Something amazing is happening in the North Fork Valley of Colorado: local, sustainable, and organic farms are thriving. Smith Fork Ranch in Crawford, Colorado, uses local fruits and vegetables from their own garden and surrounding organic farms, as well as lamb, beef, pheasant, and elk raised locally and sustainably, to create a delicious feast with fresh ingredients every day. The words “luxury” and “dude ranch” don’t often fit together in a sentence, but that’s exactly what the Hodgson family has created at the Smith Fork Ranch.  In the dramatic mesas and mountains of Colorado’s Western Slope, the wine industry is growing and thriving in Tuscan-like summers, and this ranch reflects this refined culture amid lush rolling countryside, with the dramatic (and undiscovered!) San Juan mountains as a backdrop.

This piece of Colorado also has the nation’s newest national monument, the incredible Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Visit the park for fishing, rafting, hiking, or some truly adventurous rock climbing (for the hard core only) on one of your days at the ranch-but you really won’t want to be late for that dinner.  Fill the rest of your time with world-class trout fishing at the ranch, horseback riding, archery, or even learn the skills to become a barrel racer.

We have spent time in this area, and the whole summer experience at Smith Fork Ranch is everything a vacation should be: amazing local food, culture, and adventure in the dramatic San Juan’s, with a touch of world culture in the growth and care for the food and wine.

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