Have you ever dreamed of sleeping under the stars, having meals cooked over dutch ovens and spending your vacation days like cowboys on horseback trail rides? Does spending the night in a covered wagon sound appealing? Ever wanted to escape from reality for a few days and try your hand at flyfishing, archery, or skeet shooting? Then a Jackson Hole glamping vacation may be the perfect fit for you and your family. Goosewing Ranch invites you to try our glamping camp for a unique adventure. We answer our most frequently asked questions to give a sense of what glamping in a picturesque Wyoming location is truly like.

Glamping has become one of the hottest travel trends. In 2017, Goosewing Ranch expanded our dude ranch to include a glamping experience called Goosewing Rendezvous. The glamping camp allows guests to have a customized, truly unique western experience. Perfect for those seeking adventure without sacrificing comfort.  

For those not familiar with glamping, it’s a newly created word that means glamorous/luxury camping. Some common threads to glamping:

• Nature is usually a stone’s throw away from where you sleep;
• Glamping is typically in a unique structure like a treehouse, yurt, tent, or covered wagon;
• Accommodations include a bed and indoor plumbing. More likely than not, the glamping destination has upped the luxury quotient and could rival resorts and hotels on the amenities.

Since the definition of glamping can vary, the first step is to do your homework and research the glamping location. Read the reviews, see what’s included, and get a sense of what it will be like to stay there. This is key to align expectations with what is available.

Welcome to Goosewing Ranch’s Glamping Camp

Our glamping camp is named Goosewing Rendezvous after the French word “rendezvous” meaning to come together or gather. We are certain this vacation experience will bring you closer to nature and close together with one another.

If you want to try something unique for your next adventure, consider Goosewing Glamping. Our hand crafted, custom made wagons are perfect for your next family adventure.  Be the envy of your friends and family when you return home with grand stories of horseback riding, wildlife spotting, hiking, fishing, explorations, and much more.  

You will have many opportunities to search for wildlife, learn survival skills, learn about Dutch oven cooking, learn how to tack and care for your horse, fish, ride, hike, and explore the Gros Ventre area.  This is a remote location and the main focus is for you to have a unique Western experience.

Goosewing Glamping FAQs

Q. What can we expect from our glamping experience?

A. Your Goosewing Rendezvous Glamping package will begin at our Resort Guest Ranch, Goosewing Ranch, located approximately 4 miles below the glamping site location.  However, this is not the same package as our guest ranch packages.

Upon arrival you will be checked in by our reservation staff, and then a Ranch Hand will help you with moving your luggage from your car to your Polaris Ranger UTV (utility terrain vehicle).  A Goosewing employee will escort you from Goosewing Ranch to the glamping location. Once at the glamping site, our wrangler will give you a personal tour and show how to use the amenities around the site.  You will have full days of horseback riding, exploring, and activities in your package.  Your checkout morning is for relaxing, packing, and completing your experience.  You will head back down to the main Goosewing Ranch where checkout will take place, return your Ranger, and we wish you happy trails. There is NO cell coverage and internet is limited.  

Q. What’s different about glamping camp compared to the resort ranch?

A. The Goosewing glamping site is located about 4 miles northeast of the Goosewing Ranch and sits at about 8,400 feet.

There are generally fewer guests at the glamping camp, so in that way it becomes an incredibly personalized, tailored for you and your family vacation. With 4 covered wagons, the glamping camp has a maximum of 17 guests.

You will enjoy a vast amount of guided horseback riding and equine adventures, horse drives, hayrides, non-guided fly fishing in both trout ponds, rivers, streams and lakes, you can take a refreshing dip in one of the mountain waters, or tube down the Gros Ventre River.  Hiking is abundant with varied difficulty.  Many of these activities are self-guided, but we can provide the instruction, gear, and location.

Q. What is included in the glamping package?

A. Glamping packages are minimum 2 night packages. These rates are all per person based on the occupancy of the wagon. Included are the glamping accommodations, meals, and on site glamping seasonal activities. Rates do not include 22% taxes and gratuities; off glamping site activities, excursions, or accommodations; transportation; alcohol; UTV fuel; fishing licenses; or any Goosewing Ranch amenities and other incidentals.

Q. Are we at the glamping site by ourselves? Any staff there with us?

A. At the Goosewing glamping site, there is a chef, a wrangler/guide, and an event coordinator/helper.  These folks work together to provide you with all your meals, services and information.  They also live at camp to provide you with a safe and enjoyable vacation experience.

Have fun on the glamping camp and the surrounding property  We have trail maps available for you, wranglers/guides for your equine adventures, fishing gear, tubes for the river, and Polaris Ranger UTVs. Many adventures and activities will be self-guided with instruction and information provided by staff members.

Q. What is the food like?

A. This is a true Western culinary experience. We expect you will be impressed with the food given the scale of our Rendezvous kitchen. Expect Dutch-oven meals, grilled meals, or open fire cooking.

Our chef and staff members prepare and serve breakfast and dinner.  Meal times are flexible depending on the day’s adventure and groups desires. Hearty breakfast fare typically includes fruit, eggs, pancakes, sausage, and bacon.

Lunch is typically a sack lunch out on the trail horseback riding, hiking, UTVing, or enjoying a number of other adventures.  Snacks are available in the afternoon, and dinner is served family style in the dining tent or around the campfire.  Meals are hearty, home cooked from fresh meats, breads, and veggies.  Some dietary restrictions can be met with advanced notice.

Q. What are the wagons like?

A. We have four custom, handcrafted wagons available at the glamping camp.  Three wagons will sleep a maximum of five people, with a king bed and three twin beds set up like bunk beds.  The fourth wagon is perfect for just a couple, with a king bed and seating.  Wagons have storage for luggage and dressers.  All linens and bedding provided. There is a safe box located in the bath cabins for valuables and your convenience. There is NO daily housekeeping.  On Monday, linens are changed and the trash emptied. 

Additional propane lights, lanterns, and solar or battery operated lamps are provided for your use.  Wagons do have outlets and USB ports for charging.  Propane stoves provide the heating in bath-cabins, wagons and around camp.  There is no air conditioning as it is not needed in our mountain climate.  Special instructions will be provided upon check-in for all features of your wagon, bath-cabin and other aspects around camp.

Q. What are the bathrooms like?

Each glamping wagon has a detached bath-cabin, with full amenities of shower, commode, vanity with sink and running hot and cold water.  Towels and some Eco friendly toiletries provided (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, bar body and face soap, toilet paper). Bath-cabins have power with lights and outlets.  

Q. Do I have to be an expert rider?

A. Absolutely not. We welcome riders of all levels and experience. With over 60 horses in our stable, we can match guests with the most appropriate horse for them. Riding age is 6 years old and up. Riders must be able to listen and follow instructions for our seasoned wranglers.

Q. What other activities are available besides horseback riding?

A. While with us, you will experience true Western Hospitality, learn the cowboy way of life, help us with our environmental stewardship, and connect with nature.  We encourage our glampers to engage in helping around the  site with horses, meal prep, all while learning about the Western lifestyle.  Evenings consist of campfire songs and stories, stargazing, s’mores roasting, and relaxing while reflecting on the day’s activities.  Activities available may include archery, hatchet throwing, knife throwing, roping (not on horseback), and wildlife spotting.

Each day you will experience a different part of the Western culture and have the opportunity to learn and practice new skills.  These range from dutch oven cooking lessons, equine care, horse tacking and packing instructions, wildlife tracking skills, fire starting and more.

Additionally, activities vary from guided and instructed, or to being available for self service. Either way, we suggest that glampers be healthy and in good physical health so you can enjoy the remote experience.

Q. Will we get bored without electronics/wifi?

A. Well, that is really more of a personal answer depending on your family. Does the idea of not needing phones for anything (except for photos) sound appealing? Would your family like to take a break from social media and texting and get into outdoor activities, games, and hay rides? Or does not having email and phone coverage make you twitchy?

The main focus of Goosewing  Glamping is to enjoy nature, the wilderness and reconnecting with family and friends in a unique setting. So if you’re up for a disconnect and an escape from the “real world”—this is it! 

Q. What should I pack?

A. Don’t go overboard, but also prepare for a range in temperatures. Think lightweight and layers. The glamping camp is at 8,400 feet elevation in the Gros Ventre Mountains, the sun can be intense, and the weather can change quickly. Here are our packing recommendations:

• For horseback riding: Jeans, cowboy boots or slick soled enclosed shoes with at least a 1 ½” heel, wide brimmed hat or cowboy hat with stampede strings, long sleeve/lightweight shirt, gloves, fleece or extra layer.
• For hiking/fishing/biking: Shorts or lightweight easy dry pants, river shoes or sandals that strap to your feet (no flip flops), lightweight easy dry shirt, walking or hiking boots/shoes, hat, and sunglasses.
• Essential items: Sunscreen, camera, bathing suit, lightweight jacket or extra layer for cool mornings and evenings, lightweight packable rain gear, warmer clothing for early or late season visitors and pack trippers.  Additionally, the ranch does have a gift shop where many of these items can be purchased. We have a full Packing List to help you get ready!
  

Q. What’s the weather like since we’ll be in covered wagons?

A. Typically the summer months in Jackson Hole are very enjoyable, with mild temperatures and a dry climate. Expect warm and dry days with chilly temperatures in the evenings.

Average temperatures:

June: 68/35; July: 76/42; August: 67/43; and September: 65/33

Moreover, there is no air conditioning, but it is not needed in our mountain climate. We will provide you with rain slickers, but we suggest you follow our packing guidelines for additional gear.

Q. How long will it take to get to Goosewing Ranch?

A. Allow at least 1 ½ hours from downtown Jackson, Wyoming or the Jackson Hole airport.

We recommend you print directions and use them along with your GPS devices. GPS devices are not always accurate in the mountains. Also, use the physical address of 24440 East Cottonwood Creek Road, Kelly, Wyoming, 83011.

Q. What are check-in and check-out times?

A. Goosewing Glamping Check-in time is between 2:00pm and 6:00pm, while Check-out time is 9:00am – 11:00am.  (check-in and out times are strict, we cannot accommodate early or late arrivals or late checkouts).  On your arrival or check in day, please have lunch before you arrive, there will not be a meal for you until dinner.  Breakfast is provided on your departure on checkout day.

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Glamping is a unique experience. Whether the cabins or the glamping site, we’d love to have you. Or try a combination stay including both glamping and the main ranch. Best of both worlds!

We have a dedicated website just for Goosewing Glamping. We’d love for you to check it out!