Horseback Riding

Whether you’re an experienced rider, or you’ve never been on a horse; we have the riding and horses for you to enjoy your dude ranch vacation. Our wranglers will match you with an appropriate horse for your skill level. Ride in mountain terrain, lope across wide open fields and traverse the Judith River all from the back of your trusty steed. You might ride back and forth across the River, to the local Elk Preserve or up to Porcupine Ridge for a breakfast cookout. With our neighboring 2.8 million acres of the Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest, there's endless trails to explore under the Big Sky.

We offer two rides per day, except Sundays when the horses get the afternoon off. New guests will take a slow walking ride first, and then can move onto more advanced rides with trotting and loping if you demonstrate you can safely control your horse.

Age Minimums: Slow rides — 5 years old, Fast Rides — 8 years old

Crossing the Judith River on horseback in central Montana.
Horseback riding amongst pine trees at the Circle Bar Guest Ranch.
Breakfast ride at the Circle Bar Guest Ranch.
Leaving the Circle Bar Guest Ranch on horseback.
Riders participate in a cattle drive at the Circle Bar in Montana.
A line of riders during their dude ranch vacation in Montana.
A group of riders crosses the Judith River on horseback next to one of the historic cabins at the Circle Bar Ranch.
Horses stand tied to trees during a breakfast ride at the Circle Bar Ranch.
Breakfast ride at the Circle Bar Guest Ranch.
A line of riders walks through an open pasture in central Montana.
Guests participating in a cattle drive at the Circle Bar Guest Ranch in Montana.
Guests participating in a cattle drive at the Circle Bar Guest Ranch in Montana.
Riding through a forest at the Circle Bar Guest Ranch.
A line of riders walks through an open pasture in central Montana.
Crossing a river on horseback in central Montana.
A little girl holds a horse's head outside of the barn at the Circle Bar.
A line of riders walks through an open pasture in central Montana.
Riders approach the breakfast ride location in a late May snowy day at the Circle Bar Ranch.
A rider looks out at the view from a vista at the Circle Bar Guest Ranch.
A little girl sits horseback ready for a trail ride at the Circle Bar Ranch.
A child takes a horseback riding lesson at the Circle Bar Ranch in Montana.
A line of horseback riders under a big Montana sky on a Circle Bar Ranch ride.
Crossing a river on horseback in central Montana.
Riding in Big Sky Country in central Montana.
A line of horseback riders in the Montana wilderness during their dude ranch vacation.
Pushing cows through trees at the Circle Bar Ranch.
Two riders climb a hill in Montana's big sky country.