DefinitelyDressage.com

Has anyone been on a trail riding holiday in Montana? My next holiday (not sure when, have to save up $$ again) I think I want to go riding in Montana. I've had a look and there are lots of ranches, but I was hoping for recommendations. My main things are well looked after horses, and nice scenery.

Flight https://lonemountainranch.com/the-ranch/ this is where we stayed when we went to Montana for vacation. Lone Mountain is not a dude ranch but a guest ranch where there is more to do than just riding. Our DS and my parents went with us so we needed a variety of activities. DS LOVED the ropes course.

I did get to trail ride a couple of times with experienced riders and we were able to gallop a good bit and move faster than when DH went with us. I had a nice little mare that was very trustworthy. Horses are well cared for but the Western saddles ugh hate them. They also go off the ranch trailering the horses to other trail rides. I did not do this though.

We stayed in one of the guest cabins, woke up one morning opened the back door to see a bull moose! While attending a BBQ for the guests we got to watch a black bear and her cub playing up on the hillside from the ranch. We also took the day trip to Yellowstone, just stunning. Happened to see one of the wolves in the park, was quite exciting and man was he BIG!

What I was most impressed with at Lone Mountain:
gorgeous scenery, very mountainous
great guides regardless of the activity
FOOD was AWESOME, try elk:)
all inclusive

We flew into Bozeman and spent some time there. Went to the Museum of the Rockies, lots of dinosaurs! Also fun to see the Living History Farm.
https://www.museumoftherockies.org

The ranch then came and picked us up and transported us to Lone Mountain in Big Sky, Montana. Was a great vacation, would love to go back in the winter to see the Ranch in the winter and to see Yellowstone in the winter. On the bucket list.

Museum of the Rockies is awesome!

Thanks Khall, will check it out. Sounds really good, and yes a trip into Yellowstone would be great to do also. I'll have my partner too and told him that he has to learn to ride before we go but if there's other stuff that he might be interested in, I may be able to go off and ride without him.

Hi Flight - not Montana, but I went to Wyoming to ride at the Bitterroot Ranch and it was lovely. Real horse people. Not a dude ranch.
They are the founders of Equitours
https://www.bitterrootranch.com/horseback-riding-ranch/

Thanks LeoApp! Will check that one out too
Had to google what a dude ranch was (it's not a place full of dudes/men )

Flight wrote:Thanks LeoApp! Will check that one out too
Had to google what a dude ranch was (it's not a place full of dudes/men )

No, that’s a sausagefest

Bip wrote: No, that’s a sausagefest

lol BIP
Flight - a dude ranch traditionally is a cattle ranch that has been converted to a vacation resort, but the word dude has a connotation of an in experienced cowboy.

The Bitterroot Ranch does have cattle (now) and you could also take a day trip to Yellowstone from it. I did when I was there.