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

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.

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.