This is my family's 2nd time here. It's not a corporate owned riding ranch. The Kelsey's do an…read moreoutstanding job making their guests feel welcomed and a valued part of the riding community no matter your skill level. We came in 2007 and again in 2015. We all consider our time here an awesome life changing experience. I highly recommend you go, unplug, take in all that nature has to offer, exploring the mountains on some of the most beautiful Appaloosa horses.

I found Yellowstone Roughriders on Yelp, but I also contacted a family friend about where to book a…read morehorse riding experience in Yellowstone and she also recommended Yellowstone Roughriders, so I was sold! Billie and Heather were very helpful and informative throughout the reservation making process. They have great communication and put our minds at ease. They wait to tell you which trail you'll be taking until about a week before your ride. I booked a half day private ride for my daughters and I. We met up at the trailhead with no problems and got to see and experience a part of Yellowstone most people don't get to see if they don't venture out. Jimmy was our guide and he was absolutely fantastic! He and I were chatting most of the time but he also was really engaged with my daughters as well. I rode Hoofy, my oldest rode Star, and my youngest rode Trigger. The horses were great! We enjoyed the trail, crossing through water a couple times, resting out by Grizzly Lake, and then heading back to where we started. We got to trot quite a bit too! I would be more than willing to work with Yellowstone Roughriders again. The experience was beyond compare! Thank you so much, Billie, Heather, Jimmy, and team!

My friends and I did the Evening Riverside Cookout and it was incredible! The horseback ride to the…read moredinner spot had great views and animal sightings (they also offer a wagon ride for people who do not want to horseback ride). The dinner itself was made onsite and was all locally sourced food and tasted better than anything we had eaten on our whole trip. The people that work there are so friendly and welcoming and made this a truly special experience for our last night. I would highly recommend doing the cookout and I'll be doing it again the next time I'm in Yellowstone!

My mother and I recently went to Hell's A-Roarin and we had a blast! When we first walked in the…read moreranch, we were greeted by four friendly dogs. There were also a plethora of horses in their stables and baby horses. The wranglers were hospitable and gave us forms to sign which gave us an overview of what horseback riding rules and safety regulations. As we were guided to our horses, they introduced us to them and told us how to control our horses. At first, I was skeptical because there was no harness involved and I felt that I was gonna fall off. But as we continued riding, I felt much more relaxed and confident in controlling my horse. We were riding in the hills and saw beautiful scenery. It was my very first time riding a horse and I truly loved every bit of it!

Such a beautiful ride, with such kind and considerate staff and leaders! I stupidly locked my keys…read morein my truck, which I realized I had done after my horseback ride, and the whole team (especially Jay R. and Sue) were so kind and helpful to me whilst they had a million other things to do that day. I will be returning with the whole family and hopefully booking an overnight adventure soon. I like to take horse rides wherever I travel to (if it is accommodating to do so) and this was absolutely one the best experiences I have ever had!! This ranch and experience felt special, careful, and I felt personally cared for. Couldn't recommend more!!

ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES IN MONTANA!!! I cannot recommend this place enough!!! Do not look…read moreanywhere else! Choose this place! Long review below but the highlights: amazing views and scenery, great animals all around, very sweet owner, great pricing, and some autonomy with the horses My group of 3 decided day of that we wanted to go horseback riding. Everywhere we looked or called was booked. One location that we called recommended Specimen Creek. I looked it up online and saw a number to call (or text) for reservations. I gave them a call and spoke with Ralph. He said he had availability that day for the afternoon and said we were booked for three people. He didn't take my name, number, or email so I was a little worried about confirming that we had the reservation. To get to specimen creek, it was going to be a 1.5 hour drive so I didn't want to show up and there be no reservation. We made the drive from Bozeman and showed up 30-ish minutes before our reservation. The last 15 min of the drive was on a dirt road that could be quite uneven at times. I would recommend an SUV but it is manageable with a smaller car. There's enough signage to get where you need to go but pulling up, we realized we pulled up to Ralph's home. This was where we were supposed to be but we were a little nervous at first incase we got the wrong place. Ralph welcomed up and even introduced us to some of his animals. He has animals of all type that just roam the property freely, and these animals want to be there. He has a turkey that was friendly enough to let us pet him and just chilled by Ralph's front porch. We met a mule named Joy that wanted ALL the attention and would make sure you were aware of her presence so she could get some pets. It was wonderful seeing Ralph interact with his animals because you could tell he cared about them and they cared about him. Ralph gave us a very brief education on how to ride (all 3 of us had maybe ridden a horse once every 5-ish years, so we're basically beginners). And then we set off with him in the lead. We rode on Whiskey, Blue, and Sunny and every horse was amazing. They were so calm and comfortable with us. These horses know the trail and what is expected of them so if you're looking to just sit on a horse and go along for a ride, you could get by. But, if you go in wanting to ride, you will get the BEST experience. Our horses walked majority of the trail, however they would occasionally trot and one horse got into a gallop to catch up to the others (after a quick snack break). So yes these horses can manage without any guidance from the riders, but they will let you ride and control them. We booked the 1 hour ride and the trail we took was AMAZING. We walked through creeks that the horses would drink from, we went over a wooden bridge, there were beautiful views of trees and the mountains of Yellowstone national park in the distance, beautiful wild flowers (even in June), and we even saw a deer frolicking through the tall grass. Majority of the trail was shaded and clear except for an occasional branch that was easy to dodge. The trail has plenty to see and enjoy but even the riding itself was enjoyable. Ralph also stopped to get a photo of us all. Ralph was very nice to us and told us a little more about what he does. He runs the place by himself and said he had been doing this his entire life. He looked very comfortable on his horse and around his animals so there was no concern there. Our 1 hour ride ended a little later than 1 hour but we didn't feel rushed by Ralph. Once we were done, we were able to pay for the experience with a card. Everyone on the ride had an absolute BLAST! I have maybe written one or two reviews but I knew I just had to write one for Specimen Creek. I cannot recommend this place enough. The drive was so worth it for the experience. All of us left so happy with the ride and smiles all around. Thank you Ralph for making it such a wonderful experience!

Soooo, I made reservations for horseback riding for 6 people a month and a half in advance of our…read morefamily reunion at Yellowstone. Two days before our ride, I received a call from Specimen Creek telling me they were canceling our reservation. No explanation was given. Then, as I pressed further, they told me they didn't have enough horses. They also offered no alternatives or other outfitters to call. If I could give them zero stars, I would.

Horseback riding with Wilderness Connection was easily one of the best parts of our trip. A…read morefamily-owned business that has been passed down through 5 generations - you can feel the pride and passion behind everything they do. Our guide, Tyler, made the ride unforgettable. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the area and also had an unbelievable ability to spot wildlife along the trail. The views were gorgeous the entire ride. The horses were wonderful, healthy, well cared for, and matched thoughtfully to each rider's comfort and experience level. The whole team created such a welcoming and safe environment. Highly recommend.

Had a wonderful time at The Wilderness Connection! The…read morecustomer service was fantastic--everyone was so patient and kind, especially with our 7-year-old who was very scared at first. Thanks to Tylers calm and encouraging approach, she ended up having an amazing time and now says she wants to come back and work there when she grows up! Truly a memorable experience. What an amazing family we will definitely be back to hunt in the winter.

Our family of 4 (parents and two 20-something's) booked an end-of-season trip to Yellowstone, and…read moreincluded an overnight rafting trip, and a horseback ride through the Flying Pig - we had a blast! Horsebackriding was fun up at Hells'-a-Roaring Ranch above Gardiner. The horses were all steady and kind, and the views were incredible. Our guide Mariette, was fun and had lots of experience and information about the area. The crew there is all friendly and helpful, and we picked a great day to do it for weather and visibility. It was walking (no trotting) only, but there was a large group, so it was understandable. The next day we embarked on our River camping trip. Jaxon from Flying Pig was our rafting guide, and incredible cook- he really knows the river and it was just the 4 of us, so we felt really spoiled having him all to ourselves. He was a wealth of knowledge about the park, the birds and the river itself. We even stopped to look for petrified wood at the inlet of a river while we ate our lunches. The overnight on the river was fun and rustic, a lovely campfire, hot showers (outdoor!), clean regular bathrooms, and large tent-cabins. The company provides cotton sleeping bag liners, but just a tip: Had i known that, i would have brought my own silk one! We played Corn-hole on the beach while Jax fired up the really amazing steak dinner. After breakfast the next morning, we had a leisurely float back, and saw quite a few eagles along the way. We really enjoyed our vacation to Yellowstone and The Flying Pig was a big part of that. Very helpful and great communication with the staff. Highly recommended.

Our group of 6 were all new to rafting. We had the best time ever!! Preston (our guide) set the bar…read morecrazy high for any future rafting trips, he was so fun and knowledgeable (he taught us all about rivers, wildlife, and other local attractions)! If we had more time we would have booked another full day trip and requested Preston just so we could hang out with him again. This experience turned us all into rafting aficionados! As an added bonus, we got to see a bald eagle take flight from a tree so that was cool too. Preston and our raft day made our entire Yellowstone Trip! You should ask your raft guide "Can pigs fly?" and see what happens! The only thing I wish I would've known (which I could've if I had called probably lol) is there is a bit of a tough walk down to get into the boats- but honestly 5 mins into the trip we forgot all about the trek because we were having such a great time. I'd recommend wearing all swim material clothes so that you dry quickly because even on a warm day the water can be chilly and the wind nippy. Having shorts/pants that aren't swim material will keep you cold and wet (dry fit doesn't work the same as swim material lol). If you don't have water shoes they have them available for you to borrow and they also had neoprene/wet suits but we didn't use them.

Had 5 great days with Alice in early August. This year, I brought my novice wife along and Alice…read morewas the perfect teacher. Patient and thorough, Alice had her casting proficiently and catching fish. Everyone had a great ime and we can't wait until next year.

Had a great time on our first ever fly fishing trip. Zach was an awesome guide friendly and very…read morepatient with us as newbies. He had us catching fish in no time Both wading and from the boat. Alice was friendly and easy to deal with. Will book with Riverside Anglers again for sure.

Always a wolf den somewhere out here. Best that country camping as well. Can access all the way up…read moreto the trailhead with a regular Vehicle period High clearance is not required