We like to say that we have been “welcoming guests in to our home” for over ninety years. This philosophy has created a feeling among HF Bar aficionados that our vacation experience offers something more than the ordinary. In this world of rapid changes, the HF Bar Ranch offers you a place where you can come back year after year, a place that always has what you like, a place that pretty much stays the same.

Oh, sure, we have WIFI Internet and the cell service is getting better and we offer nightly movies on a big screen every night, but the essence…the feeling that you are coming home…is the same as it was in 1910.

People who came as children who are now returning with their own children love the fact that they can reminisce with their children and point out what was so important so many years before. We have a vibrant and energetic Kids’ Program that provides entertainment and caregiving for those who are still too young to go out on the trails during the morning and evening riding hours. All you need to do is drop your child off after 9:00 a.m. at the Kids’ Club House and our Kids’ Team will take them off on hikes, do craft projects, visit the Ranch petting animals, make faces out of clouds, dress-up. There’s tons to do!

Of course, they’ll have a snack in the morning. In the evening, we even have a Story Hour right before bedtime where we serve milk and cookies to tired young ranchers who are ready to get recharged for the days ahead.

Among those activities, are many for all age groups.  We have beading for youngsters and finer jewelry making for the older set, a family tie dying afternoon, Frisbee golf, a low ropes challenge course, boat races and hikes and outings for teens. We also have an on-staff fly fisherman to help start youngsters off into a lifetime of fly tying and catch-and-release practices.

We try to center much of their activities around nature so that kids understand that bugs and coyotes, mountain lions and elk all have their place in this world and we humans are, simply, members of that same natural world. We teach respect for the land and for all of its critters…and we try to teach kids not to be afraid of nature, but respect it’s power. It is important to us that they understand that they are all members of Nature’s family!  At the HF Bar, we love playing in the dirt!

For first time riders, we offer lessons. “Mosquito Fleet” rides, where just the kids go off for a lunch picnic or a hamburger cookout in the evening, complete with yummy marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker s’mores happens a couple of times a week. Most families choose to ride with each other and we are all for that concept!  For the under 5 crowd, there are morning and evening pony rides lead by our Kids’ Team.

We don’t have to stick to any schedules for spur-the-moment hikes or jumps in the South Fork swimming hole. If someone wants to gather up a group, let’s go! At the Ranch, we think making a young child smile and keeping everyone laughing and busy is the absolute key to a successful family vacation. Kids are important guests and they are very high on our list of those we aim to please!