Ranch Brand Book

Montana dude ranches

Montana has the widest mix on Brand Book: family-run cattle ranches where guests help brand and gather, horsemanship ranches in the northwest, and resort-style ranches in the Bitterroot and Blackfoot valleys and near Yellowstone.

Cattle work here ranges from long days in the saddle on working operations to an optional day with the crew at an upscale ranch. The hands-on ranches set their schedules by what the cattle need, so brandings and gathers aren't guaranteed in every week.

Rates are usually all-inclusive, covering lodging, meals and daily riding in one price. Stay length is what varies: some of these ranches only sell the full week, and others will take three nights.

Filter Montana ranches by month or stay length
Dryhead RanchCovered Wagon RanchElkhorn RanchNine Quarter Circle RanchFlathead Lake LodgeHidden Hollow Hideaway Cattle & Guest RanchTriple Creek RanchMoose Head RanchKlondike RanchParadise Guest RanchTA RanchThe Ranch at Rock CreekCircle Bar Guest RanchWestern Pleasure Guest RanchLonesome Spur Guest RanchUXU Ranch7D RanchCrossed Sabres RanchBlackwater Creek Lodge & Guest RanchDiamond D RanchKara Creek RanchTriple J Wilderness RanchSweet Grass RanchMcGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest RanchThe Resort at Paws UpDouble Rafter Cattle DrivesBar W Guest RanchParade Rest Guest RanchDiamond 7 Bar Guest RanchRed Horse Mountain RanchMountain Sky Guest RanchLone Mountain RanchPaintbrush Adventures (Barron Ranch)
Dots mark each ranch's nearest town. Select one to open the ranch.

Montana at a glance

Ranches
19
Offer cattle work
13
Short stays OK
8
Main season
June to September

Working ranches 7

Riders on horseback beside a herd of black cattle on open grassland.Photo: Paintbrush Adventures (Barron Ranch)
Working ranch

Absarokee, Montana

Paintbrush Adventures (Barron Ranch)

Stillwater River cattle and sheep ranch offering flexible stays built around ranch chores.

Hands-on cattle work

Season
Year-round
Ages
Ask the ranch

Good to know Days are tailored to each guest, so cattle work depends on what's happening

  • Cattle work
  • Fly fishing
  • Trail riding
More about this ranch: Paintbrush Adventures (Barron Ranch)Website for Paintbrush Adventures (Barron Ranch) (opens in a new tab)

Family ranches 7

Luxury ranches 5

Common questions about Montana ranches

How many dude ranches are there in Montana?
19 on Brand Book, each one checked against the ranch's own website: 8 working cattle ranches, 13 family ranches and 6 luxury guest ranches. A ranch can count in more than one of those.
When is the best time to visit a dude ranch in Montana?
Most Montana ranches here host guests from June to September. 5 of them stay open all twelve months.
How long do you have to stay at a Montana dude ranch?
It varies more than people expect. 8 of the Montana ranches here take stays of four nights or fewer, the shortest being 2 nights, while 7 sell only a full week. 2 do not publish a minimum.
Can you do real cattle work at a Montana dude ranch?
13 of the 19 Montana ranches here offer cattle work. 4 of those put guests in the work rather than alongside it: Dryhead Ranch, Hidden Hollow Hideaway Cattle & Guest Ranch, Lonesome Spur Guest Ranch and others.
Are Montana dude ranches good for families?
13 of the 19 are family ranches, but none of them runs a children's program. Children are welcome; nothing is organized for them, which is the difference worth checking before you book.