Montana Dude Ranch Vacations

1. Check into Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Emigrant

Mountain Sky Guest Ranch is an all-inclusive resort and dude ranch that is located in the city of Emigrant, in southwest Montana.

Travelers from all around the world have been making their way to this little corner of Paradise Valley for idyllic vacations since 1929. Much has evolved since the ranch’s early days; the amenities have grown more opulent, the property lines have expanded, and the programming has become more diverse.

The ranch offers a plethora of outdoor activities for guests to enjoy, including white-water rafting, fly-fishing, golfing, horseback riding, hiking, clay shooting, kids programs, and Yellowstone National Park tours. After a long day of outdoor adventure, guests can relax and rejuvenate at the Mountain Sky Wellness Lodge.

Find it at this Address: 480 NF-132, Emigrant, MT, Phone: 406-333-4911

2. Hawley Mountain Guest Ranch

Hawley Mountain Guest Ranch is a sprawling dude ranch and all-inclusive resort that is located in south Montana.

The ranch offers its guests a relaxing, stress-free vacation that is jam-packed with a variety of memory-making adventures. Guests will have the opportunity to experience fun activities that range from scenic-river rafting to Blue Ribbon fly fishing to horseback riding to jeep adventures, all of which will be enjoyed with warm western hospitality. Visitors will have access to over one million acres of pristine wilderness situated just north of Yellowstone National Park. The ranch’s guests will find the accommodations quite charming and cozy, complete with warm showers, comfortable beds, and rustic décor.

Find it at this Address: 4188 Main Boulder Road, McLeod, MT, Phone: 406-932-5791

3. Sign up for the kids program at JJJ Wilderness Ranch

JJJ Wilderness Ranch is located just inside of the Rocky Mountains, nestled within a scenic corridor between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

This sprawling dude ranch overlooks the shimmering Gibson Lake and beautiful Sun River Canyon in Augusta, Montana. Just outside of the ranch’s back door lies the famous million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness, unspoiled and unforgettable. The ranch features responsive horses for the beginner all the way up to the experienced rider, private cabin accommodations, hearty meals, and unlimited outdoor activities.

There is a fantastic Kid’s Program and plethora of available adventures, such as fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and pack-trips.

Find it at this Address: 91 Mortimer Road, Augusta, MT, Phone: 406-562-3653

4. Rich’s Montana Guest Ranch

Rich’s Montana Guest Ranch is a family-owned and operated dude ranch that is situated just south of the Flathead National Forest and east of Cottonwood Park in Seeley Lake, Montana.

Summer ranch vacations at Rich’s include cozy cabin lodging, hearty buffet-style meals, complimentary use of ranch amenities, and a variety of fun activities during the week. Guests can enjoy everything from adventurous horseback riding on quality saddle horses to pack trips through the Bob Marshall Wilderness to Blue Ribbon fly fishing to fair-chase hunts for deer and elk.

Rich’s also provides opportunities for camping, winter snowmobiling, and hiking. Nestled within the picturesque Rocky Mountains, the ranch overlooks the marvelous Woodworth Meadow near Blackfoot River Valley.

Find it at this Address: 939 Cottonwood Lakes Road, Seeley Lake, MT, Phone: 406-677-2317

5. Covered Wagon Ranch

Established in 1925, Covered Wagon Ranch is one of Montana’s oldest continuously operating dude ranches within the beautiful canyon at the confluence of the Taylors Fork and Gallatin rivers.

This sprawling ranch is located only three miles away from the scenic northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. Guests will appreciate the ranch’s charming and historic log cabin accommodations, complete with private baths, rustic wood furniture, and wood-burning stoves.

Visitors will enjoy sensational meals and pampered service from the ranch’s extraordinary hosting staff. There are numerous adventurous activities offered for guests to partake in, such as inner tubing, roping, hiking, world-class fly fishing, and horseback riding.

Find it at this Address: 34035 Gallatin Road, Gallatin Gateway, MT, Phone: 406-995-4237

6. Nine Quarter Circle Ranch

Nine Quarter Circle Ranch is a marvelous dude ranch that is nestled near Taylor Creek in southwest Montana.

It’s a ranch that has looked and operated the same for more than a century, amid beautiful landscapes that have taken an unfathomable amount of time to fully form. The ranch’s rhythm is highlighted by many generations of horses trained and born here; families returning time and time again; wildlife repeating its ancient patterns; and adventurers drawn to Yellowstone National Park.

This authentic Montana Dude Ranch experience features horseback riding, world-class fishing, hayrides, square dancing, white-water rafting, zipline tours, and Yellowstone tours.

The rustic accommodations offer plenty of modern amenities, including Wi-Fi within the main lodge, onsite laundry, and a swimming pool.

Find it at this Address: 5000 Taylor Fork Road, Gallatin Gateway, MT, Phone: 406-995-4276

7. Enjoy an array of adventure at Bar W Guest Ranch

Bar W Guest Ranch is a beautiful, year-round dude ranch that is located in northwest Montana, situated between the Flathead National Forest and Kootenai National Forest.

The ranch is nestled on more than three thousand acres of incredibly beautiful wilderness, just below two pine-covered ridges at the bottom of Spencer Mountain. The ranch is also in close proximity to the Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort, Glacier National Park, and the charming town of Whitefish.

The ranch offers a plethora of fun and exciting outdoor adventures for its guests to enjoy, including world-class horseback riding, Glacier River white-water rafting, mountain biking, hiking, clay disc shooting, zip-lining, archery, and fishing.

Find it at this Address: 2875 Highway 93 West, Whitefish, MT, Phone: 406-863-9099

8. Rocking Z Guest Ranch

Rocking Z Guest Ranch is an authentic dude ranch that is nestled between the Helena National Forest and Flathead National Forest in Wolf Creek, Montana.

Travelers looking to inspire and restore themselves through horseback riding and horsemanship should look no further than Rocking Z. The ranch offers horse-related activities and experiences that meet the needs of beginner, intermediate, and experienced horseback riders.

They’ll have the chance to ride long trails, work cattle from the rear of the heard, and play at liberty within the round pen.

Aside from horse-inspired adventures, guests can also enjoy archery, clay shooting, pond and fly-fishing, and hiking. The accommodations are comfortable, offer rustic design elements, and provide modern amenities.

Find it at this Address: 2020 Chevallier Drive, Wolf Creek, MT, Phone: 406-465-5534

9. Elkhorn Ranch

Only a mile away from the scenic northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park lies Elkhorn Ranch, a beautiful and sprawling dude ranch that is located in the southwestern part of Montana.

Elkhorn is one of the area’s last remaining authentic dude ranches where the primary focus each day is outdoor activities. This countryside getaway is perfect for the whole family, all ages, as well as friends, old and new.

The ranch is known for its private, comfortable and western-themed cabin accommodations, hearty and delicious meals, and exhilarating adventures.

There’s a large variety of fun and exciting things to do, including hiking, whitewater rafting, Blue Ribbon fly-fishing, horseback riding, children’s programs, sleigh rides, and trips to Yellowstone.

Find it at this Address: 33133 Gallatin Road, Gallatin Gateway, MT, Phone: 406-995-4291

10. 320 Guest Ranch

320 Guest Ranch is a classic vacation lodge and dude ranch that is nestled along Buffalo Horn Creek and the Gallatin River in Gallatin Gateway, Montana.

Travelers who have been yearning to horseback ride beneath Montana’s clear blue skies, or fly-fish its bubbling trout rivers, or ski the famous Big Sky Resort, will want to give serious consideration to staying at this charming ranch. From the Deluxe Log Cabins to the Mountain Chalets to the Three Bedroom Luxury Log Homes, guests will enjoy cozy accommodations that feature big windows, comfortable beds, log interior walls, and Western motif. The ranch offers many other fun and adventurous activities for guests to enjoy, such as hiking, rafting, snowmobiling, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing.

Find it at this Address: 205 Buffalo Horn Creek Road, Gallatin Gateway, MT, Phone: 406-995-4283