Covered Wagon Ranch

Covered Wagon Ranch

The Covered Wagon Ranch offers the best place to experience the West and the finest hospitality you’ll find anywhere. They serve up scrumptious meals to fuel your adventures and please your palate. The ranch has a deep history and is the oldest continually operating ranch in Gallatain Gateway and the surrounding region. Covered Wagon is located in a river valley that offers boundless breathtaking views for horseback riding, float trips, hiking and more.

Unique Features: Four generations ago, guests arrived at the Covered Wagon Ranch by way of stagecoach, and Model-T. Today, descendants of some of those families still come to the ranch, in a region that is very nearly the same as it was in 1925, when the guest ranch first opened.

Accommodations: The ranch has 10 historic log guest cabins, accommodating approximately 20 total guests. Each cabin has a slightly different unique character, with 5 two bedroom, one bath cabins; and 5 one bedroom, one bath cabins. The cabins retain much of their original 1920s character, but comfortable beds and bedding allow you to rest up each evening for the next full day of mountain enjoyment.

As Suite As It Gets: When money is no object, go for the Two-Bedroom Cabins. Each of the two-bedroom cabins sleep four guests (Sage Creek sleeps up to 5), and are complete with their own private bathroom, sitting area, desk, water dispenser, comfortable linens, quality beds, and cozy towels.

Dining: Dining is a family affair, and is often the social highlight of the day. During your stay you will enjoy a scrumptious Montana dining experience at each meal. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style, as with dinner it is family style. Breakfasts include a full fare of hearty ranch style hot dishes, complimented with fresh fruit, homemade baked goods, along with lighter foods such as cereals and yogurts. Each evening begins with appetizers, followed by a varied menu of hearty and delicious ranch style dishes all served family style. Homemade dessert finishes off each dinner.

Activities: No image is more closely tied to the Old West than that of the horse. That’s why they make horseback rides into the backcountry a primary activity. There’s no substitute for the feeling you get when you head out for Montana horseback riding in the mountains or backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. Second to riding, folks come to the ranch for some much needed self-care. You can find them tossing around horseshoes, toting fly-fishing poles down to the Taylor Fork Creek, shooting pool in the rec hall, or just lounging on their cabin porches.

Spa & Fitness: There is no on-site spa or fitness center, but they do have a hot tub. Take an afternoon off from your riding, and enjoy thrilling Montana white water rafting on the Gallatin River. Early in the year (June and July) these trips will get the adrenaline pumping as the rivers are full of the snow melt. August and September trips, although still exciting, bring a little more leisure to the trip.

Location: The Covered Wagon Ranch is a Gallatin Gateway Dude Ranch located just three miles from the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park on Route 191 (mile marker 34), in the Gallatin National Forest, at the confluence of the Taylor’s Fork and Gallatin Rivers. Nearby cities are West Yellowstone, about thirty five miles south; Big Sky, Montana, about fourteen miles north; and Bozeman, Montana, about fifty miles northeast.

Closest Airport: The closest major airport to Gallatin Gateway Inn Park, Montana is Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN / KBZN). This airport is in Bozeman, Montana and is 15 miles from the center of Gallatin Gateway Inn Park, MT.

Children’s Programs: No. They do not have a kids’ program, but children over six can go on trail rides, or get lessons in arena. 4 and 5 year-old children can ride in the arena but not out on the trails. Kids three and under stay at the ranch free (babysitting is available for an additional charge). The kids can have as much or little to do with the horses as they want.

Pet Friendly: No. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed.

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: Friday brings the weekly Cookout with steaks, burgers, brats, live music, dancing, roping, s’mores and an evening of family fun around the campfire. Whichever meal, whether it is a sack lunch in a high alpine meadow, or a sit down dinner in the lodge, you will be treated to great food, friendly service, and a true family Montana dining experience, Covered Wagon Ranch style. Most nights they pull the s’mores basket out to the fire pit in front of the lodge, and if you’re lucky, you can get Kurt to play his guitar!

www.coveredwagonranch.com