Saddle Up for a Genuine Montana Adventure

For many, a trip to Montana’s Yellowstone Country wouldn’t be complete without this authentic Western experience. From short hour-long jaunts to multi-day pack trips or week-long stays at one of our guest ranches, you can be assured the wranglers will take good care and offer gentle instruction.

Let’s start with guest ranches. These all-inclusive stays include lodging, meals and all your activities. Some offer more luxurious stays, such as Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Paradise Valley or Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky. At the same time, other ranches, such as Cross Triangle Ranch in Big Timber and the Russell Ranch in Nye, invite guests to participate in actual ranch work, including moving cows, fixing fences and branding calves in the spring. Guest ranches usually center around riding, but they also offer fishing, hiking and other activities to round out your experience.

In choosing a guest ranch, you’ll want to consider the size of the groups, what activities you enjoy, and what type of riding you’re looking to do.



For those who want to dive in, a multi-day pack trip is an experience you won’t soon forget. Skyline Guest Ranch in Cooke City takes guided trips into Yellowstone National Park and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. They provide roomy tents, Dutch-oven meals and all the clean-up!

If immersing yourself in the Western lifestyle isn’t quite for you, there are plenty of options for shorter rides. Yellowstone National Park Lodges offers one and two-hour rides in the Roosevelt and Canyon areas. Flying Pig Adventure Company in Paradise Valley offers shorter rides, along with their popular Paddle and Saddle package, which combines two hours of horseback riding with two hours of whitewater rafting!



Just outside of Bozeman, Jake’s Horses provides trail rides and pack trips, and even continues through the winter! And in West Yellowstone, you can take a Creekside Trail Ride to the West Yellowstone Rodeo.

Of course, you’ll want to check out the local western shops for cowboy boots, hats and western wear. Carter’s Boots in Bozeman has been a local favorite for over 40 years, while Yellowstone Hat Company in Livingston is a newer store that quickly gained popularity.

Happy trails!