Double E Guest Ranch

Located northwest of Silver City, New Mexico along the western edge of the Gila Wilderness -- about 5 hours southwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico or 3 hours northwest of El Paso, Texas. The Double E Ranch is open year-round and proudly boasts some of the best and most exciting horseback riding in the southwest!

Indulge your Cowboy Spirit with cattle roundups, cayuses, buffalo, trail riding, and the undiluted, raw sensations of southwestern New Mexico. Unlike many dude or guest ranches, at Double E Ranch you can saddle up for a roundup or experience a true taste of the Old West by trying some Cowboy Mounted Shooting! Take a run at some barrels, or learn the skills of roping, reining and team penning. Feel nature up close and explore a vacation paradise exceptionally beautiful, filled with wildlife and rich in the history of the southwest. A working cattle/guest ranch, the Double E is situated on 30,000 acres in the heart of Apache country, 30 miles northwest of historic Silver City, home of Billy the Kid and Geronimo, and the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest.

Horseback Riding

The Double E Ranch proudly boasts some of the best and most exciting horseback riding in the southwest! "Hands on, sleeves up, seat in the saddle" is the sum of the cowboy experience at Double E Ranch! You'll get as much "hands-on" time as you want! You can help with ranch chores and ride Mexican mustangs in truly spectacular country with scenery as impressive as any in the southwest. Ranch Staff makes every effort to select your saddle horse from their string of over 60 horses, and work out an individual horseback riding routine tailored to your personal experience and interest level - from beginner to extremely advanced.

Regular riding, roping, reining and horsemanship clinics are also offered, throughout the year. Seasoned ranch horses will take you trail riding or rounding up cattle. Learn the cowboy 'fun'damentals of riding, try some barrel racing, team penning or practice your roping and reining. Or simply sit back in the comfort of one of your guesthouse with a good book.

No 'nose to tail' trail riding at Double E Ranch! It's horseback riding the way it was intended to be, in country that can only be experienced from the back of a good horse. At 4500' elevation, four mild New Mexico seasons make outdoor horseback adventures possible year 'round.

The ranch specializes in scenic, customized horseback rides for all levels of riding skill and ability. The better you ride, the more challenging and exciting your riding adventure can be, through the same country traveled by Geronimo and Cochise! Double E Ranch contains some of the traditional domain of the Chiricahua Apache. Privately protected Indian ruins can be reached by horseback or on foot. The ranch also provides endless opportunities for birding, geology expeditions, or botanical exploration. You can pan for gold or search for arrowheads. You can live the legends of the Wild West from the back of a good horse and ride your dreams!

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2007 Rates and Lodging

The Double E offers a variety of lodging options, including bunk houses, private, rustic ranch cabins, each filled with queen-sized beds, western art and interesting antiques, or a four-bedroom ranch house. The Double E offers a truly unique cowboy experience and purposely limits the number of guests to provide you with an individualized, personalized, western-style adventure

Double E Ranch prides itself on their family-style meals serving home grown, chemical-free Texas Longhorn beef and buffalo dishes. They offer organically grown fruits and vegetables on the menu when in season and available, as well as vegetarian menus. Freshly baked desserts are served up daily. In addition, they can comfortably accommodate folks with other special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, fat-free or no salt diets.

Most lodging is $215.00 per night, per person. We add 6% New Mexico State Tax and 15% Staff Gratuity. We work hard to keep our rates competitive and reasonable. However, our rates and rooms are subject to change without prior notice. All guesthouses are non-smoking facilities.

RIO LOBO GUESTHOUSE

Rio Lobo is a cozy little 2-bedroom house built in the 1940's. It was used as the original bunk house here at Headquarters. We've spruced it up plenty, the hard wood floors shine and barn wood walls provide the warmth of real western atmosphere. Living space includes a sitting room, small kitchen, full bath and screened porch. At 900 square feet, this little house will comfortably sleep one single, 2 couples or 3 singles very comfortably. Amenities include all kitchen appliances, thick towels, two full sized and one queen bed with down comforters. Air conditioning in warmer months. All meals, unlimited horseback riding, all cattle/ranch activities are included in your rate.

NEW MEXICO RANCH HOUSE

Plenty comfortable, this renovated ranch house is nearly 100 years old! Nestled in the trees near Bear Creek, this 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house has a giant veranda overlooking the horse pasture. Amenities include rocking chairs, refrigerator, coffee maker, coffee, tea, milk, fresh bed linens, comforters. The bathroom has an antique claw-foot bathtub, shower and plush, thick towels. Air conditioning during warmer summer months. All meals, unlimited horseback riding, all cattle/ranch activities are included in your rate.

WRANGLER'S LOG CABIN

Western and rustic, this authentic 1700 sq ft log house offers complete privacy, hidden along the creek. With two spacious bedrooms downstairs, a large loft bedroom above, and two full bathrooms, it will easily accommodate a group of 8-10 but it's cozy enough for just two! After a long days' ride, relax in your Jacuzzi tub, easing those tired, sore, aching muscles. You'll spend quiet evenings rocking on the porch, or sipping coffee while watching the morning sunrise.

Amenities include queen, full and twin sized beds, two full showers with deep bath tubs, thick towels, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker. All meals, unlimited horseback riding, all cattle/ranch activities are included in your rate.

THE HIDEOUT CABINS

Four cozy little cabins overlooking our foal pasture have all the rustic comforts. After a full day of riding, good grub and great company, hunker down in your own ‘hideout’.

At sun-up, treat yourself to coffee on your private deck, experiencing the incredible quiet, magical colors, waiting for the early morning stir of young colts nickering to be fed. Perfect for a single -- or a familiar two. Amenities include queen sized bed, full shower and/or deep bath tub, thick towels, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker. Air conditioning during warmer months. All meals, unlimited horseback riding, all cattle/ranch activities are included in your rate.

THE PUEBLO TOWER CLOUDSPLITTER

$250/night

The view from here is a spectacular 360 degrees! This southwestern pueblo-style, tri-story adobe sits high above Headquarters. It will comfortably accommodate as many as 3 singles or 2 couples, with a queen, full and twin sized beds. The master bedroom has a magnificent kiva fireplace for cooler nights. Amenities include small dining area with micro wave and small refrigerator, 2 full bathrooms, thick towels and plush comforters. All meals, unlimited horseback riding, all cattle/ranch activities are included in your rate. It's recommended you arrive with your own vehicle when booking the Tower.

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Special Activities

From November through February each year, you might want to join the "Wild Bunch" Gang and satisfy your need for speed! These hard and fast trips cover 15-30 miles every day, returning to Headquarters in the evening for a hot shower, a tasty meal and a comfortable bed! Your horse will be tough and willing, the weather cool and brisk. It's a wild ride through wild country, often over the Pinos Altos Mountain Range and into the Gila Wilderness! These rides are perfect for the intermediate or advanced rider looking for a fun riding challenge. Regular ranch activities will continue, including cattle work for all you folks wanting something less extreme

Have you always dreamed of being part of a Cattle Roundup?? Because the climate here in southwestern New Mexico is so mild during any season, the ranch calves year 'round. This means most guests have an opportunity to help with every phase of cattle work which can include roundups, branding, sorting, weaning, vaccinating, castrating, and moving to new pastures. The Double E raises Texas Longhorn and cross-bred Brangus cattle and strive to preserve as much of the traditional "old West" as possible.

RASTUS LINE CAMP
$250 Per Person/Per Night; usually combined with Ranch Riding Vacation. Because this adventure is extremely 'labor intensive', regrettably, we must charge a bit more. We think it's worth it!

In the old days, Cowboys used "line camps" or "sign camps" where they were stationed to "ride line" or "ride sign," which meant to turn back cattle straying from the home range, follow the tracks of those which they missed, watch for rustlers, tail-up cattle during storms and pull them from bog-holes.

This is your chance to experience a horseback riding adventure! Rastus Cabin, on the very edge of the Gila National Forest/Gila Wilderness provides an exciting opportunity to recreate the life of a real cowboy. Nearly 100 years ago, settler Rastus Perry homesteaded this remote piece of land. Rastus made his living turning corn into "shine", driving his team and wagon once every month into the town of Silver City, nearly 40 miles away. More recently, cattlemen in the area used Rastus' cabin to work cows. Tighten up yer cinch! This adventure ain't fer the feint-hearted or weak-kneed. There's no phone or fax... just you, yer horse and the determination to get the job done. This country is mind-numbing, rough, rugged and mountainous; some cattle are wild as elk! Riders must be in excellent physical condition with at least intermediate level horsemanship skills, and willing to spend 7-10 hours in the saddle. Camp-style meals to fill yer belly. This is the starting point for a journey back in time...a journey your heart and mind will not soon forget!

Ranch Staff works diligently to ensure your adventure is comfortable, exciting and safe. Spend your days riding on experienced, seasoned horses, familiar with rocky, steep terrain. Range tents are provided for added privacy or inclement weather, however everyone must bring their own personal sleeping bags.

GILA NATURE EXPEDITION
$200 Per Person/Per Night. Single Supplement Applies

Double E Ranch is the starting point for a journey back in time...a journey your heart and mind will not soon forget! You'll begin your adventure from Ranch Headquarters each morning, traveling 8-15 miles daily on horseback. From the comfort of your rustic guesthouse accommodations at Double E Ranch, tucked away in the corner of southwestern New Mexico, you will be presented with an exclusive opportunity to experience a virtual nature paradise for those seeking absolute solitude and escape from modern society's busy, stress-filled lifestyle. Imagine yourself outdoors standing on top of a high, remote peak in the Pinos Altos Mountain Range, spectacular vistas into Arizona, surrounded by Nature in all it's complete perfection! Intensely blue skies, crisp clean air and the only sound is an eagle's wings, the wind, and the beating of your own heart. Not much has changed over 30 million years in this incredible wilderness setting!

Fill out the reservation form today!