Looking for a family-friendly guest ranch in Oregon’s Umpqua Valley? Big K Guest Ranch near Roseburg, Oregon is a wonderful place to relax and reconnect with family and friends. While you may not be familiar with the small town of Elkton, the sprawling Big K Ranch has a large presence in this part of Southern Oregon. Situated on 2,500 acres, the ranch offers forest views and Umpqua River access that can’t be beat.
My husband and I came to the Big K Guest Ranch for a guided fishing trip. While my husband spent a large portion of his youth on the Umpqua River, we found better success in catching fish with a professional guide.
Big K Ranch specializes in guided fishing and hunting trips. After spending 2 nights at the ranch, I think the Elkton, Oregon property specializes in hospitality. We felt right at home as soon as we checked in.
With 20 wood cabins on the property you’ll have privacy without giving up home-cooked meals and personalized service. The family-run guest ranch meets the needs for romantic getaways, family reunions or relaxing vacations with friends.
On this trip, we brought our well-behaved Labrador Retriever with us. Fortunately, the guest ranch is dog-friendly. There are deer, elk, turkeys, cows and all sorts of birds scattered about the rambling property.
- Search for Great Tours HERE
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Get a Car Rental
We stayed in the “Country Suite” cabin #20. Recently updated, I called this the honeymoon cabin due to the luxurious king bed and romantic gas fireplace. Step into the walk-in shower with dual showerheads. There’s also a cute double sink that fits in with the country theme.
In the evening, we grabbed a bottle of Umpqua Valley wine and headed out to the deck before dinner. Watching the birds and animals swoop in and out is my kind of happy hour.
Our visit took place in February, perfect for winter steelhead fishing. We plan to return in the summer when the weather is more conducive to short sleeves and long walks by the river. If you’re a hunter, plan around those seasons. HuntingMark is a good resource.
While the guest ranch experience no longer includes horseback riding, there are plenty of activities on property to keep young and old entertained. The river bank next to the Umpqua River is fun for catch and release small mouth bass fishing. The lodge offers kayaks and water toys for rent during your stay. There’s also a game room at the lodge, corn hole and a fire pit for evening campfires.
The lodge offers all-inclusive dining plans for home-cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you reserve a rafting or fishing trip, the lodge restaurant will pack you a gourmet boxed lunch for your Umpqua Valley adventure.
Meals are family-friendly featuring beef from their local cattle, as well as fresh seafood, pasta and salads. I always say this, but save room for dessert. The Big K is known for their marionberry cobbler and brownie sundaes. Needless to say, we sampled multiple desserts.
After a scratch-baked meal, we headed over to the massive stone fireplace to relax before returning to our cabin.
Rates vary by season and start at $150 per night. There is an addition fee for pets. The lodge is available for a complete buy out for special events, family reunions or weddings. We’re excited to visit during the summer and fall.
I booked my Big K Guest Ranch cabin directly with the Elkton, Oregon property. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. All photo credits: Oregon-based travel writer Nancy D. Brown
Dear Nancy
Thank you for your article on the big K ranch. I was very surprised to see it on Google. Anyway, I own a family vacation rental in Elkton. It was my father’s dream to build a log home after his retirement to live in peace and tranquility. Since his passing, I have had the opportunity to open my home up to many people to enjoy the beauty Oregon has to offer.
Thank you gir sharing!
Many years ago my husband worked on some equipment for the elder owner. They are a wonderful family and they have a beautiful place. They are very accommodating.
I would really like to have more information about the Big K Ranch especially through the use of photography. You paint a great picture with words of just how nice the ranch is. Using more photographs would have been a nice supplement to your descriptions of the various activities the Ranch offers. Of special interest to myself and quite a few of your readers is how accommodating to the physically disabled the amenities are especially the showers/restrooms in the cabins but also the entrance’s to each of the buildings including the restaurant/dining room. I’m guessing that a visit to the Big K website will supply potential visitors with the necessary photographs to alleviate the concerns which I have mentioned here. Please regard my comment as constructive as that is how I intended it. I enjoy your writings about your travel experiences and feel that photographs enhance your descriptions of the places you visit rather than acting as a replacement for the text. Also I would like to commend and thank you for covering such a wonderful place as the Big K Ranch that is local and affordable. It seems like the perfect place to get away for a few days in order to relax and take time to enjoy some simple pleasures either alone or with family and/or friends. I’m already looking forward to spending some time there and I haven’t even made a reservation yet lol. Cheers
I won a weekend there once we had a wonderful time horse back riding and rafting.and the good was awesome
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for your feedback. Cabin #17 is ADA compliant with bigger doors, roll under sink, roll in shower and king bed. The Big K dining room and lodge is wheelchair accessible and one level. By the way, I’m a freelance writer and have my own website http://www.nancydbrown with in-depth reviews of almost every property I have reviewed here. I appreciate your comment. Nancy D. Brown
Hi Donna,
Sounds like it’s been awhile since you have visited Big K Guest Ranch. Unfortunately, there is no longer horseback riding. The rafting and food is still awesome. Regards, Nancy D. Brown
Hello Mrs. McCarley,
This family-owned property is a gem. I was happy to have found it as Elkton is new to me. Regards, Nancy D. Brown
Hi Christine,
I’m glad I could shine some Google light on Big K Guest Ranch. It’s difficult for family-owned, small resorts to compete online without huge advertising budgets. Please feel free to email me with information about your rental property. I’m new to Lane County, Oregon and enjoy exploring new areas, especially with log cabin opportunities. NancyBrownConsulting@comcast.net