Bar W Guest Ranch

The staff was informative and friendly, all of the activities were so fun it’s impossible to pick a favorite, the location was absolutely gorgeous with a great view of the surrounding mountains and the stars at night, the food was delicious, the rooms and common spaces were always kept very clean. We loved passing through and saying hello to the goats each mealtime and absolutely loved bonding with our horses throughout the week. This trip was absolutely the trip of a lifetime!

An incredible Western experience from start to finish - Bar W Guest Ranch’s Dude Ranch Day is the real deal. The day kicked off with a two-hour trail ride, and it was easily one of the highlights. Our wrangler was fantastic - knowledgeable, patient, and full of great stories about the area. The horses were well cared for and matched perfectly to each rider’s experience level, which made the whole ride relaxing and enjoyable. The scenery along the trail was stunning - wide-open meadows, pine forests, and those classic Montana mountain views you never get tired of. After the ride, lunch hit the spot, and then came the afternoon activities. The skeet shooting was an absolute blast (literally) - switching between the 12- and 20-gauge shotguns kept it interesting, and the friendly competition playing King of the Hill with other guests added a fun, social twist. The roping lesson rounded out the day perfectly. The instructor was patient and encouraging, breaking things down so even total beginners could start to get the hang of it. It’s the perfect mix of adventure, learning, and laid-back fun - whether you’ve spent time on a ranch before or it’s your first time in the saddle. Bar W Guest Ranch delivers an unforgettable day that captures the spirit of the West beautifully.

Where do I start?! We arrived at The Bar W Ranch excited to experience a bit of true Montana culture, and we left feeling like family after just 4 days. The entire team from the wranglers, to the kitchen staff, housekeepers and everyone in between were some of the most genuine and friendly people we have come across. Nothing was ever too much trouble and they really went above and beyond for us. A special mention to Julie, Maddie and Eloise for taking care of us!||We stayed in two of the cabin rooms which were super comfortable and cozy, with a lot of thought into the western theme of the interior. We were so impressed at the range of accommodation options from cabins to glamping tents and even pioneer-style covered wagons. We loved waking up every morning to the horses running across the paddock outside our bedroom balcony!||As avid riders we were keen for plenty of saddle time, and we were not disappointed! We went for an awesome 4 hour trail ride through the gorgeous fall leaves with amazing views of the ski mountains lined with fresh snow. Our favourite activity had to be the team penning where we worked in teams with the wranglers to sort and move the cattle. This was so much fun, and great to have an opportunity to trot and lope the horses- not often offered by guest ranches. The Bar W horses truly want for nothing, it’s clear to see the wranglers pour their hearts into looking after their horses, and they were in fantastic condition for it. Special shoutout to Comet and Rooster who we completely fell in love with!||For us, one of the most unique and special things about Bar W was its location. Just a 10 minute drive to Whitefish, a gorgeous little western town with lakes for swimming in the summer months, and plenty of great cafes, bars and restaurants to enjoy. 15 minute drive to the ski hill for the winter months- we are already planning our trip back in winter! 40 minutes from the ranch is the west entrance to Glacier National Park. This was one of the best national parks we have ever been to! Breathtaking scenery, heaps of hiking trails and gorgeous lakes. There was so much to do around the ranch we easily could’ve spent a month here!||All in all, there truly is something for everyone here whether you want to play cowboy all day, get out your fishing gear, or even just browse the endless boutique shops in town.|To the whole team at Bar W- thank you so much for having us and we will be back!|Emma & Ellie x

My adult children called this place, "adult Disney world" as a Disney family that hit me hard.|They had the best family vacation of their adult life. My favorite part was the back mountain trail rides that gave you the opportunity to actually bond with a horse. When a horse hauls you to a mountain top and you hear it huffing a bit, you gain a whole new respect for it. |Everything else was impressive as well. 3 great meals. Very cool staff. A few nice trout. Shooting, hiking, the town, archery, damn. Alot.||See you again.|This was amazing for my family!|Thank you Bar W staff.

The Bar W is an amazing destination for enjoying the Ranch life. My girlfriend and I did the Swisher package with only a few rides under our belt and we had a great time. The trail rides were not too difficult, and we even got extra lessons to learn how to trot and cantor which came in handy on the last couple of trail rides. The trail rides took us to some breathtaking views like Swisher lake and the Canadian border. After each ride, we had plenty of evening activities on the ranch like square dancing, skeet shooting, and more. The staff was engaging and really brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to each event. The food was surprisingly good, even though it was a buffet style. Different cuisines and desserts every meal, made fresh. I would highly recommend going to the Bar W

Excellence on every aspect of our experience!!! My 83yr old Mom came to visit for Thanksgiving. I surprised her with a wagon ride and dinner. Your staff went above and beyond with hospitality!! They assisted her in and out of the wagon. When the snow dumped they made sure she was safe walking to and from the buildings. The room where we ate was decorated beautifully!! The food was absolutely delicious!! Thank you for creating the most memorable Thanksgiving❤️💖❤️

We had a horseback riding tour here and it was awesome! I am a beginner, so I was a little nervous about the ride, but Orion, the horse, was the sweetest boy ever! He was gentle and knew his work very well. My husband and I had the best time: the staff was very nice and friendly and the horses are healthy, well trained and beautiful. We will definitely come back next time we’re in town.

Extraordinary experience! My family and I spent a week in late July and no words will do justice to this amazing place called Bar W Guest Ranch. Every aspect of it, from the accomodation, the spectacular location, the warm and kind attention, the western vibes, the delightful meals and last but not least the beautiful horses! My kids highly enjoyed the kids program, the kids rodeo was definitely their highlight as well as being in contact with nature, learning how to to ride in a very safe and fun environment and of course the making of the new friends. I personally felt transported to a beautiful world unknown to me, learning not only to ride but also understanding the horses, their names and their personalities. What a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and with one another. This has been one of our best family vacations.

Went on the two hour trail ride with our family and it was a great activity to see the forest! All the wranglers were so knowledgeable and comfortable. Safety demonstration was super easy and we got comfortable quickly on our horses. My only two cons: First, I felt two hours was too long - this is my personal opinion. I was very sore by the end and I got a bit bored about halfway through. Second, it was pretty quiet the whole ride. There was no explanations or guiding, little to no conversation - which is definitely hard when you're in a line. For two hours, the silence just made it feel long. Overall, this was a great and unique experience and Bar W does a great job!

I am staying at the grouse lodge, 4 min away from here. I have a 1 1/2 year old and a three year old ( his birthday was yesterday) and today while driving around trying to get them to nap, I pulled over here to look up info on trail rides and let my son look at the horses through the truck window - I had only been there MAYBE 45 seconds, still idling, plenty distance from horses (they were not bothered and didn't even notice us ) before a man in a big white truck and trailer pulled up next to me and asked me what I was doing- I told him that my son was obsessed with horses and that I was letting him look at them through the back seat window ( meanwhile my boys are babbling "neighhh! " and " cute horse nose!" In the back,) and i asked him "if that was ok?" and this man angrily says , no it's not ok, i can't be there and I need to leave. I instantly apologized and turned around , thinking , "oh this must be residential and I didn't realize", but also immediately started crying out of nowhere from the interaction I had just had with this man. It had been a rough morning and past few days with very little sleep, and it It was an innocent stop with the intention of finding out how to do a birthday ride for my son. There are multiple signs claiming trail rides and lodging etc, so I thought that this was a business I could pull over and put their information on the sign in my phone. I am so confused by what happened today, but I'm Scared to go back. We will have to look else where . Edited to add: the more I look into this company I can see that it was in fact the owner, Bill, who I spoke to. I thought maybe it was an employee, but if the owner is scaring off business... I'm worried for them. Was it my California license plate? Again, I am so confused. We have lots of ranches and horses where we come from and most people wave and smile if you want to stop and admire them from a far . I never got to actually tell him that we were hoping for rides ( again, thought maybe he was a cater taker or something for the property) and also wanted to check and see what the age requirement was before calling the business. Maybe he doesn't like kids?or Californians? I don't get it. This is the first bad review I've left on yelp... just honestly in shock - everyone in Montana has been so kind on this road trip, and this was such an uncomfortable and unnecessary interaction with the owner.

Great Wranglers and Horses! Nice trail ride in the woods! 10min from downtown Whitefish and you don't have to be a guest to book a horseback ride.

Went for a Trail Ride and even though we weren't guests at the ranch we were made to feel very comfortable. Deb went out of her way to make us feel right at home.

I went on a two-horse open sleigh and it was so beautiful. When I arrived at the ranch in the middle of a snowy day, Cowboy John greeted me warmly and kindly took me on a tour of the ranch. I had the chance to meet a variety of horses and farm animals- which was so appreciated. At the ranch, Cowboy Joe was my guide on the sleigh and he took us through a winter wonderland on the sleigh followed by hot chocolate next to the fireplace. Overall, it was a beautiful experience.

Did a trail ride last week. Website warns of a 225lb limit for riders but I called and they had a Belgian mix named Clifford available for me to ride (I'm 6'3, 235). Super nice people work there. Lots of horses too. . 21/2 hour ride through some state lands. Mostly forest. Glad I had a light jacket even though it was sunny and low 60s for the early October ride.

I would like to start by saying that I did not seek out yelp to leave a review. Today I received a message from yelp asking for me to review the Bar W. I am not looking to seek out. I'm cutting an pasting my review I left them on google previously. The ranch is very nice. It was under construction while we were there so that was a bit of an eye sore. All around though it was lovely. The staff was great also. This was a once in a lifetime bucket list trip for us. We did an adults only week and specifically booked this particular ranch because they do the day long cattle drive and another day ride. It had everything we were looking for in a trip. There was a HUGE issue once we got to the ranch. Well before the trip I discussed an issue with them in regards to my ability to mount a horse from the ground during the cattle drive and day long ride and that I am a plus size rider. I was told they always find a way and I would be fine. That tune changed once I got there. I was told I couldn't go on any rides off the ranch because they have no way for me to mount. This issue led me to missing the two days of riding we actually went to this ranch for. Other than these two rides , the on site rides were minimal and what I could do at home with my own horse. After the trip , I discussed the issue with the owners. They did compensate me slightly ( though not equivalent to two days of missing out and truly having our trip become a let down). After that let the matter go. Though it still hasn't been sitting right with me so I thought I should let others know the issues I had incase someone has similar restrictions that I have. If so, another ranch might be a better option. I hope the ranch has redone their site and booking staff undated in procedure in regards to situations such as this so others can feel like their trip was worth it. For many, they saved long and hard to be able to do a trip such as this and I would hope everyone gets the experience they should get.

We were planning our wedding and horses are a big part of our life and we wanted to take some photos here with a USA flag trotting on a horse. The pictures of the property looked stunning. After making plans well over 6 months out, speaking with Dawn on numerous occasions, we had made our plans, Dawn was super excited and even wanted to see the photos. When we got there they had the flag ready, the wranglers had cleaned the horses, and as we got out of the car, Barbara, apparently the owner came over in a scowl and declared "no way are you doing this here and that no one had told me about it", she was so rude. I feel bad for all her workers who have to deal with her. I feel bad for the original owners of Bar W who made it what it is and to see someone like this spoil it...some other ranches nearby all welcomed us with open arms.

Nice ride up in the mountains, majestic views. Great guides and the horses where very mild manner. I enjoyed it very much.

I booked a trip with this company last November for a trip to take this June. I paid half of the amount of the trip, $4,000 a deposit. We all know the conditions for traveling are dismal, I had to cancel the trip. It is completely out of my hands. I spoke with the owner today and he said he would absolutely not be refunding the 10% of the entire trip $800, because it is their policy. I AM A FRONT LINE RN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS. I saved my money for this expensive trip for a long time, and being a single mom. I tried to reason with him and said there was no loss of product on there end, it's not like the food had been purchased and they would be out the money. I said my money paid for nothing. He said "yes it did, it fed all the animals this winter" I am saddened that a front line nurse or anyone is going through this, but this was to appalling not to share.

My husband and I were looking forward to the experience here for a year leading up to our visit yesterday. Until we met one of the new owners, BARBARA WETZEL. She is feared by her employees and a toxic human being. I'm a business owner as well, and was appalled by her style of communication. Dave and Janet, the original owners of the ranch should feel horrible about this acquisition. Think of a toxic CEO in NYC, that is BARBARA WETZEL. And to a customer. Myself. If she keeps this up, she'll lose employees, that's just how horrible top down management goes. I hope those folks find a better work environment. With that said, the wranglers were kind and communicated to me with respect and empathy and, Dawn, who is the main point of contact when you call in is soooo kind and welcoming. I'd love to give zero stars for this weekends experience. I will not recommend to others. Find any other ranch.

Dave, I am sorry, you have your facts and dates wrong. The employee was kicked off of the ranch on April 21, 2020. The governor lifted the stay at home order effective either April 26th or 27th, 2020. The employee planned to return to work on that day. It is for the best after all.

My wife and I visited the Bar W ranch in September 2021, for one of their cattle drive weeks. I'll note here that Bar W is under new ownership. The new owners, Bill and Barbara, are absolutely lovely, down to earth folks who are investing heavily in expanding and improving the ranch. The prior owner (Dave) happened to be present for the first few days of our adventure. While I hate to cast aspersions, I'll just say that after interacting with both the old and new owners, I'm absolutely convinced that every part of our Bar W experience was better, and will undoubtedly continue to improve, under the leadership and guidance of the new owners. The ranch is beautiful, and the new owners are expanding fast with needed construction projects ongoing during our stay. The main lodge is exactly as you would picture, comfortable and homey, with western memorabilia and mounted animals throughout. The accommodations were clean and well maintained. General Manager,Jill Rivoli, and her staff were consummate professionals, and warmly welcomed everyone like family. Jill demands exceptional customer service from her staff, and they definitely delivered under her superb leadership. Head wrangler Lindsey is exactly the sort of steely eyed, no-nonsense head wrangler and horsewoman every ranch needs. From the first moment she spoke, I knew she was a master of her craft, and also knew that she would do everything possible to ensure the safety of the guests and their assigned horses. She confirmed her horse selections with rides in the arena and a trail ride around the ranch. Even first time riders should feel VERY comfortable on this front, as all the horses we saw (and rode) were very well trained and very well taken care of. Under Lindsey's exceptional leadership and keen eye, all of the wranglers we encountered were exceedingly qualified and hyper focused on guest and horse safety. Let's get this out of the way now. If you want to go on a "vacation", where your every whim and desire is catered to, while you are ensconced in luxury with daily cheese and wine hours, the cattle drive week is NOT for you. This is designed to be a very rustic and authentic experience. Living out of tents, dealing with the unpredictable elements, VERY limited access to running water and a SINGLE toilet for upwards of 25-30 people is not for everyone. I suspect that for many folks, the single toilet alone is a deal breaker. While I think we all had our doubts going in, the single toilet was never an issue, as there was plenty of time before and after the daily rides to let biology run its course. Master of the open range where the cattle drive occurred was Chuck DeBoo, who for the past 36 years has owned the roughly 5,000 acres where we stayed, all within the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. There is not a single picture or brochure that could do justice to the absolute beauty of this area. Cresting the first hill, there are no words to describe the majestic view of rolling green hills and valleys stretching to the horizon in every direction. I wasn't even aware that such virgin expanses, (without manmade structures littering the landscape), still existed in America. Over the course of several days we gathered his herd, sorted them, wrangled those that needed vaccinations and such, and eventually drove them several hours away to a new pasture. I hesitate to even attempt to put into words how amazing those few days were. I'm not particularly religious, so I won't equate those wonderful days to a religious experience, but I will admit to feeling an intangible, undefinable, serene sense of participating in something greater than myself as we pushed that herd of cattle across an ocean of green. There was something beyond cathartic about this experience, and for anyone who has accumulated the normal stress of everyday life, I defy you to come away from this experience and claim it left you unchanged. But was everything "perfect" you might ask? Seems like I don't have a single bad thing to say so far. I can't say that everything was "perfect". There were a few minor quibbles, or things I might change if I could spend Bill and Barbara's money indiscriminately. But to pick any single moment of our week and suggest how it might have been "better" is, in my mind, to miss the forest for the trees. For my wife and me, the sum of this experience far exceeded our expectations, and allowed us to LIVE a once-in-a-lifetime authentic adventure that can't be duplicated through a television or iPhone screen. If you've read this far, stop second guessing and do yourself a favor - immediately book this trip. Skip the "vacation" you might be planning, and go live and experience an adventure you will never forget.

Wow!!! What a beautiful property!!! We took a 2 hour guided horseback tour which was amazing. Our guides were friendly and helpful. The horses were nice and calm and easy to ride. The property is simply spectacular and they have 80 horses on the property. They have lodging accommodations and in wonder they have sleigh rides. I would definitely recommend this place.

BEST GUEST RANCH UNDER THE BIG SKY!!! What an incredible experience! The Bar W Guest Ranch went above and beyond to make my stay exceptional. Clean comfortable accommodations in a picturesque setting, knowledgeable, helpful staff made my Adults Only week one to remember. I traveled alone but never felt that way thanks to the incredible hospitality the staff offers, but I can see how the ranch would also be the perfect place for couples, girlfriend getaways, and family vacations. The food was plentiful, good, and healthy and they make adjustments per the guests' preferences or dietary concerns. I rode to my heart's content, which is what I came here to do. The horses are gorgeous and healthy and treated well. I was a little rusty, not having ridden in a while, but the staff had me feeling confident after the first day. I would definitely recommend the Bar W to anyone looking for an exceptional quest ranch experience. I loved it so much, I hope to come back next year!

Worst trail ride experience I've ever had. The wranglers were literally silent the entire two-hour ride. Not a word of narration, local history, information about the ranch, the trail, the landscape, the wildlife. Nothing. The wrangler in front of occasionally talked to her friends but that's it. They didn't put the youngest riders near the wranglers which I've seen done on every other trail ride I've done. They didn't even make sure families were together, which might have helped with the boredom of the silent ride. The trail was not too great either. First half mile was up a gravel road by the highway and then along a large power line. Again - it would have improved the experience if someone would have even told us where we were and what we were looking at. The wranglers never moved up and down the line to check on riders the entire two hours. At one point something caused my husband's horse to rear up. He was fine / his hat fell off. But again - no one rode up to check anything. To her credit, the wrangler at the end got his hat. But when we got back to the ranch she said the horse reared up bc my husband's hat fell off and hit his hind quarters. But it was the rearing up that caused the hat to fall off. Finally, when we finished and got back to the stables, they gave no instructions - should we get down on our own (I did) or wait, (some others did). I would never book another ride here, much less an experience at the dude ranch. Go with Swan outfitters or another outfit.

The people running the email account are the worst. I've asked them several questions that have gone unanswered, it takes them forever to reply to emails at times, and they can't seem to explain inconsistencies on the website. My questions really aren't that difficult to answer and I hate the unnecessary back and forth (i.e. reply to my ENTIRE email the first time not only part of it). If the accommodations/activities are half as disorganized and frustrating as the inquiry/reservation process, steer clear of this place!

Me and husband have been Raving full time for a year and needed a place to stay for a month. We chose Bar W ranch in Auburn, Al. It did not disappoint. The owners/host were accommodating and extremely friendly. Their land was beautiful and the park was quiet and providing a much needed home away from home atmosphere. We will definitely stay here again and strongly recommend this place to anyone. Thank you so much for your hospitality. We will be back.

There aren't enuf words to express how truly amazing this place is for fun and relaxation. Let's start with an incredible staff! The office worked with me for weeks to get just the right schedule that fit my life. They picked me up from airport, carried my bags, escorted me to my room and told me to check in after I got rested and freshened up. WHAT?! Where does THAT happen. When I got to the office I realized my boots weren't a good fit for the activities. I asked for a trip to town to buy more, of course they would take me but instead said "why buy, just wear ours", then the Owner's daughter loaned me her boots for a week. WHAT? Who does THAT! At the big house I was greeted by cooks and house keeping. Anything I need, " why Ma'am, just ask". Wow! I expected horseback riding, but I never expected what happened next! I had difficulty mounting & riding because of age and lack of agility. Ha! That wouldn't stop the Wranglers from ensuring I would ride. They got me up & down safely, trained me in safety techniques & skills, changed out my horse to properly fit my needs. And did it all with a smile, laughter, and love. WHAT? Who does That! It continued far more than horseback riding. They took us to a Rodeo, whitewater rafting, skeet shooting, bow & arrow, cattle penning, rope wrangling, fishing, boating, campfire with a professional singer, guitar player. It just kept going. I needed some down time so what did I find? Yep, hammocks, sleeping, & reading under the Big Montana Sky. I knew that altho I was alone in the wilderness I was 100% safe because the Owner made sure the Staff had open eyes on all guests all the time, without an intrusive presence. WHAT? Who does that? Finally, let's move to breaking of the bread. All guests ate like a family & truly bonded. Several of the male guests were always willing to help me when my knees gave out, the wonderful youth treated me like their Auntie; I was in- love with them all and felt the love right back. There is just something about eating and playing together that creates beauty. There is just not enuf wonderful things I can say about the Ranch, you just have to experience it!

We had a wonderful stay. So many little things were done right, and it made all the difference. It should have come as no surprise that a team which puts so much passion into the care and well being of their animals would be so thoughtful and attentive to their guests. The cumulative impact of hundreds of great decisions by the team at the Bar W made our trip something we will never forget. I can not recommend the Bar W highly enough.

Just got back from a week at Bar W - Adults only week. Due to Covid, we had a small group but met such great people and had so much fun! Everyone made us feel welcome from the moment we stepped on the ranch. From Wesley's tour to Braxton and Mark helping with our luggage. The kitchen staff was phenomenal including Mitch and Adam who served us and even played guitar for us one day. Lindsay is awesome running the Barn - we had many great trail rides with her, Logan, Jorie, Emily, Heath, Wesley, Patsy and especially bad-ass Leah!! Loved Leah - and learning about skijoring. Logan has the patience of an angel. Patsy's sweet demeanor taking our temps and ox levels everyday. Lindsay, Alyssa, Wesley and Chris made our cattle drive awesome!! First time for a cattle drive and I loved it!! Erin did a great job of accommodating our needs. I loved the evening activities- especially skeet and bow shooting. One of the best was Wild Wings - being able to see falcons, hawks and owls up close and personal was amazing. Loved the screeching barn owl AND the little Western Pygmy Owl. Truly had a wonderful time!! Wishing it would never end!!

Planned a trip here with my grad school friends for a week. Wow!! What an amazing experience! We had never done a trip like this so didn't know what to expect. Bar W did a great job of pairing us with just the right horse and planning rides based on our abilities. Day two was THE BEST!!!! We learned to lasso and actually got in the corral with some cattle and roped them!! (The cattle MAY have been very trained! ;-)) THEN we got on horses and "herded" the cattle from one pen to another. SO MUCH FUN!!! Loved this place and would love to return. TIP: watch the room they schedule you in when you book. Some rooms don't have bathrooms. Some are in different "cabins" where you have to walk to another house for meals, etc. TIP 2: Don't be afraid to ask for anything. They will accommodate you! ;-)

Between the horse ride and the wagon dinner, we had the best time!! The crew was attentive and wonderful! You dont have to stay on the ranch to enjoy the horse back riding or any other activities they offer. They make you feel very welcomed along with the guests there. We highly recommend this ranch to everyone! Thanks Bar W for a wonderful evening, we will be back to the ranch when we return to Montana! Love the San Diego Girls!

My family decided on a vacation to Whitefish to spend half a day horseback riding. None of us have much experience with horses, and when I called the Bar W I told them that. They laughed and said not to worry. I was a bit apprehensive but it turns out we really did not have any need for concern. Our trail guide was a young woman from Pennsylvania who gave us a quick tutorial on horses and helped us whenever we felt uncomfortable or that we couldn't control our rides. She led us through some beautiful Montana woods in a state park that adjoins the ranch and brought a light lunch for us in her saddlebags. She even helped us mount and dismount! Our half-day ride ended up being a great, low-stress way to see parts of the Montana woods that we wouldn't have experienced otherwise. I highly recommend the Bar W.

My kids have been swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, to Disneyland, slept in a teepee under the sequoias... but hands down their favorite trip ever was our stay at Bar W. Months later they talk about weekly. The staff was warm, food good and memories will last a lifetime.

Had scheduled a sleigh ride, but ended up with a wagon ride due to the lack of snow. Really nice people, but not worth the $$. The bulk of the ride was along the paved road we drove in on-not quite the scenic ride I was anticipating.

While visiting friends in MT we decided a sleigh ride would be great fun for the group with all the snow! The "sleigh" is a modified wagon and was not the sleigh we expected and no jingle bells. The ride advertised as 45 minutes was only 30 minutes at best. The staff was very attentive and friendly however we feel this was disappointing for the price.