Home On The Range, Alberta. Imagine moving cattle over the picturesque rolling landscape of Alberta. You'll ride with experienced ranch hands whose life's occupation has always been a cowboy. It isn't all hard work. After a day in the saddle, you can spend the evening savoring a delicious home-cooked meal and relaxing by a crackling campfire. This outfit recommends no less than intermediate riding experience. Contact: (866) 760-8334; www.homeontherange.ca.
J.M. Nansel Ranch Company, Montana. The J.M. Nansel Ranch is a third-generation working cattle ranch that started in 1948. Whether it's moving cattle to summer pasture or to different water holes, the rich history of the West comes alive at these cattle drives. These folks can accommodate most all needs. You may stop at the cow camp for an overnight experience or be back at the guest house before dark to enjoy an evening in the hot tub. Experienced cowboys are available to give you riding lessons and/or help you learn how to drive a draft-horse hitch. Contact: (406) 356-7253; www.nanselranch.com.
Laughing Water Ranch, Montana. This outfit has cattle drives during selected weeks in May and September. Depending on the week, you'll round up, sort, brand, and move cattle from their winter pasture to summer range in May, or from summer range to the home ranch in September. This ride gets you off the beaten path where you chase cows and calves that have their own ideas of when to stop and where to go. The drive involves about 170 head of cattle. Contact: (800) 847-5095; www.lwranch.com.
Montana High Country Cattle Drive. This cattle drive winds through the Big Belt Mountains just east of Townsend, Montana. It's a big drive! Guests move between 400 and 1,000 head of cattle. Along with the cattle drive, the outfit offers educational opportunities and entertainment. It has a cowboy poetry night, country dance night, and awards night. A special area-history program is provided. A wagon-train ride is also offered for guests who don't want to ride a horse, but would like to participate in the cattle drive. Contact: (800) 345-9423; www.montanacattledrive.com.
Powder River Cattle Drive, Montana. These folks furnish your horse and tack, meals, and a cowboy teepee. A typical camp setting on this drive has portable toilets, solar-heated showers, and a large tent with open bar for evening music, dancing, and cowboy poetry. Meals are furnished around the chuck wagon with plenty of wholesome food.
The drive consists of four to six horse-drawn wagons driven by experienced teamsters, a herd of longhorn cattle, and a remuda of extra horses. The days are strenuous and require physical exertion. In the words of one repeat guest, "It ain't for babies!"
The experience is reminiscent of what our ancestors participated in when they came west many years ago. Contact: (800) 492-8835; www.powderrivercattledrive.com.
Rockin Bar-A Cattle Drive, Utah. This dude ranch and cattle drive is located in the Blue Mountains of southern Utah. This is the area that the famous outlaw Butch Cassidy came from. In fact, some staff members of this ranch are Cassidy's descendents. The ranch program includes all the standard guest-ranch services and activities, such as lodging, meals, trail rides, cattle drives, campfire singing, roping, wildlife viewing, and chuck wagon dinners. You'll get a real taste of the Old West. Contact: (866) 435-3132; www.bluecattledrive.com.
Roundup Cattle Drive, Montana. For nearly 20 years, this cattle drive has been taking place near Billings, Montana. Hundreds of head of cattle are gathered, sorted, doctored, and moved. Fifty guests are assembled from all over the globe. Their days are filled with exciting cattle work, awesome scenery, and great grub.
A portable horse-drawn dance floor is taken along for a little two-stepping at night. The drive includes 15 wooden-wheeled wagons that make a 40-mile circle in rugged sandstone and jackpine-covered mountains. Contact: (800) 257-9775; www.roundupcattledrive.com.
