Surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains, Bozeman, Montana is tucked into the Gallatin Valley with a myriad of attractions and things to do all year long – from the heart of winter to warm summer days. It’s a great university town with lots of fun in store for travelers, with miles of trails for hiking and biking in the Gallatin National Forest, fishing opportunities, insightful museums and great cultural opportunities for the arts. It is also only a short drive to Yellowstone National Park and it’s no wonder why many people fall in love with Bozeman when they visit.
For your next trip to Bozeman and if you’re looking for places to stay and things to do, consider a local dude ranch. Dude ranches offer a historical itinerary for those looking to explore the American West and enjoy horseback riding, adventure activities and the most beautiful stay in a cabin or lodge that the West has to offer. Take a look at the ranches below and within a short drive from Bozeman, you’ll have a great destination for your dream trip!
Elkhorn Ranch Cabins
Big Timber, Montana
The Sweet Grass Ranch has been family owned and operated for six generations as a working cattle ranch and guest ranch. Located in the Crazy Mountains miles from public roads, guests experience the heart of Montana in a way that will always be cherished. From down-home cooking, horseback riding, cattle work and more, everyone who comes here will have the vacation of a lifetime.
Hawley Mountain Ranch Family Ride
McLeod, Montana
Guests keep coming back year after year to the Hawley Mountain Ranch, and it’s no surprise why. The ranch offers horseback riding on over a million acres, a scenic float trip down the Yellowstone River and a trip to an abandoned ghost town from the gold mining days. With a small capacity, guests take away lasting memories and lifetime friendships!
Gallatin Gateway, Montana
Elkhorn Ranch is a family-oriented dude ranch where people of all ages come to enjoy horseback riding and outdoor activities. The ranch offers a mix of shared and independent activities for families to experience the Western lifestyle for memories you won’t soon forget. With fishing, hiking, swimming, Yellowstone trips and more, the youngest children up to grandma and grandpa will have a blast.
Hidden Hollow Hideaway Cattle Drive
Townsend, Montana
Cattle work is available all through the summer at the Hidden Hollow Hideaway Cattle & Guest Ranch. From large cattle drives during the spring and fall as well as short cattle drives to move the herd from grazing areas, guests love the opportunity to be a cowboy at this ranch. And with only eight people max on the ranch, you’ll discover personal attention by the staff for the complete experience of Western life.
Upper Canyon Outfitters Fly Fishing
Alder, Montana
Upper Canyon Outfitters is truly an outdoorsman’s paradise. They offer fishing packages that are wonderful for anglers of any level. The ranch offers personal experts to ensure some of the most memorable catches of your life. Specialty fishing and your guide’s knowledge of the area allows you to walk out to where the fish are. You’ll be set to enjoy the Montana mountains and the great company of your travel companions. Not only is there great fishing, but the ranch also offers incredible horseback riding, hunting and other outdoor activities for you to enjoy!
Alder, Montana
Broken Arrow Lodge is a small family-owned and operated ranch that has been in business since 1993. They specialize in backcountry camping and hunting trips and incredible horseback rides from the lodge that include fishing, swimming, western history, gold panning and more. Guests can also strike out on foot on a hiking trip or take a scenic jeep trip from the ranch for a day of adventure like no other!
Parade Rest Ranch Cabins
West Yellowstone, Montana
Just 15 minutes from Yellowstone National Park the Parade Rest Guest Ranch is the closest ranch in Montana to this famous destination. They offer summer tours into the Park on the lower and upper loops as well as trips to Jackson Hole and the Grand Teton National Park. While you are staying at the ranch you can also enjoy horseback riding lessons and mountain trail rides ranging from one to four hours, so everyone in your group can have the trail riding adventure they are looking for!
Emigrant, Montana
Hubbard’s Six Quarter Circle Ranch offers an upscale and personal experience as a working cattle ranch. From moving cattle from pasture to pasture, checking fences or throwing salt, guests get involved in whatever ranch activities they would like to do; as well as riding on 25 square miles of wilderness on the edge of Yellowstone National Park. You would never forget the memories made at this ranch!
Gallatin Gateway, Montana
For more than 65 years the Nine Quarter Circle Ranch in Montana has been a magical place for guests to come and enjoy the finest Western hospitality. The ranch has raised and trained appaloosa horses for generations and guests love to hear the stories of each horse and watch the babies grow! The cowboys here invite everyone to enjoy ranch life at its finest. If you would like to experience this way of life and outdoor activities like horseback riding, fishing, hiking and campfires, then this just might be the perfect place for you!
Gallatin Gateway, Montana
Covered Wagon Ranch is a unique horseback riding destination that has backcountry trail riding into the Gallatin and Madison mountain ranges and into Yellowstone National Park. You’ll experience exclusive trips into these places that are bucket list locations for many people. The best part about this is that the crowds and large buses of people are far away. The cabins at the ranch offer a special experience as well, they are the original cabins from the homesteading days in the 1920s and provide a cozy and rustic-chic stay complete with wood-burning stoves.
For more information about places to say in Montana and beyond, reach out to the experts of dude ranch vacations at the Dude Ranchers’ Association. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to book the vacation of a lifetime.