Stay At One Of These 7 Montana Ranches For A Truly Unique Experience

Mountain Sky Guest Ranch is located in the small town of Emigrant. Since they opened as a dude ranch in 1929, they’ve been a top place in the state for ranch visits. Aside from the breathtaking views and rustic-chic environment, guests can enjoy an array of activities ranging from fly fishing and horseback riding to golf and yoga. You can also get a massage to maximize your relaxation.

Located in Whitefish, the Bar W Guest Ranch is a great place to visit anytime of year―they offer plenty of winter activities as well as summer fun. Their horseback riding program is their main attraction, so if you’d like to get better and more comfortable on a horse, this is the place for you. Imagine riding over the mountain foothills and across open prairies. Sounds pretty wonderful, doesn’t it? They even have an indoor arena for winter rides! Bar W also has an adults only week every year, offering a place for parents and non-parents alike to visit and spend time in the company of other grown ups. Kids are welcome any other time.

Peggy Dulany, this ranch’s owner, is committed to being a good neighbor and offering her guests a wonderful experience. Visitors at J Bar L stay in one of the homesteads, participate in a variety of ranch activities and dine on fresh, local cuisine. The focus here is on disconnecting with the world and reconnecting with what’s really important: nature, family, friends and food.

This ranch dates back to 1873, and the pioneer spirit is still strong here. Guests will participate in some hands-on ranching, daily horseback riding, cattle moving and fishing. The ranch guest house is a comfortable 1400 square foot handcrafted log house with all the comforts of home.

We’re pulling no punches: Paws Up is pricey. But in addition to their beautiful accommodations that range from luxury homes to glamping tents, you’ll get to participate in some once-in-a-lifetime activities here. Join in on a cattle drive, experience a chuckwagon meal that includes a wagon ride and readings of a cowboy poet, and enjoy an informative wilderness workshop. Whether you’re a ranch novice or you’re practically a professional, there’s always something new to learn at Paws Up.

The name behind this ranch is almost as great as the experience. The owner SuzAnne’s great grandmother, Clara, and her husband, Harry, lived in a log cabin along Carpenter Creek near the Big Belt Mountains. SuzAnne’s grandmother was born there, but then the family had to leave Montana for the midwest. Unfortunately Harry took some risks and ended up losing his fortune, abandoning his family out of embarrassment. Clara ended up opening a boarding house, keeping it open until the last child left home and she was free to return to Montana. Upon her return, Clara declared that she was "Dun Rovin,’" never to leave Montana again.

Guests at the Dunrovin Ranch can enjoy comfortable accommodation, horseback riding, river recreation, and there’s even a kids’ club for younger visitors.

You'll find "Rich Ranch" in Seeley Lake, and the family's passion for the great outdoors really shines through. In addition to the standard ranch activities, guests here can sometimes experience artists' workshops, wildlife viewing, and hunting.