Beautiful Mountain Scenery, Rewarding Work, Adventure, and New Friends and Await You!
Colorado Trails Ranch was founded in 1960 and has been solely a guest ranch until 2021. In 2021, the ranch introduced the option for shorter stays from August-October. We are continuing that option as well as offering cabin only rentals December-March. We are expanding to include premier fly-fishing retreats, special packages Corporate & Community Events and more.
Located just outside of the historic mining town of Durango, Colorado. The ranch borders thousands of acres of the San Juan National Forest. It is about a 20 minute drive to downtown shopping and nightlife.
About Colorado Trails Ranch
Ranch Mission
The mission of Colorado Trails Ranch is to provide an exceptional experience for all who step onto the property. From guests to staff members to vendors, our goal is to create positive interactions that each individual will find enriching and inspiring. Utilizing our animals and the natural world around us, every person should leave feeling more refreshed, more educated, and more confident in themselves and the direction of their lives.
As an employee of our ranch, you will become an extension of our family. We strive for excellence and the best service in the industry. We look for these same qualities in our staff. If you are willing to make this commitment, we invite you to submit your application.
The Employee Experience
Colorado Trails Ranch is in a beautiful location in the San Juan Mountains. No traffic noises, traffic jams or crowded streets. We are nestled in our own little valley with over 1000 private acres and adjacent to thousands more in the San Juan National Forest. However, we are not isolated as we are just 12 miles from the town of Durango which has a vibrant downtown full of local shops, restaurants, and nightlife as well as modern conveniences. From downtown, you may also enjoy tourist activities like zip-lining, four-wheeling, and the Durango and Silverton train. We have lots of hiking nearby, world-class mountain biking as well as Mesa Verde National Park. We are just about a 3-hour drive from Moab, Utah, and 9 hours from the Grand Canyon, Arizona. Our staff organizes many little excursions on their time off to see what the Four Corners area has to offer.
We have modern, comfortable, and spacious facilities for our staff housing and our food is wonderful! During peak season you will often eat with our guests and enjoy the same food they do. You will also be welcome and encouraged to join in our guest activities on your time off.
The very best part of being at Colorado Trails for the Summer is the people you will meet. From your coworkers to the guests we have each week; you will have the opportunity to form life-long friendships. Great people, beautiful location, fun adventures, and an opportunity to save some money while having an experience of a lifetime.
Ideal Candidate
Team players who are eager to learn, proud of hard work and works extremely well with others are encouraged to apply!
Room and Board
Colorado Trails Ranch provides housing at NO COST. We have limited housing for those requiring private quarters. New staff housing buildings were built in 2014 and 2015 with living rooms, Wi-Fi, and laundry rooms in each building.
All of your meals are also provided at no cost during peak season. Staff are encouraged to eat along with our guests and will enjoy the same food as our guests. Those staff staying through closing will be provided limited meals depending on what is being offered to guests. Access to a communal kitchen will be provided for the late season as well.
Employee Perks
Ranch employees are paid an hourly wage plus time and a half for all hours worked over 40 in a week. Pay period is every two weeks.
On top of your already good hourly wage, room and board, staff receives an end-of-season bonus of $1.00 an hour for each hour worked as long as the dates outlined in their employment agreement are completed satisfactorily.
Wi-Fi is available in staff housing.
Getting Here and Getting Around
We highly encourage you to bring a vehicle. For those staff members who have vehicles, there is a designated staff parking lot and we will provide specific information upon your arrival.
If you are not driving to the ranch we will be happy to pick you up from the Durango, Colorado bus station or airport.
For Fun
Staff members are welcome to participate in activities including horseback riding, hiking, rafting, shooting sports, lake power tubing trip, and fishing with our guests during your time off.
The Four Corners area and downtown Durango offer plenty of recreational opportunities off of the ranch as well, to explore on your own or with your new friends.
How to Apply
Please read through the employment information on our website. From there you can apply online.
Please send in all the required information and a COMPLETE application. We do request that you provide email addresses for your references, if at all possible along with phone numbers. We are finding that folks may prefer to respond to a reference request at their leisure rather than us calling at an inopportune time.
Also, If you're applying for our counselor or wrangler positions, please submit a short riding video demonstrating your riding skills. We ask the video to show you:
~ catching a horse, grooming, saddling, and bridling it
~ then mounting and riding a short distance at a walk, jog, and a lope
~ lastly, dismounting and untacking the horse.
