Horseback riding here in the breathtaking 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest takes you through open meadows, tall ponderosa forests, up on mountaintops where the views go on forever and down into deep canyons with sheer cliffs and crystal clear streams. From atop your well-trained horse, spot abundant wildlife including elk, mule deer, and javelina.
This where Geronimo grew up. Swim near the headwaters of the Gila River where he was born! Visit 1,000 year old cliff dwellings and pit houses dating back to the Mimbres people! Search for pottery shards and view pictographs still remaining from these ancient people.
Our main focus is on trail riding: seeing the beautiful scenery from horseback, and making this a special vacation for you. Other activities that our guests enjoy are campfires at night (sometimes with s’mores and sing-a-longs!), fantastic stargazing, unguided hiking, photography, swimming in the creek, or just reading a good book on one of our bench swings.
Enjoy warm hospitality, delicious food and peace and quiet at our small, remote ranch!
Good time to go
There is no bad time to come during our season from March through mid-November. If you have preferences in regards to weather, temperatures, wildflowers, fall colors, family time, adults only, etc. don't hesitate to ask us for a recommendation of the best time.
Children at the Ranch
Great for children aged 6 and over
Children age 6 and over are welcome at the ranch. You will ride together as a family. The minimum age for children to ride horses on the trail is 6 years old. We are a small ranch and do not have special childrens programs or babysitting services.
Minimum age children can ride
6 and over
Activities
hiking, picnics, outdoor play area, cookouts, Children will have fun riding or hiking with their family, swimming in the creek, practicing roping skills and having the freedom to explore the ranch property.
Games
board games, horseshoes, We have horseshoes and a variety of board games at the ranch which we enjoy joining in on with the children!
Environmental & Social Practices
Environment
The environment at Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch is open and welcoming. Once you are here, you become part of the family. Our guests leave with long lasting friendships and memories.
Conservation
We are completely off the grid and generate all our own power with solar panels and a generator. We are also located in an area that only gets 10-20 inches of precipitation a year. As such, we ask guests to conserve power and water as much as possible.
Ranch History
The ranch was built as a hunting lodge in 1982. It became a guest ranch in 2002. We have owned it since 2007.
Your Manager, Meris & Seth Stout
In the summer of 2005 Meris hired on as a wrangler at a dude ranch in Colorado where she worked for three summers. After the third summer, Meris had graduated from college while Harry and Diana had retired and they all were looking for a new adventure. The Esterlys love of dude ranching led them to seek out a dude ranch to buy. A broker set up seven ranches for them to visit from New Mexico to Montana. Geronimo Trail was the very first one they visited. It was love at first sight and the rest is history!