Activities:
Riding, Fishing
and More!

Children & Teen
Programs

Lodging

History

Outings

In the
News

September in
the Rockies

Guest Reviews

Zorro, an
RTR Legend

Rates

Directions

E-Mail

Van Berkum
Quarter Horses

Fishing on our private
stretch of the Conejos River

Member of
Dude Ranchers'
Association

Colorado
Dude & Guest Ranch
Association

Proud Members
or AQHA

America Outdoors

Conejos River Anglers

Introduction to RTR || Your Ranch Hosts

Rainbow Trout Ranch is perfect for both adults and children, with great horses, exceptional fishing, swimming, children’s programs, day trips to Taoss, white water rafting and the chance to ride America’s highest and longest narrow-gauge steam train. Enjoy the atmosphere of our western log cabins and savor our delicious home-cooked meals. A historic ranch surrounded by Rio Grande National Forest, we are within easy access of Albuquerque, Denver, Colorado Springs or Alamosa.

We think our location is ideal. At 9000’ the summer temperatures are near perfect, with warm, sunny days and cool evenings. Ponderosa pine and aspen are in abundance, and a countless variety of wildflowers decorate the meadows. From over 10,000’ at the north end, the ranch drops down into the river valley. Over a mile and a half of trout rich river winds through the ranch and horses often graze the banks and nearby meadows, providing a view from the lodge area that is breathtaking. Some impressive waterfalls are within an easy ride as well as several small creeks and lakes.

Introduction to RTR || Your Ranch Hosts

The Van Berkum Family

The Van Berkum family consists of Doug and Linda, their daughters Gayle and Rachel, their son David and his wife Jane.

Doug and Linda are at the ranch for seven months of the year, returning to their roots in Orange City, Iowa from November to early April.

David and Jane have three children and live at the ranch year round in a unique house that is part of an indoor arena. Thus they are able to ride and rope year round.

Gayle and her family live in Denver, while Rachel and her husband live in Ft. Collins. Both Gayle and Rachel contribute much to the ranch, coming down often in the summer to help.

Guest ranching became a tradition for the Van Berkum family in the late eighties when David went to wrangle on a ranch in Montana and Rachel took a job helping in cabins on a Colorado ranch. Doug and Linda visited them both and pretty soon, guest ranching was in their blood. A few years of searching for just the right place led them to the Rainbow Trout Lodge in southern Colorado, long famous for its amazing lodge and superb fishing. They changed the name to the Rainbow Trout Ranch, bringing the focus onto both the exceptional fishing and riding. Now going into their fourteenth season, they still love to share the western lifestyle and beautiful scenery that surrounds them.

Our family invites you and your family to come and escape
the pressures of everyday life and to reconnect with one another here
in this unique corner of Colorado.

Activities | Children & Teen | Lodging | History | Outings | News | September | Guest Reviews
Zorro | Rates | Directions | Contact Us | Van Berkum Quarter Horses | HOME

 You are visitor 00552 since June 8, 2007