Celebrate The Centenary Of The US National Park Service With Ranch Rider

[Sam Ward]

(c) Arizona Tourism

A holiday in the USA should definitely be on this year’s bucket list, as on the 25th of August America’s National Park Service will celebrate its centenary. Ranch Rider covers 14 states, from Washington on the Pacific Coast down to Texas - a seven night stay at the Bar H Working Ranch costing from only £601pp (two sharing). Many of the ranches in the tour operator’s collection offer free guided riding and hiking within nearby national parks and there is also the option to book additional self-drive itineraries - seven nights priced from only £595pp (two sharing) including car hire and accommodation.

Tony Daly, Managing Director of Ranch Rider comments “As part of the celebrations, 127 US national parks will allow free entrance on selected dates including, 25 to 28 August, 24 September and 11 November. This is great news if you are planning a self drive, but book a riding holiday with us and you will be able to visit many nearby parks during your stay. Montana’s Lone Mountain Luxury Guest Ranch offers all day hikes and rides in America’s first ever national park and during August you will be able to take advantage of their Yellowstone Centennial Special with savings of over £400 on a second complimentary tour of the park for a family of four. Another reason to go stateside, as of the first of March, under 16s travelling in economy class are now exempt from air passenger duty (APD), so going long haul with teens is even better value this year.”

“It’s important to check your documents before travelling, as after the rules were tightened in April, biometric passports are now a requirement for entry into the US. If your British passport was issued between April and October 2006 you will have to apply for a new passport and then a new ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). Not a visa, the ETSA is obtained online and usually authorised immediately or within 24 hours.”

Saddle up for walking, loping and mountain rides in the stunning Sonoran Desert at Arizona’s Tanque Verde Resort Ranch. The property is only a stone’s throw from the picturesque Saguaro National Park - a hikers paradise - and with mountain biking, jeep adventures and yoga sessions on offer, it’s always an action packed week. Family friendly there are three age focused kids clubs so there will be plenty of free time to treat yourself at La Sonara Spa. SAVE £170pp on August stays: Seven nights from only £1,015pp (two sharing) and from £959pp (four to 17 years) including accommodation, meals, ranch activities, park entrance fees, use of ranch facilities, taxes, transfers from Tucson and gratuities. Full price £1,185pp. Excludes return flight from £879pp and from £765pp (under 12 years). Year round departures.

Ride across the Great Sand Dunes National Park at Colorado’s Zapata Working Cattle & Bison Ranch. The Bison recently became the American National Mammal and roaming across the landscape with a herd of over 2,000 is another major highlight on the six night stay. At the end of the trail, relax in the hot tub and watch the sun set over America’s tallest dunes. Six nights from £1,895pp (no single supplement). NEW Yoga & Ride week departing 16 October. Five nights from £1,848pp (no single supplement). Daily sunrise and evening yoga sessions are included in the health and wellness focused stay. All prices include accommodation, meals, most ranch activities (including riding), park entrance fees, use of ranch facilities, taxes and gratuities.  Excludes return flight from £859pp and from £748pp (under 12 years). Departures  available from now through October.

Montana’s Lone Mountain is located a mere 20 miles from Yellowstone, the luxury guest ranch one of an elite few (permits held for over 30 years) offering guided rides and hikes within the national park's boundaries. Led by experienced naturalists with over 80 years combined experience, you can expect to see historical landmarks such as geysers, thermal hot springs, and all sorts of wildlife from bison, elk, moose, grizzlies, and mountain lions. A family of four will SAVE OVER £400 with Lone Mountain's Yellowstone Centennial Special. The ranch is offering a second complimentary private tour into the park on seven night August stays including, park entrance fees, tour guide and lunch. Seven nights from £2,125pp (two sharing) and from £1,807pp (six to 12 years) including accommodation, meals, Outdoor Youth Adventures program, yoga, archery, guided tour of Yellowstone National Park, horseback riding, ropes course, hiking, canoeing, ranch BBQ, live entertainment, taxes and transfers. Excludes gratuities as left to discretion and return flight from £859pp and from £748pp (under 12 years). Departures available up to 12 October.

SAVE £217pp as a single (on stays between July 30 and October 15) at Wyoming’s New Haven Working Ranch. Learn to cut and sort the herd, the cattle work often taking you across the South Dakota border. If you want to combine a ranch vacation with travelling though the Wild West, you should plan a trip to the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Only two hours from the ranch, Mount Rushmore should also be on your bucket list - the national monument celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Seven nights from only £1,071pp (no single supplement) including accommodation, ranch activities, use of ranch facilities, taxes and gratuities. Full price £1,288pp.  Excludes transfers from Rapid City at £110pp and return flight from £859pp. Add on seven night self-drive from £595pp (two sharing) including car hire and accommodation.

Book your riding holiday at Montana’s McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch (reviewed by actor Ewan McGregor) and become a bona fide horse whisperer. Off the trail, hike to the ridge top and view the Cabinet Wilderness Area and mountain bike along old abandoned logging roads. The Glacier National Park is close to the ranch, so you won’t want to miss out on a spectacular drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road! Six nights from only £1,205pp (two sharing) including accommodation, meals, ranch activities, use of ranch facilities and taxes. Excludes transfers from Kalispell, gratuities as left to discretion and return flight from £879pp.  Departures available up to 24 October. Add on seven night self-drive from £595pp (two sharing) including car hire and accommodation.

Experience rural R&R at Washington’s K-Diamond-K, the 1,600 acre Guest/Working Ranch bordered by the Colville National Forest and Indian Reservation. Enjoy fly fishing, gold panning and genuine cattle work on the ranch and add on a seven night self-drive, your journey covering the Olympic and Mount Rainer National Parks. Seven night ranch stay from £824pp (no single supplement) including accommodation, meals, most ranch activities and taxes.  Excludes car hire from £235, gratuities as left to discretion and return flight from £859pp and from £748pp (under 12 years). Child ranch stay price also from £824pp (from six years). Departures availble up to 31 October. Add on seven night self-drive from £595pp (two sharing) including car hire and accommodation. Price based on a family of four with two children sharing their parent’s room.

Ranch Rider also offer riding holidays in Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and NEW for 2016 Tanzania. For further information please contact  (01509 618811; ranchrider.com), ATOL PROTECTED No 4660 ABTA 96395/V9150.