to leave your boot “stockings” by the fire, and have your camera ready for Santa when he comes to The Ranch on horseback and to deliver gifts to our guests on Christmas Day!

Visit Triple Creek Ranch in Montana, they specialize in families with teens. Grab your camera and go on a photo safari hunting for wildlife and rare birds – capture their beauty before they disappear forever.There are plenty of activities to do in the snow! Saddle up and go horseback riding in the fresh snow, take a snowmobile expedition, put on snowshoes or go ice-fishing. You can also take cooking lessons from their gourmet chef if you're not into hitting the slopes. For a luxury ranch trip with gourmet food and wines, Triple Creek is hard to beat.

At C Lazy U Ranch in Colorado, you can have great fun tubing, sledding, snowmobiling, or if you fancy something a little slower try cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, or winter ice fishing. After an adventurous day kick back in one of the coolest tent spas ever. In this authentic tent setting, treat yourself to massages, facials, manicures/pedicures, and the "Cowboy Soak" - a relaxing moonlit soak in deep copper tubs overlooking the creek - complete with champagne and strawberries!

Bar W Guest Ranch in Montana offers cross-country skiing in the breathtaking Glacier National Park. If it’s action and adventure you hanker after, Bar W’s plethora of winter sports will satisfy every adrenaline junkie! From dog sledding, and romantic sleigh rides through the snow, to ice-fishing, skating, and a full range of incredible winter sports. Then, go relax at the day spa! If you're travelling as an individual, you will quickly feel part of the family.

Stay in the comforts of Tod Mountain Ranch, British Columbia, Canada, with homemade meals and enjoy ski and snowshoe activities nearby at Sun Peaks Ski Resort. A highlight is their relaxing indoor fireplace for a cosy night in their game room with shuffleboard, pool table, card table, dice, and board games. The TV lounge offers a DVD library and satellite TV with fireside lounge complete with book and magazine library.

Snowshoe in Yellowstone National Park right past elk and moose with a trip to Lone Mountain Guest Ranch, Montana. Rated Top Nordic Ski Resort you'll love their back-country ski and snowshoe tours. Yellowstone National Park has endless trails to offer right next door. Ski literally with elk and wildlife within metres of you, during this ultimate snowy adventure. Then head back to the lodge for a gourmet meal and fine wines. Step back into Montana's past on Big Sky's original sleigh ride dinner while the snow falls down around you on a magical winter ride.

The Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana, is a guest ranch that achieves the perfect balance between invigorating exercise and relaxing tranquillity. Skiing and hiking on the ranch is perfect for families of all ages and abilities plus downhill sledding, skeet shooting, snowball fights, and hockey or ice skating on one of the ranch’s frozen ponds.

Being one of the world's most luxurious resorts, The Ranch's sleigh rides are truly unforgettable. With their grand sleigh and gorgeous horses, you can snuggle up for an intimate sleigh ride for two. Bundle up in a blanket, soaking in the wintery landscape with your loved one sipping on hot-buttered rum. Back in the Ranch's luxurious cosy lodge warm yourself by the crackling fire.

Discover the serenity and joy of a winter escape at Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Canada and touch the magic of a Cariboo wonderland with our Winter Getaway. The Cariboo is one of Canada’s premier Winter holiday destinations with pristine landscapes smoothed with snow; vistas sparkling into the horizon and all the excitement of cross country skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, and more. Then snuggle up in front of a roaring log fire or indulge in one of the spa's signature therapies. Relax, feel cozy, and enjoy warmth and luxury in the heart of a winter wilderness.

If skiing is your family’s passion, Latigo Ranch, Colorado offers Nordic ski lessons and use of 60 kilometres of Nordic ski trails, most of which, guests will have to themselves! Complete with tubing hill, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding, the slopes offer the ultimate in adventure throughout the day. Back at the ranch snuggle up in front of a blazing fire and get a good night sleep in your queen size bed.

Winter in Greenough, Montana is a time for any sport that makes use of a land blanketed by white. The Resort at Paws Up offers over a hundred miles of lightly traveled wilderness trails for a diversity of unique Montana winter vacation excursions. For those who yearn to explore the great outdoors of Big Sky Country, they feature unforgettable adventuress like dog sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, tubing, private indoor equestrian lessons and even ice skating - all in winter wonderland full of peace and magic. If given some time off, Jack Frost would certainly choose to spend his holidays relaxing here after weeks of winterizing the world.

For more winter getaways or horseback riding holidays, check out www.top50ranches.com for your ideal dude ranch vacation.

Find Top50's Winter Vacations also at East Midlands Rider, UK!

Lone Mountain Ranch is hosting the 1st annual Big Sky Nordic Ski Festival! Creating awareness for the growing popularity of Cross Country skiing!

March 6-13, 2011 enjoy a week long festival celebrating Cross Country Skiing, Winter and a healthy, active lifestyle here in Big Sky, Montana. 

The week's events begin Sunday, March 6 with the 3rd Annual "Glide and Gorge" and continue until the following Sunday with a reintroduced "Mad Wolf Classic Race."  Other events include family relays, kids terrain park competition, a downhill race on the Lone Mountain Ranch trails, skijoring races, clinics and demos of the latest Cross Country equipment.  All proceeds support the Nordic programs of the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation.

We are looking to make everyone aware of the growing popularity of Cross Country skiing, as well as a healthy lifestyle.  Since Lone Mountain is also a Winter Guest Ranch, it is great to promote some of the activities that are offered at a Guest Ranch during the Winter season. 

With over 100km of groomed trails, the Ranch is a great place to enjoy this wonderful sport of Cross Country Skiing.

Make sure to check it out at www.bigskynordicskifestival.org

As I write, a rather chilly England is enveloped in snow. The whiter-than-white scene resembles something out of a Dickens Christmas classic and sets the backdrop for happy pursuits of snowball fighting, sledging and snowman-building. Britain, however, being completely unprepared for the big freeze, has come to a standstill. Why is it that one of nature’s most beautiful offerings – pure white snow – can’t possibly go hand in hand with normal everyday life? Well, this is Britain we’re talking about and let’s face it, we wouldn’t be happy if we didn’t have some kind of weather-related disaster to moan about.

Scrolling through the various weather forecasts online, I inwardly gasp at predictions of -4 degree lows overnight. Then I click onto ‘average winter lows’ for the likes of Montana, Nebraska and Colorado, and let out a laugh. Minus 15 Centigrade?! For countries and cultures prepared for such conditions, freezing temperatures and knee-deep snow are a normal part of everyday life at this time of year. Here, the cold season is embraced, enjoyed and taken advantage of. I promise myself that next time Britain is due for a hit of snow, I’m off to enjoy it somewhere that can cope with more than a sprinkle. If I’m going to be knee deep in the white stuff anyway, I might as well enjoy it at a ranch!

And when it comes to winter ranch getaways, the choices are endless. Where mountainous ranch terrain makes for great summer horseback riding, it transforms into a skier’s heaven during the colder months. I can’t say I’ve ever set foot on a ski, but one place I would love to go and learn is Montana. Lone Mountain Ranch offers several ski packages here, all of which include lodgings in a cozy log cabin and endless cross-country ski and showshoe trails; and dinner sleigh rides sounds like my kind of way of getting into the festive spirit! Families should also consider a break here in March, when the Big Sky Nordic Ski Festival takes place – a week-long celebration of cross-country skiing including family relays, kids terrain park competitions and some fun, fast and furious races, one of which Lone Mountain ranch guests can compete in for free.

Also based in Montana is Triple Creek Ranch, which provides a whole host of winter activities – from snowmobiles, horseback riding, skiing and car tours; to massages, hot tubs, and fireside dinners in the log cabin. As a keen horseback rider, this is right up my street – especially as the ranch also offers Western Horsemanship weekends and guided rides through Bitteroot Nation Forest. This is also one for foodies, as Triple Creek offers Cooking School weekends and gourmet fine-dining. The ranch even opens its doors to guests on Christmas Day!

Now I love Christmas.  If, like me, it’s Christmas tradition you’re after in a ranch getaway, look no further than Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort. Christmas at the Alisal has been a tradition since 1946, and there is no shortage of activities on one of its all-inclusive breaks – carriage rides, carol singing, crafts and more! As a self-confessed Christmas freak, this sounds like the perfect place to spend the holiday season with family and friends.

And then there’s The Ranch at Rock Creek, which certainly knows how to do festive! Offering traditional holiday celebrations, Rock Creek has managed to get the perfect balance between invigorating exercise and relaxing tranquillity. As a novice skier, this one certainly catches my eye, as the ranch terrain is perfect for both hardcore skiers and those looking to take a leisurely stroll in the snow. Not forgetting, of course, the carriage rides and winter horseback riding this western ranch offers. Says The Ranch at Rock Creek: “There is nothing like riding through fresh powder and experiencing the hush of snow that muffles hoof beats as you explore the ranch on horseback.”

I’d have loved Rock Creek as a kid, too – what with its sledding hills, snowball fights, and hockey or ice skating on one of its frozen ponds. Karaoke, bowling and a big movie screen would have kept me quiet while Mum and Dad, meanwhile, could enjoy a treatment at the ranch’s state-of-the-art spa, followed by a gourmet, candlelit meal by the fire.

Talking of pampering, I’m not one to say no to a bit of ‘me’ time. Tod Mountain Ranch, located in the quiet beauty of Canada’s Louis Creek Valley, is the perfect place to grab just that, with its stunning views, peace and tranquillity. Hearty, home-cooked meals by the fire will keep you warm in the freezing temperatures, and cabin accommodation is nothing short of luxurious. Not that skiers shouldn’t consider Tod Mountain – the ranch is just a 15-minute drive from Sun Peaks Ski Resort, which boasts almost 4,000 acres of skiable terrain.

And when it comes to Christmas, Tod Mountain knows how to do the festive holiday in style! For starters, the ranch’s Christmas tree was grown right there on the ranch and each year, is decorated with hundreds of twinkly lights and shiny baubles. Spend a Christmas Eve with local ranchers at the country church’s annual carol service, followed by mulled wine and mince pies back at the ranch. If you’ve any room left on Christmas Day, you can tuck into a traditional Christmas feast before relaxing and enjoying the comfort, calm and tranquility of the ranch. The only thing stopping me from booking up right away is the fact that horseback riding doesn’t run at Tod Mountain over the winter months – however for those who love the Western lifestyle but aren’t too fussed about saddling up over Christmas, this is the perfect winter escape.

All this talk of snow is giving me a taste for a skiing break – and for just that with a touch of luxury, Latigo Ranch in Colorado ticks all the boxes. A dude ranch by summer, Latigo transforms into a cross-country ski destination when winter comes, thanks to the 65km of classic and skate tracks it boasts – and which you’ll most likely have all to yourself! The thought of hitting the slopes in the day and then heading back to the cabin for a hearty meal and a soak in the hot tub sounds like my idea of heaven.

Knowing how so many beautiful ranches embrace the cold snap during the winter months, I’m more than ready to pack up my thermals and head straight to Heathrow Terminal 5. That’s if it hasn’t been shut down due to ‘adverse weather conditions’...

Signing off...Mel Rutherford, Horse & Rider, Pony Mag, UK

For your next dude ranch vacation, journey to Triple Creek Ranch for the romance of a mountain hideaway or the thrill of a Mountain adventure, Triple Creek has a wide array of activities and special adventures.

• Alpine Skiing*
• Bird and Wildlife Watching
• Chef's Table Dining*
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Glacier National Park Helicopter Tour*
• Massage*
• Snowmobiling*
• Snowshoeing
• Western Horsemanship
• Winter Ice Fishing

Simply contact Triple Creek's Activity Coordinator for information on any of their dude ranch winter activities. Complimentary equipment is available for many of the activities.

*Indicates Additional Fee

And...stay tuned for...

• Triple Creek's Christmas to Remember with Triple Creek Ranch adorned in beautiful Christmas decorations. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day include an enticing gourmet dinner, followed by decadent desserts, fine wine, and live entertainment.
• Ring in the New Year - Triple Creek Ranch Style with fireworks, delectable gourmet dinner, and a nighttime winter horseback ride!
• Enjoy Alpine Skiing November-mid April Thursdays thru Sundays(daily throughout the holidays) at nearby Lost Trail Powder Mountain Ski Resort or Nordic ski at historic Chief Joseph Pass. After an exhilarating day on the ski trail, return to your private cabin and relax in your hot tub or therapeutic steam shower.

Book your dude ranch Winter Ranch Vacation through Top50 Ranches at Triple Creek Ranch!

Visit Triple Creek Ranch to view their full array of winter activities and services. They have something planned almost every weekend, so you have plenty of dates to choose from perfect for you! The beauty of this ranch and their hospitality will truly amaze you! At Triple Creek, you feel like you're the most important person visiting.

Snow hits the high country of Colorado! What better way to enjoy winter sports - cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding - than at Latigo Trails Colorado Dude Ranch! Latigo guests boast, "the finest cross-country skiing in Colorado".

After a long day of activities, relax in a luxurious comfortable setting, soak your tired muscles hot tubbing, and indulge in fabulous Nouveau Ranch Cuisine!

Latigo Ranch opens for the winter season December 18th, so book your Top50 Ranch stay with Latigo Trails now: www.latigotrails.com