Nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains, Three Forks Ranch is a sanctuary for thousands of species of wildlife, birds, trees, and flowers. Our wildlife tours are hands-down the best way to experience both the beauty of the property and the diversity of flora and fauna that call it home.
We have 2 types of wildlife tours — on foot and behind the wheel! Our hiking tours get you up close and personal with Three Forks Ranch, as you travel in the footsteps of humans who called this land home for millennia while listening to the bull elk bugle and the birds sing. Our Polaris Ranger tours enable you to survey the vastness of Three Forks; our geological diversity lends itself to stunning vistas around each turn.
No matter what tour mode you choose, do not forget your camera!
(And if you do, no worries — your guide has one!)
Native Americans call elk “wapiti,” meaning “light-colored deer.” While related to deer, elk are much larger — the bulls range in weight from 650 to 900 pounds and the cows 450-550. Elk were once found across much of North America but now take refuge in more remote locations. Northwestern Colorado boasts one of the largest and healthiest elk populations in the world — and Three Forks Ranch happens to be right in the middle of it. Three Forks Ranch’s free-ranging elk herd swells to nearly 6,000 head in the Fall.
About three feet tall at their shoulders, Pronghorn are among the speediest animals in the world, coming in second place only to the cheetah— clocking rates of more than 53 miles per hour. Pronghorns are also great distance runners that can travel for miles at half that speed. Their impressive backward-curving horns are found on both males and females. Male horns can reach lengths of more than a foot long, while female horns grow to about 4 inches. As herbivores, they prefer to eat grass, sagebrush, and other vegetation. Their diet in our landscape consists of 60% forbs, 25% shrubs, and 15% grass. Pronghorns mate each fall — sometimes in dramatic fashion. Bucks gather harems of females and attempt to jealously protect them, sometimes battling rival bucks horn-to-horn. In the spring, females give birth to one or two young, which can outrun a human after just a few days. Three Forks Ranch is home to about 600 Pronghorn, who roam freely across the 200,000-acre landscape.
The red fox is one of the smaller members of the Canidae family, with top weights ranging between only 8-15 pounds and a length of only 3-4 feet. They tend to be loners, traveling solo and sticking to a range of about 5-10 square miles. Although commonly red in color, they can also sport shades of silver and black — but the white tip of their tales remains a most telling feature. Watching one scamper across a pasture graced with fresh snow is a magical sight. Nestled in the Sierra Madres of the Rocky Mountains, Three Forks Ranch is a sanctuary for hundreds of species of wildlife, birds, trees and flowers. Let one of our guides pick you up in one of our Polaris Rangers with hot coffee and pastries and take you on an early morning adventure that rivals an exotic safari.
Our expansive acreage offers you infinite opportunities to view the wildlife that call Three Forks Ranch home. Your guide takes you off the beaten path to show you our Ranch’s hidden treasures — stunning natural beauty, rich historical details, and vistas that will linger in your mind’s eye for years to come.
Breathtaking Terrain
No matter the season, our corner of the Sierra
Madre Mountains offers completely breathtaking views.
3D Archery
SUMMER - FALL - OUTDOOR
Sporting Clays
SUMMER - FALL
South Fork Shooting Complex
SUMMER - FALL - OUTDOOR
Horseback Riding
SUMMER - FALL - OUTDOOR
Hiking
SUMMER - FALL - OUTDOOR
Mountain Biking
SUMMER - FALL - OUTDOOR
Wildlife Tours
SUMMER - FALL - WINTER - OUTDOOR
Rancher For a Day
SUMMER - FALL - OUTDOOR
Fly Fishing
SUMMER - FALL - OUTDOOR
Ice Fishing
WINTER - OUTDOOR
Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
WINTER - OUTDOOR
Cross-Country Skiing
WINTER - OUTDOOR
Snowmobiling
WINTER - OUTDOOR
Snowshoeing
WINTER - OUTDOOR
Tubing
WINTER - OUTDOOR
Wellness Essentials
SUMMER - FALL - WINTER - INDOOR - OUTDOOR
Spa Services
SUMMER - FALL - WINTER - INDOOR
Wellness and Fitness Activities
SUMMER - FALL - WINTER - INDOOR - OUTDOOR
Healthy Dining/Cooking
SUMMER - FALL - WINTER - INDOOR
Shopping in Steamboat
SUMMER - FALL - WINTER - INDOOR - OUTDOOR
Hunting
SUMMER - FALL - OUTDOOR
Take Aim
Our Antler Ridge 3D Archery Course has 13 stations, which are an easy walk along the trail from the instruction station, where you can learn archery for the first time or hone your skills with our expert guides. The course was designed and constructed by Three Forks guides, so it’s especially customized for the ultimate ranch experience. We offer compound bows and recurve bows — and plenty of arrows.
WATCHTake Aim
Nestled in a picturesque Aspen valley, the Elk Ridge Sporting Clays course offers 12 shooting stations designed for the novice to expert. When your guides have fine-tuned your shooting, and you have a sufficiently bolstered ego from training on the Boone and Crockett Course, your personal guide will give you a tour through the 50-shot or 100-shot Pope and Young course to test and strengthen your abilities.
WATCHThe South Fork Shooting Complex is located in an amazing setting under a covered shooting house that offers fun, rain or shine. It has rifle targets from 50 to 1000 yards and an exciting and interactive handgun range. We provide a variety of rifles and handguns and give our guests a comprehensive lesson in the operation and safe use of firearms, from our professional and knowledgeable guide staff. It’s a fantastic way to be introduced to the shooting sports for beginners and a challenge for the seasoned shooter.
WATCHIt’s your turn to take the reins. Three Forks Ranch has a fine complement of horses for your riding pleasure no matter your level of experience. Trail riding is always an option, and our miles of scenic trails offer insider-only access to this stunning part of the country. Our wranglers take you off the beaten path to show you our Ranch’s hidden treasures — stunning natural beauty, rich historical detail, and vistas that will linger in your mind’s eye for years to come.
WATCHExplore on Foot
Perhaps the best way to experience the natural beauty of Three Forks is on foot. A guided hike, completely personalized to your abilities and goals, enables you to step back in time at the historic homesteads of South Fork Road, hear elk bugling during their late summer mating season, and scan stunning 360-degree views with no human development in sight.
WATCHAdventure at Your Speed
Whether you crave the rush of speeding down the mountainside on your bike, or you prefer a quiet afternoon cruise to spot flora, fauna, and wildlife, a ride with one of our experienced guides is sure to show you a side of Three Forks Ranch that you can only get on two non-motorized wheels. We offer wide open roads for the novice and experienced alike. If it’s exercise you’re craving, you have plenty of road to conquer. If it’s a relaxing afternoon you desire, we can do that, too. Remember, you choose your adventure here at Three Forks Ranch!
WATCHBask in Nature
Nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains, Three Forks Ranch is a sanctuary for thousands of species of wildlife, birds, trees, and flowers. Our wildlife tours are hands-down the best way to experience both the beauty of the property and the diversity of flora and fauna that call it home.
EXPLORE EXPLORERiding for the brand has been a way of life in the west for 150 years. Be a part of that heritage and spend a day riding with our seasoned team. Guests go along with the cowboys as they take care of the cattle. You may be moving cattle to better grazing or riding and checking the health of the herd. Views, sights and sounds surround you, as you become a cowboy who is riding for the brand.
WATCHAMERICA'S FINEST TROUT STREAM is here, waiting for you. On our pristine Little Snake River, catching a perfect cutthroat, tiger, brown, or rainbow trout is just one cast away.
We pride ourselves on offering guests expert guiding and instruction for all our outdoor and wellness activities.
WATCHCatching Cold
If you can dream it, you can likely do it here at Three Forks Ranch — and ice fishing is no exception. Originally just a hobby of some of our winter guides, guest interest inspired us to offer this thrilling activity throughout the season. We’re happy to accommodate your deepest fishing desires — even in the deepest of winter.
WATCHYour Private Mountain in Colorado
Private Skiing. You read that correctly. Our mountain is your mountain. We limit the “crowd”. Three Forks Mountain, blanketed by hundreds of inches of snow every year, boasts 1,100 vertical feet with 20 runs for every level. Its natural cruisers, bumps, steeps, open meadows, and majestic tree lines make for a world-class experience. During the design phase, former Olympians “tested” the mountain for us — and it left them breathless and begging for more.
While some might consider snowboarding a hybrid of skiing and skateboarding, at Three Forks Ranch we just call it awesome. But the real game changer? Snowcats - our heated snowcats will whisk you to the summit in no time. No lifts, no lines, no hassle. It’s your private mountain to conquer.
WATCHCross-Country Skiing in a Private Ski Resort
Come and enjoy many miles of well-groomed trails that crisscross Three Forks Ranch, offering exhilarating exercise and breathtaking vistas of our mountain paradise. With trails to accommodate everyone from novice to seasoned veteran, your personal guide will help you explore this unspoiled landscape at your pace.
WATCHPristine Powder
If there ever was five-star snowmobiling, this is it. Thousands of private acres, no crowds, many miles of guided trails and acre after acre of pristine powder. Our guests love taking a snowmobile tour to Godfather Lake, where they enjoy ice fishing, a hearty cooler lunch, and steaming hot chocolate. It’s a unique experience that really represents the best of Three Forks. All rides are privately guided, using environmentally-sound, four-cycle snowmobiles.
WATCHBeautiful Backcountry
If you prefer snowshoeing as your mode of transportation — just as the pioneers that explored these valleys so long before us — your guide will take you off the beaten path for a dose of backcountry beauty. It’s an equally serene and invigorating experience — typical of Three Forks.
WATCHIt’s Going Down
Lodge & Spa guests consistently rank Thrill Hill, our tubing hill, as a favorite winter experience. As you fly down the slope in an inflated tube, you’ll scream like banshees — without fail, no matter whether you are 22 or 72. The best part? You don’t have to trudge back to the top! We drive you and your tube up the incline on a snowmobile. Pro tip: for the ultimate bonding experience, create a circle of tubes, hold on tight to your neighbors’ handles, and let the guides push you over the edge!
WATCHCoaching helps define the appropriate steps toward one’s optimal wellness by means of collaborative thinking, drawing from past experience and defining future goals. A coaching approach allows room to grow while experimenting with different strategies for personal wellness. The Three Forks staff provide data-driven assessments, which measure physical conditioning and serve as a baseline for a personalized plan toward a healthier you.
EXPLORE EXPLOREThree Forks Ranch is conveniently located on the Colorado and Wyoming border, and boasts a world-class luxury spa where you can escape the stresses of daily life.
WATCHIn our state-of-the-art facilities, guests have access to a wide variety of fitness and wellness options, all of which are tailored to their specific needs. These individualized plans are based on the outcome of health assessments undertaken on arrival and in consultation with our Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coaches. Our goal is to provide comprehensive health and wellness activities that guests will not only love doing but will also lead to real health gains.
WATCHGood food is one of life's great pleasures. And for most people, meals are at the heart of family life and celebrations. There’s no need to give up flavor to cook healthy meals! The Three Forks culinary team offers a hands-on exploration of healthy yet delicious food preparation concepts and cooking techniques in a fun, social environment.
WATCHPerhaps your idea of adventure includes browsing boutiques, admiring art galleries, and lingering over a latte in a local cafe? Enjoy a round-trip chauffeured ride into the vibrant town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for a half or full day of local sightseeing, lunch, and shopping.
EXPLORE EXPLORESurrounded on three sides by National Forest, Three Forks Ranch offers our hunters more than 50,000 acres of epic scenery, unmatched exclusivity, and healthy big-game herds of elk, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope.
WATCH
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Copyright © 2021 Three Forks Ranch
Three Forks Ranch. Luxury Resort Wyoming/Colorado USA
Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT