Concho Hills Guest Ranch
Experience Authentic Western Living in New Mexico
Where horsemanship opens the door to authentic ranch life
Learn to ride a horse, not just go for a ride
At Concho Hills, we believe horsemanship is more than a skill—it is the gateway to experiencing authentic western living.
Earn the Ride
Riding safely in open country, around wildlife, livestock, and natural obstacles requires confidence, communication, and control.
Guests riding with us for the first time begin with our Introduction to New Mexico Vaquero Horsemanship Clinic. Your journey begins in the tack room, where you'll learn how horses think, how western tack works, and how riders communicate through seat, legs, and hands. From there you'll progress to the round pen, the arena, and finally the open range as your confidence and skills develop.
As your skills and confidence grow, so do your opportunities to explore the range.
Our goal is not simply to provide a horseback ride. Our goal is to help you become an active participant in the experience. Our guests don't simply follow a trail. They learn the same fundamental riding principles used by ranchers throughout the American West. These skills build confidence, improve safety, and create a deeper partnership between horse and rider.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, our goal is to help you become a better horseman while experiencing the land, history, and culture of ranch country. See our Horsemanship page for details.
Life on the Ranch...At Concho Hills
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Western Living at
Concho Hills Guest Ranch:
The perfect blend of cowboy hospitality, location, and history.
Concho Hills offers a remarkable guest ranch experience deeply rooted in the history, resilience, and traditional horsemanship of the Old West. We invite you into a world where nature reigns supreme.
Many guests arrive expecting a horseback riding vacation. They leave having gained a deeper appreciation for horses, ranching, western history, and the values that continue to shape life in ranch country.
With our moderate climate, you can experience the timeless allure of Concho Hills all year round. So "Cowboy up" and embark on a journey, whether for a few days or weeks, and discover the true essence of the west through horseback riding and a variety of ranch activities.
Sharing the Lifestyle:
Western Hospitality is much deeper than amenities, meals, and lodging. In many ways, it is also about providing social sustenance. Like the original guest ranches, we believe in sharing our way of life with our guests. Through meaningful conversations, breathtaking scenery, encounters with wildlife, and caring for the animals we steward, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the people, horses, history, and traditions that continue to shape ranch life today.
Concho Hills is not your average ranch experience. We have carefully chosen to leave behind many of the distractions of suburban life—swimming pools, golf courses, televisions, and noisy traffic. In their place, we offer active participation, the satisfaction of learning a genuine skill, and an authentic experience of the American West. As one of our ranch hands once said, "We're about providing an experience as close to the true west life and the code as possible."
You'll leave with more than photographs. You'll leave with new skills, greater confidence, a greater appreciation of horses, the people, history, and traditions that continue to shape ranch life today.
At Concho Hills, you arrive as guests and leave as family!
Fantastic Food
In their reviews, our guests have raved about our delicious food and settings. Abundant and hearty, our meals are served ranch family style around our large dining tables. Hence be prepared to pass the bread!
Our varied menus focus on western traditional foods of the area, from grilled steaks to New Mexican cuisine. With advance notice we can accomodate diet restrictions and strong preferences. Yes, cowboys have a sweet tooth, so you will get desserts and snacks as well. Visit our Hospitality page and let your mouth water…
Lodging :
After a day in the saddle, return to the warmth of our adobe ranch house, where guests gather for hearty meals, conversation, and the friendships that often become one of the most memorable parts of their stay.
The main ranch house is always open and where we gather to visit, eat, and relax. The private guest rooms are a stone's throw away. Our reviews tell us we are on the right trail! Take a look on our Hospitality page for accommodation details!
Location:
Nestled in the foothills of the San Mateo Mountains in picturesque New Mexico, Concho Hills Ranch offers an exceptional and distinctive experience. Our ideal location, a mere 136 miles southwest of Albuquerque Airport, combined with the perfect altitude (7,400 ft), provides moderate temperatures year-round.
Situated along the historic Magdalena Stock Driveway (where tens of thousands of cattle were driven to the Magdalena stockyards), our ranch is enveloped by the vast expanse of New Mexico's ranch land. Immerse yourself in the genuine Wild West, where the landscapes that grace iconic western movies come alive. Explore the wonders of our remarkable ranch on our dedicated Ranch page.
Ranching Heritage and History:
Ranching isn’t just an occupation; rather, it's our western heritage. Therefore, ranching is our western way of life based on tradition. Most of all, ranching is an institute where change is carefully examined, and its value tested, before change is accepted. For that reason, Don Edwards, (in the song For Those that Lean to Lonesome) eloquently sung: “ It’s all about horses, the cattle, and men, about the country, the work, and the pride…”
During your stay, you can be our guest and experience this western heritage with us! Check out our history page here to learn more about our area's country, events, and people. As a result, you will understand why True West Magazine's readers voted our ranch Best of the West Heritage Guest Ranch.
Activities :
Your vacation activities , both in and out of the saddle, will depend upon your desires and abilities.
Horsemanship
We have already introduced our riding program and Horsemanship Clinic which makes Concho Hills unique and enables you to ride like cowboy instead of going for a ride on a horse.
Returning guests may bypass the full clinic—following a quick skill review and demonstration in the arena, you are ready to ride the open range. See our Horsemanship page for details.
Other Activities:
Our ranch offers a variety of western ranch activities, both in and out of the saddle. We'll do our best to ensure everyone has a fun, entertaining, and rewarding stay. Visit the Activities page to see examples of what you might enjoy on your vacation!
Small Groups
Minimum Stay
We have found that meaningful progress in horsemanship and enjoyable range riding cannot be rushed. For this reason, first-time riding guests stay a minimum of four nights, allowing sufficient time to learn, gain confidence, and enjoy the experience.
Award Winning
We are so humbled and grateful to be voted to win the following awards by our guest and friends. The awards are most cherished as are the voters who put us in these positions.
True West Magazine’s Best of the West Awards
Every year, True West Magazine has honored the those who have dedicated themselves to preserving history and promoting travel to experience the West first hand. In the magazine’s words:
We are humbled and truly grateful that the magazine's readers and our guests have voted us to be the "Best of the West."
Concho Hill as won either the reader's choice awards or editors' choice for 4 years.
Signature Ranch Award Winner in Eleven Categories for 2019-2020
Duderanch.com canvas guests to have them vote for the 10 best ranches in several categories. Concho Hills has won in at least 3 categories between 2015 and 2020. We were proud to win Signature Ranch Awards in 11 categories! A heartfelt "thank you" to our guests, friends, and neighbors for voting for us. It is an honor to be voted into the top from over 123 Guest Ranches! We were voted in the top 10 ranches of the following categories:
Best Luxury Dude Ranches
Best Food / Dining / Meals
Favorite Dude Ranch Hosts
Best Dude Ranch for Families
Best Dude Ranches for Kids & Teens
Best Dude Ranch to Visit in Winter
Best Working Dude Ranches
Best Horseback Riding
Best Cattle Drives
Best ‘Adults-Only Week’ Dude Ranches
Best Instagram Account
Rave Reviews
Trip Advisor:
Concho Hills has been awarded Trip Advisor's Traveler's Choice Award (previously Certificate of Excellence) for 2022, 2019, and 2018.
" If you are considering a guest ranch experience, Concho Hills is THE place to go. "
"Outstanding! This is the BEST vacation we have ever had!"
"There are not enough words to explain how much I loved Concho Hills Ranch and Tim and Marilyn."
In the western way, our reputation means a lot to us. Our reviews make us feel proud, and taking pride in one's work is part of the cowboy way.
Time to Book!
So this vacation, enjoy western ranching and it's many and varied activities that will allow you to view, enjoy, and photograph the grandeur, beauty, and wildlife of the great Southwest. Ride horses, tour the areas, enjoy our family atmosphere, but most importantly enjoy yourself. We'll need to talk, so contact us. We are a small operation and you have a better chance of booking the dates you want by reserving your room now.
Need some tips on what to bring? See our page Things to Bring for ideas as to what to pack in your bedroll.
Our rates are reasonable and all-inclusive for most all activities, so you can enjoy your vacation and not worry about accounting or how much fun you're going to have. See our Rates page for details.
We’re open all year, so come anytime, meet new friends, and enjoy Western Living at it’s best and finest.
We accept cash, check and all major credit cards!
