The Dude Ranchers' Association, founded in 1926 in Bozeman, Montana, helps promote member ranches for a small fee. Aside from acting as a central axis for dude and guest ranches, the association visits and inspects each, making sure they conform to the association's standards. Since its inception, the number of members has risen from 35 ranches, mainly in the area around Yellowstone, to nearly 110 in 13 western states and two Canadian provinces. While many guests head to dude ranches for a solo escape or romantic adventure, a large portion of the ranches gear their facilities and activities toward families. It took Lewis and Clark about four and a half months to make their way across the span of Montana, partially because of its 550-mile expanse, but also because of its rugged terrain.
Visitors can get a feel for that vast space on horseback at one of the state's many dude ranches.
Aside from unlimited hours of riding into the ranges and high country, guests have the option of assisting in roundups, trailing cows, and taking salt to the cattle. Some ranches stage cattle drives. We don't, and our guests like that. Visitors can head out to lakes and streams to fish, attend rodeos, or even check out local ghost towns, which are deserted old silver mining villages. Lazy K Bar, like many dude ranches, is named for the brand used on the cattle.