Life at Ring Lake Ranch
New to Ring Lake Ranch?
Discover Ring Lake Ranch – a special place of refreshment and recreation set high in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming on land that is the traditional territory of the Mountain Shoshone people.
The beauty of the mountains with their quiet lakes, wildlife, birds, and flowers beckons the soul to celebrate creation in quiet and wonder. Features of the Ranch like ancient petroglyphs, a rock labyrinth, and an outdoor prayer chapel invite all guests to contemplate the divine presence in a unique setting.
Friendly horses, miles of hiking trails, and fish-laden waters offer both the novice and experienced outdoors lover physical challenge as well as relaxation. Guests often see wildlife, including deer, elk, and bighorn sheep, as they hike, ride, and canoe. Bird watching, from our resident osprey family to chickadees, bluebirds, and eagles, is a favorite pastime.
Daily Activities
Getting Here
Arrival and Departure: Please plan to arrive between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 pm on Sunday.
Check-out follows breakfast on Saturday.
Google Maps is reasonably accurate, but we are seven miles off the highway on a Forest Service road, so we strongly recommend you pay attention to the signs and directions given below.
By Car: from the West – (Jackson and Yellowstone)
Go about three miles east of Dubois. The highway climbs a long hill and drops into a small valley. After the bridge, turn RIGHT onto Forest Road 411 (Trail Lake Road). Immediately after turning off the highway, the gravel road forks. Take the LEFT fork. The Ranch is approximately seven miles from the main highway. Our signs occur periodically. The Ranch road is on the left shortly after the Ring Lake campground. Cross the bridge and come through the gate. The gate is not locked, even if it appears to be so; please close it after you. The main complex is ½ mile up the road from the gate.
By Car: From the East – (Riverton or Lander)
Highway 26/287. The turnoff is the LEFT, between mile marker 59 and 60 onto Forest Road 411 (Trail Lake Road). Immediately after turning off the highway, the gravel road forks. Take the LEFT fork. The Ranch is approximately seven miles from the main highway. Our signs occur periodically. The Ranch road is on the left shortly after the Ring Lake campground. Cross the bridge and come through the gate. The gate is not locked, even if it appears to be so; please close it after you. The main complex is ½ mile up the road from the gate.
By Plane
Jackson is the closest airport and is served by several airlines. It is important to book early. Some guests who plan to rent a car find flights into Idaho Falls, ID and car rentals less expensive. The drive from Idaho Falls to the Ranch is about 185 miles or 3:45 hours.
Car rental is also available at Jackson Hole Airport, but prior reservation is a must.
Transportation from the Jackson Hole Airport
The Ranch can arrange to pick up guests from the airport by previous arrangement and at an additional cost. PLEASE ARRANGE YOUR FLIGHT ARRIVAL PRIOR TO 3:00 P.M. Airport transport fees for the summer: $115 per person, maximum $230 per family, each way.
We want to make getting to the Ranch as convenient as possible. Please let us know your flight schedule well in advance.
What Our Guests Say
Hear From Our Incredible Guests
About Their Experiences
“Everything about Ring Lake Ranch is magical, peaceful, relaxing, and rejuvenating. I absolutely love the area, the staff, the food, the activities, and especially the freedom to be as involved or as secluded as you’d like to be. Every part of the retreat week is meaningful, intentional, and thoughtful. Ring Lake Ranch is perfect if you’re seeking solitude or community, whether you want to have a week full of fun activities in nature or if you want to read alone on your porch or on a rock. A friend invited me the first time I came and I brought my mom the second time. And this definitely won’t be my last time or my mom’s last time here. So many visitors become regulars. It’s such a special place.”
“If you are looking for a lovely getaway in Wyoming – this is your place. The cabins are so cozy, the meals are delicious (even catering to individual dietary needs), and so many activities onsite – kayaking, SUP, horseback riding, fly-fishing, and hiking (guided or on your own). They also host programming in the evenings – optional – but also wonderful. The three meals are served with all the guests at the same time, so it’s a great chance to get to know folks staying there (and the staff – super fun). Our 20-year-old son went along with us, and he loved it as well. I’m such a fan of this place and can’t wait to return.”
“Our family has spent two weeks at Ring Lake just about every summer; and we have loved it. The ranch does so much to create a very genuine sense of community for each session during the summer. The staff is fantastic. We’ve enjoyed the speakers every year and look forward to both reconnecting with old acquaintances and meeting new people from around the country.
The scenery is spectacular; and we’ve always enjoyed the planned hikes and horseback rides. The food is abundant. Perfect place for families to get away from screens and distractions.
Absolutely one of our favorite places in the world.”
Frequently Asked Questions
We are located 10 miles from town on a gravel road. We have a small gift shop with sundry items, but you should plan on bringing your supplies with you. We provide linens and bar soap, but you may want to pack shampoo and conditioner. Weather is variable – warm days and cool nights are the rule, so layers are helpful.
- Casual clothing (jeans, sweatshirts, T shirts, shorts)
- Long sleeves for outdoor activities
- Sweaters and a warm jacket
- Rain jackets (no ponchos allowed for horse riding)
- Riding pants or jeans
- Comfortable, broken-in hiking boots or walking shoes. Hiking poles or a walking staff is advisable if you have difficulty in walking. Paths and walkways are hilly and rocky.
- Sunscreen, skin moisturizer, and chapstick
- Flashlight or headlamp (we have no exterior lights)
- Fishing gear (a Wyoming license may be purchased online or in Dubois)
- Mosquito repellent
- Water bottles
- Day pack or fanny pack
- We have laundry facilities on site, including a washer, dryer, clothesline, and laundry soap. There is a donation bucket in the laundry room to help us cover expenses.
Guests arrive between 3pm and 6 pm on Sundays at the start of a seminar week and depart the next Saturday morning. We have dinner at 6 pm on Sunday, followed by an orientation at 7:30 pm.
The rest of the week generally follows this schedule:
- 7:30 am Offered Morning Prayer in Chapel
- 8:00 am Breakfast followed by brief meditation and announcements
- 9:30 am Morning activities: i.e. organized hikes, trail rides
- 12:30 pm Lunch
- 5:30 pm Offered Sharing Time (Guests or staff sometimes offer to lead discussions, demonstrations, or concerts)
- 6:00 pm Dinner
- 7:30-9:00 pm Seminars – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
The petroglyphs on the Ranch are associated with vision quest experiences of the Mountain Shoshone people. They are thought to be anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand years ago. Seminar guests are welcome to view them whenever they wish but feel free to ask staff for a guided tour since some are difficult to find. Because the petroglyphs are such a significant archaeological and cultural feature, we allow limited access to them by non-Ranch guests: Only archeologists, American Indians, school and university groups, and groups organized through the Dubois Museum will be allowed access to the petroglyphs and our other cultural resources. Any groups wishing to view the petroglyphs must obtain permission from the Ranch Director.
Mostly definitely! In fact, families have been coming to the Ranch from the beginning. Many of our programs are interesting to kids and we have kid-friendly rides and hikes. Children 12 and under attend at no charge! Please note, however, that we are not able to offer childcare.
For the safety of your pet and the other guests on the Ranch, please leave your pets at home.
We serve a variety of dishes, but all are tasty and filling.
Breakfast includes items such as French toast casserole, bacon, yogurt, fresh fruit, etc. Lunch is anything from wraps and sandwiches to soups or grain bowls. Dinner is heartier, comfort meals such as roast and potatoes, fish and veggies, or shepherd's pie. “The food is so good that I ate too much” is about the only complaint we hear! Let us know your special dietary needs from vegetarian to gluten intolerance. We do everything we can to accommodate all dietary needs!
Because we are a nonprofit!
Our priority is to make the Ranch experience available to anyone who wishes to join us. Our guests help with dishes and clean and re-make their cabins at the end of sessions, allowing us to keep a smaller staff. Generous donations cover a portion of our operating expenses. If the fees are a burden, we have scholarship help available – please ask!
Absolutely! Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone are about 2 hours drive from the Ranch, making them a great day trip opportunity for guests.
The local town of Dubois offers lovely shops, local parks, a rodeo every Friday night from June - September. The local tavern also hosts the St. Thomas Episcopal Church summer fundraiser every Tuesday evening--a square dance!