Corncob Ranch is a delightful destination, especially in the spring. The riding here is ranch riding – you can easily picture yourself rounding up cattle as you ride cross-country and along ranch roads, traveling through pastures, up wooded draws, and across arid hilltops. You can also ride into the nearby Umatilla National Forest, but there are plenty of places to explore without ever leaving this private 4,000-acre ranch near Spray, Oregon.
The horse camp at Corncob Ranch isn’t your usual camping experience. You’ll stay in your RV or tent in a very nice campground designed with horse trailers in mind. The campsites, scattered across a hillside behind the main ranch house, are all pull-throughs with corrals for the horses, stock water near your site, plenty of elbow room between campsites, and views out across the valley below. There’s even a swimming pool where guests can relax and cool off after a hot summer ride.
Your hosts at Corncob Ranch are Rocky and Rahlie Goodell, who have opened their beautiful ranch to visiting horseback riders, knowing that you’ll fall in love with the area just as they have.
The terrain at Corncob Ranch includes hills crowned with rimrock, creek-carved valleys, ponderosa pine forest, pastures dotted with grazing cows, and open meadows of sagebrush and bunchgrass. Depending on where you ride, you can enjoy panoramic views from the hilltops, fields full of seasonal wildflowers, and even the remains of an old homestead.
In addition to the fun riding, swimming, and camping opportunities at Corncob, guests can enjoy fishing for bass in the large ranch pond. Or you can swim or do a float trip on the nearby John Day River or visit the scenic John Day National Monument. If you’re lucky enough to be there on Memorial Day weekend, don’t miss the Spray Rodeo, a 2-day event that, in addition to the daily rodeo, includes a parade, a buckaroo breakfast, and a half-marathon along the banks of the John Day River.
Where and how far you ride is entirely up to you, so mileages and elevations vary depending on where you go. When you arrive and check in, the Goodells will give you a map of the area and answer your questions about where to ride. Don’t hesitate to ask your campground neighbors about the riding as well. The chances are good that they are regular visitors to Corncob Ranch and can give you the directions for their favorite rides.
Reservations:
Make your reservations to stay at Corncob Ranch at www.corncobranch.com, or call 541-910-0761.