In northern Montana, along a beautiful road south of Glacier National Park is a little slice of heaven known as the Bear Creek Guest Ranch. With mountains outlining the horizon, the Bear Creek Guest Ranch is a historic bed and breakfast with horseback riding adventures, cattle drive vacations, and a collection of private cabins. This accommodation is a short drive of under 40-minutes from the West Glacier entrance of the national park and is surrounded by some of the most beautiful natural areas I’ve ever seen.
My wife Leah and I had the opportunity to stay three nights at the ranch last month, literally days before 4-feet of snow came barreling down on the entire region. Leah and I spent a couple of days touring Glacier, driving the infamous Going-to-the-Sun Road, hiking their old growth forests and searching for wildlife. But on our off day from the park, we had the chance to go horseback riding with the owner, Bill and his other guests. The trip started a few miles down the road, and started along a forest clearing which opened to smaller mountain peaks that offered gorgeous views of sweeping foothills, nearby mountains, and forests.
Leah had ridden before, but I never had. She was pregnant with our first child and so they took it easy on her, chose a reliable horse to keep her as safe as possible. Being that I had never rode before, Bill and his crew simplified the ride and I ended up falling in love with horse riding. Within about the first half hour, I started to relax and enjoy the ride, which eased my initial anxieties about riding. Then, after about an hour or so into the six hour ride, I gained confidence in my horse and in my ability to control the reigns. The views were stunning and my horse took me places I would have a difficult time hiking to, and I’ll always remember how free I felt.
The ranch has a rustic wood design with a variety of art and taxidermy, and boasts a large common area for all who stay. There’s a kitchen, a dining room with refreshments, two areas with couches for conversation and relaxing. A nice size library fills in one of the walls, and then there’s a small bar with complimentary wine, pool table, fireplace, and communal television. On the grounds, there are five cabins and the horse barn and pen, so if you struck up a special relationship with one of the horses, you can sneak over and pet them and give them a treat if Bill allows. All in all, Leah and I fell in love with the ranch, the views, and the idea of owning a retreat like the Bear Creek Guest Ranch. Everyone who runs the ranch is very nice, fun to talk to, absolutely brimming with stories and knowledge, so there’s simply no way to have a bad time at the ranch (unless 4-feet of snow keep you stranded, of course).
If you would like to learn more about Montana’s Bear Creek Guest Ranch, click here.
Leah had ridden before, but I never had. She was pregnant with our first child and so they took it easy on her, chose a reliable horse to keep her as safe as possible. Being that I had never rode before, Bill and his crew simplified the ride and I ended up falling in love with horse riding. Within about the first half hour, I started to relax and enjoy the ride, which eased my initial anxieties about riding. Then, after about an hour or so into the six hour ride, I gained confidence in my horse and in my ability to control the reigns. The views were stunning and my horse took me places I would have a difficult time hiking to, and I’ll always remember how free I felt.
The ranch has a rustic wood design with a variety of art and taxidermy, and boasts a large common area for all who stay. There’s a kitchen, a dining room with refreshments, two areas with couches for conversation and relaxing. A nice size library fills in one of the walls, and then there’s a small bar with complimentary wine, pool table, fireplace, and communal television. On the grounds, there are five cabins and the horse barn and pen, so if you struck up a special relationship with one of the horses, you can sneak over and pet them and give them a treat if Bill allows. All in all, Leah and I fell in love with the ranch, the views, and the idea of owning a retreat like the Bear Creek Guest Ranch. Everyone who runs the ranch is very nice, fun to talk to, absolutely brimming with stories and knowledge, so there’s simply no way to have a bad time at the ranch (unless 4-feet of snow keep you stranded, of course).
If you would like to learn more about Montana’s Bear Creek Guest Ranch, click here.
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