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!

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!

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.

Our family had such a wonderful time at Hawley mountain ranch. There was something for everyone at…read morethis beautiful 160 acre property. The horseback riding was wonderful. They offer relaxing rides to enjoy the breathtaking scenery from meadows down to the rivers, or more advanced rides to hells canyon where you can experience rocky terrain and steep inclines. They pair you with your horse for the week so you can really establish a bond. The fly fishing is great! They offer lessons for first timers in their pond which does not require a license or you can head down to the boulder river and enjoy some of the best fishing in the area (license required). They offer other activities such as a Jeep ride, river floating, campfire dinners, and games (volleyball, horseshoes, and roping). There is a hot tub to soak your worries away in your spare time and lots of places to sit to take the beautiful views in. You will not go hungry during your stay here! The food is homemade, fresh and prepared for cowboys and cowgirls! Enjoy meals such as steaks, pastas, potatoes, brisket, full chicken, fresh veggies, seafood, salmon (fresh!), burgers prepared over a campfire, full breakfast spread of pancakes, eggs, bacon, homemade breads, muffin and more. We brought snacks with us that we purchased in big timber and did not touch them once so leave those in big timber and bring your appetite as they do not disappoint! The best part of our stay was the staff. This is a family run operation and it shows by the level of service they provide. I haven't ever experienced something quite like this before. The level of passion, care and concern they have for each one of us was so amazing. They just want each guest to have the best time and live their life to the fullest for the week they are at their property. There are no TVs, radios, cell phones so this is a time to truly disconnect. You can choose to get a phone card which will work in the main lodge for emergencies. The staff for the summer of 2019 hit it out of the park which is why all but two of the families were repeat guests who keep coming year after year. We can't wait to return to Hawley mountain and can't speak highly enough about this magical piece of the world.

Fantastic experience! The location and views cannot be beaten! The owners and staff treat you like…read morefamily and make every effort to ensure you have a Great experience. The horses were well cared for and surefooted on the mountain trails. Every ride was to a different location with AWESOME views. This was a week spent in "paradise". This is definitely one vacation I would love to repeat!

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.

We chose the easiest route, mostly calm with a little woohoo, perfect for my daughter (5 yr-old)…read more Although my son (10) was dying for more waves, it is a very entertaining and worry free ride. We spotted few antelopes, 2 bold eagles several Canadian geese, and of course the beautiful view. Special shout out to our guide Austin. He made the tour even more fun and interesting. He is very informative and made his explanation so understandable for my 5 yr-old. On top of that he was answering 1000 questions from my son, and super patient with the kids. On our way back, we got Nisha as our driver. She was fun and very playful with the kids. Actually both Nisha and her brother, driver to the river, are interesting to talk to, but we were too excited and forgot to ask his name. Thank you guys for such a great experience

Will took our small group on a fantastic ride down the Yellowstone - despite the 49° overcast day!…read moreHighly recommend this outfit and the trip!

Eric and Zach were our guides, and they were very friendly and knowledgeable about the area as we…read moredrove out to the launch spot. Setup and launching went smoothly with their help, and the trip downstream was peaceful and fun. Would recommend this company for kayaking the Madison River!

I had a really great paddle with Eric and Preston, the two river guides, on the Madison River this…read morepast Saturday afternoon. They picked us up in the 15 passenger van. And had everything we needed for a fun and safe trip... they even sprinkled some knowledge about the history of the area and wildlife which turned out to be an awesome value add. We saw an Eagle soaring above and watched it make a few hunting swoop attempts, to no avail. We brought a cooler with some suds, which seemed encouraged and partaken by most on the river that day. Trip down the river took about 2 hours. Water temp was perfect, sun was blazing. We mowed through an entire bottle of sun screen. Can't imagine a better way to spend a Saturday during the summer in Bozeman. Give these dudes a call, especially if you are looking for door to door red carpet service.

Outstanding experience. Jordan was amazing. Caught a lot of fish.. he was patient and kind! Highly…read morerecommend

We fished 2 full days with Sam Cady and he was excellent. Montana Angling made the whole process…read moreeasy. I absolutely recommend.