The summer and fall mornings begin with a hearty breakfast that will make a breakfast-lover out of the least interested. Then it's down to the corral where morning riders get saddled up for their journeys with our wranglers through the aspen.
The Elk River Valley Home Ranch has an outstanding horsemanship program for adults and children alike.
Our hiking guides huddle on the porch awaiting curious guests that want to search out the wonders on our miles of trails. Children head for the corral to feed the baby goats or hang out in the recreation room experiencing their new taste of freedom

Riding
Horseback riding is the main activity at the Elk River Valley Home Ranch. A variety of rides are offered each day including loping rides, lunch rides, all-day rides and lessons. Our extensive horse program is geared toward understanding your horse and trying to develop a partnership with him. We offer daily "horse sense" classes using natural horsemanship techniques on the ground and in the saddle. We also feature stockmanship and cattle working classes as well as private lessons. Our remuda of over 80 of the finest well-cared-for riding horses ensure a good mount for every ability.
-- see Trail Map
In addition to our remuda, we have a string of 15 broodmares and 2 stallions that give us a crop of foals every year. The young horses are started here on the ranch and trained to be part of our guest string. Every week the guests are allowed to handle the foals (under Cile's expert guidance) and help them become more used to humans. If you are interested in learning more about horses, perhaps you would like to attend one of our many clinics featuring equine experts of all kinds.
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Fly Fishing
When you have had enough of the trails and would like an afternoon of quiet stillness, you can try your hand at fly fishing. The beginner or the experienced angler can perfect their cast just steps away from the lodge in our stocked trout pond. When you are ready, you can head out to 2 miles of pristine, private water on the Elk River. Fishing is best after mid-July when the bulk of run-off is over and the river flows clearly once again. The Elk supports rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout.
The Elk River Valley Home Ranch supplies top of the line fly rods and reels as well as waders. Bring your own flies, or purchase them here at the ranch. For the children, we also have spin rods and lures available.

Hiking
The Elk River Valley Home Ranch is located in the midst of the million acre Routt National Forest and the Mount Zirkel Wilderness area, offering some of the most secluded and scenic hiking in Colorado. Every morning our hiking guides confer with the guests and schedule hikes geared to their ability. We have easy going acclimation hikes, and we have the challenge of the 12,000-foot Mount Zirkel, all less then 20 minutes drive from the ranch. The Zirkel range has many alpine lakes that make perfect destinations for all-day hikes. Whether you would like to learn the names of the alpine wildflowers, or see Steamboat from the top of Hahn's Peak, the Home Ranch will make sure you accomplish your goal, or at least have fun trying!

Hiking is good anytime at the Home Ranch. In early spring, the meadows are green from the winter runoff, and the wildflowers begin to bloom. The snow melts off the higher elevations in July and August, while the wildflowers continue to change, taking turns showing off their brilliant colors. In fall, the gold of the aspen will take your breath away.