Circle Bar Guest Ranch

Circle Bar Guest Ranch

The Circle Bar Guest Ranch is a historic guest ranch that dates back to the 1800s in central Montana. At 5,000 feet in elevation, the Circle Bar Ranch enjoys the best of Montana’s weather with a host of activities for your family and friends to enjoy! The Circle Bar offers lodge rooms and nine individual historic cabins for guests, in addition to the Ranch House for larger families or groups all set along Montana’s Judith River. From horseback riding and hiking to swimming, archery and shooting, the Circle Bar Guest Ranch has activities for the whole family to enjoy during your dude ranch vacation.

Unique Features: On the morning of May 29th, 1805, the explorers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark worked their way up the Missouri River and passed the mouth of a “handsome” river. Clark named it the Judith, in honor of his future bride. At the headwaters of the Judith, where its forks meet and spill out of the Little Belt Mountains, sits Circle Bar Guest Ranch, where in 1880 a sixteen-year-old Charlie Marion Russell came to the Judith Basin to learn to wrangle and paint.

Accommodations: Enjoy historic dude ranch cabin accommodations at the Circle Bar Guest Ranch. The cabins offer spectacular views of the ranch and surrounding landscape with fireplaces, living areas, wet bars or a kitchenette depending on the selected cabin. The lodge includes the kitchen, a dining room and spacious living room. Plus three additional rooms for guests, they call the Buffalo Rooms, ideal for vacationing couples. For larger groups or families, the Ranch House is the perfect fit.

As Suite As It Gets: When money is no object, go for the Ranch House which has four bedrooms and three bathrooms and comfortably sleeps eight, great for a Montana family vacation.

Dining: Gather in the Lodge dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all included in the Full American Plan Rates. Start your day with homemade breakfast classics: pancakes and waffles; biscuits and gravy; breakfast burritos, with lighter, continental style options also available. Lunch will fuel you up for an afternoon of adventure. Before dinner, gather in the Lodge for cocktails and then dine on steak, pork chops, pastas, fresh trout and more, with a roaring fire in the wood-burning fireplace on chilly evenings.

Activities: Horseback riding is what the Circle Bar is known for. Ride in mountain terrain, lope across wide open fields and traverse the Judith River all from the back of your trusty steed. Age Minimums: Slow rides need to be 5 years old, Fast Rides need to be 8 years old. Explore 520 acres and the nearby Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest by way of UTV guided tours. Explore the varied terrain around the ranch and visit the historic Hoover Cabin. See the surrounding Montana countryside from a different saddle on Fat Tire E-Bikes. Peddle on your own or get some assistance from the high-powered motor capable of 20 mph speeds. There’s also archery, hiking and incredible fishing!

Spa & Fitness: There is no spa or fitness center but there is a hot tub. Enjoy a glass-enclosed indoor hot tub and soothe tired muscles from a day of adventuring or to warm up on chillier evenings!

Location: Located in the heart of Charlie Russell Country in Central Montana, the Circle Bar Ranch is within driving distance of several airports, allowing you to explore and discover more of the great state of Montana on your way to the ranch.

Closest Airport: Great Falls International (1 hour 45 minutes away), Bozeman Yellowstone International (3 hours), Billings Logan International (3 hours)

Children’s Programs: No. Although they welcome your children, they do not have any supervised children’s programs.

Pet Friendly: No. Pets are not allowed at this property.

Weddings: No. They do not normally host weddings but they may by special request.

Meetings: No. They do not have the facilities to host large business meetings.

Extra Info: The historic red barn, built in 1902, is great fun for evening entertainment and group activities like square dancing or charades! Plus it can be set up for basketball and badminton. Have a family card game in the lodge or challenge your friends to some horseshoes, table games or ping pong in the Rec Room, perfect for the kids!