Lonesome Spur Ranch Montana USA Come and visit with 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. Guest Ranch Working Ranch Cattle Drive, Round Up Family Vacation Trip with multi activities Suitable for riders over 210 lbs Meeting: Ranch near Bridger Airport: Billings Logan International Airport (BIL) Transfer: Billings Logan International Airport (BIL) Riders: Min 1 riders Max 10 riders (per riding group) Max Capacity 18 Trip Brochure (PDF) Trip Rating Video Travel Stories

Packages and Options

Click here for updated current rates.

Gratuity: 10 % (to be paid locally)

 

Transfer and Other Charges:

Transfers are available from Billings between 1:00pm and 4:00pm on Sundays.
Drop off at airport on last day for 10:30am.

 

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

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.

The timing of all rides may vary depending on weather conditions and temperatures. If the forecast is for a really hot day we may depart very early, or later in the evening, when the temperatures are cooler for the safety of our guests and our horses.
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It is the ranch owners decision when to make changes to a ride and whether ground conditions are dangerous for the guests and horses. Rides may be cancelled where necessary. However we have the opportunity to ride in an indoor arena if this happens.

During the Spring and Fall, events maybe changed around because of branding and gathering cattle.
In summer months the camp out may change to Friday night, which means you will be departing for Billings or the airport straight from camp. We do have shower facilities so guests will be able to take a shower on day of departure, with all their luggage which you will take with you to camp.

Rides usually starts 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 Walmarts for you to stock up on drinks and snacks for your room.
After arriving at ranch between 1:00pm and 4:00pm, 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): Pryor Mountains Ride
After breakfast we'll saddle our horses and trailer them up to the Pryor Mountains, where you will ride up to your overnight camp. We sleep in tented accommodation, or sleep out under the stars if you prefer.
We supply guests with sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. There is a bathroom with hot shower available for our use. Supper is served round the campfire. 

Day 5 (Thursday): 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 6 (Friday): 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 7 (Saturday): Departure
Depart after breakfast. Our transfer leaves the ranch at 9:30 am. If you came by car, please, note that the check out time is by 11am.



Off-Ranch Activities

While vacationing with us, guests have opportunity for off-ranch activities. The availability of these activities depends on the season. No meals are provided by the ranch whilst on these off-ranch activities. We usually visit a selection of these activities once weekly, group transportation (minimum of 4 guests) is provided by the ranch in our own ranch vehicles. If our guests require any private guided off-ranch tour, these are available with ranch vehicles. Guests may also arrange their own taxi with a local company.

In the summer months we visit the famous Cody Nite Rodeo from the 1st of June through 31st of August *. We usually depart from the ranch mid-afternoon and return after the rodeo around 11:30pm. Located at Stampede Park in Cody, this is fun entertainment for the whole family. Offering the full range of rodeo events, bareback, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and of course the fan favorite of bull riding. For the kids, there is also the calf scramble, which is one of the highlights of the night. Doors open at 7:00pm with the rodeo starting at 8:00pm.
Another option on our Cody excursion is to visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum, which has 5 museums under one roof. The Buffalo Bill Museum celebrates the life and legend of Buffalo Bill himself. The Whitney Gallery of Western Art displays art from the western lifestyle. The Native American culture, art, and heritage are all celebrated in the Plains Indian Museum. The last two areas of the museum are the Cody Firearms Museum and the Draper Museum of Natural History, which displays the greater Yellowstone ecosystem and their interactions with humans and nature.
*Please note that May, September, and October we take our guests to the Historic Custer Battlefield and Museum instead of Cody.

Examples
- Viewing the Wild Horse Range in the Pryor Mountains.
- Visiting the town of Cody touring the Buffalo Bill Museum and visiting the Old Trail Town.
- Rodeos: either watch a local rodeo or whilst visiting Cody, see the Cody nite rodeo.
- Experiencing the breathtaking Beartooth Highway driving thru Red Lodge up to Cooke City.
- White water rafting: Cody, Wyoming.
- Golfing: an excellent 18-hole course is only 23 miles from the Lonesome Spur, right in the shadow of Beartooth mountains.
- Guided Tours of Yellowstone park are available at additional cost and must be pre-booked with the ranch.  The tour leaves the ranch after breakfast and returns in the evening.  Prices can vary depending on which time of year you choose to see the park. Minimum party to do this tour is 4 persons.
- 4th July Home of Champions Rodeo: The festivities start on 2nd July thru 4th July. At the ranch owners’ discretion, guests can ride with us at the Red Lodge Parade on horseback and join us as we watch the 4th July Home of Champions rodeo. Evening entertainment is a campfire party and fireworks!



Seasons

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.

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. 
 

                                                Bridger area

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.

Upon arrival at Billings, we will give you the opportunity to visit Shipton's Big R ranch supply store.  You can purchase any of the designated items at that time. Bring your own alcohol! Drinking Age for Alcohol: 21 years old (it is recommended for all persons under 35 to carry ID). All rooms are equipped with a small refrigerator to store your perishable items, beer, and wine. There is also a washer/dryer for use during your stay. Please bring washing powder if you want to use the washer.

It is important that you bring warm and dry clothing. May and June can be cool and it can snow around that time of the year. Fortunately we haven’t really had to cope with extremely bad weather – but preparation is everything.

We provide a small saddle bag fitted to the saddle to put your lunch in.

Note: Gratuities and transfers can be paid by cash or credit card- take some cash with you (10% of trip cost) it you'd like to pay by cash.

To make your stay at the Ranch more enjoyable, we have compiled the following recommendations for clothing and essentials.  When considering your clothing, please consider layering.  This is the easiest way to add or subtract clothing during a ride!

DOCUMENTS

Travel documents and Voucher

Flight tickets

Passport

Visa (check with your consulate)

RIDING GEAR

Long Pants for Riding - Blue Jeans *

Riding Boots - smooth sole and a heel required *

Cowboy hat / wide brimmed hat *

Riding Slicker (no ponchos due to flapping of the material around the horse) *

Weatherproof/Warm Jacket

Riding gloves *

Long Sleeve Shirts (recommended for riding) *

PERSONAL CLOTHING

Jacket or sweater for cool evenings

Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts

Jeans

Shorts

Casual shoes

Underwear and socks

Pyjama

Bag for dirty clothes

Light weight hikers and/or comfortable shoes

Swimsuit (Hot Tub available for use)

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING

Personal Toiletries

Insect repellent and small first aid kit

Personal medications

Sore cream (for the emergency)

Sewing kit

Handkerchiefs

Camera and enough extra films and batteries

Sun glasses with strap

Sunscreen and lip balm

Flashlight

Medium sized water bottle and small sandwich container

Personal snacks and drinks (ie. bottled water, alcohol, sodas, etc.)

Average ratings from 23 tour feedbacks (see details below) Horses: (5) Excellent (4) Very Good (3) Good (2) Satisfactory (1) Not Satisfactory Saddle/Tack: Accommodations: Meals: Host/Guide: other Riders: Name Date karin elsea 7/6/2022 claire fehrenbach 7/18/2019 mits mats 10/22/2017 donna folgarelli-fisher 10/16/2016 diana law 10/15/2016 rick law 10/10/2016 shiela haviland 6/19/2011 theresa pick 6/14/2011 petra klaver 6/13/2011 marge neugent 6/3/2011 joe redmond 5/22/2011 hubert montcoudiol 8/31/2010 randall allen 7/20/2010 rachel long 8/11/2009 kate long 8/10/2009 tisha pratt 7/22/2008 rhonda handly 6/28/2008 patricia hennessy 8/7/2007 geoffrey black 7/10/2007 ron sanderson 3/19/2007 kathleen crowe 3/16/2007 anne norton 3/16/2007 elliott ware 3/14/2007

Accommodations
This is a stationary ride, so all nights are spent at the same location (except for one night out camping).

Description
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.


During the week, we will spend one night out camping in the Pryor Mountains. For that overnight, we provide you with sleeping bags and sleeping pads. There is a bathroom with hot shower available for our 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.
 

This trip can accommodate special dietary requests.

Tack:		Western
Horses:		Quarter horses
Pace:		Depend on activities to be done Walk Trot - faster in the arena average 4 -6 hrs | Walk | Trot |
Level:		(2 to 5 out of 5)    All riding levels
Age:		Min 5
Weight:		Max 230 lbs
Riders:		Min 1 riders	Max 10 riders (per riding group)	Max Capacity 18

Riding Level
We try to match our horses to suit our guests' riding abilities so we have a variety of types of horses from gentle geldings for beginner riders to high performance roping and cutting horses for our more advanced riders. We 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. We invite you to catch and saddle your horse, we can lend a hand to help you do this of course, and then ride the range with us while you are here, daily rides are between 4 to 6 hours.

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.

Passports

Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).

Passport Note

(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.

(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.

(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).



The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.

ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.

 

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:

1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.

Visa Note

(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.

Validity

Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.

Applications to:

Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).

Working Days Required

Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.

Passport Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	N/A
Other EU	Yes
Visa Required?
British	No/2
Australian	No
Canadian	No
USA	N/A
Other EU	1
Return Ticket Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	No
USA	N/A
Other EU	Yes

This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult the embassy or consulate for updated info.