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Lowdown

  • Established

    1861. Guest ranch since 1931

  • Owner

    Hunewill Family

  • Manager

    Megan Hunewill, Betsy Hunewill Elliott, Jeff Hunewill

  • Tel

    Summer: 760-932-7710 / Winter: 775-465-2201

  • Open

    May-Nov

  • Nightly Rates (per adult)*

    $423 - $583

  • Nightly Rates (per child)*

    $237 - $332

  • Minimum Stay

    3 days

  • Maximum Guests

    45

  • Works with travel agents?

    Yes

  • Great For

    Action & adventure, Peace & quiet, Solitude, Diverse scenery, Large family reunions, Corporate Retreats

  • Memberships

    Dude Rancher's Association, Holistic Resource Management Institute, California Cattleman's Association, Eastern Sierra Land Trust
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Located on the northeast side of Yosemite National Park, the Hunewill Ranch has attracted guests since 1931.

The ranch is situated in the lovely green, wide-open meadows of the Bridgeport Valley, highlighted by the spectacular Sawtooth Ridge.

There are 12 cottages (24 rooms) each with a private bath and porch, as well as the cozy Ranch House Suite. Guests dine in the lovely two-storey Victorian building.

Built in 1880 and surrounded by tall poplars, the beautiful setting and relaxed western atmosphere enhances guests' experiences of the horseback riding adventures, the great meals, the cozy lodging and the varied activities.

Good time to go

The entire season (from the end of May through the beginning of November) offers a wonderful variety of weather.

Nights are always cool and days can range from the 50s to the 80s.

Children at the Ranch

Great for children aged 0 and over

The Hunewill Ranch is a kid's paradise! Childcare is provided for children under six during riding hours. They're lead on a gentle horse, and will spend time exploring the ranch and playing in the play area, with supervision by the ranch childcare person.

If there are more than two children who need childcare, another babysitter is hired to make sure all the children receive the care they need.

Children are included in all ranch activities.

The 'Buckaroo Ride' (for beginners and children under 12 years) builds confidence and riding skills through instruction and horseback games.

Teens can generally go on the Intermediate or Advanced rides if they have the skills needed. Teens and adults can also enjoy the Buckaroo Ride if they need to build their riding skills.

All rides are tailored to the guests who are participating and separate rides are created if needed.

Minimum age children can ride

6 and over

Arts & Crafts

play-doh, coloring, sketching

Activities

picnics, outdoor play area, cookouts, petting zoo, Swim ride (ride to creek and swim or wade), games on horseback

Games

board games, horseshoes, volleyball, badminton, ping pong, Corn Hole

Baby Sitting

From age 0 to 5. Hourly cost $16.00.

Baby Sitting Provided By

Childcare is provided during riding hours. If parents want to hire a  babysitter at other times, they can see if the childcare person is available and then pay them directly.  

Environmental & Social Practices

Community

The Hunewill Ranch supports local fundraisers and events.

Family members participate in local ranch rodeos.

Conservation

Sustainability is the key policy at the Hunewill Ranch.

Decisions made about the resources, such as the land, the livestock, the people and the various enterprises, need to pass testing guidelines to ensure the health of the whole under management.

This is based on the principles of Holistic Management founded by Allan Savory.

Ranch History

The Hunewill Ranch was founded in 1861 by Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill who supplied lumber and beef to the mining towns of Aurora, Bodie and Lundy.

Hunewill Ranch is proud to be the oldest working guest ranch in California and one of the oldest family ranches in the American West.

2024 will be our 163rd year in the Bridgeport Valley and our 93rd year as a guest ranch!

The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh generations of the Hunewill Family still raise cattle and ride with guests through the meadows of this Sierra paradise.

Your Manager, Megan Hunewill, Betsy Hunewill Elliott, Jeff Hunewill

While the fifth generation manages the ranch, the entire family works on the ranch, or they give input and support even if they are not actively working on the outfit. Because of growing up on the ranch, family members have an intimate knowledge of the place, and education away from the ranch has brought new ideas and innovations to help keep it a viable business.

Your manager

Lowdown

  • Enjoy

    Ranch-style

  • Meals served

    buffet style, meals roll with days activities, everyone eats together, scheduled meals

  • Alcohol

    BYOB

  • Enjoy dining in

    nature settings, dining room (casual attire)

  • You'll definitely love

    ranch-raised beef, fresh daily desserts

  • Dietary restrictions catered for

    lactose intolerant, vegans, vegetarians, Gluten free

Hunewill Ranch's philosophy on food is to provide elevated ranch-style meals that fuel our guests for their time in the saddle and all the different activities they'll be doing every day.

We have a combination of longstanding ranch favorites on our menu and new dishes concocted by our incredible chefs.

One of our culinary highlights is our end-of-stay steak BBQ, held in the aspen trees outside our historic ranch house.

Another highlight would be our Breakfast Ride Cookout, where guests ride from the ranch to Robinson Creek, where we have a full breakfast spread to enjoy Creekside.

Lastly, since we are a working cattle ranch, we offer our guests our own ranch-raised beef to enjoy during their stay.

We also provide dietary accommodations for people with restrictions or allergies, to make everyone's experience safe, fun and inclusive.

Guest Favourites

  • Buckaroo Bacon (sweet and spicy bacon)
  • Steak BBQ
  • Homemade Apple Pie

About our Wines

We do not offer any alcohol on the ranch, but guests are welcome to bring their own to enjoy with meals and activities.

Your Chef, Deondre Ayers

Graduate of Cook Street School of Culinary Arts with skills in French, American and Italian cuisine.

Sample Menu

  • Appetizers

  • Salad bar
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad
  • Balsamic, Strawberry, Pecan and Spinach Salad

  • Entrées

  • Chicken Piccata
  • Tri Tip
  • Greek Chicken Gyros
  • Pork Roulade

  • Desserts

  • Apple Pie
  • Carrot Cake
  • Chocolate Silk Pie

Lowdown

  • Address

    Summer): 1110 Hunewill Ranch Road, P.O. Box 368 / Winter: P.O. Box 15, Wellington, NV 89444
    Bridgeport
    California
    93517
    USA

  • Remote Location

    No

  • Elevation

    6500 feet ft

  • Private Land

    5000-10000 acres

  • Public Land

    10,000-20,000 acres

Nearest Town - Bridgeport, CA

Bridgeport, CA has a population of 500 (approx), and is situated 5 miles miles / 15 mins from the Ranch.

Facilities in Bridgeport, CA include: church, school, post office, medical clinic, atm, gas station, museum.

For shopping Bridgeport, CA offers: small hometown necessity shops, boutique shops.

Ranch shuttle

Free pick-up from Bridgeport

Rental car

Required

Nearest Airports

Reno-Tahoe International , Reno

Distance

115 miles miles / 2 hours

Airlines

Delta, United, Allegiant, Alaska, American Airlines, Jet Blue, Southwest, Spirit, Volaris, Frontier

Ranch shuttle

no

Rental car

Required

Mammoth Yosemite Airport, Mammoth Lakes

Distance

56 miles miles / 1 hour

Ranch shuttle

no

Rental car

Required

Private Air Travel

Nearest location(s)

Bryant Field Airport, Bridgeport, CA 057

Travel by

Helicopter, Airplane

Distance

6 miles miles

Ranch shuttle

yes

Lowdown

  • Type of Riding

    Western Riding

  • Riding opportunities for

    Beginner, Intermediate, Experienced

  • Most riders are

    Intermediate

  • Rides are grouped by

    Age, Ability, Pace of Ride, Rides dictated by ranch work

  • Max riders per ride

    10

  • Wranglers per ride

    2

  • Pace of ride

    Walk, Trot, Lope

  • Guest Horses

    120

  • Horse Types

    Quarterhorse, Morgan, Thoroughbred, Appaloosas, Draft Cross, Paints, Geldings, Mares, Mustang

  • Hours in the saddle

    Morning - 2 hours
    Afternoon - 3 hours

The Setting

Private Land (5000-10000 acres)

Public Land (10,000-20,000 acres)

Our Riding

Weight limit for riding

250-300 lbs

Riding considerations

no riding experience needed, We recommend a good level of physical fitness, We consider height and athletic ability as well as a guest's weight

Why our riding stands out

  • Miles of open meadowland and a variety of options give riders of all skill levels the opportunity to ride to their maximum enjoyment.
  • Most of the horseback riding is done in spacious grassy fields, which minimizes the need to ride 'nose to tail'.
  • There are mountain rides available to those who prefer that type of riding and at least one cattle move for anyone interested in participating.

Sample Riding Itinerary

Sunday 

- Morning: Guests meet their horses for the week and the saddle is adjusted to fit the rider. We sort into our different riding levels, and it is a shorter ride that involves all walking to ensure guests and horses are a good fit.

- Afternoon: Riders get on the same horse and we separate into our different riding levels. Again, all rides are walking on the first day to ensure every horse/rider pair is a safe match.

Monday

- Morning: This is our first day of loping for all rides besides the Adult Walking Ride. After guests sort into separate groups, instruction is given to each ride based on riding ability. Buckaroo rides get lots of instruction before loping, whereas the Advanced riders get very minimal instruction. 

- Afternoon: Rides continue to build on what guests learned during the morning ride.

Tuesday

- Morning and afternoon: There is often a cattle moving option by Tuesday, depending on the week. All other riding groups are available for guests who don't want to move cows.

Wednesday

- Wednesday is our All-Day Ride, meaning our guests have different riding options for this day. There is an option to take an all-walking ride that will trailer out from the ranch and take you to other parts of the Eastern Sierra. Depending on the week, the options include high Alpine lakes, meadows and canyons for all to enjoy. 

Other options include a swim ride for the Buckroo kids program, where we eat sack lunches on the creek. Half-day meadow rides allow guests to see different sites in Bridgeport during the afternoon.

Thursday

- Morning: Thursday morning is when we have our Breakfast Ride Cookout, where we ride from the ranch to Robinson Creek to enjoy breakfast. Guests can enjoy a full spread, which includes a green chili-cheese egg casserole, hashbrowns, sausage, fruit and our famous Breakfast Ride Pastries. Once we eat breakfast, guests split into their regular riding groups and we ride back to the ranch to get you back just in time for lunch!

- Afternoon: Thursday afternoon rides are our regular groups enjoying the beautiful meadows and some loping after a morning full of eating. 

Cattle work - pasture gathers

We offer weekly cattle work in addition to our typical rides.

These cattle options vary from moving cattle from one pasture to another, sorting cattle and a timed competition where guests work in groups of three, to load three yearlings into a trailer.

When

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Frequency

Weekly

No. of yearlings

200

No. of cow/calf pairs

1050

Interaction

Guests participate

Lowdown

  • Nightly Rates (per adult)*

    $423 - $583

  • Nightly Rates (per child)*

    $237 - $332

  • Nightly Rates (non-rider)

    $245 - $341

  • Minimum Stay

    3 days

  • Preferred Arrival Day

    Sat

  • Preferred Departure Day

    Sat

  • Style of accommodation

    Ranch rustic

  • Packages available

    3 night, 4 night, 5 night, 6 night, 1 week
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Hunewill Ranch can cater for up to 45 guests. Accommodation includes Cabins and Lodges. See below for details and indicative rates.

Cabin | Aspen & Bristlecone, Cedar & Juniper, 9 & 10

Rates (Per Person)*

$423 - $583
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

3 nights

Description

These are our larger rooms, and 9 & 10 cabin is located on the south end of the common area known as 'The Quad'. 

There are two rooms per cabin, with a connecting door between that can be opened or locked depending upon occupant preference.  

Bathrooms have two basins, and separate toilet and shower rooms. 

There is a guest refrigerator, ice machine and washer-dryer available to all guests.  

Rooms

6

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Cabin | 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6, 7 & 8, 11 & 12, 13 & 14, 15 & 16, 17 & 18

Rates (Per Person)*

$423 - $583
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

3 nights

Description

These rooms share a common area called 'The Quad'.  

There are two rooms per cabin with a connecting door between rooms, that can be opened or locked depending upon occupant preference. 

The shower, basin and toilet are in one room, except in 3 & 4 and 11 & 12 which have separate shower and toilet spaces.   

There is a guest refrigerator, ice machine and washer-dryer available to all guests.  

Rooms

16

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Cabin | Cabin #19

Rates (Per Person)*

$423 - $583
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

3 nights

Description

A single-room cabin with a marvelous view of the pastures and the Sawtooth Ridge. 

Please note that it has a very small bathroom with a stand-up shower and no tub.  

Rooms

1

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Cabin | Cabin #20

Rates (Per Person)*

$423 - $583
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

3 nights

Description

A single room with no neighbors. 

Rooms

1

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Lodge | Ranch House Suite

Rates (Per Person)*

$423 - $583
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

3 nights

Description

The Ranch House Suite is located in the two-storey Victorian. 

It has a bedroom and a small living room, with a refrigerator, ice machine and washer-dryer available to all guests.  

Rooms

1

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Booking Policy

Payment: We accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and Discover.

Deposit Requirements for Reservations: Deposits are approximately 60-75% of your stay.

Cancellation/Deposit Refund Policy: Deposit refund, less a 25% cancellation fee per required deposit, will be made only if we are able to fill the vacant space left by your cancellation. No refund of deposit if cancellation is made with less than 30 days notice to us. Guests concerned with loss of deposit should purchase Trip Insurance.

Included in your stay

activities

Extras

Tax

State and county taxes are not included in a stay at the ranch.

Gratuity

The suggested gratuity is 15%, but we leave this up to individual preference. Gratuities may be paid at checkout and are divided among the ranch personnel each week.

Massage

Contact Erin at 707-689-4955 to make arrangements for a relaxing massage at the ranch.

Guided Fly Fishing

Contact Ken's Sporting Goods for guided fly fishing.

Other

Weekend stays in the shoulder season begin on a Thursday or Friday and end on a Monday or Tuesday. Check the calendar in our newsletter for variations.

Lowdown

  • You can borrow

    Cowboy hats, Cowboy boots, Riding helmets

  • Communications

    Wireless Internet/Wifi.

  • Cell Networks

    AT&T, verizon.

Onsite

Shopping

There is a small gift shop located in the office, stocked with a variety of ranch logo wear and  memorabilia as well as some toiletries.  

Outdoor Activities

wagon rides, bird watching, campfire s/mores, singalong, colt gentling, roping practice, BBQ's

Water based Activities

hot springs, Creek rides offer swimming and wading. Nearby lakes and creeks are available for fishing and swimming.

Spa

relaxation massage

Fishing & Wildlife

Fly fishing (catch-and-release only) on the Hunewill Ranch 4.5 acre pond can be scheduled through Ken's Sporting Goods.

Ken's has fishing guides available for hire, as well as equipment rentals.

The Bridgeport area offers trout fishing in creeks, rivers and lakes. 

Robinson Creek, Twin Lakes, Lundy Lake, Green Creek, the East Walker River and Kirman Lake are a few of the nearby fishing spots.  

Fishing on offer

spin, fly, river, stocked pond, lake, stream, BYO equipment

Wildlife

Wildlife is abundant in the Bridgeport Valley. 

Mule deer, coyotes, rabbits and ground squirrels are often seen, and occasionally a bear makes an appearance!

Eagles, hawks, robins, bluebirds, killdeer and many other birds make their home in the valley, and the surrounding hills and mountains.  

Additional Services

Corporate Retreats

For groups of 30-40.

Corporate retreats can be arranged with enough advanced planning. 

Local Attractions

BODIE STATE HISTORIC PARK

Bodie State Historic Park

Ghost town of the Wild West

Visiting Bodie is the most authentic way to see a real-life setting of the California gold rush.

From 1877 to 1882, Bodie was a bustling town with close to 8,000 residents, and produced more than $38 million in gold and silver!

Today, while the gold mining days of California are a distinct memory, there are almost 200 abandoned wooden buildings in a state of 'arrested decay' to photograph and explore.

Peek in the windows of the church, schoolhouse, barbershop and saloon, where bottles, desks and other relics remain.

Distance

25 miles miles / 45 mins

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park

Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life and the tranquility of the High Sierra.

First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area and much more.

Distance

65 miles miles / 1 hour 30 mins

Twin Lakes

Enjoy the beauty of Twin Lakes and the spectacular Sawtooth Ridge just a short drive from the ranch. 

Rent a boat at Mono Village or the Twin Lakes Resort, or hike to Barney Lake or Horse Tail Falls. 

Or why not fish the lakes or streams?

Distance

7.4 miles miles / 15 mins

Highs

  • Described as "Other-worldly" in a guest review, Hunewill Ranch boasts spectacular scenery, a fascinating history and riding for all levels on "responsive and mellow" horses.
  • Hunewill is a real family-friendly ranch: younger children who are capable of being led on horseback are led by the babysitter who is provided to watch your child while you are riding – this child care is included in your child's rate, so you can go off and enjoy your rides without a worry.
  • If you can't bear to leave your trusty steed behind when you go on vacation, Hunewill welcomes guests' horses too!
  • They have lots of exciting events for the whole family, like cowgirl weeks, adults-only weeks, cattle experiences (drives and gathers) and holiday celebrations throughout the year.

Lows

  • If you enjoy a post-ride tipple, be aware that the ranch doesn't provide alcohol, however you're welcome to bring your own.
  • Pull-on cowboy boots only permitted for horse riding: for your comfort and safety, no yard boots, hiking boots, lace-up boots, zippered boots or tennis shoes are allowed. If you don't own any cowboy boots, they have a 'boot closet' with limited sizes of used boots for borrowing.