Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. What time should we arrive/depart?
A. Check-in: After 4 pm; Check out: by 10 a.m.
Q. What days can we ride?
A. Monday through Saturday if the week is a 7 day stay, otherwise Monday through Friday. Sunday is always the horses’ holiday.
Q. What is your minimum stay?
A. Six or seven night stays, depending on the week. If space is available due to guests booking longer than a week, we will try to accommodate shorter stays with the remaining portion of the week available. We will also do short stays in the upstairs of the main house, but those are a minimum of 4 nights and must begin on Sunday or end either Sunday or Saturday, depending on the week as we operate a 7 night stay only for the mid July to mid-August period, and otherwise our stays are six nights so departure would be on a Saturday.
Q. Do you own or lease your horses?
A. We own all of our horses. These horses are our friends, each with a unique personality and we depend on them. They are either ranch-raised or purchased from neighbors in our ranching community. They live a wonderful life and make it to a ripe old age—working primarily in the summer and being turned out for 8 months of the year. While we do keep in a handful for winter riding and livestock work, most live like wild horses for the winter (albeit enjoying an occasional bale of hay when the winter is really nasty).
Q. How many horses are at the ranch?
A. It varies from year to year, but generally we have around 65 head.
Q. What breed of horses do you have?
A. Primarily quarter horse or quarter horse-thoroughbred cross, with a few thoroughbreds, morgans, gypsy vanners, and paints.
Q. Do you have children’s programs?
A. We don’t have formal children’s programs, because the kids can partake in any of the activities offered to adults. We do a great deal with kids and have special rides and activities for kids, but do not require their participation.
Q. Do you require helmets?
A. We do not, but we prefer kids to ride in helmets. We do have some helmets to borrow, with generic small, medium and large sizes. Riding helmets are best fitted to a particular child or adult, but we have some adjustable ones and will lend them to you. If you typically ride with a helmet, then you should do so here as well. Please make arrangements to bring your own helmet if you usually ride in one, to ensure fit.
Q. Do you have a minimum riding age?
A. Children under 6 cannot ride on their own, but we do offer “pony” rides for the 4-6 age group, with a wrangler leading the horse. Your child will need to be able to sit up, hold on to the reins and pay attention to the horse.
Q. What is the nearest airport?
A. The nearest airports are Logan International in Billings, MT and Bozeman Yellowstone International Field in Bozeman, MT.
Q. Is transportation available to and from flights?
A. We will provide pick up and drop off from Bozeman only at a cost of $190 per person. Please note this is a per person not per vehicle rate. Pick up is at 3:30 at the Bozeman airport and drop off is at 10 a.m. at the airport. Please plan your arrivals and departures to fit within this schedule, which generally means that you would not want a departure until 11:45 am or later. We can also pick you up from a hotel, if you stayed overnight, and pick up will be immediately before or after the airport pickup. Transportation is only available on the Sunday of pickup and the Saturday or Sunday of departure. The van is first come, first served so it is best to make a reservation in advance so we know if we will have room for you. The Ranch is 2 ½ hours from either airport, and we are often meeting or dropping other guests, too.
Q. What are our options if our flights do not fall within the ranch transportation schedule?
A. If your flights don’t fall within our pick-up times, the other options are:
- Stay overnight in Bozeman if you arrive prior to Sunday, and we can pick you up from your hotel;
- Rent a vehicle;
- Check our services that may drop you off for a fee and then pick you up for your transport from the ranch to the airport.
- International travelers often fly into Calgary, Canada and drive from there, as there is non-stop service from Heathrow to Calgary.
Q. Is Trip Insurance Available?
A. There are a variety of companies from which you can purchase trip insurance and we strongly recommend that you do so (please see our cancelation policy). We recommend TravelGuard, which is an associate member of the Dude Ranch Association. Travel Guard has a particular Dude Ranch Protection Program, policy number 109400 and can be contacted at 877-249-5376 or via email at www.travelguard.com
Q. Do you offer adult-only weeks?
A. The last three weeks of the season are adult only. Early June often ends up being primarily adults as kids are still in school.
Q. Do you provide lunch on rides?
A. For all day rides, we’ll pack you a sack lunch that you can carry in your saddlebags, or provide a picnic lunch for hikes and fishing trips.
Q. What is the weather typically like?
A. We are in the mountains, and the weather is nothing except unpredictable. Listed below are “average” highs, lows, and rainfall each month of our guest season:
May June July Aug Sept
Average rainfall: 2.85 3.0 2.13 1.65 1.38
Average High: 60° 68° 78° 79° 70°
Average Low: 34° 42° 47° 46° 37°
Q. What is the elevation of the ranch?
A. 6,100 feet at the main ranch house, and you can ride to 10,000 feet.
Q. What kind of activities are there at the ranch?
A. There are plenty of things to do, whether they involve horseback or not. A few “on ranch” suggestions include:
- Help work cattle
- Work with your horse in a natural horsemanship clinic
- Take a “library” ride to beautiful locations along the creek, bring a book and enjoy the sounds of the water as you soak in the sun
- Play field golf
- Rope a “dummy” calf
- Fish the Sweet Grass Creek
- Take one of the kayaks for a peaceful paddle on the beaver ponds
- Grab a sleeping bag and take a packtrip to pristine alpine lakes
- Ride to Otter Creek, the cattle ranch
- Climb to the lookout on the south ridge
- Salt and mineral the cows
- Photograph spectacular scenery and a wide array of wildlife
- Take a nap in a hammock
- enjoy an early morning or late afternoon yoga session
- Give bareback riding a try
- Play games in the gymkhana
- Walk along the river
- Lope through the meadows
- Swim your horse in the creek
- Take the boat out on the pond for some kid-friendly fishing
- Inner -tube down the creek
- Roast marshmallows at the campfire
- Participate in a photography workshop
- Take a wildflower identification ride
- Feed the pigs or bum calves
- Enjoy the dawn on an early morning “sunrise” ride
- Ride to the Bar B and enjoy the scenic vistas
- Take a ride to the goats
- Explore the Crazies with a “get lost” ride
- Find your inner child and get swept down natural waterslide
- Savor a meal around the campfire on a dinner ride
- Cross the bridge and spend a few serene hours contemplating nature
- Explore ruins of old homesteads
- Pack a picnic lunch and take a hike
- Play softball, horseshoes, or volleyball
- Enjoy an impromptu sing-a-long
- Play the piano or guitars
- Relax on a porch swing or in the spacious pavilion
- Have a friendly poker game
- Groom and saddle your horse
- Sit around a roaring fire in the living room and play pool, cards, board games, or enjoy a good book
- Help fence or clear trail
- Marvel at the power of a lightning storm
- Soak away the aches in the hot tub
- Get a massage
Off ranch:
- Day Trip to Yellowstone National Park
- Trips to the Crazy Mountain Museum, Museum of the Rockies or the Bair Museum
- Arrange a day of fly-fishing on the Yellowstone
- Enjoy a round of golf in Big Timber
- Explore Native American sites like the Little Big Horn Battlefield, Crow Fair and other cultural events
Q.Do you have Internet?
A. We have fiber internet, but it doesn’t serve each cabin. The main lodge has strong internet and other cabins will depend on the number of people on the system.
Q. Do cell phones work at the ranch?
A. No, the closest cell reception is about 6 miles away (your phone might work at different locations on a ride, however). You can use wifi calling, however, particularly close to the main house.
Q. What should be pack?
A. See WHAT TO BRING
