Forget Texas, This Oregon Ranch Is A Scenic Cowboy Escape With Horseback Riding, Cattle Drives, And Mountains

Southeastern Oregon might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of ranch country, but there are surprises in this corner of the country. Steens Mountain Guest Ranch in Diamond, Oregon, gives guests the chance to spend several days working alongside a real ranching operation, with horseback riding, cattle work, and other hands-on activities included. Horses are an integral part of the experience, and every visitor has a chance to learn how to ride, regardless of their experience level. After all, what's a ranch without its steeds? The "Learnin' to Ride" introduction lesson prepares guests for cattle work and getting around the property.

Along with horseback riding, guests will have the opportunity to fix fences and learn about other essential tasks around the ranch. The experience includes sharing meals and days on the ranch with the owners, with days spent moving cattle, caring for horses, and engaging in countless other tasks that keep Steens Mountain Guest Ranch humming along. One Google reviewer even mentioned that experienced ranchers can bring their own horse, saying that "I brought my own young, green horse and Tim and Susan were endlessly patient with both the horse and me." 

Where you stay depends on which Steens Mountain Guest Ranch experience you choose. The spring experience is based at the main ranch house, while the authentic Cowboy Experience takes place at Cow Camp in the mountains. Guests are paired with a horse for the week and can pitch in with ranch tasks as needed, giving the experience a hands-on feel. Past guests back this up with one Tripadvisor reviewer saying that they, "were paired with the most perfect horses for us! They could not have been more suitable for each of us. Tim, Susan and Wit were warmly welcoming and we felt like part of the family right from the start!" For a four-day spring trip at the guest ranch, the cost is $1,495, while the summer-fall experience starts at $1,945 per person. The ranch also has two cabins that visitors can stay in, separate from the all-inclusive cowboy experience.

Steens Mountain Guest Ranch sits near Steens Mountain, with sweeping views of the mountain and a setting steeped in Eastern Oregon's ranching history. What's more cowboy than riding to see horses in the wild? You can go see the Kiger Mustang Herd in their natural habitat with a day ride out from the guest ranch, one of the undoubted highlights of a stay at the ranch.

Cowboy history and Oregon might not be obvious bedfellows, but the Beaver State will surprise you. The city of Sisters has been named one of the best cowboy-core vacation destinations in the American West, and the Corncob Ranch is a high-desert stay with beautiful campgrounds and nearby fossils. And then there's Pendleton, considered one of America's top true West towns.