The Covered Wagon Ranch is one of the oldest operating guest ranches in the Gallatin Canyon, and any changes that have been made since its’ founding in 1926 were made in the interest of the comfort and enjoyment of the guests today. At Covered Wagon Ranch, you’ll stay in historic log cabins with their original 1920’s charm, complete with wood-burning stoves and rustic wood furniture; but you’ll also enjoy private baths, great meals and pampered attention from ranch hosts who are happy to cater to your every need. With a maximum of twenty-four guests at any one time, each person who visits is given a king’s (or queen’s!) welcome at this Montana dude ranch.

No image is more closely tied to the Old West than that of the horse. That’s why Covered Wagon Ranch makes horseback rides into the backcountry a primary activity. There’s no substitute for the feeling you get when you head out on horseback into the mountains or the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. The horses and experienced wranglers at this Montana dude ranch will take very good care of you too. Many of our excellent horses were raised right on the ranch, and they know how to ride with everyone from first-timers to experienced hands. When you arrive, you’ll be matched with the right horse that’s yours for the entire visit – then you decide whether the day brings a high-alpine wildflower walk or a lope through open meadows. There’s no schedule, and it’s all just what suits you with over a hundred different trails to choose from.

Summer Pack Trips

Covered Wagon Ranch's pack trips into the stunning backcountry of Yellowstone National Park will take you on the journey of a lifetime. Departing by horseback, you will climb steep mountain ridges and fjord the cool crystal rivers of Yellowstone. Under the watchful gaze of a cow moose and her calf, you might lope through lush alpine meadows before reaching camp.

The campsites are comfortable and picturesque. You will sleep warm and soundly inside your tent or beneath a blanket of stars. Let the trickle of the nearby mountain creek lull your senses to sleep. Then in the morning, be awakened by the warm sun tickling your nose and the smell of freshly brewed coffee on the fire. 

Camp is an excellent place to relax and soak up the wonder of God’s Country. Spend your time fishing or exploring the wilds of Yellowstone by horseback. If you are a writer, bring your journal; if you paint, bring your easel and canvas. Perhaps you appreciate your surroundings through photography, music or simply reading. Whatever your pleasure, camp life will clear your mind, invigorate your spirit and provide you with plenty of time to indulge and challenge yourself.

Covered Wagon Ranch maintains their tradition of personal attention to each guest by keeping their pack trips small (no more than six). You can then enjoy two or more refreshing nights in camp. Experience nature not just away from the city, but in its most raw and most spectacular form: the heart of the wilderness!

Accommodations

The Ranch accomodations consist of historic log cabins for singles, couples, and families with private baths, wood burning stoves, and rustic wood furniture. While staying true to the ranch's 1920's vintage heritage, Covered Wagon Ranch is committed to making your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as it can be. Over the years, the ranch has retained every bit of its original charm, but has gradually gained the sweet refinement and gentility that comes only to a place devoted for over four generations to its guests' comfort and pleasure. To be sure, you'll commune with your Old West longings as you relax beside the fire in your historic log cabin in this Montana ranch vacation. Hearty meals will hearken back to a bygone era with family and friends in the classic Western lodge. Take a soak in the hot tub, quietly reflect on the large covered porch, or perhaps a good read in the well-stocked library. You might tickle the ivories of the old piano, play a round of pool or challenge the kids to a little foosball. At Covered Wagon Ranch, the cookie jar is always full, and the coffee pot is always at the ready. You enjoy, and Cover Wagon ranch will do the rest!

Food

Three hearty, family style, western meals are included daily with your trip. The ranch kitchen staff gladly caters to special dietary needs on request.

Area Attractions

Without a doubt, Yellowstone National Park is one of the great wonders of the modern American West. Not only a tribute to the great vision of the people who preserved it as the world's first national park, it's also one of the world's great wildlife sanctuaries. Yellowstone National Park is just 3 miles from the ranch and its the West entrance to the Park just 30 miles to the south, allowing a day trip from Covered Wagon Ranch to take you deep into Yellowstone Country. You can take in all the stunning beauty the Park has to offer: geysers, wild rivers, glacial terrain, vast mountain landscapes, hot springs, high desert scenery and lodgepole pine forests. The ranch staff will be happy to help you plan an unforgettable excursion into Yellowstone National Park.

The Ranch is also within a day trip range of a number of other scenic wonders: Lewis and Clark Caverns, historic and well-preserved gold-mining towns Virginia and Nevada cities, the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, and for a good view of the local color, proximity to local rodeos, fairs, events and communities, and an abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities can be enjoyed during your visit to the ranch.  Additional activities also include horseshoe games, evening campfires, and even a Friday eve Steak Fry with live music!