Ranch attire is casual, but skirts, collared shirts, vests, or jackets are encouraged at dinner. T-shirts, shorts, and athletic attire are not worn at dinner, and all hats come off in the dining room. The temperature can vary 40 degrees from day to night so clothing to layer works best. Drinking lots of water will help avoid dehydration and headache in our high altitude and low humidity conditions.
What to Bring on Your Dude Ranch Vacation
- Cowboy or other riding boots, with heel and smooth soles. We cannot put you in the saddle without appropriate footwear! The ranch has a small selection of boots to loan out, but guests are usually most comfortable in their own.
- Blue jeans or riding pants
- Sturdy shoes for hiking
- Water bottle with attached lid
- Long sleeve shirts
- Leather or cotton gloves
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick
- Insect repellent
- Flashlight
- Fly-fishing gear
- Parka, vest, or sweatshirt for cool evenings and high country riding
- Silk or cotton bandanna/scarf
- Windbreaker or slicker (no ponchos)
- Hat—cowboy hats are encouraged. The wind blows energetically on the high plateaus. A stampede string on your cowboy hat avoids dismounts to chase hats across the mountains.
Additional Information
Other options to consider are old tennis shoes, shorts, and t-shirt for creek walking, fishing, tubing, or mud sports and a swimsuit for the hot tub. Our ranch store has several styles of T Cross brand shirts, vests, and jackets, plus great water bottles.
T Cross Ranch does not have a liquor license but guests can bring their own beverages. Cabins have a designated refrigerator compartment on the kitchen porch. Soft drinks, beer, and wine can be bought in Dubois but Jackson and Moose stores have more selection. There is no smoking inside our facilities. Also, we cannot accommodate pets.
If you have booked a wilderness pack trip…
T Cross supplies all camp gear and tents, food, riding and pack-horses, wranglers, and guides. Each rider should bring a small duffle with personal gear that a pack-horse will carry. Recommended personal items include:
- Toiletries—soaps should be non-detergent
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick
- Insect repellent
- Sleeping clothes, such as sweats, including socks.
- 1 or 2 changes of clothes
- Washcloth/small towel
- Gloves for riding and warmth
- Bandannas
- Knit cap for chilly mornings
- Camp shoes if desired
- Water bottle with attached lid
- Slicker—the ranch can provide this.
- Sleeping bag—the ranch can provide.
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Flashlight
- Fly-fishing gear
Your saddlebags will hold what you need during the day on the trail, e.g., water bottle, sunscreen, lunch, and snacks.
Overnight camps are at high altitudes, so nights and mornings can be below freezing in the middle of the summer. Bring warm jackets, gloves, and a knit cap.
