The Ranch At Rock Creek

Nestled in one of Montana’s most pristine valleys, The Ranch at Rock Creek offers year-round unique vacations on an authentic 19th century homestead. We balance Western adventure with lavish all-inclusive amenities. Start the day with inspired Ranch cuisine, then learn to fly fish on a Blue Ribbon trout stream.

Experience awe-inspiring views from The Top of the World on horseback and drift off in a bespoke glamping tent under the Big Sky. For those looking for the most exclusive way to experience ranch life, find out about private travel with us.

The Ranch at Rock Creek stays true to our frontier roots, welcoming guests to private accommodations across our 6,600 acres.

With a maximum occupancy of 75 across 29 accommodations each guest is afforded seclusion in luxury, while forming lifelong memories with their loved ones as they enjoy personalized itineraries and individually guided activities.

17 of our 29 accommodations are located in separate buildings. Whether you prefer a hybrid glamping cabin on Rock Creek or a luxury house set into the hillside, you’ll find your home away from home at The Ranch.

Our most secluded accommodation is Trapper Cabin, located one mile from Camp Roosevelt next to one of The Ranch’s most enviable fishing holes.

In addition to The Ranch’s all-inclusive amenities, our Rod & Gun Club offers 32 activities that are privately guided or self-guided adventures.

The following privately guided activities are available to our guests: horseback riding, fly fishing, archery, sporting clays, trap and skeet, rimfire range, pistols, rifles, cross-country mountain biking, fat tire biking, hiking, geotagging, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding.

Location
The Ranch at Rock Creek is located 20 miles outside of the historic town of Philipsburg, Montana in Granite County, an area known as Gold Country. We are also located half-way between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, near the cities of Missoula, Butte and Helena.

The Ranch property is a short distance from the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest and the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area, as well as Discovery Ski Area. We are at an elevation of 5,200 feet and a Latitude/Longitude of 46° N, 113 W.

Nestled at the base of the John Long Mountains, our ranch land also encompasses four miles of frontage along Rock Creek, a Blue Ribbon designated fishery that flows into the Clark Fork River.

To the far south, soft rolling hills give way to snow-capped peaks of the Pintler Mountains. Northward, cottonwood trees stretch along the valley floor following the creek that flows into the Sapphire Mountains.

The Granite Lodge
The Granite Lodge’s nine ranch accommodations weave luxury, style and authenticity into your Montana adventure.

Appointed with custom-made furniture, woven textiles, frontier antiques and lavish linens, our Granite Lodge rooms find design inspiration in iconic western themes, such as the great turn of the century railroad hotels and the classic guns that helped win the West.

No two rooms are alike, although most upper-level rooms offer views of the Rock Creek valley. Some rooms may be combined to form a two-bedroom family suite that includes twin beds and pull-outs.

Winchester
Winchester features a king bed as well as a full-size pull-out love seat, thus accommodating up to three guests comfortably. Located on the lower level, Winchester also has high ceilings and private access from the courtyard.

Remington
Remington has a king bed with a twin pull-out sofa. This lower-level accommodation is ADA-compliant and enhanced with high ceilings and private access from the courtyard.

Appaloosa
Appaloosa offers a king canopy bed. An upper-level vantage point frames sunset views behind the Granite Lodge.

Mustang
Mustang is the only room in the Granite Lodge that features two queen beds. Located on the upper level across from Palomino, Mustang’s windows point south toward Bikini Beach and the Sapphire Mountains.

Palomino
Palomino is appointed with a king canopy bed and is located across from Mustang. Enjoy views of the Sapphire Mountains from the upper level of this unique lodge.

Derringer
Derringer is situated in the corner of the upper level. It features a king bed and views of the Rock Creek valley. Derringer may be combined with Sharps to form a two-bedroom family suite.

Sharps
Sharps has a king bed and a private balcony overlooking the courtyard of the Granite Lodge and the Rock Creek grasslands. The room can be combined with Derringer to form a two-bedroom family suite.

Springfield
Springfield offers a king bed with a private balcony over the courtyard of the Granite Lodge. Springfield and Colt can be combined to form a two-bedroom family suite.

Colt
Colt features either a king bed or two twin beds in the corner of the upper level. Colt may be combined with Springfield to form a two-bedroom family suite.

Montana Glamping
Luxury camping goes hand in hand with all-inclusive experiential travel. While we can’t take credit for Montana’s scenery, the wilderness glamping experience enhances our ability to appreciate and reflect upon it – whether you’re sipping your afternoon coffee while watching eagles alight on our cottonwoods or enjoying a cedar soaking tub underneath a glistening nightscape.

We call our Ranch glamping structures, “canvas cabins,” and they were designed to be easily removed and have minimal impact on the environment, providing a highly sustainable way to travel.

With The Ranch’s designation as a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World, we are always mindful of being responsible stewards of the land. Meanwhile, our Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star services and amenities enrich the experience, making it the ultimate luxury glamping adventure.

Classic Canvas Cabins
The Ranch’s luxury glamping cabins were built to fit our historical landscape. We created hybrid structures that would feel at home on a ranch homestead and enjoy inspiring views of our mountain-fed stream. In fact, our Classic Canvas Cabins, Rainbow, Apache, Gila and Bull, were named after the fish who call it home.

These 790 sq. ft. cabins have a standard occupancy of two, with a maximum occupancy of four. They are ideal for couples looking to relish the outdoors while enjoying creature comforts, like a gas stove, screened porch and an attached bathroom.

Family Canvas Cabins
Just like the classic style, the Family Canvas Cabins are nestled between a comfortable, hard-framed bathroom and screened porch and sit on a flat meadow filled with native grasses and wildflowers.

Our four 1,047 sq. ft. Family Canvas Cabins, Brook, Cutbow, Grayling and Lake, are suited to a family glamping adventure with three to six guests. The spacious floor plans feature two bedrooms separated by a curtain, and they come equipped with two gas stoves, a screened porch, a reading nook and a private deck.

Trapper Cabin
The Ranch is the only all-inclusive Montana glamping resort to offer year-round glamping. Trapper Cabin is a favorite among returning guests.

The 750 sq. ft. hybrid cabin sports a sizable tent fly and creekside location that allows it to stay cool during the hot summer months, while the in-floor hydronic heat and stove ensure comfort in the winter—making it ideal for the changing Rocky Mountain weather.

Trapper is our most secluded accommodation and feels like your very own glamping lodge, making it popular for honeymoons, anniversaries and nature retreats. Its private cedar soaking tub next to Rock Creek, allows glampers to delight in their own private hot springs and fishing hole.

Sweet Grass Cabin
All of our glamping accommodations are filled with one-of-a-kind antiques, beautiful quilts, standing mirrors, armoires and western textiles. But, Sweet Grass is our only three-room canvas cabin, with a layout of 1,300 sq. ft.

Its lavish floor plan and amenities make it a favorite for groups seeking the ultimate glamping getaway or a family wilderness adventure. In addition to two spacious suites, Sweet Grass has a sizable living area, kitchenette, cedar soaking tub and fire pit.

Homesteader Experience
Our newest glamping accommodation offers a close connection to our pioneer past. Underneath this conestoga wagon’s canvas canopy, you’ll find a king bed, twin bunks and luxury amenities.

While the other glamping tents are stand-alone accommodations, homesteader wagons can be moved adjacent to our luxury homes, historic barn and glamping accommodations for a more versatile Montana adventure. It can serve as a “camping out” experience for kids or a romantic retreat for parents.

Historic Barn
Our remodeled 19th-century barn houses an important piece of Ranch at Rock Creek history. Often billed as “rustic,” a barn was actually the original rural luxury.

It cost more than a home and stored a ranch’s wealth, in the form of livestock, equipment and feed. This original structure was lovingly restored to three unique accommodations that can be booked separately or in concert to house a large group.

Loft
Once the hayloft of the original homestead’s barn, the 700 sq. ft. Loft contrasts the original exposed-rafter ceilings with luxurious amenities. The combined bedroom and sitting area offers a king bed and queen pull-out sofa.

The bathroom features a marble tiled shower, with a built-in bench, and an elegant two-person slipper tub overlooking the wildflower lawn and Pintler mountain range.

A large television, DVD player, indoor gaming table and outdoor porch make it an ideal place to socialize with friends and family. Enjoy pastoral elegance with chandeliers, leather upholstered furniture and woven textiles set against rough-hewn wood and natural light.

Stables
Once an actual horse stable for the working ranch, Stables was restored as the quintessential Western bunk room. With two sets of twin bunk beds and a king bed, there is space for a family adventure or children’s sleepover.

This accommodation is beloved by family reunions and group vacations, because children are safely tucked away in the Stables, while couples take private, but adjoining accommodations, Wrangler or Loft.

Stables offers a spacious full bathroom with two separate showers and a cozy sitting area with a game table and ample seating for socializing. Outside, relax on the covered porch enjoying sweeping ranchland views or strike up a family game on the manicured lawn.

Wrangler
Once an essential tack room in the original 19th-century barn, Wrangler is now a cozy couples hideaway in the corner of the historic building. This accommodation can be a private room or part of a booking of the entire barn for a group or event.

Wrangler features a combined bedroom with king bed and sitting area, as well as a twin pull-out sofa. It has a full bath and separate W.C.

The room is complete with a large television, mini-refrigerator and two entrances. The shared porch just outside offers views across the meadow, with the sounds of the creek murmuring in the distance.

Your Own Private Vacation Home On The Ranch
From two-story log homes to a cozy single-bed romantic cabin, our luxury vacation homes are your private home on the range. This is more than your average luxury vacation home rental.

At The Ranch you can enjoy a private home with all-inclusive dining, housekeeping and Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star luxury amenities, ensuring a stress-free family vacation or group getaway to Montana.

Our luxury homes are log cabins and rustic houses designed in Western style and filled with antiques, textiles and art.

Some luxury homes, like Sara Jane’s Cottage and Eagle’s Perch, include bunk rooms, ideal for multi-family sleepovers. Every home includes ensuite bedrooms, so couples and friends can enjoy private space within the accommodation.

Bluebird
Bluebird is The Ranch’s most romantic accommodation – frequently booked as a couple’s retreat. This spacious one-bedroom cabin features a king canopy bed, large living space, rain shower, clawfoot bathtub and cedar sauna.

Honeymooners can enjoy a private breakfast in their heated, screened-in porch overlooking Rock Creek, or set out for a bike ride or hike right from their front door.

Eagle’s Perch
Located at the heart of The Ranch’s original homestead, Eagle’s Perch is a two-story luxury home with all the amenities a family could want on their Montana adventure. Parents cuddle up in a spacious suite with king bed and full bath, while kids sleep tight in a Western-styled bunk room with adjoining bath.

This log cabin is stocked with everything you’d want from a luxury vacation rental and more, with amenities like a sitting area, kitchenette, laundry facility and game nook.

Kids will enjoy running free in the grasslands outside the accommodation, peek into the Chef’s herb garden and spot Montana’s local raptors in the trees along Rock Creek.

Cattail Cabin
Cattail is a two-bedroom cabin set into the hillside behind the Granite Lodge. In the winter, guests can be on the ice skating pond within minutes, and in summer, they can answer the call of the mountains on the adjacent hiking trails.

With two large suites, this luxury home is ideal for two couples or a family. Each suite comes complete with a day-bed, shower and clawfoot bathtub.

Although farm-to-table meals are always included in vacation at The Ranch, the full kitchen and large living area give friends and family a chance to reconvene after activities and recount the day’s adventures by firelight.

Sara Jane’s Cottage
Sara Jane’s Cottage is a two-story family haven in a prime location across from the Granite Lodge and swimming pool. The spacious floor plan allows families to spread out over four bedrooms, including two sets of unique barnwood bunk beds.

The main level suite hosts a stunning copper soaking tub, as well as a king bed and private deck. With four bedroom suites in total, this luxury cabin is ideal for multi-generational vacations with up to 12 guests.

Moose House
Find your own luxury lodge in Moose House. With three bedrooms and 2.5 baths it’s ideal for six to nine guests who want an authentic log cabin to call home. When guests aren’t gathered around the wood-burning fireplace, they are enjoying spacious bedrooms, a full kitchen or the hot tub with a view.

Bear House
Sit in a rocking chair and look over sweeping views of the Rock Creek Valley from Bear House’s porch. The spacious landscape mirrors the spacious feeling inside the accommodation. This luxury cabin sleeps up to 10 people in five bedrooms.

Guests can make their way to Top of the World on hiking trails that pass by the house, or relax in the sunroom, dining room, or living area. Enjoy an authentic Montana cabin atmosphere while you enjoy Forbes Travel Five-Star amenities.

Ponderosa
Ponderosa’s luxury home is classically Western, and filled with design details that will charm even the most discerning traveler. It’s nestled near Bikini Beach pond and the gazebo, where you can root down at an afternoon yoga class in the summer or skate in the winter.

Each suite features a king or converted king and en suite bathroom, and an additional clawfoot bathtub and private porch. With two fireplaces, a full kitchen, comfortable living room and screened-in porch, there are plenty of areas to gather any enjoy the bliss of your group adventure.

Ranch Cuisine
The Ranch at Rock Creek kitchen tells a story about Montana stock, wildlife, herb and harvest. With regionally and locally sourced organic ingredients, Executive Chef Drage’s ranch menus and dining experiences mirror Montana seasonal bounty.

Preparation is equal parts mountain tradition and modern palate, often employing a wood fire grill, a Dutch oven or the full array of a state-of-the-art kitchen.

Ranch style dining captures experiences like horseback riding through grasslands and, later, tasting Montana alfalfa in the grass-fed beef or wildflowers in a Sapphire Mountain honey vinaigrette.

Raise your glass to farm and ranch-to-table cuisine with an expertly paired local draught or regional wine. All meals are included and tailored to dietary restrictions and preferences. A children’s menu is always available.

Dining Experiences
As a Relais & Châteaux member, our dining experiences reflect the fine art of living. Breakfast and lunch are filled with inventive, varied and nutritious choices, and each evening guests delight in novel cuisine that aims to elevate Montana’s legendary western past into an intimate and curated cultural experience.

“Selection of ingredients, honed techniques, perceptive associations of flavours all combine to create an art of true excellence in perfect harmony with an idylic setting.

The chefs, who make up the Relais & Châteaux Restaurants, transport us with the mere mention of their names to the haute couture of gourmet cuisine at the peak of its perfection.” ~ Relais & Châteaux

Breakfast
Coffee, Tea and Pastries | Freshly made pastries, coffee and tea arrive at the Granite Lodge each morning, and the Blue Canteen for our glamping guests in the summer.

Whether you want to wake with the sun for a morning walk or nibble on a croissant as you read the news, pastries made by our Pastry Chef Chris Whitten are a mouthwatering way to start the day.

Breakfast in the Buckle Barn | Enjoy hearty breakfast fare created by AM Chef Tom Gillespie daily from 7:30 to 10am at the Buckle Barn. Ranch breakfast favorites, like our farm fresh egg scramble and lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes with a side of locally smoked bacon, give guests a jumpstart on their adventures.

Cowboy Breakfast (Summer) | Breathe in the crisp morning air as you journey to a beautiful and peaceful setting overlooking the valley floor.

Guests can choose to arrive at breakfast as part of a morning horseback ride, cross-country bike ride with the General Manager or hiking adventure. Wagon rides to Piney Pond can be booked for groups, with arrival times for wagons at 8:15am, 8:45am and 9:15am.

Arrive at Piney Pond for a fireside breakfast—enjoying cowboy coffee and both hearty and light fare, featuring Chef Drage’s Dutch oven dining experience. After breakfast, return to the wagon or continue on your morning adventure.

Lunch
Lunch in the Buckle Barn | Return to the Buckle Barn between 11:30am and 2pm to relax every day throughout the year.

Refuel for a day on the range like a cowboy would with a Copper City Chop sandwich, Montana wagyu beef burger or picnic all year long with a fresh salad and sweet potato sandwich. Our chefs include choices for all tastes and dietary needs.

Wet your Whistle Sundance Social Hour (Summer) | Come hide out with our legendary bar staff and their vintage converted horse trailer bar. Unwind with an ice cold beer or lemonade or sip on a signature cocktail as the day begins to set.

Locations change throughout the week, so check your personalized itinerary for locations each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Social Hour (Summer) | Gather in the Great Room or on the Aspen deck every Thursday, Friday and Sunday between 5 and 7pm, where our servers will bring your favorite drink and small bites to you so you can gaze upon the Rock Creek Valley serenaded by birds and the fluttering of Quaking Aspen leaves.

On Sundays, guides from the Rod & Gun Club join to relay casting tips and why Rock Creek is such a treasured water way here in our corner of Southwest Montana.

Social Hour (Fall, Winter, Spring) | Join us in the Great Room or Silver Dollar Saloon for social hour at 5 pm. Each night our bartenders craft seasonal cocktails and recommend local beers that will whet your appetite for the meal ahead.

Relax while following safety and social distancing recommendations. Hors d’oeuvres are tailored to the dining experience that awaits.

Dinner | Summer
Reserve dinner between 6 and 9pm in the Granite Lodge or Patio. Each night features a different culinary tour of Western Montana.

Monday | Overland Route Tasting Menu | Travelers called by the beauty of the Wild West disembark at the Granite Lodge Dining Room or their accommodation. Join Chef Drage for a culinary journey that channels the cuisine found on an expedition across the Western Territories.

Tuesday | Rodeo Barbeque on the Buckle Barn Lawn | Snack on watermelon or Flathead cherries and drink brews and sodas while you enjoy our Tuesday summer ranch rodeo, followed by a barbeque on the Buckle Barn Lawn. Ranch style recipes include barbeque ribs and chicken, beans, corn bread and blueberry cobbler.

Wednesday | Homestead Supper Club | Executive Chef Josh Drage channels early 1900s Montana supper clubs, where every meal starts with a classic cocktail and feels like a celebration. Dine on the freshest seafood and delectable cuts of meat like Montana beef tenderloin with Dungeness crab and sauce Béarnaise or High Line Montana rib roast.

Thursday | Chef’s Grill | Step outside each Thursday in the warmer months for farm-to-table fare served family style on picnic tables on the Granite Lodge Flagstone or in your accommodation. Our kitchen prepares the season’s harvest in a combination of healthy, distinctive dishes paired with grilled Montana wagyu beef bavette and wild line-caught salmon in an al fresco setting.

Friday | Chef’s Tasting Menu | Friday night is considered the grand night for destination dining in restaurants around the world. The Ranch’s culinary team rises to the occasion with a multi-course gastronomic tour of the ranches and farms of Western Montana with artfully paired wines. Served on Friday year-round.

Saturday | Barn Dance | Come together after a day of activities with fellow guests at the Buckle Barn lawn for lawn games, refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. Savor ranch comfort food such as meatloaf, white BBQ chicken and seasonal salads from our local purveyors – all served family style. After dinner enjoy live music from regional bands that will surely get your boots scootin’.

Sunday | Sunday Stockmen’s Supper | Weekends are treasured in the West and you’ve earned another celebrated dinner on the Ranch with Montana cast iron ribeye, fried chicken and fresh fish.

Dinner | Winter, Fall, Spring
Reserve dinner between 6 and 9pm in the Granite Lodge or Patio. Each night features a different culinary tour of Western Montana.

Monday | Overland Route Tasting Menu | Travelers called by the beauty of the Wild West disembark at the Granite Lodge Dining Room or their accommodation. Join Chef Drage for a culinary journey that channels the cuisine found on an expedition across the Western Territories.

Tuesday | Northwest Barbeque & S’mores | Smell the scents of pecan wood wafting from our custom-built smoker by the Granite Lodge. Our Northwest barbeque features classic smoked meats served alongside fresh Pacific Northwest coastal flavors, like smoked oysters in Calabrian chili. Accompaniments are inspired by Dutch oven classics passed down to our chefs through the generations and served family style—so you can always reach for seconds.

Wednesday | Montana Craft Beer Dinner | Beer connoisseurs will delight in our Tuesday menu emboldened by Montana’s thriving brewery culture. Served in the spring, fall and winter, this multi-course meal features pub-influenced dishes served with epicurean élan. Each selection is paired with local beer or cider complementing the pallet during an inventive meal.

Thursday | Homestead Supper Club | Executive Chef Josh Drage channels early 1900s Montana supper clubs, where every meal starts with a classic cocktail and feels like a celebration. Dine on the freshest seafood and delectable cuts of meat like Montana beef tenderloin with Dungeness crab and sauce Béarnaise or High Line Montana rib roast.

Friday | Chef’s Tasting Menu | Friday night is considered the grand night for destination dining in restaurants around the world. The Ranch’s culinary team rises to the occasion with a multi-course gastronomic tour of the ranches and farms of Western Montana with artfully paired wines. Served on Friday year-round.

Saturday | Black Pine Dinner | Warm up from the crisp Montana air and enjoy a notable western dinner that brings the great outdoors into the Granite Lodge Dining Room or your accommodation. The unique Black Pine Dinner is served family style and features grass-finished beef tomahawks and sustainably harvested seafood.

Sunday | Sunday Stockmen’s Supper | Weekends are treasured in the West and you’ve earned another celebrated dinner on the Ranch with Montana cast iron ribeye, fried chicken and fresh fish.

Executive Chef Josh Drage
Our Executive Chef began cooking at just 12 years old in his mother’s kitchen in a small cabin outside of Anchorage, Alaska. Professionally trained in the culinary arts, Chef Drage is celebrated for creating unique Montana ranch cuisine.

At The Ranch, he focuses on real food from local producers offering organic and sustainable meats and produce. Chef Drage continues to push the envelope with bold flavors and healthy ingredients, while taking inspiration from working kitchens in cattle-producing regions.

Passionate about cooking food that reflects the spirit and lifestyle of Montana, Chef Drage changes menus on a daily basis to provide guests with unforgettable dining experiences in our idyllic setting. Ranch life is about adventures in the outdoors. Our cuisine is nourishing and healthy for active people on a ranch.

Food and Beverage Director Christina Wernikowski
Director of Food and Beverage, Christina Wernikowski, has always had a great love for food. Before moving to Montana, she spent a year in Southwest France, where she cooked plant-based food for a small boutique property in the Cahors wine region.

Christina began working at The Ranch at Rock Creek in 2012, where she focused on locally sourcing artisan crafts and sundries in our Mercantile.

She soon moved into the role of Events Manager, where she and Executive Chef Josh Drage collaborated on creative culinary programming during weekly Ranch happenings and special events.

Her philosophy to focus on Montana craftspeople and purveyors has worked seamlessly with Chef Drage’s culinary philosophy of supporting local farmers, foragers and ranchers to get the best possible product Montana has to offer.

Granite Lodge
A unique lodge with an expertly appointed dining room. The Granite Lodge hosts dinner most days, specializing in evening multi-course menus, tasting menus and paired regional wine tastings.

Enjoy a drink on the Aspen Deck or in the Great Room before you step in to dine at your reserved table while sharing tales of your day under the Big Sky. Enjoy the view from the dining room patio as the sun sets over the Sapphires.

Buckle Barn
Our 5,500 sq. ft. barn boasts on-site catering with its modern expo kitchen and wood fire grill. The Buckle Barn serves breakfast and lunch daily. The custom-built grill facade is made of repurposed John Deer tractor parts, adding to the ranch style flare.

Seasonal celebrations and legendary ranch events, like the rodeo barbeque and barn dance, are hosted in this warm and traditional Montana setting, often followed by live music and dancing on the circular-sawn fir floors.

Intimate Weddings
As the world’s first Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ranch, our historic Montana property hosts one-of-a-kind destination weddings. Ten square miles of river, forest, valley and vista provide almost limitless opportunities for breathtaking ceremonies, intimate brunches and festive receptions.

Ranch weddings are designed to avoid the stress associated with metropolitan venues and destination wedding arrangements in tourist hubs. We offer custom, fully inclusive weddings for up to 125 guests with a property buyout.

Elopements
Couples looking for a more intimate endeavor can still find their hitching post on The Ranch’s 6,600 acres. Weddings of 16 people or less enjoy on-site wedding coordination and ceremony for a simple fee of $2,000 in addition to our all-inclusive rates.

Services include an on-site officiant, license and filing, wedding cake, bridal bouquet, groom’s boutonniere and a mobile speaker unit for music. Additional tailored services can be provided by custom quote.

Honeymoons
The Big Sky is the limit with honeymoons. The Ranch’s vast lands and secluded lodge and glamping accommodations provide an idyllic start for your next chapter.

Whether you stay in Trapper glamping tent, our most secluded accommodation, Bluebird, our most romantic cabin, or a Granite Lodge room, just a short distance from our scenic jacuzzi, the all-inclusive rates, farm-to-table fare, twice-daily adventures and Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star amenities create a once-in-a-lifetime and stress-free couple’s retreat.

Group Activities
Twice daily activities are included in your group’s stay at The Ranch. The following activities can be safely executed for your group following social distancing guidelines.

Depending upon the size of the group, some activities will be split into smaller groups of 10 people or less. Click on the headers to read more about these activities or peruse our full list of activities.

Horseback Riding | Gain new perspective atop one of our 73 beautiful horses as you ride through The Ranch’s valleys, hillsides and mountains.
Cross-Country Biking | Travel the breadth of The Ranch via mountain bike or e-bike. Book a guided trail ride with our General Manager Jon Martin, an avid cross-country cyclist.

Hiking & Geotagging | Challenge your team to the six-peak challenge during your stay. Use GPS to find coordinates atop The Ranch’s six peaks on hikes or on bikes.

Guided Meditation | Tune your senses to nature during a guided meditation in the great outdoors with Instructor Mary Ferrari.

Art in Nature | Tap into your creative side during an Art in Nature class with Artist-in-Residence John Piacquadio. Turn this into your happy hour activity.

Target Sports | Target sports like sporting clays, pistols, archery and disc golf have been shown to hone concentration and coordination. Break off into smaller groups to try your hand on our five shooting ranges, two archery ranges and disc golf course.

Buckle Barn | Turn our Buckle Barn into your private backyard. Choose to relax by the fire pit or try curated activities, like corn hole, ping-pong, soccer, frisbee or roping.

Ropes Course | Reserve the ropes course to test your limits and encourage team mates to climb higher, jump further and fly faster down our zip lines. (Course requires resting for sanitation)

Smart Phone Scavenger Hunt | Scavenge across the range on a photography adventure that spans your stay. Download the instructions and keep an eye out for the clues during your activities and down time.

Sapphire Mining | Channel your inner prospector while you search through gravel from Rock Creek’s nearby sapphire mountain. Detailed and focused guests will be rewarded.

Frontier Skills | Leave The Ranch with more confidence in your own abilities and the skills to go further on your adventures. Learn to build a shelter, find water, set a snare and start a fire.

Master Naturalist Class | Learn to spot flora and fauna, understand the eco-system and journal like Merriweather Lewis and William Clark did on their expedition across the Louisiana Territory.

Silver Dollar Saloon | Reserve the Saloon as your private clubhouse for a morning or afternoon. Challenge colleagues to darts, billiards, bowling, shuffleboard, checkers, chess or watch a movie in the private movie theater.

Wild-Inspired Treatments
Our Granite Spa is grounded in the tradition that Montanans foster a deep connection with the land through work, wellness and play. The benefits of each treatment are magnified by the therapeutic benefits of nature itself.

Each luxury spa experience is customized to individual wellness goals. Treatments include access to the Granite Spa cedar sauna, shower facilities and relaxation area. Click the link below to view our full list of treatments.

Fitness Center
Time in nature has been found to reduce stress hormones, improve blood pressure and even encourage immune response.

In conjunction with our twice-daily outdoor adventures, our fitness center can help you continue your weight training regimen or daily yoga routine. This versatile room is available for use year-round.

Granite Spa Products
Granite Spa products reflect the commitment to quality, results and sustainability that we use in our treatments and across The Ranch.

Our signature spa line is emerginC, an active, naturally formulated, paraben-free, and synthetic fragrance-free line that started in 1996 with one of the most stable and effective vitamin C serums on the market.

They formulate highly customizable treatments for radiance, brightening, firming, and the Perfectly Rugged men’s line. emerginC is the industry-leader in sustainability.

Not only do they plant a tree in a non-harvestable location for every retail product sold (aiming to reach 7 million planted by early 2020,) but 80% of products are manufactured with wind power.

Their packaging choices include recyclable and biodegradable choices, including plastic bottles made of plant-based biodegradable sugarcane resin – in keeping with The Ranch’s commitment to eliminate single-use plastics in 2019.

Pool and Hot Tub
Our 25,000-gallon outdoor heated pool allows you to enjoy the sunshine and cool off. Although a pool may be a typical resort amenity, The Ranch’s version is designed to enhance Montana’s stunning landscape.

It is encircled by a natural stone patio and an 800 sq. ft. lounging area. The large size makes it perfect for families and other groups, but with plenty to do at The Ranch, you’re all but guaranteed a private moment in the morning or evening to swim some laps.

Available in all but the coldest months, it’s a rare privilege to float and gaze at the Big Sky and surrounding valley. The hot tub is open year-round, serving as our own private hot springs.

Fitness Center
We’re dedicated to helping our guests reach their wellness goals during their travels. Supplement your twice-daily guided activities with access to our well-appointed Fitness Center, featuring fitness machines, weights and training equipment.

Our Fitness Center is located in the Carriage House at Camp Roosevelt and is accessible for use 24 hours a day, with a prior reservation required. Water and towels are provided.

Fly Fishing
Whether you’ve dreamed of Montana fly fishing for years or you’ve yet to cast for the first time, you will not be disappointed by the opportunities on our namesake Rock Creek.

Four miles of private access and pristine river frontage on this freestone mountain stream boasts seven species of fish: Westslope cutthroat, rainbow, cut-bow, brown, brookie, bull and the Rocky Mountain whitefish.

Rock Creek is famous for its spring salmonfly hatch, as well as additional hatches including mayflies, golden stoneflies and caddis fly. It’s also known for phenomenal fishing conditions and fish populations early spring through fall.

Our licensed and trained fishing guides are excited to share their professional expertise and personal passion for fishing. They go above and beyond to ensure that your fishing experience is both enjoyable and successful.

Horseback Riding
Montana is made for horses and The Ranch at Rock Creek is made for riders. Wide-open skies, sagebrush hillsides and snow-capped peaks are best experienced on horseback.

Part of the experience of our Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star luxury guest ranch is having everything for exceptional horseback riding vacations at your fingertips as part of a privately guided activity.

Our program is highly customizable for each guest, with wranglers at the ready to guide you through this essential ranch vacation experience. The Ranch operates in the spirit of play, where travelers immerse themselves in the riding culture of Western Montana, rather than seeing it through the slats on a corral.

Winter Horseback Riding
With 70 beautiful horses in our herd, we saddle up year-round. Hop in the saddle to explore the gentle slopes and creekside trails on The Ranch on one of our favorite horses – shod with special shoes that help them keep their footing in icy conditions. Return to the Granite Lodge to warm up with a hot toddy by the fire.

For those who want to get a taste of real ranch life. Get out in the snow during our Ride Along with a Rancher activity, feeding cattle, sorting pairs and learning the ropes of our Montana working ranch.

Frontier Skills, Sapphire Mining, Art-in-Nature and Meditation
Channel your inner pioneer, find your inner artist and seek winter serenity with some of The Ranch’s most popular year-round activities: Frontier Skills Classes, Sapphire Mining, Art in Nature classes with Artist-in-Residence John Piacquadio and meditation.

Skills are the best souvenirs. They pair well with our more robust winter sports, helping you take a little time to contemplate the beauty and complexity of winter in the wild.

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Each winter, our extensive hiking trail system transforms into 20+ miles of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails through pine forests and meadows. Depending upon the trail you choose, cross-country skiing can be one of the best calorie-burning workouts available during the winter months.

Those who love to walk or hike can slip on a pair of lightweight snowshoes and explore the roads, extensive trail system and the grasslands of The Ranch. As of 2019, The Ranch offers guided classic nordic skiing on Echo Lake trail as part of our all-inclusive activities program.

Novice to advanced skiers can set off on an off-Ranch excursion on groomed trails through alpine forests that stretch further into the pristine Montana wilderness.

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
With a plethora of on-Ranch activities, there’s just one reason to leave our winter wonderland during your stay–a downhill skiing or snowboarding excursion at Discovery Ski Area, located just 35 minutes away.

The Ranch provides an unparalleled alpine ski experience for every skier, novice to expert. Excursions take place between December 1 and March 31.

We provide personal equipment fittings, ground transportation, a Ranch Ski Concierge to coordinate on-mountain excursions, lift tickets, and an included lunch at the Discovery Ski Area dining area and bar.

With virtually no lift lines, three faces and 67 trails, this hidden gem is reminiscent of the great ski resorts before they boomed into crowded cosmopolitan centers. When the boots come off, enjoy an après-ski at The Ranch.

Snowmobiling
Crest hills and visit untouched valleys near Rock Creek on a powerful snowmobile. You’ll be fitted with helmets, goggles and insulated gear before you take control of a state-of-the art machine. Venture further than The Ranch’s 10 square miles into National Forest on a guided snowmobile adventure.

The Ranch is the exclusive outfitter offering guided, inclusive snowmobile excursions over 100+ miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Returning Ranch guests will delight in our even more expansive snowmobile offerings.

Ice Skating & Sledding
Just outside the Granite Lodge, our Bikini Beach converts into an ice skating and hockey pond, complete with a cocoa-stocked warming shed. Hitch a ride on the shuttle to Elk Ridge for some exhilarating sledding. Younger guests enjoy Cottontail Hill, with its slight, but exciting slope.

Fat Tire Biking
Float atop the snowy terrain on a fat tire bike. With the stable, 4.5 inch-wide tires, winter mountain biking is not only extra fun, but will also take you places most humans don’t venture to see in the cooler months.

Enjoy an easy riverside ride along Rock Creek or strike out on six miles of groomed trails, specifically designed for fat bike riding. The Rod & Gun Club provides bikes to fit different sizes and support for guided or unguided adventures.

Ice Fishing
Embrace the life of a frontiersman as you try one of Montana’s favorite winter pastimes, ice fishing.* Available only in the depths of winter (when the ice is frozen solid), ice fishing on Georgetown Lake, a high-mountain lake set against three scenic mountain ranges, is a Philipsburg, Montana tradition.

You’ll enjoy fishing for Rainbow trout, Brook trout and Kokanee salmon from a warm hut fitted with chairs, a propane heater, blankets and warm beverages.

Curated Kids Travel
The Ranch understands the need to tailor the outdoor experience to the strengths of our youngest explorers, and our Little Grizzlies Kids Club caters to a well-rounded family vacation. In 2018, The Ranch won the Virtuoso “Best of the Best” Travel Award for Best Family Program.

Our Ranch kids club introduces children to the Frontier West in an exciting and safe way. With our trained staff at the reins, parents can take a little time for themselves or adventure at a faster pace.

Little Grizzlies Kids Club is a fun, outdoor educational program for children ages 4 to 12. Kids participate in age-appropriate activities guided by a dedicated Little Grizzlies guide for several hours in the morning or afternoon.

To-go kits are also available at the Rod & Gun Club to use at your accommodation. Read more about social distancing, safety and sanitization.

The Ranch Kids Club
With our unique themed days, children enjoy a host of adventures designed to inspire and foster appreciation for the outdoors and provide education on Montana’s history and traditions.

From learning to care for animals at the Barn, to exploring the banks of Rock Creek for local flora and fauna, Little Grizzlies will reconnect with the natural world and broaden their horizons. A Ranch Ambassador can help you reserve Little Grizzlies sessions during your stay.

Babysitting is offered as a separate program from the Little Grizzlies Kids Club at an additional fee of $40 per hour per babysitter for a minimum of two hours. You may sign up for babysitting services at The Ranch with a 48-hour notice

ATV Tours
Take an exhilarating ride back in time to Gold Country, Montana’s pioneer past. This ATV adventure tour includes sweeping views of Philipsburg’s mountain ranges and valleys, but also delves into the historic town’s storied mining days between 1865 to 1900. Montana’s dry air has preserved many of the old buildings, ghost towns, and mines.

High-Mountain Adventures
Adventure awaits on our new hiking and advanced horseback riding adventures to high-mountain lakes in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. This exclusive excursion is available as a full-day activity, complete with The Ranch’s gear, seasoned guides and provisions.

Hike to Fuse Lake, an angler’s dream thanks to its aquatic residents, Arctic Grayling – the only fish species to inhabit these waters. Even further afield lies Twin Lakes, home to Rainbow and Cutbow Trout.

Ropes Course
The Ranch ropes course can be a fun day out with the family or a transformative personal experience. Our course was built in 2014 with state-of-the-art construction below a Rhyolite outcropping.

After a safety orientation and equipment fitting, the rest of the adventure is entirely customizable to the user’s comfort and abilities. Those who don’t wish to complete the course are invited to enjoy the view of the spectacular Sapphire Mountains atop the platform or watch the excitement from terra firma.

The course has 19 elements—six lower elements and 13 elevated elements. The lower elements are ideal for corporate or family team building, challenging the group to work together to achieve a target.

The 13 elevated elements include three zip lines, rope bridges, 35-foot challenges and the leap-of-faith. This exciting outdoor activity can be more than a few hours of fun; it can be the tie that binds groups and families together.

Wildlife Viewing
Western Montana is home to the most abundant wildlife population in the lower 48 states. There is a buzz of behind-the-scenes animal activity at The Ranch at Rock Creek.

While enjoying a morning cup of coffee on the porch, you might see a rabbit darting between the bushes or a herd of deer grazing in the meadow. Along many stretches of fence, beautiful Western blue birds charm us with their brilliant blue and rust hues.

The Ranch’s varied terrain creates a hospitable environment for rabbits, prairie dogs, deer, elk, moose, big horn sheep, wolves, coyote, beaver and fox, as well as occasional bear and mountain lion. Bird watchers are thrilled with sightings of bald and golden eagles, osprey, hawks, grouse and waterfowl.

Early morning and evening outings are the best times for Montana wildlife viewing and birding, and the more you explore the more you are likely to see. Take advantage of the benches, docks and Adirondack chairs strategically placed along Rock Creek, near the stocked ponds or the Granite Lodge.

Photographers and wildlife enthusiasts can go a step further by booking guided hikes in the Rod & Gun Club to take advantage of seasonal migration patterns and other local expertise.

Ride Along with a Rancher
For guests interested in a behind-the-scenes view of our working ranch, join our Ranch team for 1-3 hours as they tend to their daily tasks or learn about the herd and the art and science behind our cattle program. Learn the history of The Ranch’s 127-year old homestead and what it takes to run a modern cow-calf operation.

This unique experience is tailored to what’s required on The Ranch that day and the interests of the guests. For instance, during calving season, you might check on newborn calves, or during the cooler months, you might head out to feed hay to the herd.

Some days the activity will take place with utility terrain vehicles (UTV) and some days it will be on horseback. Please speak to your Ranch Ambassador about your preferences and riding abilities.

Team Penning
Experienced riders can learn cattle sorting, one of the most skillful tasks required of a modern cowboy. Saddle up with one of our Ranch horses and enter the arena to learn about the importance of movement, positioning and behavior when working with cattle herds. Practice sorting cattle into different pens.

Based on a traditional event in Ranch rodeos, our team penning activity culminates in a friendly competition between teams to sort cattle into pens in a race against the clock.

Frontier Skills
Leave the city behind and get in touch with your inner frontiersman or woman. The Ranch’s own advanced EMTs and trained outdoorsmen and women teach the basic skills required to survive overnight in the wilderness.

Each participant will hike or bike to a mountainside location for a morning or afternoon of fun and enlightening instruction and frontier challenges. After reviewing first aid and survival gear essentials, individuals or groups will be tasked with making their own shelter.

Then, you’ll learn to locate safe water sources and how to set a snare for trapping small animals. Lastly, you will be taught to start a fire using several different methods. When you depart The Ranch, you’ll feel more comfortable and confident exploring farther afield on your future travels.

Respite on Rock Creek
Our pioneer homesteaders understood there is a time for work and a time for rest. Revisit this important lesson from a personal oasis on Rock Creek. Leave your watch in your accommodation and follow the sun as it works its way across the big sky.

Arrive by mountain bike, e-bike or on foot at one of our creekside hideaways for a morning or afternoon of restorative calm. Commune with nature from a hammock, a blanket or around a fire.

Choose to read a book, play a quiet game or drift off to sleep as the hammock rocks gently in the breeze. An attendant will arrive to provide beverage refreshments or any requested items. Put your phone away to truly unplug and reset to life in the slow lane.

Silver Dollar Saloon
Reserve The Silver Dollar Saloon for a morning or afternoon during your stay. Challenge your friends to a bowling tournament, darts, billiards or poker. We’ll set up a movie of your choice, or a classic Western, in the movie theater.

Opt to start the evening’s revelry earlier with a karaoke session or a family board game. Hosts will check in to provide direction for games and take orders for refreshments.

Extensive sanitation procedures are followed between reservations in the Silver Dollar Saloon, in addition to regular disinfecting of high-touch areas. Read more about social distancing, safety and sanitization.

Rodeo
Just like Montana itself, a rodeo has a Spanish origin coupled with vibrant Western heritage. Rodeos developed on working ranches where cowboys, or “vaqueros,” developed skills to manage cattle and horses, like roping, taming rough stock and herding.

Before the rodeo each Tuesday in the summer, one of our experienced wranglers leads a tour of the Camp Roosevelt arena and explains the history and husbandry of the rodeo – aided by our knowledgeable Ranch Manager who competed in PRCA bull-riding for eight years.

Then, guests get involved by helping wrap the roping steers, trying their skills on the bucking barrel, helping sort the rough stock and watching practice rounds through the arena.

The Ranch hosts a weekly ranch rodeo in the Camp Roosevelt Arena. Cheer on your favorite wranglers as they race around the barrels, rope and show off their hard-earned horsemanship and herdsmanship skills.

Sapphire Mining
Discover your inner miner by spending an afternoon panning for sapphires of all colors at the base of the Sapphire Mountains. Mines in the area once provided sapphires for use in Swiss watches. Now, they are some of the few operational sapphire mines in the country.

Wear your play clothes—it’s a hands-on kind of place. Depending upon how you handle your sapphire gravel, bucket and wash screen, this may just be the dirtiest, good, clean fun you’ll ever have.

Hiking and Five Peaks Challenge
Guests love the thrill of riding Montana on horseback or on a mountain or e-bike, but we also recommend exploring our diverse eco-system on foot.

Follow the Eastern valley through pine forests and rhyolite outcroppings to summit Paradise Peak. Hike the Western hills through wildflower meadows to Mary Beth’s Peak and Top of the World.

The trails along Rock Creek are ideal for a short stroll, while avid backpackers can appreciate The Ranch’s 20+ miles of trails as an advanced hiking resort. Get outfitted with hiking boots and a trail map at the Rod & Gun Club.

Schedule a guided hike for an in depth look at the flora, fauna and history of The Ranch. Try Geotagging, a hiking activity that uses GPS coordinates to find Ranch landmarks. Guests will be challenged to take a photo on each of The Ranch’s five peaks to earn a place on our “brag board” at The Rod & Gun Club.

Mountain Biking
The Ranch’s extensive road and trail system affords an array of solo and group biking adventures. All guests receive a mountain bike upon check-in for easy transportation between the Granite Lodge, the Rod & Gun Club and accommodations.

All able guests are encouraged to walk or bike during their stay using the trails and pedestrian bridge over Rock Creek. The Ranch also offers the opportunity to try one of Western Montana’s favorite sports—cross-country mountain biking.

Options range from an easy pedal along Rock Creek Road to a more challenging trail that hugs the hillsides and traverses the sagebrush flats of our 10 square mile ranch. Join our General Manager Jon Martin on a cross-country ride across this trail during your stay.

As an avid cyclist, he’ll guide you through this 2-3 hour adventure while sharing information about The Ranch’s landmarks. In addition to traditional mountain bikes, The Rod & Gun Club has e-bikes and Specialized fat tire bikes.

Fat tire bikes are available for use year-round, and are an enjoyable way to traverse our snowy tracks and trails.

Geocaching
The Ranch at Rock Creek was first recognized as a mining claim in the 1800’s. Montana geocaching combines our heritage for treasure hunting with modern-day technology.

Using GPS devices, individual guests and groups locate five peaks across The Ranch’s environs. Geocaching is a great way to become acquainted with our corner of the Treasure State.

Master Naturalist Class
Our certified master naturalists reveal the fascinating complexities of Southwest Montana’s diverse ecosystem. The Rock Creek valley was carved by Glacial Lake Missoula during the last ice age, and it still boasts a thriving waterway in its namesake stream.

During a two-hour master naturalist interpretive guided walk, you will hone your wildlife and plant identification skills and learn about the natural history of our unique Rock Creek Valley. In the grand tradition of Lewis and Clark, learn to sketch and journal like a trained master naturalist.

Montana Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt
We believe the best souvenir is a great story. Our photography program helps you capture that story using the cornerstone techniques of the National Geographic Society’s world-renowned photographers.

Choose between our smartphone scavenger and our privately guided photography workshops. Begin at the Rod & Gun Club to receive instruction on equipment and image composition or download a scavenger hunt onto your smart phone.

Then, venture into our 6,600-acre photography studio to capture Southwest Montana’s wildlife, ranch life and seasonal beauty in flux. Our photography program is a wonderful complement to your ranch stay, allowing you to employ narrative techniques that chronicle your adventures in the legendary West.

If you would like to utilize the talents of on-staff professional photographers, book a private photography session to document your stay. Leave The Ranch with your holiday card checked off your to-do list! Contact your Ranch Ambassador for more information.

Website: www.theranchatrockcreek.com

Rooms: 28

Price: from 1.780 EUR per night