MONTANA OUTDOOR VACATIONS, TRIPS & GETAWAYS

About Bar W Guest Ranch

OUTDOORSMAN OUTFITTER OF THE MONTH - February 2011

A great western vacation for all ages is what the Bar W Guest Ranch on Spencer Lake in Whitefish is all about. The Bar W is open year round and ready to treat you with true Western Montana hospitality - from the moment you arrive to long after you have left. Beautiful vistas and rolling ridges adorn the Montana countryside of this cozy dude ranch.

Located on Spencer Lake, there are 3,000 acres available for horseback riding and all kinds of outdoor activities. Almost all of our guests - families, adults, singles and groups alike - have a tendency to think they are miles away from civilization here. But just 3.5 miles down the road from this serene wilderness is the vibrant resort town of Whitefish, offering up the finest in shopping, dining, theater, and nightlife.

The Bar W is nestled at the base of Spencer Mountain, between two pine-covered ridges. The ranch consists of a 6,200-square-foot lodge, cabin suites, indoor and outdoor horseback-riding arenas, stables, a barn, play meadow, an entertainment area and a gazebo on the lake - all helping to make the Bar W an idyllic piece of paradise for our guests to soak in all year long.

Our horseback-riding program is the ranch's main attraction. Our experienced staff, trained horses, and the assorted terrain our guests traverse make for an incredible horseback riding experience. The Bar W's riding programs include hundreds of thousands of acres to explore. You'll ride in the mountains, over the foothills and across the open prairies of Montana Big Sky country.

In addition to horseback riding, there is plenty for all ages to do and discover at the Bar W. Guests are invited to explore the entire property - watch our trainers work the horses, help with the chores (if you like, of course), fish for big pike on Spencer Lake, hike the miles and miles of trails, mountain bike, swim in the lake, throw horseshoes, or play badminton, volleyball, or a leisurely game of pool. You can even test your archery skills or try your hand at breaking some clay pigeons.

About Swan Mountain Snowmobiling

Now offering Flathead Valley’s ONLY two hour guided snowmobile tours – the Desert and Crane Mountain “Quickies”!

Swan Mountain Snowmobiling, located in the heart of Glacier Country, provides the best in Montana snowmobiling. Whether you want to be personally taken care of on one of our guided snowmobile tours or brave the backcountry on your own with our snowmobile rentals, we have what you need for the ideal Montana snowmobiling experience!

We offer a wide range of guided snowmobiling tours including two hour, half day and full day tours from the Desert Mountain trailhead, the Canyon Creek trailhead and the Crane Mountain trailhead. We also offer other unique snowmobile tours including the Desert Mountain Quickie, the Crane Mountain Quickie, the Sunrise Snowmobile Tour and the Sunset Snowmobile Tour. Also, you can add the Cook While You Ride upgrade to any tour, allowing you to enjoy a hot meal, cooked by your snowmobile, out on the trail.

Our snowmobile rentals feature top-of-the-line equipment specifically picked for comfort and safety. We turn our sleds over every two years which means you’ll get the benefit of a brand new snowmobile with all the latest technology and features.

Montana is home to some of the longest snowmobile trails in the country, not to mention some of the most pristine terrain. In particular, our Flathead Valley contains over 200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails which are mostly maintained by local snowmobile clubs such as the Flathead Snowmobile Association. Additionally, the area offers miles of Forest Service roads that lead to great hill climbing, powder play areas, wildlife viewing and spectacular ridge-top views of Glacier National Park, the Canadian Rockies, the Swan/Mission Mountain Ranges and Flathead Lake. Elevations here range from 2,956 feet at the valley floor (Kalispell) to just over 7,000 feet in the surrounding mountains.

Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Swan Valley, West Glacier and Whitefish are neighboring towns that can provide you the most proximate lodging to the trails where you want to ride. Frozen lakes, wildlife viewing opportunities and breathtaking views of snow-covered peaks abound in this winter wonderland. This area also includes Big Mountain Ski and Summer Resort, cross-country ski trails, ice fishing and much, much more. Come spend your next winter vacation in the Flathead Valley and make memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Find out why Swan Mountain Snowmobiling is your family’s best choice for snowmobiling in Glacier Country, Montana!

About Absaroka-Beartooth Outfitters

You need not be a hunter or angler to thoroughly enjoy an adventure in Montana. We offer hiking, sightseeing and photography trips into our remote backcountry area for a wide variety of clients. If you like you can just bring a few good books to read, relax and do nothing more than enjoy this beautiful country. Over the years we’ve even had artists join us to record their impressions of this very special place.

The adventure begins the morning of your departure for our main wilderness camp. The ABO staff will transport you through some of the most magnificent country in North America. (If some of this country looks familiar, perhaps it is that you have seen it on the big screen in A River Runs Through It, and The Horse Whisperer.)

Upon arrival at Independence Camp, you will meet your guides and wranglers who will pack your gear and introduce you to your horse. During the next four hours, the caravan will climb a 10,000 ft. pass and descend 2,800 ft. into a picturesque valley, the home of our base camp, Hellroaring (7,200 ft.).

At our horseback riding ranches you may relax and refresh yourself in your wall tent whose comfort and coziness belies the fact that you are many miles from any permanent human habitation. That evening you will enjoy a wonderfully prepared meal with beverages of your choice, a roaring campfire to gather ’round and time to socialize and share the anticipation of the adventures to come.

A good night’s sleep followed by an early rising and a big breakfast prepared by our great cook will set you on the path for your true mission: hunting, fishing, or just enjoying what is justifiably called, “God’s Country”.

Regardless of your chosen activity, our guides will escort you every step of the way throughout our horseback riding ranches. We are confident that you will find the guides knowledgeable, skilled, and accommodating. Whether you seek the majestic elk or the wily cutthroat trout, the end of the day will afford you the satisfaction of time well spent in pursuit of your sporting dreams.