Whoa, dude! Vacationers lasso simpler times on the ranch: from a rocking chair on the front porch of the main lodge you can hear the thunder of horses being let out to pasture as you take in the mountain view. Inside, you can reconnect with the family over a board game.

• Author: Cada, Chryss

"THERE'S NO TVS, NO VIDEO GAMES, NO DISTRACTIONS," said Janice Benson, whose family has traveled from Chicago to spend its vacation at the Bar Lazy J Ranch in tiny Parshall the past four summers. "Going out to the ranch is a dramatic change from our life in the suburbs.

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"We have time to focus on what's important--each other."

The Bensons are five of the approximately 20,000 visitors to Colorado's dude ranches during the main 13-week summer season. Out-of-state guests make up about 85 percent of the visitors to Colorado ranches. Regulars--about a third of ranch guests are returnees--say they visit Colorado's more than 50 guest ranches to step back from the rat race.

"Sure, 20,000 is about the same number of people that are at Vail on a busy Saturday," said Charles Henry, executive director of the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association. "Our numbers may not be large, but dollar-wise the ranches bring in a significant amount of money."

Some ranches are open in the spring and fall, or even for skiing and snowshoeing during the winter. But it's during the 13 weeks from early June to late August that dude ranches bring in the approximately $24 million the industry generates annually in Colorado.

Guests pay between $2,000 and $3,000 a week for adults and about $1,000 a week for kids for a one-week, horse-oriented, family-centered Western experience. That price includes all meals and a wide range of activities.

Horseback riding is, of course, at the top of the list. Most ranches have a morning and afternoon ride for adults and for different age groups of "little wranglers." After a thorough "horse orientation" the first morning on the ranch, even the greenest of greenhorns will feel comfortable in the saddle.

At Granby's Drowsy Water Ranch, husband and wife owners Ken and Randy Sue Fosha give an orientation with all the drama and humor of a good Western.

While Randy Sue demonstrates how to get to know one's horse, Ken puts a fine point on each detail. Leaving no bit of knowledge to chance, he even shows folks how to identify their left hand (when your left hand is held out in front of you, it forms an L). Guests are assessed and matched up with a horse that will be theirs for the week, and before sundown on that first day, they take their first ride.

In addition to trail rides, several of Colorado's dude ranches offer cattle drives reminiscent of the movie "City Slickers." In Northern Colorado on the Wyoming border. Focus...