Frequently Asked Questions

Reservation requests can be submitted through our website. Once we receive your request, our Reservations Director will contact you to discuss available options or, if necessary, add you to the waitlist.

There is no minimum stay requirement at A Bar A, though most guests choose to stay for a full week, arriving on Sunday and departing the following Sunday.

A Bar A summer season runs from early June through late September. Self-Supported Expeditions extend into the fall, with reservations available through October.

Our nightly rates are designed to be as inclusive as possible, covering lodging, meals, most activities, guides, and the Children’s Program. Additional charges are limited to bar purchases, shooting sports, massage, and select excursions, such as off-ranch river float fishing.

Taxes and a 15% hospitality fee (which goes directly to staff) add about 21% to the nightly rate. See the rates page for additional information.

Tipping individuals is discouraged.

A 50% deposit is required within two weeks of confirming your reservation.

Reservations cancelled before March 1 receive a full refund of the deposit. After March 1, refunds are provided for any portion of the reservation we are able to rebook.

Tipping individuals is discouraged.

A 15% hospitality fee is added to your nightly rate and this goes directly to staff.

While most guests choose to pay by check or wire transfer, credit cards are also accepted with a surcharge.

A Bar A offers a variety of cabins and lodges well suited for families traveling together, from individual family accommodations to larger spaces for extended and multigenerational groups.

Our Reservations Director will work with you to find the best combination of accommodations based on your group size, preferences, dates, and availability.

A Bar A does not offer group discounts. Our nightly rates are consistent regardless of group size.

The A Bar A is based on personal connections and long-term relationships.

Because of this, we do not work with travel agents?

It takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes to drive from DIA to the A Bar A.

The A Bar A can help connect you with charter flight operators so you can make these arrangements.

We offer pickup from our private runway at no charge. Airport shuttle service is available to/from Saratoga’s airport for a fee. We do not offer shuttle service to/from Denver.

Breakfast and lunch are casual, and most guests dress for the activities they have planned that day. Swimsuit cover-ups are appreciated when dining poolside.

Dinner is a chance to dress up and embrace Western style. Nice jeans, skirts or casual dresses, boots, collared shirts, and blouses are all right at home at A Bar A.

During the day, guests generally dress for the activities they have planned. For horseback riding, jeans and riding boots with a heel are required. Hikers typically wear lightweight pants or shorts with athletic or light hiking shoes, while shorts or lightweight pants work well for fishing. Waders are provided.

For river tubing, wet-wading, and other water activities, bring water shoes that stay securely on your feet; flip-flops are not recommended.

The Wyoming sun can be strong, so a hat and sunglasses are important. Many guests wear cowboy hats while riding; hats must have a stampede string, which is available at the Ranch store. Riding helmets are available upon request and are required for children ages 12 and under. Baseball caps are a popular choice for other daytime activities.

Mountain weather can change quickly, even during the summer, so layers are always a good idea. A vest or lightweight insulated jacket and a waterproof outer layer will help keep you comfortable as temperatures and conditions change throughout the day.

Guests are welcome to fish independently throughout the Ranch. We ask that you check in with our fishing guides before heading out to coordinate plans, learn about current conditions, and get recommendations on where to fish.

You are welcome to bring your own fly-fishing gear, or the Ranch can provide equipment upon request. In accordance with state regulations, anglers over the age of 14 must have a valid fishing license, which can be purchased at the Ranch store or online.

A Bar A is a fly-fishing-only property. The exception is our children’s fishing pond, where kids are welcome to fish with bait or lures.

Experienced, confident riders may ride independently with approval from the Head Wrangler. Guests riding on their own are provided with trail maps and a radio to stay in contact with the corral if needed.

Jeans and riding boots with a heel are required for horseback riding; hiking boots and athletic shoes are not permitted.

Most guests ride in a cowboy hat or baseball cap. Cowboy hats must have a stampede string, which is available at the Ranch store. Riding helmets are available upon request, and guests are also welcome to bring their own (they are required for children ages 12 and under).

We recommend bringing sunglasses, sunscreen, and a water bottle on your ride. Mountain weather can change quickly, so a jacket or additional layer is also a good idea depending on the day’s conditions.

For most of the season, our cattle are managed by the cowboy crew at Big Creek Ranch, and cattle work is not part of the regular guest riding program.

During Rendezvous in late September, advanced riders may have the opportunity to join the fall roundup and help work cattle from horseback.

A Bar A owns and cares for our herd of approximately 120 horses, allowing our wranglers to know each horse individually and understand their temperament, abilities, and experience.

This familiarity helps us thoughtfully match horses with riders and maintain an ongoing training program for the herd.

Guests may bring personal shotguns to the Ranch. Please check with the Ranch Office for our Firearms Policy, including storage, locking, and range requirements.

To help protect our water and wildlife, lead shot is not permitted anywhere on the Ranch. Steel shot is available at the skeet and trap range. Rapid-fire firearms are not permitted.

Wildlife is abundant throughout the Ranch, and guests often encounter animals while riding, hiking, fishing, and exploring. For those interested in a wildlife-focused outing, the Ranch Office can help arrange a dedicated excursion.

A wide variety of wildlife makes its home across the Ranches. Mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and moose are commonly seen, along with foxes, coyotes, and badgers. Black bears, mountain lions, and occasional wolves are also present, although sightings are rare.

The Ranches are also home to abundant bird life, including bald and golden eagles, sand hill cranes, Canada geese, American white pelicans, and many other species.

There are no venomous snakes on the Ranches.

Children ages 6 through 12 can join trail rides through the Children’s Program, while guests ages 13 and older may participate in adult trail rides.

For younger children under age 6, lead pony rides are available.

Children ages 6 through 12 ride through the Children’s Program six days a week, and parents are welcome to join them on these rides.

The Ranch also offers family rides twice each week, providing another opportunity for parents and children to ride together. Timing for family rides is arranged with the corral.

Light snacks are available poolside throughout the day, and a limited selection of additional snacks can be purchased at the Ranch store.

A lifeguard is on duty at the pool most days from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

There is internet, though connectivity is intentionally limited throughout the Ranch to give guests the opportunity to unplug and be fully present with family and friends.

High-speed Wi-Fi is available in three centrally located spaces—the Library, Lariat, and Los Cielos. Internet service is not available in guest cabins, and we ask that phones and computers be reserved for these designated areas rather than used in other public spaces.

To preserve the unplugged nature of the Ranch experience, we also discourage the use of portable satellite devices for non-emergency communication.

Calls, texts, and video calls can be made over Wi-Fi in our designated central locations. Messages may also be left with the Ranch Office, and our staff will make sure they reach you.

For emergencies after hours, calls are routed to the Ranch Manager, who can deliver an urgent message directly to your cabin.

The closest emergency room is approximately 45 minutes away in Saratoga, Wyoming. Saratoga also has several medical clinics and dental services.

A Bar A encompasses approximately 55,000 contiguous acres, with grazing leases on an additional 50,000 acres. This remarkable landscape supports the Ranch’s guest, cattle, and conservation programs, with more than 32 miles of private water and numerous ponds offering exceptional fishing throughout the Ranches.

At headquarters, A Bar A can accommodate up to 130 guests, though we typically host approximately 110 each week. With a staff of roughly the same size, we are able to maintain an exceptional level of personal service throughout the Ranch.

For those looking for a smaller-scale experience, A Bar A Expeditions are designed for private groups of 2–6 guests.

Fishing occurs on approximately 30 acres of private water and on ponds across the property.

A Bar A has welcomed guests since 1922, making it one of the West’s early guest ranches. Its ranching roots extend even further, with cattle operations on the land dating to the 1880s.

Most staff share a room with one to three other team members. A limited number of single rooms are available.

Staff have access to several staff-only laundry facilities at no cost, and laundry detergent is provided by the Ranch.

Staff housing and three meals each day are provided by the Ranch at no additional cost.

Prior work experience is helpful, though the level and type of experience required varies by position. Some roles, such as those on our Food and Beverage team, may not require previous experience in that specific position as long as applicants bring a strong work ethic and relevant general experience.

Specialized positions—including wranglers, fly-fishing guides, and shooting instructors—require a strong background and demonstrated skills in those areas, even if that experience was gained outside of previous employment.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have at least one year of post-high school education and/or work experience.

We focus on professional development and growth for all staff and generally do not offer formal internships. Occasionally, we are able to support internships sponsored through an academic institution.

The Ranch has an active peer leadership and mentorship program designed to support staff development throughout the season.

Staff training takes place before guests arrive and is an essential part of preparing for the season and building our Ranch community.

About half of our staff bring a car, while others travel with friends or fly into Laramie, Wyoming. Please note that the Ranch does not provide EV charging stations for staff.

We provide staff pickup in Laramie, Wyoming. We are not able to provide transportation from Denver.

Current students and recent graduates are required to have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Staff may have family and friends visit the Ranch with advance approval from the Leadership Team. Additional policies for staff guests are outlined in the Staff Handbook.

Seasonal staff are not permitted to bring pets to the Ranch.

Staff are welcome to use most Ranch facilities when they are not in use by guests, and some guest activities are also open to staff. We also set aside opportunities for staff horseback riding and fishing throughout the season, weather and resources permitting.

Individual tipping is discouraged at A Bar A. Instead, a 15% hospitality fee is added to guest nightly rates and distributed among our staff.

The Ranch offers a 401(k) retirement plan and matches staff contributions up to 6% for seasonal and full-time staff.

The Ranch does not offer health insurance for seasonal staff. All staff are covered by workers’ compensation insurance for work-related injuries.

There is plenty to do during time off. Hiking, horseback riding, river tubing, basketball, tennis and pickle ball, camping, stargazing, campfires, trips to town, and spending time with friends are just a few of the ways our staff enjoy their free time.

The nearest grocery store is in Saratoga, Wyoming, about 45 minutes from the Ranch.

For larger stores, such as Walmart, staff typically travel to Laramie, Wyoming, about 1.5 hours away, or Steamboat Springs, Colorado, about 2.25 hours away.