Cowgirl Up Experience Big Sky Montana on Horseback

Every Beatrice Bradley trip is crafted to maximize the experiences had during the trip.
The itineraries are specially made to allow time for engaging in conversation and having belly laughs with a new friend. We hope that the activities and experiences may allow you to come out of your comfort zone and to try new or unique things.
These trips are made to replicate a ‘friends get-away trip’. 

Overall Trip Highlights

• Your Own Horse for the Week: From the moment you arrive, you’ll be paired with your own horse — your partner and friend for the entire week. You’ll build trust, confidence, and a bond that makes every ride even more rewarding.
• Daily Riding Adventures: Saddle up each day for unforgettable rides through Montana’s mountains, meadows, and forests. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned rider, trails and pace are tailored to your comfort and skill level — with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and snap a few photos.
• Hands-On Horse Time: Learn to care for your horse just like the wranglers do — from brushing and grooming to saddling up. Spending time with your horse in and out of the saddle deepens the connection and gives you a true taste of ranch life.
• Cowgirl-Style Meals: Hearty, ranch-cooked meals served family-style. From sizzling steaks to scratch-made comfort food, you’ll eat like a cowgirl and never leave the table hungry.
• Fly Fishing Lessons: Try your hand at casting for trout with expert guides who’ll show you how it’s done on crystal-clear Montana streams.
• Small-Town Montana: Visit the historic mountain town of Lincoln, known for its cowboy heritage, outdoor spirit, and welcoming community.
• Authentic Ranch Evenings: After a day in the saddle, enjoy time with your new girlfriends in the lodge — playing games, listening to cowboy musicians, or just swapping stories and laughter until your belly hurts.
• Cool Off Cowboy-Style: Take a refreshing swim or a peaceful boat ride on the ranch’s private lake — perfect for relaxing after a ride.
• Rustic & Cozy Cabins: Stay in authentic log cabins with just the right mix of rustic charm and modern comfort — the perfect place to unwind at the end of the day.
• All-Inclusive Experience: Everything’s taken care of — from airport transfers to meals, rides, and activities — so you can simply show up and live the cowgirl dream.
• Guided by True Ranchers: Every ride, lesson, and moment at the ranch is led by real Montana cowboys and cowgirls who love their land, their horses, and sharing it all with you.

Itinerary Subject to Change.

Day One: – Arrival Day – Your horse and new friends are waiting to meet you!

Fly into Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) arriving no later than 1pm to head to the ranch: Famous Rich’s Dude Ranch!

Upon arriving at Rich’s Montana Guest Ranch, you’ll be greeted with warmth and given your room assignments. After freshening up, you’ll meet your horse and guides for the week, taking a scenic tour of the property. Dinner will be a mouthwatering BBQ served family-style at the main lodge, where you’ll enjoy delicious food and lively conversation. The evening wraps up with a fun bonfire, complete with songs and s’mores under the stars, setting the perfect tone for the adventure ahead!

Highlights

• Check-In and Freshen Up: Arrive at Rich’s Montana Guest Ranch, get your room assignments, and take a moment to settle in and freshen up.
• Meet Your Horse and Guides: Get acquainted with your horse and guides for the week while touring the beautiful property.
• Family-Style BBQ Dinner: Enjoy a mouthwatering BBQ dinner served family-style at the main lodge, sharing laughs and stories with fellow travelers.
• Bonfire Fun: Evenings at the ranch often end with a crackling bonfire, where the smell of woodsmoke drifts through the crisp Montana air and the stars shine bright above — the perfect place to share stories, toast s’mores, and soak in the magic of the mountains.

Fun Fact: Montana is home to more horses than people in many of its rural counties — a true testament to the state’s deep ranching roots and wide-open spaces.

Day Two: Riding 101 and a Visit to Lincoln, Montana

The day begins with a breakfast fit for a cowgirl, hearty and filling, followed by an early morning coffee walk to soak in the crisp Montana air and sweeping mountain views. Then it’s time to meet your horse for Riding 101, where you’ll learn how to brush, saddle, and care for your horse — and build your confidence in the saddle. You’ll head out on a gentle two-hour trail ride, giving you time to connect with your horse and take in the beauty of the ranch.

After returning, enjoy a fresh, ranch-style lunch featuring Montana-grown produce and comforting favorites. In the afternoon, climb aboard for a scenic drive through the Upper Blackfoot Valley to visit Lincoln — a mountain town steeped in cowboy tradition, rugged charm, and Western history. Back at the ranch, finish the day with a relaxing horse-drawn wagon ride and some well-earned downtime with your girlfriends.

Highlights

• Breakfast fit for a Cowgirl: Start the day with a hearty, ranch-style breakfast to fuel your adventures, followed by an early morning coffee walk to take in the crisp Montana air and mountain views.
• Riding 101: Meet your horse and learn to brush, saddle, and care for them before you ride. Riders are grouped by experience — beginner, intermediate, or advanced — for hands-on, personalized instruction.
• Trail Ride: Head out for a gentle two-hour ride to bond with your horse and explore the ranch’s beautiful terrain.
• Lunch: Enjoy a fresh, satisfying ranch lunch featuring Montana-grown produce and comforting favorites.
• Scenic and Historic Valley Experience: Take a scenic drive through the Upper Blackfoot Valley to visit Lincoln, Montana — a charming Western town rich in cowboy history and small-town spirit.
• Dinner: Return to the ranch for a hearty dinner shared with your new girlfriends.
• Evening at the Ranch: Relax in true ranch style — laugh until your belly hurts while listening to a cowboy musician, playing cards, or swapping stories with friends in the lodge.

Fun Fact: Lincoln, Montana is home to the Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild, an outdoor art park celebrating the area’s timber and mining heritage in a uniquely Montana way.

Day Three: All-Day or Half-Day Ride — Afternoon Swimming and Boating

The day begins with the soft glow of sunrise over the mountains, and early risers take a quiet coffee-in-hand walk to greet the morning. After a hearty breakfast at the ranch, the choice is yours: saddle up for an all-day ride with your horse, picnic packed and ready to explore miles of breathtaking trails, or opt for a half-day ride and return to enjoy some quiet time at the ranch. For those who choose the half-day option, the afternoon brings cool relief in Montana’s sparkling waters — swimming, boating, and soaking up the sun. As the day winds down, everyone gathers for a family-style dinner, sharing stories and laughter from the day’s adventures. The evening closes with your girlfriends in the lodge, enjoying music, games, and plenty of belly laughs as you soak in the easy camaraderie of ranch life.

Highlights

• Hearty Breakfast: Fuel up for the day with a filling, ranch-style breakfast.
• All-Day Ride: Spend the entire day on horseback with your horse, stopping for a picnic and taking in stunning Montana scenery.
• Half-Day Ride and Water Fun: Enjoy a morning ride, then cool off with swimming and boating in crystal-clear Montana waters.
• Relaxation Option: Take the morning to yourself with a good book and quiet mountain views if you prefer.
• Lunch: Picnic on the trail or enjoy lunch back at the ranch, depending on your ride.
• Family-Style Dinner: Share a hearty meal with your new girlfriends and swap stories from the trail.
• Evening at the Ranch: Unwind together in the lodge with music, games, and laughter, soaking up the spirit of ranch life.

Fun Fact: Montana is called “Big Sky Country” because its wide, open skies stretch endlessly, and on a clear night, you’ll see more stars than you ever imagined.

Day Four:  Cottonwood Camp Breakfast Ride and Cook Own Steak 

The morning kicks off with one of the most memorable moments of the week — the Cottonwood Camp breakfast ride. By now, you and your horse have become a true team, and you’ll ride out together under the wide Montana sky to a scenic spot, where you’ll help cook and enjoy a hearty breakfast on the trail. Sharing this experience with your trusted horse and your new girlfriends is the perfect way to start the day.

In the afternoon, you can choose to stay in the saddle and take another peaceful ride, deepening that bond with your horse, or head out on a scenic tour of Seeley Lake, known for its pristine waters, local wildlife, and charming shops.

The evening brings a Beatrice Bradley favorite — the cook-your-own steak dinner. Everyone gathers around the grill to prepare their perfect steak, enjoying the lively, hands-on atmosphere. After dinner, the warmth continues in the lodge, where you and your girlfriends play games, listen to cowboy music, and laugh together until your belly hurts, soaking in the authentic ranch spirit.

Highlights

• Breakfast Under the Big Sky: Ride out to Cottonwood Camp with your horse and cook a hearty breakfast on the trail — a morning you’ll never forget.
• Bond With Your Horse: By now you and your horse move as one, a partnership that makes every ride more special.
• Afternoon Activities: Choose between another ride with your horse or a scenic visit to Seeley Lake, with its mountain views, wildlife, and quaint shops.
• Beatrice Bradley Favorite — Cook-Your-Own Steak Dinner: Gather at the ranch’s grill to cook your perfect steak, a lively and much-loved tradition.
• Authentic Ranch Evening: End the day in the lodge with your girlfriends — playing games, listening to cowboy music, and sharing stories and laughter long into the evening.

Fun Fact: Seeley Lake sits between the Mission and Swan mountain ranges and is part of one of Montana’s most scenic drives. Its pristine waters and surrounding wilderness make it a favorite spot for fishing, boating, and wildlife watching — a true Montana gem.

Day Five: Ride, Fish, Bike, Swim, or Simply Soak it All In — This is Your Vacation

The morning begins with a hearty cowboy breakfast and a peaceful sunrise walk to welcome the day. By now, you and your horse move together with ease — a true partnership — and you’ll set out on an extended morning ride through Montana’s breathtaking trails, fully enjoying the trust and bond you’ve built.

After a satisfying lunch back at the ranch, the afternoon is wide open for you to enjoy however you like. Saddle up again for another ride, relax with a book while taking in the mountain views, take a dip in the cool, clear waters, or try your hand at fly fishing. Maybe you’ll join a group hike to spot wildflowers and watch for wildlife — whatever you choose, it’s all about savoring the ranch life.

As evening settles in, you and your girlfriends gather at the ranch for another lively night of good food, stories, and laughter that fills the room — the kind of belly-hurting, soul-filling joy that only happens when cowgirls come together.

Highlights

• Longer Morning Ride: With the bond you’ve built with your horse, enjoy an extended morning ride through Montana’s scenic trails.
• Lunch at the Ranch: Refuel with a delicious lunch before choosing your own adventure.
• Afternoon Freedom: Ride, relax, swim, read a book, try fly fishing, or simply soak in the peaceful ranch atmosphere — it’s your vacation!
• Fly Fishing: Learn to cast a line or simply watch the river flow and enjoy the wildlife around you.
• Group Hike: Head out on foot to discover wildflowers and take in Montana’s natural beauty.
• Evening at the Ranch: Gather with your girlfriends for a lively, joy-filled evening at the ranch — sharing stories, playing games, and laughing until your belly hurts.

Fun Fact: Montana has more miles of wild, untamed rivers than any other state in the lower 48 — making it one of the best places in the country for fly fishing, wildlife spotting, and simply listening to the soothing sounds of nature.

Day Six: Cottonwood Camp Lunch Ride and Ice Cream

The day starts however you like — rise early for a coffee hike to take in the crisp Montana air and quiet morning light, or sleep in and savor a slower start. By midmorning, you’ll saddle up with your horse for the Cottonwood Trail Lunch Ride, riding through beautiful Montana terrain and stopping to prepare and enjoy a hearty lunch right along the trail with your girlfriends and horses by your side.

In the afternoon, climb into the ranch vehicles for a wildlife tour through the countryside, keeping your eyes open for elk, deer, and maybe even a bald eagle overhead. The tour includes a stop in the tiny, historic town of Ovando, where you’ll enjoy a scoop of old-fashioned ice cream at the storied Blackfoot Commercial Company — a sweet taste of small-town Montana.

Back at the ranch, the day wraps up with a cowboy dinner featuring ranch favorites, paired with a tasting of local wines. The evening is spent with your girlfriends at the ranch, sharing stories, laughter, and soaking in the simple magic of ranch life.

Highlights

• Morning Options: Start your day with an early coffee hike in the fresh Montana air or sleep in and ease into the morning.
• Cottonwood Trail Lunch Ride: Ride out with your horse and girlfriends to the Cottonwood Trail and cook lunch right on the trail — unforgettable scenery and camaraderie.
• Ice Cream and Wildlife Tour: After lunch, spot wildlife on a scenic drive and stop in historic Ovando for a scoop of classic ice cream at the Blackfoot Commercial Company.
• Cowboy Dinner and Wine Tasting: Return to the ranch for a hearty cowboy dinner paired with a tasting of local Montana wines.
• Evening at the Ranch: Relax with your girlfriends, sharing stories and laughter in the warm, welcoming atmosphere of the ranch.

Fun Fact: The Blackfoot Commercial Company in Ovando has been serving the valley since 1897 and still operates as a community gathering place — a true slice of Montana history with some of the best ice cream around.

Day Seven: Departure Day – Good Bye New Friends Until We Meet Again!

Highlights

• Short Moring walk and saying goodbye to your horse.
• Breakfast at the ranch with until-we-meet-again new friends!
• Airport Departures – No earlier than 1PM. Missoula Montana Airport (MSO)

Important trip information 

• The maximum weight limit for this trip is 250lbs, for the safety of you and the horse.
• You must be able to lift 25lbs, for handling gear and equipment around the ranch.
• You need good balance for staying on a horse and walking on outdoor terrain.
• No horseback experience is necessary but you do need to be flexible and strong enough to pull yourself up to get on a horse.

Important lodging information

This is a family-run ranch that welcomes us into their lifestyle.  Not all sleeping arrangements are identical.