3 Best Hotels in Cody, Sheridan, and Northern Wyoming, Wyoming

Name: Paradise Guest Ranch
Address: 282 Hunter Creek Rd., Buffalo, Wyoming, 82834, US
Telephone: 307-684–7876
Price range: $$$$

Just as diverse as the area’s landscape, which fades from small Western cities into vast lengths of open prairie and forested mountains, are its accommodations. In the population centers lodgings range from new chain hotels with wireless Internet access to elegant and historic stone inns decorated with buffalo skins and Victorian furniture. Move beyond these cities, however, and everything changes. Campgrounds abound in the open countryside. On the prairie, expect sprawling guest ranches alongside cold mountain-fed creeks. In the higher elevations, look for charming bed-and-breakfasts on mountain slopes with broad alpine vistas. But whatever the type of accommodation, all kinds of amenities are available, from the ordinary to the unconventional, including saunas, hot tubs, horseback riding, fly-fishing lessons, and square dancing. Perhaps the greatest benefit of all, however, is the isolation. In what some might call a welcome change in this era of information overload, many rural lodgings don’t have in-room televisions or telephones, and vast stretches don’t have cell-phone service.

Paradise Guest Ranch

$$$$ | 282 Hunter Creek Rd., Buffalo, WY, 82834, USA Fodor's Choice

Not only does this dude ranch have a stunning location at the base of some of the tallest mountains in the range, but it's also one of the oldest (circa 1907) and most progressive, as evidenced by its adults-only month (September) and two ladies' weeks. The rest of the summer has extensive children's programs, with everything from overnight pack trips to a kids' rodeo. Adult programs involve sing-alongs and fancy barbecues. The wranglers are very careful about matching riders to appropriate horses; multiday trips venture into the Bighorn National Forest and Cloud Peak Wilderness Area. Three full-time guides on staff take guests on fly-fishing excursions. Cabins are simple. Some have fireplaces; all have full baths and kitchenettes. There's a one-week minimum stay; ask about 30% discounts in June.

Eatons' Guest Ranch

$$$$ | 270 Eatons' Ranch Rd., Wolf, WY, 82844, USA

This spread is credited with inventing the dude ranch, back in the late 19th century, and it's still going strong, as well as being a working cattle ranch. The location, west of Sheridan on the edge of the Bighorn National Forest, makes it ideal for horseback riding, fishing, cookouts, and pack trips. The ranch can accommodate 125 guests, and reservations for the summer should be made by March. The facilities are a collection of one-, two-, and three-bedroom cabins and the main lodge. There's a one-week minimum stay from mid-June through August and a three-day minimum stay the rest of the season.

The Ranch at Ucross

$$$$ | 2673 U.S. Hwy. 14, Clearmont, WY, 82835, USA

If you're looking to get in touch with yourself—or your traveling companion—this Old West–style ranch on the banks of Piney Creek in the foothills of the Big Horns may well be the place. The four bedrooms in the restored 1912 house, as well as modern rooms and cabins around the property, are given a warm Western feel by gnarled wood lamps, quilt-covered beds, and comfy throws for cool nights. Most accommodations open onto spacious decks where you can read, watch the sun set, or just gaze at the Canada geese, grazing horses, and towering cottonwoods. Do some mountain-stream fishing or take a pack trip to mountain lakes. Good for family reunions and retreats.

Cody, Sheridan, and Northern Wyoming

Cody, Sheridan, and Northern Wyoming

Recommended Fodor's Video

Follow Us

Thank you for your interest!