Just Back From: The Ranch Hudson Valley

For this Just Back From, I spoke with a guest who recently spent four nights at The Ranch in the Hudson Valley. The property, the first of the brand’s on the East Coast, was opened this past spring, and the interior was designed by the incredible Steven Gambrel. This guest had been to The Ranch Malibu previously, and for this visit, she was joined by her adult daughter.

How did you get there?

We drove an hour from New York City to Sloatsburg in the Hudson Valley, where The Ranch is located. It could not have been easier.

What is the property like? 

It is a beautiful, old mansion with a lot of history. It used to be a girls’ boarding school with fifty rooms; they renovated it to twenty-five I believe. They kept a lot of the mansion’s old character while making it comfortable and stylish. The exterior is slate-gray stone while the interior is mostly muted colors–creams and browns.

What were the rooms like? How do they compare to the ones in California?

I toured many of the rooms on the property, and I found them to be beautiful. Some are in the main building while others are in an auxiliary structure. My daughter’s was in that section, and her room was still absolutely beautiful. My room was mid-size with a reading nook and bathtub (which I definitely recommend requesting, as you are hiking up to four hours a day!). The AC and water pressure were great–a necessity when you are spending so much time outside.  Because this is an old mansion, many of the rooms are different sizes. If you have preferences for what kind of room you are in, I would call The Ranch to discuss the options.

The rooms in California were fine. They were little bungalows, and none had bathtubs. 

Is the program the same as that in California? Can you walk us through a typical day? 

The program is largely the same but with some significant tweaks. One difference is the duration. At The Ranch Malibu, the programs are seven days, nine days, or multi-week. At The Ranch Hudson Valley, the programs are either three nights or four nights, or you could combine them to stay for a week. 

The basic schedule was the same as in California. We woke up to chimes at 5:30 and stretched at 6:00. At 6:30, we had breakfast, and at 7:30, we were in the van to head to the hike. The hikes were 20-30 minutes away, whereas those at The Ranch Malibu were much closer.  We would hike for either four or two hours—you get to pick— and arrive back at the property around 12:30. We would use the cold plunge pool, hot tub, or indoor pool before having lunch at 1:00. 

Fitness classes were offered at 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00, with the same class at each time. You could do double classes if you wanted, just depending on how you were feeling. Daily massages, offered in the afternoon hours, are included in the rate. Then, at 5:00 and 6:00, there are yoga classes. The fitness classes were good, and the facility was insane, just beyond gorgeous. 

Dinner was served at seven, and by eight o’clock everyone was in their rooms.

What was the hiking like? 

East Coast hiking is very different than California hiking. It is challenging—lots of rocks, boulders, sticks, etc. There are plenty of guides and a clear path, but you have to watch your footing. In California, the hikes were on open paths rather than trails. People of all skill levels could do it, some just have to go slow. That is not the case with the hiking here; it is much trickier terrain that wouldn’t be safe for some hikers.  

It is nice to have the two-hour hike as an option in case the weather is bad. The terrain is already difficult; I could see myself doing a two-hour hike if it had rained while we were there.

How was the food? Was it similar to The Ranch Malibu? 

The food was all vegan and very good. The chef is testing out different recipes, as they just opened, and they want it to be both the same and different from the other properties’ cuisine. Some of the snacks were the same, the granola was the same. 

What were the rules on alcohol and coffee?

No alcohol, but they did offer coffee with almond or oat milk. In California, they don’t offer either. 

Were they accommodating when it came to snacking and extra portions? Do they still offer the four almonds post-hike? 

They were very accommodating. The snacks were more than four almonds, and people got extra snacks if need be. They had apples, trail mix bars, and other snacks unique to The Ranch Hudson Valley. One morning I didn’t like the breakfast that was offered, so I asked for the breakfast from the day before. 

Mindy’s Note: About 5 years ago, I stayed at The Ranch’s Four Seasons Westlake program, which is no longer offered. While the food was excellent, it wasn’t enough to sustain me for how much we were working out. They were very kind about giving extra portions, but I did end up ordering sushi one night because of how protein-starved I was! If I went to one of The Ranch's properties again, I would bring some protein-heavy snacks, just in case.

What were the other guests like? 

In California, the other guests were mostly women. During our stay at The Ranch Hudson Valley, there were a lot of couples, which was maybe because we were there on a holiday weekend. There were some executives, parents, and a few young adult guests, including my daughter. It was pretty diverse. Because it is an hour's drive away, I expect a majority of the clientele will be from New York City. 

The property had just opened this past spring. Were there any growing pains that you noticed?

While it was a gorgeous facility, it had only been open for a month when we went. They seemed to be experiencing some normal growing pains, especially when it came to hiring and orienting their staff into ‘The Ranch way’ of doing things.

The quality of the massage therapists seemed inconsistent, and everyone ended up wanting the same therapist. At The Ranch properties in California, it was hard to find a bad massage. On one day, we had to change hikes when a guide called out sick. They did a great job pivoting to do an alternate hike, but I would think that with enough staff, one person calling out last minute shouldn’t force a change of plans.  

Another issue was transportation back to the property after the hike. There were only two vans, so guests would have to wait for others to finish before departing. It seemed they addressed this while we were there, though. 

Some parts of the property were still under construction. The outdoor pool, for instance, was supposed to be finished by Memorial Day, but it was just a hole in the ground while we were there. 

Besides hiking gear, what should guests pack? What did you wear post-hike?

• Bathing suits

• Two to three workout outfits

• Casual clothes for nighttime (all of us were in sweatpants)

• Comfortable shoes like slippers or flip-flops

• These are a must: the second the hike is over, you want to take your shoes off and let your feet breathe. 

• Bringing running sneakers isn’t necessary unless someone wants to go jogging on their own time. The fitness classes are weightlifting and yoga, so everyone is barefoot. 

The Ranch provides a packing list of hiking gear that guests should definitely read carefully, but here are some must-haves that come to mind: 

• Merino wool socks (no cotton)

• Hiking shoes with a lot of ankle support

• A hat (the trails are mostly covered, but I wore one)

• Camelbak with belt loop 

• Rain gear (pay attention to the forecast!)

Fortunately, the hotel does do your laundry each day.

Is there a store where you can purchase any items you forgot?

There is a small store that sells Camelbaks, baseball hats, a small selection of exercise clothes, candles, etc. It does not sell food or hiking shoes, though.  

Anything important to know for arrival? 

One important thing to know is that the rooms are not always ready upon arrival. They are still working out the flow of turning over rooms and luggage. Guests go on a mini hike first thing upon getting there, so it is easiest to arrive prepared in your hiking clothes (or have it readily accessible in your suitcase).

What was the staff like? 

They were really great. I was really impressed by them and how much they cared. They were really excited about the property. A couple were from California, but most were from the East Coast.

Since The Ranch Hudson Valley is very outdoor-focused, how do you expect them to handle the winter season?

The Ranch properties in California didn’t have to deal with winter, but obviously, The Ranch Hudson Valley will have to adapt to northeast winters. They said they plan to offer snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. 

Would you go back? 

I would 100% go back, and my daughter would, too. I think the property is going to get even better over time: they will have amazing gardens, grow all their own food, etc. The lake is beautiful, and they said they will offer kayaking and paddle boarding over the summer.