Elk Creek Ranch

Elk Creek Ranch offers a highly personalized summer experience in the Shoshone National Forest of northwestern Wyoming. Operating as a small, family-run ranch with no more than 50 staff and participants, the program fosters a close-knit community where every child is known and valued. This intimate setting is ideal for teenagers seeking a supportive, low-ratio environment away from the distractions of daily life.

The ranch provides two distinct programs designed to build confidence and life skills. The Ranch program is a residential experience combining horseback riding and ranch work with optional activities like fishing and backpacking. For those seeking more adventure, the Trek program is a 20-day backpacking journey through the Beartooth and Northern Absaroka Mountains, focusing on essential skills such as first aid, map and compass work, low-impact camping, and technical rock climbing.

Led by third-generation owners who are many of whom are teachers, the ranch emphasizes skill-building and nature-based learning. Whether participating in the western-style Ranch program or the wilderness-focused Trek, campers engage with one of the largest wilderness ecosystems in the United States, located near Yellowstone Park.