TRIP DETAILS   7 days   Dates: September 5-11, 2010 Arrival: Durango, CO by 2:00 pm on Sunday, September 5, 2010 Cortez, CO (CEZ) by 12:00 pm   Airport Code: DRO/CEZ   Departure: Durango, CO after 12:00 pm on Saturday, September 11   Price: $2075   Single: $500. This is optional. OutWest can match you with a roommate, or you can pay the single supplement to insure a private room.   Fitness Level:  moderate   Meals: All meals at the ranch are included   Includes: 6 nights accommodations in ranch cabins and lodges Daily maid service All ground transportation Daily horseback riding Gratuities for ranch staff Taxes and service charges All on-ranch activities: horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, pool, sauna, hot tub, country dancing, campfires Tour of Mesa Verde National Park OutWest trip leader Not included: airfare, alcoholic beverages, phone calls, items of a personal nature like laundry, OutWest trip leader gratuities, trip insurance   Colorado Dude Ranch Vacation - Mesa Verde National Park September 5-11, 2010 During the day, "Get Out and Play"- by horseback riding into the mountains, touring Mesa Verde National Park, or just lounging in the pool and hot tub. In the evening, relax on your cabin porch, enjoy hearty meals in the lodge, and gather around the campfire with your fellow gay "cowboys" and "cowgirls". With plenty of activity options, this trip can be as laid-back or active as you’d like. Happy Trails!   Highlights: Coming Soon!     Not Yet Assigned We have not yet assigned a guide for ths trip. Rest assured that your guide will be competent, fun and friendly.

FULL ITINERARY:

Your trip leader will pick you up at the airport or area hotel and take you on the 35 mile scenic drive to the Lake Mancos Dude Ranch. Once at the ranch, get settled in your cabin and relax before the evening’s welcome reception and dinner. The ranch has a ‘summer camp’ atmosphere with plenty of things to keep you occupied.

LOCATION.  The ranch is located in the pristine wilderness of southwestern Colorado between Durango and Cortez. Two million acres of scenic national forest surround the ranch. At 8,000 feet, the property has stunning views of the La Plata Range and San Juan Mountains.

  THE CABINS.  The ranch offers a variety of cabins. We suggest booking early so you’ll have the first choice of cabins. Please contact us about availability. Most cabins have two bedrooms with private bathrooms, a shared living room, and porch. All cabins have refrigerators. Daily maid service is provided.

Traveling solo? If you’re traveling as a single (as most OutWest travelers do), we can assign you a roommate. You’ll share a room with two twin beds and a bathroom. You’ll share a cabin with another bedroom and communal living room. If you’d like your own private bedroom, you can elect to pay the single supplement and guarantee your own room.

Traveling as a couple? The ranch offers lodge rooms and cabins with king beds and private bathrooms. These are great accommodations for couples.

Traveling with friends? If you’re traveling with friends, you can request your own private cabin for just your gang; but book early to insure your request can be filled. If more than two people share a room, discounts are offered for triple and quad occupancy.

DAYS TWO - SIX.   LEISURELY DAYS AT THE LAKE MANCOS DUDE RANCH.  Each morning, horseback riding is offered and each day will feature various group events. You can do as much or as little as you’d like. So you can join the gang for an activity or do your own thing.

HORSEBACK RIDING.  The favorite ranch activity! The ranch has an outstanding string of horses. With over 70 head, you will be assured of having your personal ranch horse. We ride varied trails and have fun arena activities, including the popular team penning. If you are a first time rider or a beginner don’t worry, we offer instruction to build confidence during your rides and enable you to enjoy our spectacular scenery. We also meet the expectations of experienced riders by offering challenging trails and well-trained horses.

WALKING/HIKING.  You can take a leisurely walk right from the ranch and explore nearby Jackson Lake. Other day hiking trips can vary from a 2-3 hour stroll to a more ambitious full-day summit of a peak.

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK.  Included in the package is a 1/2 day trip to Mesa Verde National Park. Famed for its Cliff Palaces, Mesa Verde offers a wealth of prehistoric architecture. The national park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The topography is a series of mesas and canyons with more than 4,800 archaeological sites including 600 famous cliff dwellings.

EVENING COUNTRY DANCING.  Several evenings will feature dance parties. Wear your cowboy boots to the lodge for a night of Texas two-step and Swing dancing.

RELAX IN THE HOT TUB, SAUNA, AND SWIMMING POOL.  After a day of activity, soak in the ranch’s hot tub or relax in the sauna. Or spend the afternoon lounging by the heated swimming pool.

RANCH ACTIVITIES.  A variety of activities await you on the ranch. Join a ping-pong tournament. Rotate into a volleyball or basketball game. Gather around the fire in the evening and enjoy stories from your fellow travelers. Horseshoes? Mountain biking? It’s all right here on the ranch.

OPTIONAL OFF-RANCH ACTIVITIES.  OutWest can arrange other optional activities off the ranch. Some have additional charges. Here are some options- the Durango narrow gauge railroad, zipline forest canopy adventure, fly-fishing, ballooning, rock climbing, and stagecoach tours.

DAY SEVEN.   DEPARTURE. HAPPY TRAILS.  We provide transportation back to the airport. So long! See you on your next OutWest Global Adventure!