This Wyoming Ranch Is Open in the Winter for the First Time Ever — With Some of the Most Remote Ski Runs in the U.S.

It’s also limited edition.

There are some places that remain wild, and the state of Wyoming — the least-populated state in the country — has its fair share of them. One of these gems is the Darwin RanchThe remotest guest ranch in the lower 48. At the Darwin, you’re at least 15 miles from your nearest neighbor, there’s no cell service, and you’re surrounded by wilderness.

But that’s not to say you’ll be roughing it. The Darwin has long taken good care of its own — it was one of the first dude ranches in the West and has hosted travelers looking for a slow-paced, outdoor-focused summer vacation since the ‘20s. The mother-son duo that runs the operation this year is expanding their winter offerings with a backcountry ski experience.

“It is so seriously remote in the winter,” Oliver Klingenstein, who runs the ranch with his mother, told Travel + Leisure. “The guests won’t see anybody else in their entire stay — the place is theirs, and access to that corner of the Bridger-Teton is theirs for their stay.”

With the new winter offering, the family’s time-tested formula remains the same: Guests stay in beautifully updated 100-year-old cabins with wood-burning stoves and meet in the lodge for three hearty meals a day, served family-style. Instead of hiking, horseback riding or fishing as they do in summer, guests put on their skis to head out into the frozen wilderness to ski some of the most remote backcountry in the nation.

“You won’t see another track the whole time you’re there, let alone another person,” said Klingenstein, who notes that there’s something for every type of skier at the Darwin. “Rolling hills for Nordic touring, a groomed track for skate skiing, low-angle pow turns, and if you want to walk a little farther, or hop in a snowmobile, we can get into some real skiing. It’s not hardcore — it’s really the land of the pow.”

Every day, Klingenstein (the ski guide) assesses the conditions and takes the group into backcountry. The informal, small-group approach allows guests to weigh in on what they want out of the day — to ski the steeps, search out untracked powder, or tour around to look at local wildlife (this is bighorn sheep country).

After a day of adventure, guests will return to the ranch for a delicious meal and drinks by the roaring fire. Food has long been one of the Darwin’s standout offerings, and the winter spread lives up to its reputation. The meat comes from Ishawooa Mesa Ranch. Almost all of the food is made at home, and vegetables are sourced locally whenever possible.

“It’s like going to the most remote ski hut, but instead of a hut, there is a fully functional luxurious lodge to call home. Of course, our food, guiding, and hospitality is spectacular — but nothing beats the location,” Klingenstein said.

When stars come out, cocktails and the day’s stories are exchanged over a soak in the wood-fired hot tub with unobstructed views of the night sky. The fun starts again after a good night’s sleep in absolute peace and quiet.

The Darwin’s backcountry ski trips max out at eight people and last a minimum of four nights. The season is short — late February to the end of March — when Klingenstein says skiers can take advantage of “longer days, a better snowpack, and warmer weather.” 

The all-inclusive rate of $750 per person, per night, includes full access to all the property’s amenities — including meals, sauna and hot tub, snowmobile transportation, and guiding services. It’s BYOB at the Darwin and most guests bring their own ski gear, although rentals can be arranged.

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