Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
This is it - this is your ranch, only four hours from Vancouver, Canada! Whether you're looking for a horseback riding holiday with a bit of adventure, a family vacation at a dude ranch where even the kids will have fun, or just some place new where you can really get away from it all, you've found it. Sundance Guest Ranch is located in the warmest, sunniest spot in Canada with sweeping, panoramic views of the wide open Thompson River Valley that are so beautiful, they're ridiculous... but that's not it. Sundance Guest Ranch is just an easy four hour drive from Vancouver, Canada, making us a perfect weekend getaway destination... but that's not it. Sundance Guest Ranch serves absolutely amazing food that goes well beyond what you might expect from a "dude ranch"... but that's not it either. Sundance Guest Ranch runs a herd of over 100 happy, well-cared-for horses with thousands of acres of spectacular and varied terrain to explore, and the horseback riding is truly wonderful, whether you're looking for relaxing, instructive or exciting... but even that's not it. When you've just gotten back from a ride, and you're sitting on the lounge deck with your favourite drink in your hand, watching the herd gallop out to the field for the night and laughing with someone you've known ten minutes like you've known them ten years... lean back, put a foot up on the railing and look around... you're close, close to knowing why we say: "The first time, it's a vacation - after that, it's coming home."
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Languages Spoken
English, French, German
Location
2606 Kirkland Ranch Road, Ashcroft, British Columbia V0K 1A0 Canada
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Sundance Guest Ranch is acclaimed for its exceptional service, with guests often commending the staff's attentive care towards both horses and guests. The rooms, celebrated for their cleanliness and rustic charm, may be due for some updates, as suggested by a few visitors.
The ranch's tranquil desert setting creates a unique atmosphere that is both lively and social, with the Hoe Down event being a notable highlight. Travelers also applaud the variety of relaxing activities and the well-maintained horses, adding to the ranch's appeal.
Atmosphere
Rustic
Rooms
Comfortable
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Relaxing
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My heart breaks that my next visit to Sundance has to wait until this terrible pandemic has passed. Our April and May bookings are likely to be delayed, but I am so incredibly grateful for the kindness and consideration from the owners and staff in keeping me well informed, and for their very open revised rebooking policies! There is a full complement of excellent staff in isolation at the ranch, keeping the horses (and themselves) in condition waiting for the day the ranch can open. I see the Facebook photos posted and Georgie (Pom Pom) barn boss and photographer extraordinaire with Philippa seconding for her are back along with so many amazing staff from last year! Yay! And there are new staff to meet and ride with! And a new chef too! And Kimmi and Pete are back?! Just waiting for the viral tidal wave to pass and for us to arrive. My heart is full of hope in these dark days for returning to the ranch and the joyful release there. May all my fellow guests waiting for opening keep healthy, slow that curve of virus, and all of us get through it so we can get back home to that joyous place that Sundance is. Ooooh! I just realized the staff will have more time to learn and clear trails and even find some new ones!? Oh boy!
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We made it to opening weekend this year to find once more that warm, welcoming, safe and joyous experience that Sundance always seems to pull out of their cowboy hats! The weather was astounding, sunny, suitable for light jackets on the rides, the horses were fit and happy to be back on the trails, the trails themselves were in great shape and our first ride out with barn boss Margot brought us to lower Chi! Amazing! And on subsequent rides we met a few new wonderful wranglers, and were thrilled to ride with some of last year's wranglers. A great mix. The new chef team of Daniel and Mary was absolutely amazing, what a treat each mouthful was, kudos to the whole kitchen! The serving team kept everything moving well, as we kept excellent distance and masks-on to pick up our food, then found beautiful locations by the fire pits (lots more this year!) or the deck, or the picnic tables or under trees to eat. We watched the sun go down as we sat by the fire pits and because I stayed up late enough I had the treat of seeing the northern lights glowing above the barn! A rare piece of luck. Everything felt like it moved seamlessly, from the terrific office staff, to the beautiful grounds and grass, piles of wood for the fire pits (thanks Dozer and Dan!). Amazing. I can't wait for the covid curve to bend and restrictions to loosen so I can go back to the best place in the world. Thank you all for helping to keep us all safe. Looking forward to seeing all our old and new ranch friends back "home" at Sundance this year.
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Date of stay: April 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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I cannot say enough good things about Sundance Guest Ranch. As a visitor for the first time last year, my impression prior to arriving was that it was kind of expensive, but after experiencing Sundance I can honestly say it is great value for the experience received. We came back this year and will continue to book with Sundance year over year. The ranch cares deeply about their guests experience and the staff go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. The rooms have air conditioning which is great during the warmer months. Food is amazing and the horseback riding has a lot of variety and the staff work hard to find a horse that fits your riding needs (even as they improve over the weekend). If you are able to go on a shoulder season - April, May, Sept, October, I would suggest this as temperatures will be more manageable and riding group sizes may be smaller (which I have found is preferred as you get to run longer!). Overall, amazing experience and I can't wait to go back soon!
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Date of stay: June 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Â Ask for a pasture facing room!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A truly wonderful stay at Sundance Guest Ranch and can't wait to return!
We enjoyed 4 perfect days of twice daily horse riding, co-ordinated by the excellent wrangler team where rider safety and horse welfare are paramount, yet delivered with a huge amount of fun, excitement and spectacular views along the trails.
The "jingle" bookends each day where 100 horses are put out to pasture at night and return first thing in the morning - a magnificent sight!
Beyond the horses, the ranch occupies a serene location with panoramic views in all directions.
The comfortable rooms are prepared spotlessly by Housekeeping with Maintenance keeping everything working as it should and gardens immaculate.
The Kitchen offers a varied menu of really tasty home cooked fayre, served with a friendly smile from the Servers.
A massive THANK YOU to every single member of the Sundance Team (including the horses) - you are brilliant and we miss you already!
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I spent a weekend at Sundance recently and I cannot wait to go back. I was skeptical about the guided riding, as I have been accustomed unsupervised riding. Well, to my surprise, I LOVED the guided riding. Having Kenzie as a guide was definitely the huge contributing factor. I felt that she took extremely good care of all of her riders, always checking in to see how we were doing, what our comfort level was, how our equipment (saddles and stirrups) was fitting, etc. She knows the trails and the horses like the back of her hand and I felt safe and taken care of for every minute of my rides. And I never had to worry about getting lost! (A common occurrence with unguided riding.)
My horse, Dawson, was a pleasure to ride. He was responsive to my aids at all gaits and all reports I heard from other guests was that they too loved their horses. For me, that is a testament to the horses being treated very well, with proper rest time. As I sat and watched the horses in the corral (a favourite pastime of mine) I did not see a single saddle or girth sore and all of the precious equines seemed to be relaxed and at ease.
The food was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed my vegetarian options.
I cannot wait to return, as Sundance is now my favourite place to ride!
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Date of stay: May 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was my second Sept at Sundance and I loved being back there. I stayed three nights and had four rides. If my body could have handled more, I would have ridden all six rides.
Due to smokey conditions, the first two rides were at a slower pace in consideration of these well cared for horses and the poor air quality. As the smoke lifted, I was able to enjoy a faster third ride and with the return of thicker smoke, the 4th ride was a bit slower pace, but we did get some trots in. I was very happy with the rides. I rode Gene for 2 rides and then Drifter for the last two rides. I had ridden Drifter the previous year so it was a happy reunion for me. The wranglers will help find a horse suited to you, so if you are having trouble, just ask them to help you find a horse that suits you.
My room was comfortable (#7 near the paddock). The bed was really comfy too. Wi-fi was good which was important for me as I was there alone, and with COVID precautions, it made socializing a bit more difficult.
Food was good. I would have liked a salad option for each lunch and dinner as I eat a lot of vegetables. My favourite meal was the salmon. The apple crumble was also very good. Coffee was good.
You can BYOB for the lounge and they provide a fridge to chill your adult beverages. There are lots of board games to play if you have a group. There are also pool tables, fooz ball and air hockey tables, and an old Ms Pacman games (which was out of order unfortunately).
They have added small fire rings and provide wood. Bring your own marshmallows and roasting stick. I will remember that for next time.
I really enjoyed my stay. I saw a coyote, deer, an owl of some type, and a dead bullsnake (which is better than bumping into a rattlesnake!). I hope to return, but I want a friend to come with me next time.
All staff are very friendly and helpful (tip them well at the end; they work hard).
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fabulous Weekend at Sundance Ranch! I haven’t been on a horse in over 20 years and it was fantastic! So great to be back in a saddle. My first time at Sundance and it won’t be my last.
Ranch is rustic, food is good, wholesome ranch fair. Definitely a place where you meet people easily. Staff so friendly and happy to accommodate the guests. Care has been taken to encourage social distancing and staff wear masks and have separate entrances/exits to the dining room for safety during Covid. Rooms are basic (no TVs) but great to have a screen free weekend and so much to do that it was not missed at all. So great to get away from the city and back to nature.
Our daily rides were wonderful! Special thanks to our wrangler Katy for making our rides so special!! Amazing rides every day and the scenery was spectacular! Riders are matched well with the horses. Loved the horses I was matched with. Groups are small so it was great getting to know fellow riders. Also nice was cooling down in the pool after a hot day of riding (open seasonally).
Evenings were great for visiting around the fire it, watching the horses go out to pasture and watching the stars. Horses are well taken care of and you know they too are part of the Sundance family. Lots of fun at Saturday’s little dance on the patio where you could refresh your line dancing skills!
Thanks so much for a great experience!!
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As soon as you arrive at the ranch it's almost like you can take a full breath. The desert environment is so chill and it's wonderful that you can't hear any traffic or air noise. There are also no TV's and you don't realize how much you need to unplug until you're there.
As always, our visit was great. Food and accommodation are excellent, never slept on a more comfortable bed, and lots of things to do if you want to. We just like to relax on the Adirondak chairs, read and take in the views when not riding, or go in the pool if it's warm enough.
But it's all about the horses. They are so well looked after and calm and they pair you with a suitable horse to ride at whatever level you are capable of. I liked the idea this year of brushing the horses for people unable or not wanting to ride.
Besides the horses the people here are so welcoming, accommodating and make the whole experience easy to navigate. Staff arrive from all over the world to work and we've always found everyone to be positive, responsive and trying their best.
Can't say enough good things about this place, and we're going back again in 2024. Christine Pearce
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Just take it all in!!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The COVID-19 crisis has put a stop on many vacations across the World but it's still very possible to get away while safely maintaining social distance and Sundance Ranch allowed us to do just that. Sundance ranch is all about safety, health, escaping the crowds, and leaving the world's issues in the dust, dust that is kicked up by 120 plus magnificent horses. The list of the many wonderful features this ranch offers is long, a blend of extremely caring and pleasant office staff, wranglers and management, we felt so welcomed in July 2020 that we just had to return in August. The horses are incredibly beautiful, very well trained and most important so well taken care, with rest days. It’s fantastic to see the way our dear equine friends are also able to retire at this ranch. The wranglers were extremely professional, safe and thoughtful, always ensuring how to match riders with their perfect horses and try to accommodate everyone. My favorite horse was at rest when I arrived but on the last morning I rode her and it was a big gift and such an amazing surprise for me. She was all rested up and I had a fabulous ride. The other days I had another great horse that took care of me. I forgot all my troubles and I can’t wait to return for a much longer time! This place was very therapeutic and it offers fresh air, wide-open spaces, scenery that you see in paintings, solitude, safety, and serenity. Thank you Cynthia for the first day welcoming us after a very long drive and for the wonderful room, Kimmi, and Katy for all the advices during our bookings, Philip for Peaches, Anne and Caroline for the great fun on trails. I hope I spelled the names correctly. This is my 5th time but we are planning from now on to be a yearly guest .
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Date of stay: August 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cynthia Nichols, Owner at Sundance Guest Ranch
Responded Sep 7, 2020
Very grateful to you for taking the time to write us such a lovely and heartfelt review, Emilia. And glad that you got to ride Peaches!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is our 46th season going to the Sundance Ranch - the quality of the horses and the scenery cannot be beat. The owners are very conscientious about safety and physical distancing and have set up firepits for families/friends to enjoy outside gathering. The food is great and the servers pleasant under difficult circumstances.
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Date of stay: October 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liverpool, United Kingdom30 contributions13 helpful votes
Hi Erin,
Thanks for your interest in Sundance! We offer an all-inclusive package with meals, horseback riding, and accommodation. The dining area, as well as all other ranch facilities, can only be accessed by registered guests.
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us!
Hello, sorry I guess we didn't answer this in the correct thread! Very sorry but we are unable to accept pets at Sundance, due to concerns over dogs potentially rushing at horses and riders, or biting other guests, etc. As it's an insurance requirement, we are not able to make exceptions. We hope you can find an option to leave your pet in a safe environment that will allow you to visit Sundance in the near future!
West Vancouver, Canada7 contributions1 helpful vote
Hi - I am so sorry, I never saw this request. I am unsure if you could get transportation if you don't have a car with you. Ashcroft is a very small town. You might get lucky and find someone that wants to do the same however which would work. There is a spot called 'The Center of the Universe' very close by. Apparently it is a place where the healing vortexes are strong. Monks have described it as such.Google it and you will find the link. I can't paste it here as it is not allowed by trip advisor.
Hope you have a fantastic time!
Susan
Hi! While the weather is becoming fine, we would suggest bringing layers and a jacket for the brisk mornings and just in case it does rain. Your jacket can be tied to your saddle if it becomes warm throughout your ride.
All guests must wear correct riding or cowboy boots with flat soles and a small heal. If you do not have any, we have plenty here!
Our pool will open on May long weekend (May 15, 2015), so unfortunately it will be closed while you are here in April.
Thanks for your contact and we look forward to seeing you up here in a week!
There are more places to choose from in the Ashcroft area.
PRICE RANGE
C$765 - C$765 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sundance guest ranch hotel ashcroft
LOCATION
CanadaBritish ColumbiaAshcroft
NUMBER OF ROOMS
22
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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