Fall Activities

The Activity Yurt at C Lazy U Ranch sits on the shore of the pond, you can’t miss it! It is surrounded by a large deck which is a great place to hang out near the water, with lovely and serene views. Inside the Yurt is the equipment desk where staff will get you set up with whatever equipment you need for your chosen activity.

Archery is a complimentary activity at the ranch, using compound bows. Try your skills at traditional targets or three-dimensional targets. Archery is offered Monday-Saturday at 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM in the summer. It’s also offered in the Spring and Fall, see the Activity Schedule for times.

All necessary equipment for this on-ranch activity is provided and there is an extensive safety demonstration performed before all archery sessions begin.

Guests have complimentary access to C Lazy U’s Fitness Center. The gym is open 24/7, allowing you to work out whenever you’d like. The updated, modern gym features plenty of equipment:

• Free weights
• Machine weights
• Elliptical machines
• Treadmills

Horseback riding and all the other ranch activities offered at C Lazy U Ranch surely gets the blood flowing, but guests who have their own workout routine don’t have to give it up while on a dude ranch vacation. Contact us if you’d like more information about our gym facilities.

Orvis-endorsed fly fishing is available from May to October. Fly-fishing and lure fishing can be enjoyed by all ages at our pond or on two miles along the Willow Creek. Off-ranch excursions to our private stretch of the Fraser River, Colorado River, and Willow Creek are available at an additional cost. Guests can sign up in the Outfitter’s Cabin. All equipment is provided.

Learn more about Orvis Fly Fishing

The Game Room is located in the basement of the Patio House and offers pool, shuffleboard, air hockey, ping pong, and foosball.

Horseshoes and Volleyball – The horseshoe pit and volleyball court are located on the Patio House lawn and are always ready to play.

Basketball – The basketball court is located behind the tennis courts. Balls are located at the court or in the Activity Center Yurt.

Outdoor Shuffleboard – The shuffleboard court is located behind the tennis courts.

Card Room – The Card Room is located on the first floor of the Main Lodge. Cards and poker sets, as well as a TV, are available.

C Lazy U Ranch has an extensive trail system perfect for hiking. Guests are encouraged to sign up for a guided hike and a skilled ranch hand will guide you through the property on some of the best trails and scenic overlooks. During your hike you will learn about the Rocky Mountain landscape and wildflowers. The ranch can accommodate all skill levels within the 8,500 acres.

Hatchet throwing a fun activity that is offered at the ranch two times each day during the summer and is safe for ages 6 and up. The Director of Activities oversees this activity and ensures it is safe in a controlled environment, so channel your inner lumberjack and throw some hatchets!

Hatchet throwing is offered in Spring, Summer and Fall.

Horseback riding at the ranch is fun for all ages and abilities. The ranch has 200 horses and you’ll be matched with the perfect horse for your entire stay, assigned specifically based on your experience and skill.

Beginner, intermediate, and advanced rides leave twice daily. Cattle working experiences and riding clinics in the arena are offered on certain days; while grooming clinics, trail obstacles and other equestrian activities may be available upon request,.

Learn more about Horseback Riding

The Horsemanship Clinic is a groundwork session in the indoor arena.  The clinic provides basic groundwork instruction and allows riders to get more comfortable with their horses through a variety of leadership exercises.  The clinic is available to adults only with a maximum of 6 people per session and it can be suited to any skill level.

This activity is available upon request and is not offered daily.  Please check with the Outfitters Cabin to schedule a Horsemanship Clinic during your stay.

Adults Only at the new Lazy You Hideaway spa lounge. This exclusive retreat offers modern, luxurious amenities, including a rejuvenating hot tub and invigorating cold plunges to help you recover from saddle soreness, and a sauna with a stunning glass wall providing panoramic views of the Continental Divide. Relax and unwind in the comfortable lounge area with a fire pit, knowing that this peaceful haven is strictly for adults, ensuring a tranquil environment. Experience ultimate relaxation and breathtaking scenery at the Lazy You Hideaway.

Learn More about the Lazy You Hideaway

The award-winning Lazy You Spa is located on the banks of Willow Creek in five heated tents, two of which are massage tents with glass floors suspended over the river. Listen to the gentle flow of the river and recuperate with one of our relaxing massages, a copper tub soak, scrub, or a facial. Winter services are in a different location with a cozy sitting room and crackling fire.

Learn more about the Lazy You Spa

There are limitless mountain biking trails at C Lazy U. Guided tours take place daily in the early morning and evening May through October. Beginner, intermediate, and expert rides available. The ranch has a full fleet of bikes and provides helmets. Feel free to bring your own riding shoes and pedals.

Note: Mountain Biking is not available when horseback riding is taking place.

Learn more about Mountain Biking

The ranch offers Ranger tours around the property to guests who want to see the property in an off-road vehicle. Travel to the highest peaks over the river and through the woods while taking in the breathtaking views.  This activity is complimentary all guests.

*There may be an additional charge for this activity for groups – Please refer to your group contract for more detail if you are traveling with a group. 

Morning or afternoon sessions are facilitated daily by our certified instructors. The challenge course consists of a rock wall, vertical play pen, and leap of faith finished off by zipping over the river on our 375 foot zip line. Low ropes team building elements are also available.

Learn more about Ropes Course & Zip Line

The Mercantile at Luis’ Old Place is the ranch’s general store. This unique store, located in an old donkey barn, houses items you may have forgotten to pack, as well as branded apparel or the perfect unique gift. Get the cowboy boots, hat and belt buckle you have always wanted. Open daily from 8am to 5pm, or shop online with free shipping for orders over $50. Additional shopping options in Grand Lake, Granby, or Winter Park.

Browse Our Online Store

Set against the backdrop of the river, two Laykold tennis courts sit just behind the Patio House — and one is also ready for a spirited game of pickleball. Whether you’re serving up a friendly rally or trying something new, all equipment is provided, and you can reserve your court at the Outfitter’s Cabin.

One of C Lazy U Ranch’s most exciting events is the Daily Jingle.  The Jingle is when the horses go out to pasture in the afternoon and come back in the morning to get ready for the daily horseback rides. It is called the Jingle because in the past bells were tied on the mischievous horses who liked to hide from being rounded up by wranglers in the dark, early mornings. 

This event happens almost every day of the year and goes out and comes in from different directions on ranch depending on the selected pasture location.  You can expect to see this in the afternoon from 4-5pm and in the morning from 6:30am to 8:30am depending on the season (it’s always earlier in the summer).  In the afternoons we ring the “jingle bell” to alert guests so they can come out to experience this unique spectacle.

Trap shooting is available twice daily, guests can sign-up in the Outfitter’s Cabin. This activity requires an additional charge of $50.00 per person. A wide range of age appropriate firearms are available, including a .22, .410, and 12 gauge shot gun. Ranch personnel is extensively trained in gun safety and each guest is required to attend a safety briefing before shooting.

For the safety of our staff and guests, please leave your personal firearms at home. Thank you!

Fall foliage is here! There’s so many ways to soak up the beautiful amber and gold as they sweep through the mountains; you can drive a scenic byway, hike a mountain trail, or even see the Autumn foliage by train. All are fantastic options for connecting with both nature and the spirit of the season. But if you’re looking for full immersion to the wonderful world of Colorado’s fall display, there’s a better way… 

Hop on a horse. 

At C Lazy U Ranch, fall is one of the best times of year to ride. The crowds thin out, the air turns crisp and cool, and the 8,500 acre landscape comes alive like a Western light show. So, stop watching the aspens from the road, behind a windshield, fighting to get to a packed trailhead, and see why horseback is the perfect way to experience Colorado’s fall colors. 

Explore All-Inclusive Activities at C Lazy U

You Actually Have Time to Look Around

For something so breathtaking and serene, the leaf-watching season in Colorado has a funny way of making people a little impatient. The state’s hiking trails flood with people this time of year, many of whom could use a refresher on proper trail etiquette. Unfortunately, unless you know a great secluded spot, scenic hikes can feel more like waiting for photo opportunities at a theme park. 

Of course, watching the leaves in a car presents its own issues. You spot a particularly good stretch of trees but can’t slow down due to the long line of vehicles in tow. You try to find an ideal place to pull over… but was that two miles ago? You try to snap a photo and get mostly car doorframe. 

Horseback riding solves the problem by slowing you down and putting you deep within the foliage. This way, you get time to notice the little things: sunlight catching the tops of the trees, a hillside shifting from green to gold, the sound of hooves against the trail, or a hawk circling overhead. There’s no need to find a safe pull-off or keep an eye on the road, and you’re free from badly-behaved lookie-lous spoiling the moment. Want to get lost in the scenery? The horse knows the way. 

Read More: Horseback Riding Tips to Help Make the Most of Your Riding Vacation 

You Can Go Where Cars Can’t

This might be the biggest advantage of seeing fall from horseback: the best views aren’t typically next to a road.

At C Lazy U, with over 8,500 acres to roam, there’s plenty of landscape to take in, from open fields and mountain views to wooded trails where the scenery feels much closer. A horse gives you access to trails, hillsides, meadows, and stretches of the property that could never be accessed by a motorized vehicle. Because of that distinction, the wild spaces you’ll see here feel much more wild, featuring more foliage and more opportunities for native animal sightings. 

The Colors Feel Bigger From the Saddle

Being on a horse completely changes your perspective (literally). 

In the saddle you’re elevated several feet off the ground, moving through the landscape at a pace that lets you absorb the full view. Instead of seeing a wall of trees from the road, you can look across a meadow, up a slope, and out toward the snow-capped mountains all at once.

Because you aren’t confined to a vehicle, the experience feels fully three-dimensional. You can hear the leaves move in the breeze, smell the pine in the cool mountain air, and feel the change in temperature as the trail moves from open sunlight into a copse of trees. You can actually experience the American West as your ancestors did (without having to worry about where dinner is coming from). 

You Get the Kind of Photos You Can’t Plan

Just because we’re talking about a more pastoral leaf-spotting experience doesn’t mean we don’t understand the compulsion to take photos. Yes, that’s a big part of the experience, and yes, you’ll probably take too many pictures — and that’s okay! 

In reality, though, the best photo opportunities often present themselves when you aren’t trying to force anything. Your horse rounds a bend and suddenly there’s a hillside glowing behind you. The light hits the trail just right. You look over your shoulder and realize the whole valley is turning gold. These are moments that stay perfectly-formed in your mind, photo or not. 

And if you decide you still want to take all those shots, they’re going to have some pretty striking subject matter! 

You Don’t Just Ride the Horse. You Get to Know Them.

There’s another reason horseback riding feels so different from simply walking through a striking landscape: you have an experienced partner along for the ride. 

At C Lazy U, every rider is paired with their own horse based on factors like riding experience, skill level, and personality. This not only helps our guests feel more comfortable in the saddle, but also allows them to bond with and get to know these incredible animals who are still fundamental to Western life. By the end of your first ride, you’ll already find yourself picking up on your horse’s little quirks and individuality. Some are curious about everything, some are just looking for snacks, and some have big opinions about where the group should go today.

Instead of being carried as in a vehicle, you’ll learn how to communicate with an animal, trust your instincts, and work together along the trail. And when you and your horse make it through a challenging stretch or settle into an easy rhythm, there’s a genuine sense of accomplishment that springs forth.

No prior riding experience is required — you just need to be willing to climb into the saddle and give it a try.

Read More: How to Prepare for a Horseback Riding Vacation

See Fall From the Saddle

There’s nothing wrong with a Colorado scenic drive. But if your idea of seeing fall colors is stopping for two minutes, taking a picture, and then getting back in the car, you’re missing out on This part of the experience.

At C Lazy U, you can spend hours immersed in the changing Rocky Mountain foliage the same way the cowboys and Native Americans did hundreds of years ago. With a colossal stretch of preserved western landscape, a herd of more than 200 horses, the best wranglers in the state, and two horseback rides available to all guests per day, the ranch gives you the opportunity to see the leaves the way we were always meant to. No seatbelts, traffic, or designated overlook required. 

Ready to ride into fall? 

Contact us with questions, check availability, or learn more about our award-winning horseback riding programs to get started.