River Valley Ranch

Introduction
Saskatchewan Canada

Riding, roping, cowboy cookouts on the range, bonfires under the stars, the magnificent scenery, and the down-home hospitality will leave you with memories to be treasured for a lifetime.

Crossing a rolling prairie landscape, this working ranch, lies tucked away in the beautiful Saskatchewan River valley, along the shores of Lake Diefenbaker. The scenery reminds of an old fashion western movie. The landscape is a mixture of rolling prairies, open range, canyons, the river hills and sandy beaches at Lake Diefenbaker . The large ranch property includes 9 miles of river frontage. The nature changes its palette with the seasons, from the purple crocus in spring to the pink flowering cactus in summer to the splendor of golden colors in the fall. Here we invite you to join us for an unforgettable ranch vacation in the middle of Canada.

Life here follows the seasons and the rhythm of the herds. We rise with the sun, we work hard, and we relax under the stars of a fragrant prairie evening.

Guests experience the cowboy way-of-life, not from a helicopter or an air-conditioned truck, but from the cowpoke's best friend, the horse. This peaceful spot in the river hills welcomes guests for an intimate, real-life ranch experience of daily chores, hearty cowboy fare and plenty of fresh air.

Some things may have changed down here at the ranch, but what always remain constant are the spectacular sunsets, the feel of the wind on your face as you ride the open range and the peace of mind only a cowboy can enjoy.

Feel the rhythms of the land. It will fill your heart and draw you back to this special place.

Accomodation

Guests stay in western-style wood cabins decorated to make any cowboy feel at home. There are six comfortable log-cabins and two 1.5-story cabins with loft bedrooms with enough space for up to 4 people. All other cabins have two twin beds or one queen-size bed and a private washroom with toilet and shower.
Weekly cleaning is included. Bedding and toiletries are supplied. Everything you need for your private home away from.
Meals are prepared in the ranches Cookshack – wholesome, plentiful cowboy cuisine that includes melt in-your-mouth Canadian beef. Everybody gathers together at mealtimes, rubbing shoulders with the ranch family and other guests from around the world. Many friendships have been born while eating and sitting together.
The Ranch has its own Saloon with a pool table, foosball, darts and country music. Everybody is welcome to use the hot tub at the back deck of the saloon whenever you feel like relaxing after a long day in the saddle.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Itinerary

We do a lot of horseback riding at the ranch, because there is nothing better to experience the cowboy way-of-life!

After the famous and extensive breakfast, it is time for everybody to saddle the horses! You will get a suitable horse to enjoy your time in the saddle. Then we take off for an exciting day ride to check the herd and to explorer the large ranch property.

Novice riders are welcome to have their first western riding lessons in our large riding arena at the main ranch. Everyone will have the chance to learn how to rope and work with cattle or try the first barrel race.

All guests are welcome to participate in the cattle and ranch work. We have to check and move cows on a daily base and if necessary we have to catch some calves and treat them.

While there is a lot to do every day, we do not forget to relax and have a good lunch break with coffee, beans and sausages cooked over an open fire and a snooze in the sun. And from time to time, throughout the summer month, we pack up the horses for an overnight trip and campout under the stars – a real cowboy dream far away from urban life.

Special Events
Branding The Offspring - late May to early June 
One of the most popular times at the ranch is early June, when the cattle is rounded up on horseback for an old-time authentic branding. Altogether we move the herd the whole way from the pastures to the ranch. A long day in the saddle with lots of fun and action. The next day is branding day and every hand is needed. Everyone has the chance to learn how to rope and to participate in the hard work of the cowboys, like wrestling the calves. Guests should plan to visit for at least ten days in order to become acquainted with the operation and their horse before branding day.

Round Up Week  -   mid October
In the first half of October cattle have to be rounded up on horseback and brought home from the summer pastures to the main ranch. The cattle will be counted, vaccinated and moved into a different pasture or onto the farmland. This is a great advance for people who love to ride and learn some skills about handling and being around cattle

Other Ranch Activities
When we are not in the saddle, there are plenty of other activities to do. During the summer month guests can walk down to Lake Diefenbaker for swimming, boating, canoeing and waterskiing. The lake offers also a great opportunity for fishing. The large ranch property invites to explorer the untouched wildlife with deer, coyotes, foxes and owls, and overhead a Golden Eagle or a pair of Pelicans, while hiking in the rolling hills. Or find a private spot along 200-kilometers of sandy beaches

In the evening, do what the cowboys do. A game of horseshoes, dummy steer roping, archery or a visit to the saloon, where there is a pool table, foosball and darts. Listen to country music or sit in the hot tub under the stars. End the day with the crackle of a romantic campfire and a cowboy sing-a-long.

On some nights we go to the nearby town and have a beer in the famous White Bear Saloon

Season Opening
First week of the season: Guests will get the taste of cowboys daily spring jobs while calves still come to life. Join us on our daily horseback trips to the pastures to check the herd and treat the new born calves. Fences and corrals need to be checked and fixed. Main ranch and cattle set up has to be prepared and shaped for upcoming branding.

Clear Up Week
The last week of the season offers shorter days, but lots of riding and fun in the beautiful color fading prairie and river hill scenery. Usually cooler days allows us to do harder work with and around cattle. Corrals and winter facilities have to be repaired and prepared for the cattle to come home. Pasture fences have to be checked and fixed if necessary. There is nothing more beautiful then the smell of clear and fresh air on a fall day and a hot coffee cooked over the campfire after having a snooze around lunchtime.

Area Attractions
The area around the ranch is stepped into ranching traditions and prairie history. Experience the rodeo trail and the life of competing cowboys firsthand at a nearby small town rodeo. We are happy to organize Rodeo Trips whenever possible. They can be booked directly at the ranch.

Not far away are the high lands of the Cypress Hills, Fort Walsh , the first settlements of the North-West Mounted Police and the Great Sand Hills, a semi-desert of sand dunes rising mysteriously from the plain.

Guided tours can be booked at the ranch as well. Within a 45-minute drive you will find a golf course, mini golf, houseboat tours, historic museums, a sporting Marina and shopping malls.

Rates and Dates for River Valley Ranch

Dates Note: Spring Branding: June 3 to 12
Fall Round Up: Oct 9 to 16
Arrival is is possible any day of the week. Transfers are only available on Monday, Thursday and Saturday

Other Info
Meeting: Kyle
Airport: Saskatoon
Transfer: Saskatoon

Climate:

The ranch is in a dry-prairie/savanna biome and experiences warm summers and very cold winters. There are four distinct seasons. Extreme temperatures range from -50°C in winter to 41°C (-58°F to 104°F) in summer. Itis fairly dry; the average annual precipitation is 347.2 mm (13.7in). A positive aspect of the low precipitation is that it is sunnier than average in Canada as a result, averaging 2,381 hours of bright sunshine annually. The extreme temperatures are also more tolerable on account of the typically low humidity. Although winters are long and severe, many people find the crisp atmosphere, lack of dampness and abundant sunshine preferable to the more mild, however gloomy and dull regions of winter Canada. The same can be said for the summer months as there are usually only a few hot days over 30C each summer and most summer days are quite mild in comparison to the rest of populated North America. Hot, humid days are infrequent and uncomfortably sticky summer nights extremely rare. Thunderstorms are common in the summer months.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Saskatoon was 40.6°C on 5 June 1988.