You must have intermediate to advanced riding skills to participate in this drive. The ranch does not provide alcohol but my table mates brought wine. During your stay you will be able to enjoy their tasty Rankin Ranch beef. If youve always dreamed of visiting a dude ranch as a vacation, but overwhelmed by all the choices out there, weve got good news wed like to help. A family whose roots are anchored deep in the grassy meadows; a family whose values are exemplified by treating everyone the way theyd like to be treated. Dressed in 19th century hoop skirts for a more historical feel, the Hunewill women recount the early history of Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill. This was our third trip to the ranch, and we must say consistency is the Hunewill trademark. The 4,500-acre Hunewill Ranch was founded in 1861 by Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill and his wife, Esther. I did not ride but my daughter did and she loved it - including the all-day ride option on Wednesday where she got to see even more fantastic scenery. No nose to tail trail riding here! Box 2307 N.B. Even within the intermediate group, there were varying levels of riding ability and experience. More Date of stay: September 2015 See all 40 reviews Nearby Hotels Annett's Mono Village View Hotel 73 reviews 1.6 miles from Hunewill Ranch Box 368, Bridgeport, CA 93517. info@hunewillranch.com 760-932-7710 775-465-2201 - winter hunewillranch.com Rock Creek Pack Station Just four hours north of the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and an easy three hours south of Reno, Nevada, is Bishop California. Those were strong words coming from a woman who teaches horsemanship to young children. At 6500 feet, the temperature drops into the 40s at night, even during the summer months. bought meadowland to graze his oxen; he also acquired some cattle. The Hunewill Ranch is located in Bridgeport, California on the east side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Rate includes meals, horseback riding, lodging, and ranch activitieS. Fall at the ranch is a time filled with essential cattle work. Stan and Jan are semi-retired but still involved in overseeing ranch operations. Just minutes away from the premier guest ranch are more than 75 renowned vineyards and wineries and the charming Danish village of Solvang. Sadly, working cow ranches are rapidly disappearing as a way of life so spending time there is something to be valued. Marble Mountain dude ranch vacations meet the diverse interests and needs of your entire family or group. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Many people come back year after year.. The Hunewill Ranch is a family-owned and operated outfit where great horseback riding is the featured attraction. Recommended Reviews One guest, Sue Hovey, told us her husband was reluctant to ride, because he had no experience. I dreamed of having a real cowboy experience. They run free in the great outdoors, use their imaginations, climb trees, get dirty, and find ways to be useful. A few include the Double E Ranch in New Mexico, Bucking S Ranch in Wyoming, 63 Ranch in Montana and the over 100-year-old drive done at California's Hunewill Ranch. If you are inclined, bring a bottle or two to share.More. The cattle drive puts you back in the Old West, driving cows over stock trails that have been in use since the 1860's. He says hes living his dream. The Hunewills three children, their spouses, and some of the grandchildren help in day-to-day ranch management. built the present-day Hunewill Victorian-style ranch house. The majority of their horses are very safe for beginners and small children. Hunewill Guest Ranch We get really close with these people were riding with for 10 to 12 hours a day. Copyright 2004 - 2023 Equestrian Travel Brands, LLC. We just returned from 5 days at this ranch and enjoyed the whole experience. The V6 Ranch sits just down the road from the tiny town of Parkfield, population 18, and is conveniently located just a four-hour drive from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. Moving cattle is available at least once during every stay. Herding cattle at Hunewill Guest Ranch. The route follows the historic tracks of the gold-rush era Carson City stagecoach road through some of the most spectacular country in the west. The valley pastures are green and lush during the short summer months, allowing the cattle to fatten primarily on grass. Stan Hunewill met his wife, Jan, 50 years ago when he was working on the ranch and she was a guest. In August 2020, Eastern Sierra Land Trust completed a conservation easement with the Hunewill family, permanently protecting 4,100 acres of the family's historic ranch. Family run working cattle ranch since 1861, located in the Eastern Sierra town of Bridgeport, CA. I can handle a horse (I rode hunter/jumpers for over 12 years), though it had been a couple years since doing any regular riding. The valley is surrounded with vibrant fall colors framed by a backdrop of the mighty Sierra Nevada. Youll find myriad opportunities for safe riding. My nephew and I also made a side trip to Bishop to trout fish with Guide Pat Yeager. Horses and riding groups are available for every riding ability. With a temperate climate year-round and ever-changing seasonal activities, any time of year is the perfect time to visit. An added bonus is the beautiful fall lighting and the glow of autumn colors. Enjoy chuck wagon meals, western entertainment 'round the campfire, a night of camping out under the stars at our beautiful Buckeye Pack Station, and lots of hours moving cattle while horseback. He and Esther journeyed back to San Francisco, this time crossing the Isthmus of Panama, which took three months. We have 13 dude ranches in Arizona, 27 dude ranches in Colorado, 20 guest ranches in Montana, 17 guest ranches in Wyoming, 4 dude ranches in Texas and many more! Drive 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara and youll find The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resorts 50 miles of riding trails, 100-acre spring-fed lake, two 18-hole championship golf courses, tennis courts, pool, spa, western-themed accommodations, fine dining, and endless ways to unplug and unwind. While the rest of the group waited for their mounts, Elmo and I got acquainted by walking small circles. Each year along the drive, the family stops to remember those riders who have gotten too old or ill to participate in the drive any longer, and to remember those folks who have passed. The breakfast warning bell clanged at 7am, but I was up at least an hour earlier. Hunewill Ranch is an authentic working dude ranch, but it's also a completely immersive getaway experience. We discovered later that guests, wearing huge grins, return to this ranch year after year. As the days unwound, the slow rhythm of ranch life began to reveal itself: the drum of hoof beats at sunrise while the mountains change hue, the clang of the meal bell, cattle mooing across the valley, whinnies of horses let out to pasture at the end of the day, the occasional hoots of an owl, and yipping of distant coyotes. Interestingly, she pointed out that more miners died not of mining accidents or gunshot wounds, but from pneumonia. Children who are capable of being led on horseback are led by the babysitter. So, when you pull up alongside the old Victorian house and see Welcome Home written on the big rock, youre home. They sit at an elevation of 6500 feet just east of Yosemite Park in the Bridgeport Valley of California. For over 136 years the Hunewill family has raised and sold cows and since the 1930s they have offered a very unique opportunity for visitors to get to see and participate in a working cow ranch. Ride with the Hunewill family for five days, covering sixty miles from Bridgeport, California to Smith Valley, Nevada herding 600 cows as they are driven to their winter range. At night, the cattle stay in corrals at neighboring ranches along the route. The surrounding 26,000 acres in the mountainous Bridgeport Valley provides a unique riding atmosphere for all skill levels. Mono County is located east of San Francisco, near Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Special thanks to my husband for coming along for the rideliterally! You'll be able to learn cowboy skills such as gathering and sorting cattle. Third part (of three) of pictures from the Hunewill Ranch Winter 2002 cattle drive 761 cattle moved from Bridgeport, California to Smith Valley, Nevada over 5 days (13 pictures - each about 45k in size) . Guests and employees are treated like family. This historic agreement protects critical habitat for wildlife like mule deer, American . The Hunewills have been at the Bridgeport ranch for 150 years. There is world class trout fishing in the nearby East Walker River and in the many lakes and streams in the adjacent Toiyabe National Forest. Megan promised we would all be loping today. The highlight of our stay was the morning cattle drive where we moved 50 cattle over three miles back to the barn. The V6 Ranch sits just down the road from the tiny town of Parkfield, population 18, and is conveniently located just a four-hour drive from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Though these true cattle drive holidays are rare to find, there are still special places where you can saddle up on an authentic cattle drive vacation. The Welcome Home rock rings true. Sign up to get the best dude ranch vacation travel deals first. Our Buckaroo Ride is a special program that includes games on horseback, lots of instruction, swim rides, searching for obsidian chips, and many hours of confidence-building time in the saddle. During this visit, he fell in love with Esther, a local girl, and married her. You'll stay in comfortable cottages near the horse pasture; allowing you to watch the horses come thundering in early each morning. The California Ranch Two weekend cattle drive adventures per year. Hunewill Ranch | Mono Mills CA News Politics Science Education Housing Immigration Criminal Justice Silicon Valley Forum The California Report. She was having a great time working on the ranch, because everyone, including guests, were so friendly. Fishing is the most popular activity at Twin Lakes. Jan 29, 2013 - Visit our dude ranch & ride any of our well-trained horses through the lush green meadows & scenic mountain trails of California's Sierra Nevada. The group became a tourist attraction that day as much as the town itself we found ourselves the subject of more than a few photographers. Betsy manages the office with smiles and efficiency. You can then send them to us to obtain a quotation or register and save them to look at again at a later date. Privacy Policy. Box 368 Bridgeport, CA 93517. For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check The ranch offers a variety of vacation experiences ranging from family weekend getaways to adults-only excursions. Whether you are a beginner or have ridden for years, this will be one of the best riding vacations you've ever had. This time of year an added bonus is seeing the cows with their baby calves. Sign up to get the best dude ranch vacation travel deals first. Photo credit: Dorina Lindberg. Being with Stan and Jan Hunewill is like being in a real-life Bonanza setting on the Ponderosa with Ben Cartwright and his three sons. As always, the Hunewill family and staff broke their necks making our stay the very best. By 1862, hed built a house, filed for water rights, and begun operating two sawmills. Second part (of four) of pictures from the Hunewill Ranch Winter 2003 cattle drive 638 cattle moved from Bridgeport, California to Smith Valley, Nevada over 5 days (12 pictures - each about 45k in size) Jennifer Hoover, Lyle Deck, Heather Steverson, Fred Shean, Al Frei, Betsy Hunewill Elliott and Keith Willard (left to right) Jan and Stan Hunewill Stan Hunewill, family patriarch. The long distances covered, the need for periodic rests by riders and animals, and the establishment of railheads led to the . warriors: come out to play board game; be quiet dark rock pro 4 vs noctua nh-d15; ridgeview road house cursed items; pan seared yellowfin tuna recipes Tel: 760-932-7710 The guest ranch has been welcoming visitors from around the world for over 55 years. It was an eerie feeling looking at the signatures of long-dead presidents. Discover working ranches, guest ranches, cattle drive vacations and riding vacations in the Equitrekking Vacation Guide. Rate includes meals, horseback riding, lodging, and ranch activities. Sort through them using our Find a Ranch tool or choose a ranch by location. Thanks Hunewill for making my cowgirl dreams come true! We sat on bales of straw and sang songs. Hunewill barn against backdrop of mountains. She said that other ranches once did this same drive to the lower valleys in Nevada to get their livestock out of the snow, but now, they are the last ranch in the area that still uses horses to drive their cows out. more. It was on this drive that Cupid launched a successful attack on two guests, Kay and Fred, who've been happily married for many years now. My room was just what I needed. Both N.B. The majority of cabins have two connecting rooms with private baths and comfortable porches. Sally always lived life "flat out." She and Jan knew the meaning of travel and emphatically shared the outdoors with guests. Bridgeport Valley is an unspoiled recreational paradise where you will find trout fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and many other pastimes for the nature enthusiast. The Bridgeport Valley where the ranch is located is an unspoiled recreational paradise and even borders Yosemite National Park. You will arrive at the ranch on Wednesday for dinner, ride Thursday through Tuesday, and leave the following Wednesday after breakfast. envelops 20,000 acres of the most diverse and alluring country in the heart of California. The ranch was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill, who came to California from Maine, lured by gold prospecting. Speaking of Dwayne I hear that he and wrangler, Sallie Joseph, are . Many world-class fishing areas are within a 10-minute drive. It has been a working cattle ranch since the late 1800's, and a dude ranch since 1931. The Annual Hunewill Ranch Cattle Drive in November is for serious intermediate-to-advanced riders. Hunewill Ranch is a working cattle ranch and there is always cattle work to be done. Their season runs from late May to mid November. Our job was to transfer a herd of heifers from one pasture to another through the ranch grounds and across a road on a California cattle drive. Hunewill Circle H Ranch (Bridgeport, California). Hunewill Ranch made her happier beyond my expectations! info@duderanch.org | 307-587-2339 | 1122 12th St., Cody, WY 82414, 1122 12th Street, P.O. They offer beginning to advanced riding and special wranglers for beginners who are excellent at teaching how to ride. 20.8 miles from Hunewill Ranch Free parking Restaurant West Walker Motel View Hotel 60 reviews 23.2 miles from Hunewill Ranch Free Wifi Free parking View more hotels in Bridgeport Value Location Sleep Quality Rooms Cleanliness Service Trip type: Traveled with friends Value Sleep Quality Rooms Cleanliness Trip type: Traveled solo Value Location Bridgeport Valley lies below the slope of the highway like a green carpet, a contrast against the dun-colored rock hills and sagebrush. Rate includes meals, horseback riding, lod. I dreamed of having a real cowboy experience. 01798 865946 is a guest ranch in Californias Lost Sierra. Box 368 Bridgeport, CA 93517. He built a beautiful, gracious home designed to last a long time. Home California Dude Ranches Hunewill Guest Ranch. With red eyes and great sadness, Jeanette said, The hardest part about being here is leaving. Shed just taken her last ride and put her horse away. She also entertains guests around the campfire with sing-a-longs and dances on talent night. The lumber business proved to be more successful. The interior wood and furniture were shipped from San Francisco. Games with other children, snacks and picnics on the lawn, visits to the ranch bakery, and strolls to see ranch animals are all part of the program for the under six crowd. The rides to the hot springs in Buckeye Canyon and the high ride to Crown Lake were unforgettable. Need more ideas? Due to the altitude, the folk at the ranch recommend that you bring a hat, sunscreen, rain jacket or poncho and a warm jacket for cool evenings. Children blossom here! Any apprehensions she had about being the only black person on the ranch were soon laid to rest. Commercial airlines fly into Reno/Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada. Covid-19 and Hunewill Ranch in 2021. Copyright 2023 | Hunewill Guest Ranch - All Rights Reserved Around 25 guests saddle up in November with Megan Hunewill and her family from Hunewill Guest Ranch to drive around 600 mother cows through canyons surrounded by dramatic tall mountains, along the Walker River, to their ranch in Smith Valleys wide open sagebrush and high desert terrain. This ranch has an all-inclusive summit to sea experience with breathtaking mountain trail riding, white water rafting, steelhead fly fishing, or jet boat tours to the Pacific Ocean! Six generations of Rankins have lived and worked on our 31,000-acre cattle ranch. During this time, N.B. We even have a challenging trailer loading competition where guests and their cow savvy horses load cattle into a stock trailer. The main activities are parting and moving cattle and may also include branding and doctoring. took his family east over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the mining town of Aurora. Though her family still holds fast to these traditions, they are a rarity. Our guests move 600 hundred head of cattle 60 miles from Bridgeport, California to our winter ranch in Smith Valley, Nevada. Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill's ancestors were French Huguenots from Alsace-Lorraine. The gold and silver mining town of Bodie, located 15 miles east of the ranch, was mostly constructed with lumber from the sawmill operation. Ride with the Hunewill family for five days, covering sixty miles from Bridgeport, California to Smith Valley, Nevada herding 600 cows as they are driven to their winter range. For instance, the barn is a fine example of old-time craftsmanship. Hunewill Ranch is home to the best horseback riding vacations in California. Separated into groups by riding ability, we rode across open fields and crossed streams that lingered even in late August due to the heavy snow from the previous winter. View Map. Skip to Nav; Skip to Main; Skip to Footer; Created with Sketch. Ideal for those looking for a working cattle ranch experience. It involves moving 600 to 750 cattle 60 miles from Bridgeport, California, to Smith Valley, Nevada. The charming Danish village of Solvang surrounded with vibrant fall colors framed by backdrop... Was our third trip to the mining town of Bridgeport, California on the Ponderosa with Ben Cartwright his! Drops into the 40s at night, the Hunewill ranch cattle drive vacations and vacations! Are green and lush during the short summer months and put her horse away ranch for years. My nephew and I got acquainted by walking small circles Hovey, told us her husband was reluctant ride... Working on the ranch on Wednesday for dinner, ride Thursday through Tuesday, and ranch.. 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