The People · October 4, 2026
First look at the 2026 rebuild
elkglade.com moved to Cloudflare Workers this spring. Here's what changed, what didn't, and what's coming next.
Lauren · 2 min read
Colorado cattle drive · East Beaver Valley
Ride a real Colorado cattle drive.
Eight hours on horseback at a 138-year working ranch. Herd cattle in the fall, ride the East Beaver Valley the rest of the year. From $1,495 for up to four guests plus the Xola booking fee; $250 each additional guest, eight riders max. Giddy up.
- $1,495
- From · up to 4 guests
- 8 hrs
- On the ranch
- 8
- Max riders / day
- Age 10+
- Tack-size recommended
Adventure on Horseback
Participate in an authentic western ranching event on this day trip in the Colorado subalpine wonderland at Elk Glade Outfitters, L.L.C. Operated by Elk Ranch’s experienced riders and congenial hosts, we are proud to share this unique experience with a handful of guests. Work alongside wranglers to move cattle onto their summer or winter pastures in East Beaver Valley on the south slope of Pikes Peak. The wildflower-covered valleys are bordered by brilliant pink granite cliffs, which give way to bubbling streams and open meadows of pine, spruce and aspen.
We invite you to enjoy a memorable adventure, complete with herding cattle on horseback — all while taking in the crisp mountain air and views of pristine canyon land. Explore 2,100 acres of family-owned land and over 25,000 acres of leased land, accessible by motorized vehicle only through our main gate. Ranch headquarters is a mining camp hotel that was built in 1900 and was later disassembled by ranch hands and moved from the mining ghost town to its present site. Today, guests can enjoy the adventure and excitement of this historical landmark.
The cattle drive flyerUp to four guests, $1,495 plus the Xola booking fee; each additional guest $250.
Download flyer (PDF)Book up to eight riders through Xola. Larger groups by phone — Jim Johnson at (303) 355-4868 can sort dates, gear, and pacing for parties bigger than that.
How a day runs
From the barn back to the barn.
Morning
Meet at the barn
Pull in to the ranch, drop a bag at the lodge if you brought one, and walk down to the barn. The crew sizes you to a horse — most parties have a mix of experience and we pair accordingly. Quick safety briefing, helmet check, then mount up and out the gate.
Mid-day
On the trail
In the fall, the work is herding cattle into the high alpine valley or driving them down to winter pastures. The rest of the year the same trails are open as guided horseback rides through the East Beaver Valley and the lower bench, snow-conditions permitting. Lunch comes out of the wagon or the kitchen depending on the day's route.
Afternoon
Back to the lodge
Walk the horses out, untack, and call it a day with cold drinks back at the lodge. Most days run about eight hours door-to-door from the moment you mount up; the exact length depends on whether the cattle are moving and how the weather lays out.
What’s included
- →Horse + tack (the wranglers pair you with the right horse on arrival)
- →Helmet
- →Water + snacks during the ride
- →Lunch out of the wagon or back at the lodge
Bring this
- ·A reusable water bottle (bring one — we'll fill it)
- ·Fleece or insulating layer
- ·Riding shoes or boots with a heel
- ·Gloves
- ·Rain jacket
- ·Hat
- ·Tips for the wrangler crew (15–20% customary)
Boots with a heel are the most important thing in the bring-this list — a flat shoe slides through the stirrup. If you’re unsure, call before you drive in.
Frequently asked.
How much riding experience do I need?
None required. Most of our cattle-drive guests are on horseback for the first time. The crew pairs you with a calm horse, walks you through mounting and reining at the barn, and rides at the pace of the group. Experienced riders are welcome too — we'll match you with a horse with more get-up.
Is this a real cattle drive or a staged experience?
Real when the cattle are moving — fall, mainly, when we push pairs into the high alpine valley or back down to winter pasture. The rest of the year the same ground rides as a guided horseback day. We don't stage drives for guest groups; you ride when the work runs.
Who runs the drive?
The Elk Glade ranch crew, with Jim Johnson coordinating the schedule and bookings. If you want to talk through your group, ride experience, or a specific date before you book, give Jim a call at (303) 355-4868.
Can kids come?
Children are welcome. Our tack is sized for riders age ten and older — younger riders may find the saddle and stirrups don't fit them properly. If you've got a smaller party with kids, call us first and we'll talk through whether a given day fits.
What if it rains or snows?
Light rain we ride through. A real storm we hold or shift the timing — mountain weather in the East Beaver Valley moves fast and we make the call at the barn. Snow conditions can also constrain the horseback days outside of fall; we'll let you know if a date won't work.
Can I bring my own horse?
No — we run on ranch horses the wranglers know. Visiting horses don't know the country or the rest of the string and slow the work down. Safety and pace decision.
Book your cattle drive
Pick a date. We’ll saddle the horse.
Book up to eight riders straight through Xola: $1,495 for up to four guests plus the Xola booking fee, $250 each additional guest. Larger group? Specific date in mind? Just want to talk through what a day looks like before you commit? Call Jim — he picks up.
From the journal
From the ranch crew.
The People · September 26, 2026
A day at the ranch lodge
Five a.m. coffee. Hunter breakfast before light. The mid-morning quiet. Lunch on the porch. The chuckwagon at sundown. A real day at a 138-year working ranch from the kitchen end.
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The People · September 8, 2026
Why we open the gate
People ask why a working cattle ranch bothers with guests at all. The honest answer is part arithmetic and part something harder to put a number on.
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