Montana Horse Riding Trip

Montana is a place of vast prairies, spectacular snow-covered mountains, verdant forests, and wild rivers and streams. Its land is filled with wildlife, its waters bountiful with fish.

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex is known as the "crown jewel" of this wilderness system. There is high drama here and there is great peace. Our trips begin where the Great Plains rise to meet the Rocky Mountains. We climb with the land, from trout-rich rivers through lodgepole forest and alpine meadows to towering limestone cliffs. This is the home of the tiny shooting star and the 600 pound grizzly bear, the mischievous Clark's nutcracker and the stately elk. In the glacial sweep of low meadow and aspen groves, we often spot whitetail and mule deer. High basins may yield fossils of unlikely sea plants, sponges and shellfish, as well as today's living inhabitants, the pika, marmot, mountain goat and eagle. These trips are run our guides Ron and Tucker who were born and raised on a cattle ranch in the Augusta area and have packed and guided here since 1959. This is a a small, quality, family operation that takes pride in good stock, equipment, food, camp facilities, and an experienced crew.

The heart of our Montana wilderness operation is a base camp in the White River, just four miles from the continental divide and many well known landmarks, such as the Chinese Wall, Needle Falls, Flathead Alps, Big Salmon Lake and many others. There are also many other areas of interest nearby that not as well known, such as the "Lost World of Peggy Creek," for example. This area affords good opportunities to see wildlife in one of the last natural strongholds in North America, and many opportunities to fish for native cutthroat, both big and small. Montana has been called the "last best place."

Come see why.

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Itinerary / Highlights

DAY 1: Arrival and pick up from Great Falls and transfer to Augusta. Check into local motel. Afternoon check of baggage and re-organizing into duffle bags. Dinner on your own.

DAY 2 Early morning pick up and arrival in Benchmark just after daylight. The wranglers should just be finishing up with the saddling of the stock. After an introduction to safe horsemanship, you will be introduced to your horse for the trip. Riders are matched as closely as possible to their mounts according to individual skills and abilities. Our stock is good, gentle stock. You should be on the trail early in the morning, and riding into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. We cross the South Fork of the Sun River via the packbridge, then across the West Fork packbridge. Quite often we see elk, whitetail deer, and mule deer along this stretch of trail while the dew is still on the grass. We often stop for lunch at the Indian Creek Ranger Station, or thereabouts. On some trips we may camp in this vicinity, if we have previously made arrangements.

After lunch we saddle up and start up and start the ride up Indian Creek. This is an especially scenic area. On most trips in late July to mid-August, bears can be seen from time to time, feeding on the berry crop across the drainage. This is also a good area in which to see mountain goats. The scenic ride climaxes on top of the Continental Divide. From here it is five miles down hill to our camp, and a well deserved rest after the 22-mile horseback ride.

DAY 3 After yesterday's hard ride, we turned the horses out to pasture, as we plan to spend most of this day in and around our base camp. Our camp is located at the nexus of the White River and South Fork of the White River, in almost the exact geographical center of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The White River is 150 yards from camp and affords some really good fishing opportunities for both novice and expert fishermen. West slope cutthroat trout are the primary species. If you don't wish to fish, you can go for a scenic hike right out of camp, take a sun shower (we cheat and heat the water when necessary), and watch the deer feed in and around camp most anytime.

DAY 4 The daily schedule for any day can be arranged to fit both personal and group desires, and weather conditions. This day we are planning a day ride to the South Fork of the Flathead River. It involves a 7-mile (one way) river grade trip, fishing and swimming in the river (which is about 10 degrees warmer than the White River). On the way we may see wildlife, take pictures in White River Park and Murphy's Meadows, pick out the profile on "Scarface" Mountain, and practice horsemanship. After returning to a delicious meal, campfire talk, songs and good company can be enjoyed any evening.

DAY 5 Today we are going up the White River on horseback, to a "secret" place known only as "the lost World". This place is a remote valley, inaccessible from most directions, and then only by an unmarked trail. Many times, mountain goat, elk and mule deer can be seen. This place gives us the feeling that they are on the moon as the terrain seems to be mostly rock. On the way we will pass Needle Falls, where the mainstream of the White River appears to pass through the eye of the "needle:, a hole in the rock that in recent times formed a natural bridge. By mid-afternoon we should be back in camp, with time left for a hike or to fish after dinner.

DAY 6 This is a good day to go to the "Flathead Alps", up the drainage of the South Fork of the White river. A relatively easy ride, it can be as easy or as hard as you wish as you can hike in the "Alps" while the others catch a nap in the sun or take pictures. Adventure is where you find it, or in some cases where you create it.

DAY 7 This is a special day, one that we have been saving until now. This trip is a must for everyone. Just four miles up the trail from camp, on Haystack Mountain, to the Chinese Wall. This is an overpowering sight, as the mountain appears to have been cut off with a huge knife, some 1,400 feet from top to bottom. This is the Continental Divide. The general area is also referred to as the "overthrust belt". Often we see bighorn sheep and mountain goats, and sometimes a herd of elk can be spotted in the valley below. If you like mountain scenery, you will love this place set in the midst of a panorama of the wildest places in the continental U.S.

DAY 8 We will try to be in the saddle by early morning. We will take the same trail we came in on, but somehow it looks much different going the other direction, but just as beautiful. We should be to Benchmark by mid-afternoon, and you can expect be to Augusta by about 6:00 PM, checking into a motel with a hot tub to pamper your tired body after the trip (motel in Augusta not included) or we take you back to Great Falls for your last night (last night not included).
Please let Hidden Trails know your departure plans and if you would like drop off in Augusta on evening of Day 8 or a transfer back to Great Falls evening of Day 8.

Subject to change

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Your first night is included at a motel in Augusta (dinner on your own-not included).

Base Camp - White River:You stay in one base camp and ride out from here on the last day. All trips are guided.

We specialize in good food served in a casual atmosphere around the campfire or wood stove. Guests sleep in wall tents with cots- very comfortable camp.

Our general dinner menus include spaghetti, roast, chicken or turkey, steak, porkchops, hamburgers, green salads, potatoes, pasta or rice and dessert are the general rule. Breakfasts may include, bacon, eggs, pancakes, sausage, oatmeal, french toast and breakfast tortillas. Sack lunches are the general drill. If you have allergies or preferences we will need to know well in advance so we are able to accommodate you