Your Wild West Adventure
Starts Here
You are welcome to call or email us with any questions you may have or to learn more about this wonderful Colorado dude ranch. You can make your reservations any time by phone or by email.
Once we hold your cabin for you, we will wait to receive your deposit check of $500 per person made out to Rainbow Trout Ranch and mailed to the ranch at P.O. Box 458, Antonito, CO 81120.
You will then receive confirmation from us and about six weeks prior to your arrival we will email you the link and login info to our pre-vacation guests-only website. This has plenty of detailed information about your stay at the ranch as well as interactive forms for you to fill out and return to us regarding riding abilities and requests, dietary requirements, medical issues, special needs, birthdays and anniversaries we can help celebrate and anything else we need to know ahead of time so we can ensure the best possible vacation for you and your family.
Of course you are always so welcome to call or email anytime should questions or concerns arise. We look forward to your being at the ranch!
Getting to Our Dude Ranch
The southern portion of the ranch is less than a dozen miles from the New Mexico border. And many great arrival points are not far: Albuquerque 185 miles / Denver 240 miles / Santa Fe 135 miles / Colorado Springs 185 miles / Taos 70 miles / Alamosa 55 miles.
If you are flying into the ranch, we suggest you consider one of the following:
- Fly into Albuquerque on Saturday, rent a car and drive up to Santa Fe or Taos to spend the night. Enjoy a little time there and take a leisurely drive up to the ranch the next afternoon. It’s a spectacular drive.
- Fly into Denver on Saturday, rent a car and drive down to Colorado Springs to spend the night. Enjoy a little time there and take a leisurely drive down to the ranch the next afternoon.
- Fly into Durango, rent a car and drive the 2 1/2 hours to the ranch - or, spend some time first in this fun part of southern Colorado.
Please feel free to call or email anytime with questions on driving times and distances, worthwhile sights or parks or indeed anything at all.
NOTE*** Please be sure to use our map and directions to get to the ranch. Do not rely on your GPS after Antonito or Chama (depending on which way you come in), and be aware that your cell phone will not work after you pass through these towns. 1-719-376-2440.
From Albuquerque, NM or the South:
Come north on I-25 to Santa Fe and take St. Francis Drive/Hwy 285 north to Espanola. It is easy to make a mistake coming through Espanola and you must make sure to stay on Hwy 285/84 and follow signs for Chama and/or Antonito. About 6 miles north of Espanola, you can either keep straight on Hwy 84 towards Chama or you can make a right hand turn and stay on Hwy 285 toward Antonito. Of the two routes, the Antonito way is slightly quicker, but staying on Hwy 84 leads you through the heart of Georgia O’Keeffe country near Abiquiu. Here the stark landscape towers above in red cliffs and mesas that cradle the famous Ghost Ranch. It is the stuff of legends, of old westerns, and the images so familiar in her famous paintings.
From Denver or the North:
There are two routes you can take: 1. come south on I-25 until Walsenburg, then take Hwy 160 west over La Veta Pass to Alamosa, CO. In central Alamosa look for signs for Antonito, CO and take Hwy 285/17 south; or 2. take Hwy 285 out of Denver and all the way down to Antonito, CO. Be sure to take the left turn onto Hwy 17 just after Villa Grove otherwise you will add time to your trip by going through Monte Vista—17 reconnects with 285 in Alamosa and you can take it south to Antonito.
Getting to the ranch from Antonito:
From Antonito, go WEST on COLORADO HIGHWAY 17. The sign also says “to Chama and Cumbres Pass.” The community of Fox Creek and the Fox Creek Store is on your right about 10 miles from Antonito. The next thing to look for is a road sign on the right side of the road, about 22 miles from Antonito, which says “Platoro” near the community of HORCA. When you see that sign turn right and you will wind up on Forest Service Road 250. The entrance to the ranch is 1.8 miles up the road on the right. Turn in at the stone pillars and follow the driveway up to the office.
Getting to the ranch from Chama:
From Chama, NM, head NORTH on HIGHWAY 17. You will make the beautiful drive over Cumbres Pass and La Manga Pass. Cross the border into colorful Colorado.* About 29 miles from Chama, you will see a sign on the right side of the road that says, “Platoro” near the community of HORCA. When you see that sign, turn left and you will wind up on Forest Service Road 250. The entrance to the ranch is 1.8 miles up the road on the right. Turn in at the stone pillars and follow the driveway up to the office.
*NOTE: About 24.5 miles from Chama, as you drive down from LaManga Pass, there is an overlook high above the gorgeous Conejos River Valley which is well worth a stop. You can see the river run through the valley; and across and below from you, you can even see Rainbow Trout Ranch!
