Looking for a family vacation that’s unlike anything you’ve ever done before? Earlier this summer, my family of four traded in screen time and the summer grind for wide-open skies, 108 horses, and the kind of memories you just can’t make at a hotel pool. We spent a full week at Red Horse Mountain Ranch in Harrison, Idaho — a proud member of The Dude Ranchers’ Association and one of the top family dude ranch vacations in the U.S. 

This article is sponsored by Dude Ranchers' Association. The author and her family were provided a complimentary stay by Red Horse Mountain Ranch to facilitate this review.

It turned out this wasn't just a vacation. Red Horse Mountain Ranch was a reset button for our family.

And now? I can’t stop telling every mom I know: You need to start planning your 2026 family dude ranch vacation.

Horses, Horses, Horses 🐴

When the wranglers told us they knew all 108 horses by name, I laughed. By the end of the week? I believed them. We probably knew about a dozen horses by name then ourselves, and my kids were calling “their” horses over like old friends and saving horse treats just for their favorites.

Every day, we rode the same horses — me on Apollo, my 13-year-old son on Sam, my 15-year-old daughter on Romeo, and my husband on Maggie (the sweetest mule you’ll ever meet).

We rode through valleys, up mountain ridges, and into meadows that looked straight out of a postcard. But the best part? Horses weren’t just for trail rides. We walked right through their pastures, no fences, no barriers — just nose boops, nuzzles, and hugs whenever we wanted with all of the ranch horses. Those close-up moments are what made our stay at Red Horse Mountain Ranch so special.

Here’s what it’s like when more than 100 horses gallop past you:

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So Much More Than Horses

Yes, the horses are amazing. But Red Horse Mountain Ranch is packed with so many activities, it felt like summer camp on steroids. Every day we chose two things to do, and evening entertainment was built in. Other highlights of our week:

• Challenge Course & Climbing Wall: My daughter rang the bell at the very top, 63 feet in the air!
• Kayaking for Two: My husband and I snuck off with some other guests on an afternoon excursion to kayak a nearby lake surrounded by mountains while the kids did archery (the ranch welcomes independent kids and teens. More on that below!)
• Archery & Shooting: Moving targets, real bows and real rifles. My kids were hooked.
• Mega Zipline: A 1,500-foot thrill ride that ends with a splash into the ranch pond. The kids did it of course, and my husband and I did it too!
• Horse "Safari": You load into the back of safari trucks and ride into a pasture with buckets of treats. Suddenly you're surrounded by dozens of eager horses. Magical. And so fun.
• Evenings at the Ranch Saloon: Swing dancing, pool games, a local band, and lassoing instruction. Plus, the walk home through the horse rings was so dark we could see the Milky Way. 

And in between? Pool time, hot tub time, and relaxation on the swinging chair out back of our private cabin, where our view overlooked the horse pastures below. I drank it up everyday.

A glimpse of the adventures packed into one week at Red Horse Mountain Ranch — from ziplining and kayaking to coffee on the porch and painting actual horses.

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The Best Kids Program in Idaho

Here’s where Red Horse Mountain Ranch really shines: It’s made for families. Their Kids Program (designed for ages 3–10 but open to everyone) is hands-down the best I’ve ever seen at a resort.

Every day, kids were off doing pottery, painting actual horses, kayaking, climbing walls, ziplining, or horseback riding. They came back to their parents beaming, independent, and exhausted in the best way.

And for the parents? That meant time to do your own thing — whether that was kayaking, joining your kids, or enjoying an adults-only wine dinner while the kids played whiffle ball and roasted s’mores at the campfire. The camp is kid-friendly in other ways too — prime example: Chicken tenders available as a substitute at every meal (every mom just sighed in relief).

A True Digital Detox

One of my favorite parts? The ranch is WiFi-free. No endless scrolling, no constant notifications, no pressure to “check in.” Just face-to-face connection, deep conversations, and the rare chance to truly unplug. It took a few days to give in — I can't lie — but by mid-week, it felt like we’d rewound to a simpler time — exactly what we needed. 

With only about 60 guests at a time (there were 44 during our stay), the experience feels intimate. We met large family reunions, a grandmother and grandson, an aunt and niece and their young kids, and families like ours. By the end of the week, we felt like we knew them all — along with the staff who treated us like family.

No cowboy wear? No problem! Red Horse Mountain Ranch has a large selection of boots, cowboy hats, rain slickers, and other trail ride necessities available to borrow. No extra charge.

Book a Stay at a Dude Ranch Now!

Part of The Dude Ranchers' Association, Red Horse Mountain Ranch is one of more than 90 authentic dude ranches across the western U.S. and Canada. These member ranches go through a rigorous inspection and approval process, ensuring families experience genuine western hospitality, outdoor adventure, and the lodging industry’s highest standards.

Discover more family-friendly dude ranch vacations through The Dude Ranchers' Association.

The Staff Who Make It Magic

The horses are amazing and the views are jaw-dropping, but it’s the staff that truly makes Red Horse Mountain Ranch unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, everything was taken care of with genuine western hospitality. Every single person — from the wranglers to the hospitality team — went out of their way to make us feel at home: line dancing alongside us, helping kids shine at karaoke, and offering a steady hand when it was time to mount a horse.

Many of the wranglers and seasonal staff were college students from all over the country, bringing so much energy and kindness. By week’s end, we not only knew them by name, but also their fall plans and the hometowns they’d be returning to.

All-Inclusive, All the Time

 Many dude ranches are all-inclusive, including Red Horse Mountain Ranch. It can be hard to find an all-inclusive in the U.S. and we loved it.

What that meant:

• All our meals were included (homemade, fresh, and amazing!)
• Snacks, drinks, and mocktails on demand
• Wine and cocktails at no extra charge
• Daily activities and evening fun came standard with our stay

Food, drink and all activities are included with your stay, including daily fun like the challenge course and evening entertainment like a s'mores and song night around the campfire.

As a mom, not having to calculate every meal, snack, or activity cost was a gift in itself. Breakfasts cooked-to-order (hello, chocolate chip pancakes!), gourmet buffets for lunch and dinner, and fresh-baked scones that I’m still dreaming about. Add in a wine-pairing dinner just for adults? Perfection.

There was a great shop with lots of wonderful T-shirts, jewelry, hats and basics we might have forgotten (suntan lotion!). I loved that it was on the honor system — we simply signed out what we took, and it was added to our bill at the end of the trip.

The Scenery and Cabins

When we weren’t out adventuring, we were soaking in the views. Fields stretched forever, a perfect weeping willow begged for book-reading, and our cabin? Dreamy.

This isn't a hotel: We had a private western-style cabin for the four of us, complete with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a lovely front porch, and even a hot tub right outside the door. The kids had their own space, we had ours, and we all slept like babies in the cloud-like beds after long days outdoors. There are cabins of varying sizes, so whether you're gathering for a large multigenerational family reunion or a couple, there's a space for you.

We also enjoyed lots of wildlife, seeing two moose, mama deer with spotted babies, countless turkey, and even one bear loping across a field.

Why You Need to Book Now!

For us, it turned out Red Horse Mountain Ranch isn’t just a vacation — it’s where we unplugged, reconnected, and came home with stories we'll tell for years.

The ranch books up early, and with only so many cabins, spots for summer 2026 will go fast.

Don’t wait. Start planning your multigenerational dude ranch vacation today. Because once you’ve hugged a horse in the middle of an Idaho meadow, you’ll never look at family vacations the same way again.

Find out more and reserve your 2026 spot at the dreamy Red Horse Mountain Ranch here.

A huge thank you to the incredible staff at Red Horse Mountain Ranch for making our week so unforgettable. You welcomed us like family, and we’ll carry those memories with us forever.