Stay in a family ranch where Nicholas Evans, author of the famous novel "Horse Whisperer" stayed to be inspired and write his bestseller.
45.293403421568, -108.9165355
A horseback riding holiday in a real Montana guest ranch family. This is an authentic fifth generation working cattle ranch resting in the Clarks Fork Valley, between the Pryor Mountains and the Beartooth Mountains. From the rustic lodge you can enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets, watch white tail and mule deer, an occasional elk, mountain sheep or moose, the howl of the coyotes and the fleeting sight of the red fox. You are invited to participate in the day to day activities of this working ranch and family, with plenty of riding to fill each of your days. And after the work is done, there is always time to have a little fun! Ask Nicholas Evans, author of the "Horse Whisperer". Mr. Evans stayed at the ranch while doing the research for his best selling novel turned motion picture. The Lonesome Spur was the original model for Tom Booker's grandparents' homestead, looking out over the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. "From its crest you could see the river curving around like a castle moat and in the distance the snowy peaks of the Pryor and Beartooth Mountains."
Guests are invited to join the wranglers on daily checking the cattle, water holes and fences and the condition of the grass on the range. The summer and fall ranges consist of approximately 30,000 acres and the home ranch is approximately 1,200 acres. In addition to the everyday ranching activities, our guests are also given the opportunity to participate in exciting horseback activities such as team penning, cutting, sorting, team roping and fun games.
HORSE RIDING HOLIDAY USA - MONTANA
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *
We usually have cattle work happening May, June, September, and October Only. This happens when the cattle need to be worked (ie. gathered, sorted, branded, and cattle drives to new grazing, etc.) and guests are encouraged to get involved. For the safety of both the guests and the horses, this activity is very much weather dependent and is totally at the discretion of the ranch.
Rides usually start around 9 AM and return to the ranch at about 3 PM.
Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival
Pick up at the airport, or your hotel and quick trip to the Big R western outfitters for anyone who needs boots etc. We also stop at Walmart for you to stock up on drinks and snacks for your room.
After arriving at ranch between 1:00pm and 4:00pm (check-in is at 4:00pm for those who are driving to the ranch), we have the ranch orientation meeting and sign riding liability forms. We have a horse safety talk and saddles will be fitted for each of our guests.
Supper will be served at 6:00pm at the Local Bar & Grill, supper on us, drinks on you!
Day 2 (Monday): First Ride & Cody Visit
After breakfast we will select a suitable horse for our guests and we will ride in the arena and around the ranch to get you acquainted. We will be back at the ranch for lunch before we set off for shopping and sightseeing in Cody.
In the summer (June to August), we spend the evening at the famous Cody Nite Rodeo. Departure is from the ranch mid-afternoon and we return after the rodeo around 11:30pm. As an off-ranch activity we will make supper reservations at the Historic Buffalo Bill Irma Hotel. Supper and rodeo tickets are at guests own expense.
Day 3 (Tuesday): Ride to Cottonwood
We will take a ride to Cottonwood, a high desert area, for a full day ride to see the Indian Pictographs and the famous Weatherman draw.
We'll picnic in some of the most dramatic scenery in the American West.
Supper will be back at the ranch.
Day 4 (Wednesday): Cattle Ride
After a camp breakfast we head out for another ride on the range, checking the cattle. On our return journey we call in to Chief Plenty Coups museum, a small but must see museum.
We arrive back at the home ranch late in the afternoon. Supper at the ranch.
Day 5 (Thursday): Riding & Pig Races
After breakfast we saddle up and have an all day ride. After an early supper we head off to the Bear Creek Saloon Pig Races. You can have fun betting on the pigs, you might even win! The races start at 7:00 pm.
Day 6 (Friday): Departure
Morning ride then an excursion to the Custer battlefield. Drop off in Billings in the evening to a hotel (not included in the 2025 tour package but we can book it for you if you like).
* The timing of all rides may vary depending on weather conditions and temperatures and may depart either with an early morning start or later in the evening when the temperatures are more suitable for the safety of our guests and horses. We also need to make aware that it is the ranch owner’s decision when to make changes to a ride. If ground conditions are dangerous for the guests and horses, rides may be canceled.
May - June:
Riding on the Open range, check the cattle on the pastures and help doing some branding and gathering of cattle but this activity is dependent on weather permitting – we cannot brand or gather in wet weather please be aware of this.
June - August:
Cody Nite rodeo starts June 1st through the end of August. Our guests get the opportunity to go once a week to see the rodeo or explore the historic town of Cody- founded by the famous Buffalo Bill!
We also have 100,000 acres of various landscapes to ride in both mountain and high desert trial rides. The home ranch is approximately 400 acres so we will be trailering guests and horses to some of our riding areas. In addition to everyday ranching activities, we also offer our guests the opportunity of participating in weekly horseback activities such as team penning, sorting, barrel racing, and poles. Our wranglers will also be happy to teach you how to rope our roping dummies. Every week in the summer month’s our guests will help gather in the roping steers from the pastures, sort, and check them. Later in the day the wranglers will team rope the steers.
June - September:
We also have a weekly mountain one night overnight camp trip – weather permitting.
The timing of all rides may vary depending on weather conditions and temperatures and may depart either with an early morning start or later in the evening when temperatures are more suitable for the safety of our guests and horses. We also need to make our guests aware that it is the ranch owner’s decision when to make changes to a ride and if ground conditions are dangerous for the guests and horses, ride may be cancelled and other ranch activities will be offered instead if possible.
September:
Is usually a great month to see more wildlife during our beautiful fall rides and can be cooler than our summer months. We will also start to gather cattle from the mountain pastures from Mid-September.
October:
We will be gathering cattle in mountain terrain, as well as doing some daily rides in the high desert. The Nile Stock Show, pro rodeo, and horse sale is in October. We will be attending the evening Ranch rodeo and will also go to the rodeo later in the week. We will leave mid-morning to attend the horse sale and other Nile events and horse clinics. The VIP dinner before the Rodeo in the early evening is optional for guests. This takes place in the early evening and is followed by the by the rodeo itself.
MEETING:
Directly at the ranch Sunday afternoon if you rent a car.
At Billings airport between 1 pm and 4 pm: chargeable transfer.
The ranch is about 50 miles from the airport.
DEPARTURE:
Friday after breakfast. Payable transfer to Billings Airport. Drop off by 10:30am
TRANSFERS:
Transfer from/to Billings airport: 240 $ round trip per person to be paid locally.
FLIGHTS:
Flights are not included in our prices because it is generally more interesting to book your flights yourself, an inclusive flight package is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best rates or to offer you a trip including transport on request: free service.
RIDING LEVEL:
Open to all riding levels and experiences. They try to match horses to suit guests' riding abilities, so there is a variety of types of horses from gentle geldings for beginner riders to high performance roping and cutting horses for our more advanced riders. They ask all of our guests to participate in a rider safety lesson in our arena which helps us to find a suitable match of horse for each rider. You're to catch and saddle your horse, wranglers can lend a hand to help you do this of course.
RYTHM:
Depend on activities to be done. Walk and trot, faster in the arena average. 4 -6 hours riding every day.
GROUPS:
1 to 10 riders.
GUIDES:
Local English speaking guides.
HORSES:
The horses are mostly American quarter horses; some are home-bred. We also have a Pryor mountain horse as part of our riding herd.
TACK:
Western saddles with saddle bags.
ACCOMMODATION:
This is a stationary ride, so all nights are spent at the same location unless one night in a camp (in summer if the weather permits and if the group of riders wishes): the camp has a bathroom with hot shower. You sleep in shared tented accommodations or out under the stars if you prefer. Slleeping bags and sleeping pads are supplied. Supper is served round the campfire and the wranglers love to cook up s’mores and tell campfire stories after supper !. The camp night is offered on certain weeks if the climatic conditions allow it.
The lodging on the ranch is varied and is decorated in the western theme with log furniture. Ranch guests can relax in the Cookhouse with satellite TV, WiFi, and a large deck to eat and/or sit on. A bathroom is also available. There are 3 log cabins with deck area and a bunkhouse with 3 rooms. All of our ranch accommodations have air-conditioning, heating, a refrigerator, and private bathrooms. Gift packs of toiletries are provided for our guests' comfort. Some rooms do have Satellite TV available.
Our hot tub is perfect to relax under the starry sky and soak away you aches and pains after a hard day of play at the ranch.
Laundry is also available.
Cabins:
- The Big Sky cabin has queen bed and a Jacuzzi bathroom.
- The Cottonwood, Beartooth, and Pryor cabins each have a queen, a twin bed, and a private external bathroom.
Bunkhouse:
The Bunkhouse has two twin beds in each of the 3 rooms. All bunkhouse rooms have ensuite bathrooms. Two of the rooms can be adjourned and there is a TV with DVD player, but no WiFi in this area. There is also a washer/dryer in the kitchen/sitting room area of the bunkhouse for our guests use.
Room Occupancy: Single supplement is mandatory during high season (June and September). The rest of the year, if we have a single traveler and have spare rooms we will waive the single supplement fee.
MEALS:
All meals are included on this trip from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on the last day. Meals are served in the lodge, family style. You may need to let your belt out a notch or two after spending time here! Mouth-watering and decadent desserts, salads, locally grown garden vegetables and fruit in season, and good Montana beef and buffalo are on the menu. For the light eater, we have fruit, muffins, salads and many veggies. We also provide complementary snacks and drinks in each room for our guests' enjoyment, as well as coffee makers. Supper is usually served around 6:30 PM. Alcoholic drinks are not included but guests are welcome to bring their own alcoholic beverages.
Dietary Restrictions: If you have special dietary requests, please let us know in advance, and we will make every effort to accommodate you. But please remember that we are a beef ranch, and most all of our meals are centered around meat.
2025 PRICE / PER PERSON :
In double bedroom: 2050 €
Single bedroom supplement: 250 €
Gratuities: 10% to be paid locally.
Transfer from/to
Discount for children 10-16 yrs. old, in double room with adult(s): 250 €
Booking fees: 15 €
Prices may be revised down or up depending on the $ / € exchange rate. Ask for a $ quote.
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Horse and tack rental, guide, accommodation, meals, the financial guarantee of your payments by our travel operator deposit.
THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE:
Personal insurance, Transfers, Fishing for Cutthrout, Brown and Rainbow trout in the stocked ponds ($100 per rod), Rafting trip in Cody (approx. $35 per person), Admission for any off-ranch activities, Rodeos & Gratuities, all that is not indicated in "the price includes".
INSURANCE:
A civil liability and travel insurance (assistance/repatriation) are compulsory. A cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
A payment by credit card can make you benefit from its possible insurance (check your contract).
We offer to Europe Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway residents: the Chapka insurances.
Cap Security: full insurance with cancellation. Cap Cancellation: cancellation only.
See prices & information
FLIGHTS :
Flights are not included because it is more interesting to book directly your ticket: a transport package included is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best prices or to offer you a flight included package on request (free service).
CLIMATE:
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average High Temperature (°F) | 34 | 40 | 51 | 59 | 69 | 76 | 88 | 86 | 76 | 62 | 46 | 36 |
| Average Low Temperature (°F) | 13 | 17 | 24 | 32 | 40 | 48 | 53 | 51 | 42 | 33 | 23 | 14 |
| Average High Temperature (°C) | 1 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 26 | 31 | 30 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 2 |
| Average Low Temperature (°C) | -11 | -8 | -4 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 1 | -5 | -10 |
| Average Precipitation (days of rain) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Source: NOAA
SEASONS:
During the summer the weather is generally clear, but seldom hot so be sure bring along some warm clothes. Summer is short but very enjoyable. It usually lasts from early June to mid September. Because of the altitude, really hot weather is rare. Evenings are cool enough that you may need a jacket. Summer snowfalls are rare, but during every summer there may be several days when nighttime temperatures approach the freezing point (32 degrees F / 0 degrees C). Thunderstorms are usually brief, and they are seldom violent. A typical summer thunderstorm lasts no more than about 15 minutes, just long enough to soak the ground.