Bitterroot Ranch (Wyoming), USA
Reviews
“The trip of a lifetime, absolutely amazing. Fantastic scenery, amazing horses, great people, delicious food, a week was no where near long enough. Breathtaking! The staff were brilliant and the service was spot on all the time, I was made to feel very welcome, couldn't fault it - perfect. The wranglers were all amazing, knowledgeable, great people. ”
In the News
“Georgia had fallen so in love with Bitterroot that she approached Mel for a job as a junior wrangler for her university holidays. And how I wished I could join her - because Bitterroot ranch turned out to be my Saddle Club dream turned reality.”
Horses
Type of horses:
Quarter horses, Mustangs, Arabs, Percherons, Appaloosas and Welsh ponies.
Nature of horses:
Horses to suit everyone from calm and quiet to more forward going. All are sure-footed and well suited to their work.
Height of horses:
14hh - 17hh (most are around 14hh - just under 16hh but a few Percherons are larger)
Weight limit:
90kg
Tack type:
Western for trail riding (unless a very experienced rider) and English for XC and lessons if desired.
Weather
Current Conditions:
Partly Cloudy, -21 C
Forecast:
Sun - Mostly Sunny. High: 4 Low: -8
Mon - Partly Cloudy. High: 2 Low: -9
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Ranch Stay
Prices are per person, per week (7 nights), based on double room occupancy. They include all accommodation, meals, wine with dinner and some soft drinks, daily riding (except Sundays) and fishing. We have also included the compulsory 18% service charge which covers all gratuities and taxes.
May 22 - June 12:
£1332
June 19 - Sept 18:
£1567
September 18 - 24th (short week):
£1381
Children 4 - 15: 25% discount
Non rider: £970
Single supplement: £224
Half week stay (4 nights, 3 days riding): £896
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Washakie Wilderness Pack Trip
May 23 - June 20th:
£1593
June 19 - September 18th:
£1829
September 18 - 24th (short week):
£1642
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
This family run working ranch, set in a remote valley bordering Shoshone National Forest, offers 50 square miles of unspoilt mountainous wilderness. Near to Yellowstone Park and with snow-capped mountains always in view, the ranch provides a variety of riding opportunities including tuition with certified instructors, a cross country course, team sorting, herding cows, cattle drives, roundups, pack trips and trail rides. The Fox family have been running this operation for more than 30 years and provide a relaxed and friendly holiday atmosphere for their guests.
Although a dude ranch offering traditional cabin accommodation and real cowboy experiences, this destination is less typical than most due to its suitability for a riding holiday and the staff's passion for horses. Quality riding is the aim of the game and the hosts are especially proud of their stunning purebred Arabians, many of which are trained and raised on the ranch. These make up part of the 135 horse herd which also contains Quarter Horses, Mustangs, Appaloosas, Percherons and Welsh ponies. There certainly is a horse for everyone! As a family farm the ranch is also home to sheep, llamas, ducks, geese, chickens, peacocks, dogs and cats.
There is a wonderful family ambience on the ranch as the Fox family join their guests at meal times and lead many of the rides personally. The owner, Bayard, also enjoys joining his guests for some fly fishing, another favourite sport at the ranch. The cuisine here is of high standard and features ranch-raised beef and lamb, homegrown salads and freshly baked breads, with delicious wine to complement it. After enjoying a meal with newfound friends, guests retire to their individual log cabins which are located along the river and offer spectacular views.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
Accommodation is in a series of traditional style cabins, all of which have been modernised over the 40 years that Bitterroot has been a dude ranch. All the cabins feature electric heating and showers, some also having wood burning stoves and most being equipped with bathtubs. There are a variety of sleeping arrangements available within the cabins and they are designed with authenticity in mind, keeping the rustic charm of a the bygone cowboy era. The main lodge (where guests gather for meals and to socialise in evenings) features a large stone fireplace and broad porch, the perfect setting in which to enjoy your ranch experience and to talk with new friends.
Good food is seen as an important part of life on the ranch and salads are picked fresh from the garden, bread is baked in the kitchen ovens and the beef and lamb are ranch-raised to ensure their quality. Below are some examples of meals, yum!
Breakfast: Eggs cooked to order, bacon, sausages and toast. Also on offer is fresh fruit, muffins, cereal, orange juice and traditional steel cut oats which are cooked overnight (a house favourite).
Lunch:
- Rainbow, Cutthroat or Brown Trout, (fresh from the line of Bayard or his guests!) baked in White Wine, Almonds and Parsley
- Sun Dried Tomato, Feta and Thyme Quiche
- Organic Home Reared Beef Bolognese, with Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
- Roast Butternut Squash Soup with Home Baked Olive Rosemary Bread
- Organic Home Grown Green Salad with Arugula, Beet Leaves and Frisee Lettuce
- Twice Baked Cheddar Soufflé
- Vanilla Ice Cream with Fresh Strawberry Sauce and Lemon Hazelnut Biscotti.
- Fresh Mango Syllabub
Dinner:
- Organic Home Reared Natural Beef Fillet with Rosemary and Garlic Roast Potatoes, Fresh Vegetables and a Red Wine Jus
- Stuffed Pumpkin with Wild Rice and Mushroom Risotto
- Spinach, Pear and Stilton Salad with Raspberry Walnut Dressing
- Honey Baked Ham with Cheese and Parsley Baked Potatoes and Sugar Glazed Carrots
- Organic Home Reared Natural Lamb Chops with Roast Vegetables and Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Seared Fillet of Salmon with Lemon Dill Hollandaise, Steamed Asparagus and Braised Portobello Mushrooms
- Belgian Chocolate Pots
- Fresh Raspberry and Blueberry Millefeuille
- Sticky Toffee Pudding and English Custard
Activities
The second biggest passion at the ranch (after the riding of course) is fly fishing. There are wonderful opportunities here to fly fish for trout in the ranch's private stream and stocked pond, as well as in neighbouring lakes and rivers.
The East Fork Wind River runs through the ranch lands for over a mile and is home to many Cutthroat trout between 8 and 14 inches long, some having been caught as big as 20 inches. There are also excellent gorges and two ponds which house rainbow trout of up to 5Ibs. Your host has caught trout up to 10lbs and as well as the Cutthroat and Rainbow trout, Brown and Brook trout are also living in local waters. Your host, Bayard, loves to fish with his guests several times a week and is happy to offer free advice and instruction. If desired, expert guides can also be arranged.
Hiking in the area is top notch and destinations include a former hideout of Butch Cassidy from the 1890s and visits to the cedar sheep traps made by the Sheep Eater Indians 150 years ago. Other hiking opportunities include trails to old Indian campsites, a trip to Castle Rock and even the chance to see the petrified bones of a coryphodon, a mammal which roamed the lands 45-60 million years ago.
There is a variety of wild flowers and trees on the ranch, the most notable of course being the Bitterroot after which the ranch is named. This is a nutritious root which was prized by the Indians who dried and stored them over winter. The roots were too bitter for Europeans! Guests can also see Evening Primroses, Larkspurs, Mountain Bluebells, Cushions Flox, Mountain Strawberries, Lance Leaf Stonecrop, Lupines and Indian Paintbrushes. Some of the stunning trees and shrubs which add to the ranch's beauty are Quaking Aspen, Cottonwood, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Limber Pine, Engelman Spruce, Sagebrush, Willow and Silverberry. These plants and the other fascinating wildlife of the area make Bitterroot a beautiful environment in which to enjoy some top class riding or fishing.
Further Details
Languages: English
Health requirements: Fit & Healthy
Age limit: None for guests, riders must be 4+ (there are some lovely Welsh ponies for older children riders)
Tuition: Yes, depending on the programme.
Included: Accommodation, all meals, daily riding (except Sunday) and fishing.
Not included: Flights, travel insurance, transfers.
Travel Information
Fly to Riverton (Wyoming) or Jackson Hole and round trip transfers to and from the ranch can be arranged from either airport. Transfers from and to Riverton are $80 per person each way. A vehicle from and to Jackson costs $280 each way so guests can share this if arriving at a similar time.
Airport: Riverton
Alternative Airport: Jackson
Programmes
Ranch Stay
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This memorable ranch stay incorporates a variety of riding activities from daily trail rides, cattle work, tuition and the chance to experience their cross country course. The ranch has a wonderful herd of horses with a mix of breeds and they raise their own sensible, friendly, purebred Arabs which are a special pleasure to ride. Guests stay in traditional cabin accommodation and are fed exquisite food, much of which is ranch grown or freshly made. A typical week at Bitterroot begins with a short demonstration of riding techniques and then guests are evaluated for their riding style and ability. There is a broad selection of horses and the hosts will match horse and rider carefully to ensure safety and maximum enjoyment. Experienced guides lead out small groups (which are divided by ability) for 2-3 hour morning and afternoon rides. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings there are video taped lessons available for anyone wanting to improve their riding. The cross country course is available for experienced riders who will first be assessed in a school to check that they will not interfere with their horse's jumping ability. Friday afternoons bring friendly team sorting competitions which introduce guests to cattle work. Saturday is a final all day picnic ride. During July, August and September this often involves moving cattle to different parts of the grazing in the National Forest. |
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| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 12 |
| Ability description: | Beginner - Experienced (Riding groups are divided by ability) |
| Type of ride: | Based stay |
| Total riding time: | Approx 4 - 6 hours a day |
| Departure dates: | 23 May - 1 Oct (ranch stays are Sunday to Sunday) |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Washakie Wilderness Pack Trip
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The Bitterroot Ranch has an ideal location for pack trips into the spectacular wilderness of Wyoming. The Ranch borders the Shoshone National Forest which extends to the borders of Yellowstone Park and is part of the largest wild ecosystem remaining in the lower 48 states. Pack trips enable you to explore the wildest parts of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem near the Continental Divide. The best way to experience the full majesty of this country is by traveling on horseback with pack animals to set up camps in the remote heart of the wilderness. A cook and wrangler provide excellent service. The route of your pack trip takes you over spectacular passes of between 11,000 and 12,000 feet and through pristine mountain valleys with little human presence. The mighty rivers of America have their beginnings here as tiny springs. Each valley has its own distinct character with meadows of lupine in one and craggy cliffs in another. On longer pack trips we will camp in the same spot for two nights to allow guests to ride out for the day, hike, fish, or just relax. This wonderful adventure provides an opportunity to see this glorious, untamed landscape which is unchanged since the early explorers found it. Day 1: Arrive in Dubois for overnight accommodations. Day 2: Transfer by car to the end of road where you will meet your guide and the horses waiting to take you on an adventure into the most magical places of this wilderness. Mount and head up the trail with its many switchbacks toward Shoshone Pass far above. You will wind past lovely Trail Lake. Be sure to keep an eye out for wild animals along the way. At the top of the pass the view of the other side is absolutely breathtaking and you will twist your way down through Elysian Fields of wild flowers to Bliss Creek Meadows and the Shoshone River to make camp for the night. Day 3: The camp will remain here until the next day and you can ride out to explore this magnificent valley, go fishing (this place has some of the best fishing in the Rockies for wild trout) or just relax or hike around camp. This is a favorite place for Shiras moose which you will see with any luck at all. Day 4: Get an early start as today is the longest day of the pack trip. We will traverse Hidden Basin which lies between two spectacular mountain passes with superb views. We may see eagles soaring and big horned sheep perched on the incredibly steep sides of the mountains. Towering peaks surround us all day and provide a dramatic backdrop for our camp on Frontier Creek. Day 5: Continue down Frontier Creek and cross the Wiggins Fork to camp in the green meadows of Caldwell Basin, a long, narrow valley ringed by steep mountains and thick forests. A lovely trout stream runs through it. Day 6: Climb out of Caldwell Basin heading eastward on the Blue Creek Trail to cross another chain of mountains well above timber line where there are often big herds of elk eating the tender grass and drop down into Bear Creek to camp for the night. Day 7: In the morning we will pack up and climb the Teepee Creek Trail to cross another mountain chain well above timber line again. The Valley of the East Fork of the Wind River lies on the other side and one can see a chain of beaver ponds and a ribbon of river shimmering through the trees in the distance. Ten miles on down the stream lies the Bitterroot Ranch and the end of the pack trip. It is the first permanent human habitation you will have seen for six days. Dinner and overnight in Dubois. Day 8: Depart in the morning after breakfast. **This itinerary may be modified to adapt to weather conditions, grazing quality, or other unforeseeable circumstances** |
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| Accommodation: | During the nights you will be camping. |
| Minimum group size: | 4 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate - Experienced. Most of the riding is slow but challenging with long hours in the saddle. |
| Type of ride: | Pack trip (trail ride). |
| Total riding time: | 6 - 7 hours per day (6 riding days) |
| Departure dates: | Please contact the office for dates |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |