Montana – Big Sky Country and Cowboy Fever

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• Location: USA
• Holiday Types: Safari, Family holidays, Sporting, Getting there

• by: CarlyWhiteOak
• on: Wed 23 May 2012

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Getting to Montana from the UK and back involves a few flights but it’s definitely worthwhile; I made the most of this by twinning Montana with Los Angeles on the way out and Seattle on the way home, which worked perfectly.  

As soon as you arrive at Missoula Airport, Montana you notice that you are somewhere different; it’s small and within minutes you are off the plane and patiently waiting for your luggage which is a real bonus. Then you step outside into a completely different world – I have never seen so many SUVs or cowboy hats, definitely not like the usual airport arrival experience! We were swiftly shown to our large comfortable SUV and in no time at all were on the road to the ranch, ‘yee haa’! The journey took around an hour and forty-five minutes, but it was a nice scenic route that allowed us to see how vast Montana actually is and we chatted so much with our driver that it seemed much shorter. Finally we turned off the main road and onto a private road – we had arrived at the Ranch at Rock Creek. There were the riverside tents and some mares and foals were playing in the fields, then the impressive main wooden lodge came into view.

On arrival we were greeted like friends rather than guests and I immediately felt that I was somewhere very special that I was going to like very much. We were shown to our rooms in the main lodge which have a lovely prairie feel to them, very homely, filled with antique furnishings and pictures. Every room is unique and is individually named. You can stay in the main lodge, a log cabin – perfect for families or groups of friends, or your own luxury tent overlooking the river (I will definitely try one of these on my next visit). After a quick freshen up it was down to the restaurant where with log fires blazing and gingham furnishings in place, a simple yet absolutely delicious lunch awaited us.  

So what to do next? Well, we decided on an afternoon of fly fishing, something I can’t say I’ve ever had a desire to try, but when in Rome! We headed off to the gun and rod club situated on the other side of the property; it’s a nice stroll but we decided to take the bikes (each room is allocated their own bikes) and work off that hearty lunch. Once at the club we were introduced to our guide and his gorgeous golden retriever who likes to assist on fishing trips. We were fitted with waders and off we went to the pond, a good place to start for us beginners although you can easily fish in the river on-site. After a short introduction on what to do, we were casting off in the sunshine amidst the marvellous scenery, I recall thinking  I could actually get used to this, it’s not boring in the slightest like I thought it might be. The morning was not without event, two of us managed to land a catch – my catch of the day was a big fluffy retriever who is so used to getting flies caught in her fur that she just stands there waiting to be released, thankfully without injury. However the session finished with us all catching a fish which felt like a huge achievement and even more satisfying when we put them back in the water and away they swam. Then it was off to the lodge and time for a bit of exploring on the bikes. After a leisurely cycle around, we headed back to the lodge and the bar to be greeted by canapés and cocktails. The ranch has a wonderful social scene which reminded me of an African game lodge, guests sat along the bar chatting about the day’s experiences and what they were going to do the next day.

As the time for dinner approached I decided to make a quick change out of my jeans and sweatshirt. However, when I got back to the bar I was told I hadn’t needed to change at all!  Formality and glamour is not the order of the day here, it is so relaxed and informal that dressing for dinner is something you can forget at the door. After another amazing dining experience, featuring all local fresh produce and some outstanding wines, it was over to the Silver Dollar Saloon for after dinner drinks. The saloon is the social hub of the resort; it has a four lane bowling alley, pool tables, a poker table, billiards and a large screen for watching movies. We of course tried everything out on the first night and then retired to the bar, which instead of bar stools has saddles to sit on, perfect if you haven’t done a lot of riding that day!  

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast (the savoury scrambled eggs are amazing) it was off to the corral for our real ranch experience. We were greeted by the cowboys and after assessing our abilities, they went to get our horses ready. Just watching them in the corral roping the loose horses ready for us to ride was amazing. Once we were kitted out with cowboy boots and hats we were ready for our adventure. Heading to the other side of the resort, passing through a forested path we reached the open plains of the ranch – now I could truly see where the name ‘big sky country’ came from! There was nothing in any direction apart from sky and rolling hills; I have never felt more isolated or content in my life, the peace and tranquillity was tremendous. Because we could do as much or as little as we liked on our horses, I picked up the pace a bit before heading back down to the corral where a delicious picnic lunch awaited us. We had decided to do an all-day ride so after lunch we crossed to the other side of the ranch for more stunning scenery and the chance to view the lodge from a bird’s-eye-view. Every experience can be tailored to you, so if you are new to riding you can go out for an hour’s ride or if you are more experienced you can enjoy two rides a day just as easily.     

That evening we got to see the cowboys practicing roping the cattle and riding the bucking horses; when you speak to them they have the most amazing stories to tell, as well as injuries from the job and competing in rodeos to show. For them it really is a way of life and something that they’re born to – they each have a long history of working with cattle and horses and it is something they are truly passionate about. Afterwards, it was back to the lodge for another sumptuous dinner and a nightcap in the saloon.

The next morning, with a few hours to go before we left Rock Creek, we decided that clay pigeon

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