The golden leaves of aspens aren’t the first to fall when autumn arrives in the Western mountains. The rates at Rocky Mountain dude ranches take a dip as early as mid-August. When kids return to school, and demand from families’ decreases, member ranches of the Dude Ranchers’ Association (DRA) typically offer lower rates, shorter stays, and special weeks. It’s a time for couples, singles, girlfriends, and parents looking for a break, a time to kick back with no meetings, no schedules, and no worries.