Dude, Guest or Working Ranch? Cody Yellowstone Has Them All, and Here is What You Should Know Before You Book

CODY, Wyo., May 26, 2026 – Horseback riding, rustic accommodations and a cowboy atmosphere are all found at Cody Yellowstone’s classic Western ranches, but vacationers should still consider their own preferences before deciding if a dude, guest or working ranch is best for them.

“Whether it’s watching your kid learn how to lasso or getting comfortable on your assigned horse, there’s just something special about a ranch vacation,” said Michael Wambolt, executive director of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm for the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, a large swath of the Shoshone National Forest and about half of Yellowstone National Park. “Eating classic comfort food, calling a cabin in the woods your own for a week and getting to know your fellow travelers combine to create a vacation that will stick with you.”

These ranches all have their own personalities and specialties, and with 16 dude and guest ranches and one working ranch throughout Cody Yellowstone, travelers can choose the ranch that matches their needs and interests.

What’s the difference?

Dude Ranches: Dude ranches feature all-inclusive, multi-night itineraries. While activities vary from ranch to ranch, dude ranches typically include horseback riding, fishing, hiking, guided excursions and other activities on their property or in the adjacent Shoshone National Forest. Dude ranches also often include guided day trips to Yellowstone National Park and group excursions such as the Cody Nite Rodeo. Many ranches also feature special activities for kids. Additionally, many ranches feature special activities that are unique to the ranch. For example, UXU Ranch features cooking demonstrations and lessons, while Rimrock Ranch organizes optional softball games for guests and staff.

Guest Ranches/Day Ranches: Sometimes called day ranches, guest ranches typically offer lodging as well as activities that are available to both lodging guests and day visitors. Many guest ranches offer a variety of horseback rides ranging from two-hour trail rides to all-day rides with backcountry cookouts. Guest ranches also typically feature restaurants that are open to both lodging guests and daytime visitors.

Working Ranch: In addition to dude and guest ranches, Cody Yellowstone is home to Fiddle Back Ranch, a working ranch where guests can observe the crews and their daily ranch activities. And travelers who simply want to enjoy a guided horseback ride should ask the ranch managers if they are day ranches that offer rides to people who are not overnight guests.

All the ranches in Cody Yellowstone:

Dude ranches

UXU Ranch in the Shoshone National Forest offers 11 cabins, horseback riding, fly fishing, side trips to Yellowstone and Cody, hiking, cookouts and more.

7D Ranch offers 10 rustic cabins tucked into the Sunlight Basin an hour from Yellowstone. The ranch offers riding, fishing, hiking and children’s programs.

Rimrock Dude Ranch is 26 miles from Yellowstone. The ranch offers modern cabins, outdoor pool and hot tub. Activities include trail rides, fishing, cookouts and float trips.

Crossed Sabres Ranch is just eight miles from Yellowstone’s East Gate. The ranch offers horseback rides, fly fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.

Shoshone Lodge & Guest Ranch is five miles from Yellowstone. It features authentic Western cabins in the woods, trail rides, pack trips and relaxation.

Blackwater Creek Ranch was built in 1915 and is 15 miles from Yellowstone. The ranch was recently named one of the country’s top guest ranches by readers of USA Today. It offers 15 cabins and ranch-style meals.

Guest ranches:

Absaroka Mountain Lodge is located 39 miles west of Cody and 12 miles from Yellowstone. This ranch features 15 cabins accommodating between two and eight people.

Bill Cody Ranch was once operated by Buffalo Bill’s grandson and is a full-service horseback riding resort. It is located halfway between Cody and Yellowstone.

Elephant Head Lodge is 12 miles from Yellowstone and offers plenty of family-friendly activities. Pets are welcome.

Creekside Lodge is 10 minutes from the park. The lodge offers private Western cabins, guided fishing trips, horseback rides and chuckwagon dinners.

Double Diamond X Ranch is located on the Upper South Fork of the Shoshone River 35 miles from Cody. Amenities include lodging, event hosting, guided fly fishing, hiking and hunting.

Pahaska Tepee is the location of Buffalo Bill’s original hunting lodge two miles from Yellowstone. Listed on the National Historic Register, Pahaska Tepee offers cabins, restaurant and bar, gift shop and gas as well as horseback rides, fishing and hiking.

Rand Creek Ranch is between Cody and Yellowstone and offers cozy cabins with a private pond for fishing, a kayak and paddle boat, horseback riding and barbecue dinners.

Hunter Peak Ranch is located 30 minutes from Yellowstone. Based around an early-1900s lodge, the ranch offers Western accommodations, riding, hiking, swimming/tubing and photography.

KBarZ Guest Ranch & Outfitters accommodates up to 30 guests in private cabins in a pine forest. Activities include riding, pack trips, fishing, side trips and guided hunting.

Working Ranch

Fiddle Back Ranch is a working ranch situated along the Upper Greybull River eight miles from Meeteetse. The ranch offers fishing, wildlife watching and beautiful scenery as well as three lodge buildings and six RV sites with full hookups.

###

Home of the Great American Adventure, Cody Yellowstone is comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park. The region is known for rodeos, authentic guest and dude ranches, world-class museums and recreational adventures that reflect the adventurous spirit of the visionaries and explorers who brought the remote region to the world’s attention.

Related hashtags:

#CodyYellowstone

#CodyWyoming

#CenteroftheWest

#BuffaloBill

#Yellowstone

Media contact:

Mesereau Travel Public Relations

720-284-1512

[email protected]