Activities
The lodge and cabins at Kingfisher Bend Ranch are no longer available for rent. Only family members may view the Calendar page.
There is much to do at KBR! All of our activities are free except use of KBR's snowmobiles, horseback rides, hunting and guided fishing. For additional information about any of the four underlined activities listed below in all capital letters (e.g., FISHING), click on that activity. For guests staying in the MLW, there is a second floor game room and an outdoor propane grill.
Mosquitoes are present at KBR during part of the summer. They are most active at dawn and dusk. To reduce the risk of being bitten, long pants; light-color, long-sleeve shirts; and mosquito repellent with 25% to 35% DEET are recommended. Although not common, you may encounter ticks at KBR. Spray insect repellent on the cuffs of your pants and on your ankles to deter ticks and carefully check yourself and your children for ticks each evening.
KBR is at a high altitude which increases the chance of getting sunburned. It is wise to bring and use adequate sunscreen for protection.
Because there are risks involved in some of the activities at KBR, guests (i.e. persons who are not members of the Jacobsen family) should sign an “Agreement Regarding Use of Kingfisher Bend Ranch” when they arrive.
ATVs, Motorcycles and Motorbikes – The term “ATV” includes UTVs, side-by-sides, and similar motorized vehicles. E-bikes are not covered by these policies.
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R&K Hunting may operate ATVs at KBR for scouting and hunting deer, elk and moose and for predator control.
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The speed limit for all ATVs, motorcycles, and motorbikes at KBR is 20 miles per hour.
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All ATVs, motorcycles and motorbikes must (a) have a muffler with a functioning spark arrestor, (b) be operated in compliance with applicable Wyoming laws, and (c) stay on existing roads and two-track trails. R&K Hunting is exempt from Part (c) of the previous sentence.
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ATVs (other than KBR’s and R&K’s ATVs), motorcycles, and motorbikes may only be operated at KBR by persons authorized by both a KBR owner (or an owner’s spouse) and the owner of the ATV, motorcycle or motorbike.
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Helmets for operators and riders of ATVs, motorcycles, and motorbikes may be borrowed from KBR. They are stored in the upstairs supply room of the Main Lodge.
Campfire Area – About five minutes south of the main lodge, a fire pit with benches is available for roasting marshmallows and/or hot dogs, or for a pleasant gathering under the stars. A fire in the fire pit may only be started with the approval of KBR’s manager. A fire in the fire pit MUST be constantly and carefully supervised by an adult. A campfire is NOT allowed in strong winds or when the surrounding vegetation is extremely dry. The size of the fire MUST be kept to a moderate (not “roaring”) size. A fire may not be started unless the water barrel near the fire pit is FULL. After a campfire, an adult MUST carefully and completely put out the fire and ALL embers, sparks, etc. in the fire pit.
Evanston and Park City – Evanston is a 25-minute drive from KBR. It has a movie theater, hospital, bowling alley, a variety of restaurants, an 18-hole golf course and Bear River State Park which has both small herds of elk and bison, and also the Rio Oso mountain bike and cross country ski trails. Park City, Utah, is about 70 minutes from KBR. It is home to the Sundance Film Festival, world-class ski areas, and an assortment of excellent shops and restaurants.
Firearms (including pellet guns) are not allowed at KBR except:
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Hunters’ firearms if they are staying at or hunting at KBR.
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Firearms used by an owner of KBR, a spouse of a KBR owner, or KBR’s managers for predator control.
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Skeet shooting with a shotgun and “clay pigeons” with a KBR owner or a spouse of a KBR owner present at and supervising the skeet shooting. Skeet shooting may only occur in an open area where there is no risk of human non-participants or cattle walking unexpectedly into the “line of fire”.
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Rifles and pellet guns used for target practice with a KBR owner or a spouse of a KBR owner present at and supervising the target practice. Target practice may only occur at a location with a dirt bank at least 15 feet high behind the target(s). The dirt bank directly west of the bridge and the dirt bank south of the Bear River near Gate 2 are approved locations. unless the nearby vegetation is extremely dry and thus a fire hazard. Target practice and skeet shooting by non-hunters is not allowed at KBR during the deer and elk hunting
seasons.
Fireworks (including sparklers) are not allowed at KBR.
GUIDED HORSEBACK RIDES - click here
Hiking, Jogging and Biking (including E-bikes) – There are trails for hiking, jogging and mountain biking at KBR, at Bear River State Park in Evanston, and in the nearby Uinta Mountains. Information on Forest Service trails for hiking, biking and ATVs can be found by going to fs.usda.gov, selecting “Wyoming” and “Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest”, then selecting “Recreation”, and finally selecting “Bicycling” or “Hiking” or “OHV Riding”. If you select “Bicycling” and then select “Mountain Biking”, you will see a long list of mountain bike trails in the nearby Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District. By clicking on one of the listed trails, you will find directions to the trailhead, the trail length, and the elevation A wonderful 30-mile bike ride for road bikes or mountain bikes is on paved Highway 150 from Bald Mountain Pass in Utah (elevation 10,715 feet) to KBR (elevation 7,600 feet). The ride is about 90% downhill or level. It takes about two hours for reasonably fit adults or children.
HUNTING - click here [NOTE: During big game hunting seasons, non-hunting persons staying at KBR must limit their activities so that they do not interfere with “the hunt”. Hence, they may not be able to access portions of KBR where or near to where hunting is or will be occurring.]
Looking at a Night Sky with Minimal “Light Pollution” – see stars and constellations that you may never have seen before. KBR has a small guidebook available for identifying constellations.
Outdoor Games – Basketball, pickleball, sand volleyball, horseshoes, Frisbee golf, and, for young children, a hunt for plywood cowboys, cougars, bears, etc. in the grove of Cottonwood trees behind the Main Lodge. Also, there is an artificial turf area east of the pond which can be used with careful adult supervision for bocce ball, carpet bowling, kubb, and croquet. The croquet equipment is stored in a locked box at the south end of the croquet court. To obtain the combination for the locked box, please carefully read "Croquet at Kingfisher Bend Ranch” found here. DO NOT touch the croquet hoops in the storage box until you have read the croquet instructions in the storage box.
The Uinta Mountains – KBR is about a 10-minute drive from the Uinta Mountains within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest – a great area for day hikes, a scenic drive, biking, photography, or fishing in a backcountry lake. A recreation pass, obtainable from the nearby Bear River Ranger Station, or an "America the Beautiful Interagency Pass" is needed if you plan to park a vehicle at a turnout or parking area along the Mirror Lake Highway. Weather in the Uinta Mountains can change quickly. Take adequate water and suitable clothing. The photo on the right below this paragraph was taken on the four mile long Lofty Lake Loop Trail in the Uinta Mountains. Cutthroat Lake is in the valley below the hikers.
WATER SPORTS (OTHER THAN FISHING) - click here
Wildlife – Birds (various ducks, Canada geese, sandhill cranes, belted kingfishers, various hawks and eagles, great horned owls, red-winged blackbirds, mountain bluebirds, various hummingbirds, great blue herons, lazuli buntings, black-headed grosbeaks, and more), mule deer, moose, elk, beavers, foxes, coyotes, badgers, river otters, mink, cougars, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, marmots, and, infrequently, a black bear and pronghorn antelope.
Winter - KBR is a great place for a winter getaway above the winter inversions that often beset the Salt Lake Valley. Winter access may require having the access road to KBR plowed - to get into KBR, to get out of KBR, or both. If special plowing is required for your group, you will need to pay KBR the cost of plowing which will normally range between $75 and $150 for each time the road is plowed. Winter activity options at KBR include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and sledding. Groomed cross-country ski trails are at the Lily Lake Winter Recreation Area about nine miles from KBR (see brorayurts.org), Bear River State Park, and the Purple Sage Golf Course in
Evanston. KBR has a good (but not unlimited) selection of cross-country skis, boots and poles and several pairs of snowshoes for use by guests. KBR’s proximity to the Uinta Mountains makes it an excellent base for snowmobiling. Snowmobilers must stay at least 400 feet (the length of a football field plus another 100 feet) away from moose and elk and not harass or stress them in any way. Guests can bring and use their own snowmobiles at KBR. There are two snowmobiles at KBR for use by guests - one is a “single" and the other is a “double”. Users of KBR’s snowmobiles must pay $2.00/mile by leaving cash or a check payable to KBR on the desk in the office in MLE. KBR's snowmobiles may only be operated by persons age 21 or older except a person 16-21 may operate a KBR snowmobile if he or she is carefully supervised by a parent. Except for members of the Jacobsen family, all persons riding on or operating a KBR snowmobile must sign a waiver of liability form. Guests need to provide their own snowmobile clothing except there is a good assortment of snowmobile helmets at KBR. Fuel for snowmobiles can be purchased at KBR. In winter, KBR cannot be accessed by car via Kamas and Bald Mountain Pass. All-wheel drive vehicles with good winter tires and/or chains are recommended for winter access to KBR via Evanston.
