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!

Our family of 5 (three kids, girls aged 9 and 7, and 5 yr old boy) just returned a few days ago…read morefrom a week in Yellowstone National Park followed by a week at Nine Quarter Circle Ranch. There are a lot of trips that are fun but don't quite live up to the highest expectations, but our time with the Kelsey family at NQCR was a rare thing in that it far exceeded our wildest expectations. By the end of the very first evening we had already been welcomed as warmly as though we were family, and our kids each had found a friend among the other kids on the ranch. By the second day the kids were all asking if we could please schedule again for next summer. Even though I had chosen NQCR for its famous kid wrangler program, we had no way of knowing just how much fun they would all have. Their days were filled with horseback riding, various crafts, playing on the playground and just exploring the gorgeous ranch with their new-found friends. The only problem we had all week was when we had to convince them it was time to wash and go to bed since the sky was light until almost 10 every evening. This left my wife and me free to take advantage of the twice daily rides (where we both significantly increased our horsemanship skills), the fly fishing and a few hikes to take in the amazing views. We really never rode the same trails twice, and I feel if we had stayed a second week we still wouldn't have seen all the stunning scenery surrounding the ranch. The menu was varied and we looked forward each day to the fresh and tasty food their chef cooked up. In fact, as beautiful as the ranch was, as awesome as the horses were and as comfortable as our cabin was, the real treasure here are the Kelseys and their staff. From the wranglers to the kitchen and serving staff, we enjoyed being with everyone there. It was great to see so many employees working with obvious joy and we will miss all of them almost more than everything else from our stay.

Wonderful family vacation. Lots of riding. Beautiful scenery. Great food. Family run ranch.read more

Where do I begin? I'll start by saying I am back home in NY yet I am homesick to go back to Covered…read moreWagon Ranch - what an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience. There is simply nothing like it around. I was a solo traveler (33F) from NY never having been to MT or out west - reading reviews online I liked that the ranch didn't seem to be like a "mill" and looked like more of an individualized experience & boy was everyone right. I was immediately put at ease before I even booked when I called the ranch and Melissa spoke with me right away answering all of my questions - she is extremely knowledgeable, responsive & informative. Upon booking she sent a bunch of information for packing/activities/etc. - there were absolutely no surprises and I felt very prepared for the trip & of what to expect - if you miss something it's because you didn't read it carefully & that's on you! My cabin immediately felt like home - it was cozy, clean, and beautifully decorated. There is so much charm to the ranch. Every meal was better than the next. Melissa, Kurt, & the wranglers are the real deal - they know the country better than the back of their hand & I was so impressed by them all. Having never experienced this kind of country I quickly went from being apprehensive to eager to go out every day and explore simply because of how at ease the wranglers made me feel. Kurt & Melissa have a real talent for reading horses & people and paired everyone PERFECTLY with their horses for the week as well as the group I rode with. I have never seen better cared for/happier horses in all my years of riding - I don't even want to say my horse's name here (& I won't) because I selfishly want her for the next time I go but she was really just such a great horse. There are not enough words or space in this review to say how much I loved this ranch and how much I appreciated the kindness and warmth Melissa, Kurt, their 2 boys, the guests, animals, and the entire staff of the CWR showed me. This place will forever hold a special place in my heart & I look forward to coming back as many times as I can!!

I'm not even sure how to put words to how amazing this ranch is. From the moment you arrive, you…read moreare welcomed and treated like family. Our cabin was immaculately clean, the food was delicious, the wranglers are professional and amazing. We stayed for 4 nights and felt like we were leaving family. If you have a bucket list, this place should be on it.

It's tradition for my husband and I to horseback ride wherever we travel to. So when my husband…read morefound Horsetrack Outfitters it was a no brainer. We opted for the full day (6 hour) private ride. Experiencing Yellowstone National Park on horseback was EPIC! If you're the adventurous type and are not afraid of heights, I suggest you advise them. The sights you see when you leave your fears behind are absolutely breathtaking. The beauty of the park was awe-inspiring, the fresh air was much needed and getting relatively close to wild life in their environment was spectacular. Our guide's name was Mike and he was awesome! We learned so much. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience. We can't wait to come back and visit again. Side Note: I do suggest you find a bathroom before meeting your guide. You're riding straight into the park where only nature exits. If you think you'll need to answer natures call, take paper and a ziplock bag. Take at least one layer of clothing (even on a hot day) and use sunscreen. Stay hydrated and ENJOY!

We did this trip with 6 family members on a four hour horse ride. Mike was our guide and it was…read moreincredible. I can't say enough how this trip exceeded our expectations. Mike was wonderful and met each of us at our comfort level. Highly recommend!

Although we stayed in a cabin nearby, we had dinner in the Fireside Room. What an amazing view of…read moreParadise Valley . Great food & wine, perfect service. Would love to come back one day!

Had reservations, waited 10 minutes to be seated and we were the only ones waiting! We were told by…read morethree people that they would be right with us! The last person to tell cleared a table, than came over to us only to answer the phone and proceeded to tell the person on the other end all the items on the brunch menu! While we stood in front of him waiting to be seated!!! Finally he took us to our table and told us our server would be right with us for our drink order. I order a mimosa (assuming it would be free with the $95 a piece we were paying for the brunch). It was not and we waited another 10 min for the drink! Mind you there were plenty of servers on the floor! When we finally got to the brunch we were disappointed that everything served, although very tasty was cold. Even the coffee!!! I love Sage Lodge. Normally there is no wait, service is exceptional and the food is great. That was the reason I was okay with Easter Brunch and it being a little pricey. But this was a big disappointment. Will not be back for another brunch. Too bad, very sad.

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.

I had a great experience here! The camp was clean, the food was terrific, it's in a very beautiful…read morearea not too far from the airport. Overall, excellent experience. I would definitely come back.

GREAT staff and facilities! Friendly, knowledgeable, Christ-centered and dedicated to the kids…read morehaving a great time! Brought my daughter with me this weekend and she mentioned how fun everyone was (compared to other camps she has attended). Keep up the great work YAA, you are representing Christ well!

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.