What to Expect on your Montana All-Inclusive Vacation
Choose your own adventure and have the Montana all-inclusive vacation of your dreams! That’s what makes us different than so many other ranches – there isn’t a set schedule. This is YOUR vacation so YOU tell us what you want to do every day. Guided flyfishing, hiking and riding are our specialties, but there is lots of activities off site too! You are on a vacation so let loose, have too many glasses of wine, laugh until your stomach hurts, meet new friends, reminisce with old ones, watch your kids ‘be kids’ but most of all a time to R-E-L-A-X and recuperate.
A Sample Week at Covered Wagon Ranch
Sunday: This is the day people arrive. Check in time is after 4PM, we will show you your cabin, let you get settled and do a group tour.
Appetizers/Happy Hour is at 6:30pm on the patio. The ranch is BYOB. Love a glass of wine at dinner, beer after a long ride, or whiskey on the rocks? Do it! You are on vacation!
Dinner is at 7 and is served buffet/family style. Our food is what you would find at a ranch with a touch of fine dining. We are all about presentation, quality, and quantity. You will not go hungry at the Covered Wagon Ranch!
Dessert is plated and tastes even better with a cup of coffee! After dinner & dessert, every night we have a fire outside the main lodge. You decided to skip dessert? Well you have a second chance at smores or join Braxton and Sawyer and fill up on Hershey chocolate-because we all know they will be there!
Afterwards, take a walk to the barn with us to do “critter check” or walk on your own to see the horses (they love the attention). Go fly fishing, play a game of horse shoes, or continue drinking and mingling with other guests around the campfire. Whatever YOU want to do, remember it is YOUR vacation! One thing is for sure, you will have a view of more stars than you’ve ever seen before. The clear skies and the high elevation give you a unique look at the heavens, Montana style!
Monday: Coffee is on at 6AM and breakfast is served between 7:30-8:30. If you are an early riser and the rest of your family aren’t, come join Kurt in the lodge, have a cup of coffee and sit by the cozy fire. Crew meeting/breakfast is each morning from 7-7:30 in the Cafe. The lodge is your living room, a place to relax with a good book, coffee and a warm fire!
Breakfast is to order. There are always hot and cold cereals, breads, a fresh baked pastry and fresh fruit, plus a specialty item each day, such as eggs Benedict. We also always have pancakes, eggs, bacon or sausage and tater tots, just tell us what you want! More about our food can be found on our Dining page.
This is the time Kurt makes his way throughout the room asking everyone what they want to do for the day. Hiking, fly fishing, riding, or simply relaxing.
Mondays we only offer short full day rides due to not getting out until 10:30ish. Tuesday-Friday we offer morning (two hours) and all-day rides range from 3-6 hours in length (9-4 is our longest ride). Return guests usually have an idea of where they want to go, if you have no idea, Kurt is incredible about choosing a ride that you will enjoy. More about riding is found on our Horseback Riding page.
8:45AM – if horseback riding, we meet at the barn for orientation (only new guests) and get you setup on your horse. Rides generally go out between 10:00-10:30 on Mondays due to getting stirrups adjusted and riders matched up with their horses. Tuesday-Friday rides generally get out between 9:00-9:30AM. We keep our groups small ranging from 4-6 people. We do not offer 1:1 guide to guest rides. All our rides are guided, and we do offer lessons in the arena on Mondays at 10:00AM for those that want to do that. We do not offer the choice to go out on a trail ride and come back to ride in the arena after.
Guided Hiking 9AM Looking to experience Montana on foot? Join one of our knowledgeable guides for a personalized hiking adventure through the breathtaking landscapes surrounding Covered Wagon Ranch. To keep the hikes personal and enjoyable, groups are limited to 3–4 guests per guide, allowing plenty of time to take in the scenery, ask questions, and stop for photos along the way. Like everything at Covered Wagon Ranch, it’s your vacation—we’re here to help you experience Montana the way you want to.
Morning or Afternoon Fly Fishing: Whether you’re an experienced angler or trying fly fishing for the first time, we’ll help you enjoy some of the finest trout waters in the West. Spend your morning or afternoon casting a line in Yellowstone National Park. Located at the confluence of the Taylor Fork and Gallatin Rivers, Covered Wagon Ranch is surrounded by world-class fishing opportunities, with more than 120 miles of blue-ribbon water in the Gallatin Canyon alone, plus access to legendary waters in Yellowstone National Park, the Madison River, and the Henry’s Fork. These crystal-clear streams are home to abundant rainbow, brown, and native cutthroat trout. Whether you choose to fish on your own from the ranch or head out with a professional guide, it’s the perfect way to slow down, soak in Montana’s beauty, and enjoy a peaceful day on the water.
1:00PM – Lunch is to order unless you are on a full day ride in which you would have filled out a lunch card (what kind of sandwich you want) and filled your complementary lunch bag with goodies that are healthy (and not-so-healthy). There is no lunch available on Mondays due to all full day rides.
2-6:30PM – this is YOU time. Some people go to Big Sky to do an off-ranch activity, some are still on a ride, some sit on their front porch and drink, some read, some fish, some play in the river/creek, some hike and some sleep!
6:30PM-Monday Dinner: Join us for our Margaritas Meet & Greet Cookout. Sip on margaritas while getting to know fellow guests and our crew in a relaxed, welcoming setting. Mingle with other guests, try your hand at roping the dummies, toss a round of horseshoes, enjoy lawn games, or shoot some pool in the rec hall as we prepare dinner on the grill. After dinner, the evening continues with dessert—or gather around the campfire to toast marshmallows and make s’mores under the stars.
Tuesdays & Wednesdays: These days are very similar in you choosing what you want to do that day and dinner is served buffet style. We love to play board games in the lodge Wednesday evenings!
Thursdays: Day-time meals and activities are similar to the other days of the week.
Thursday night we drink beer and eat pizza! We have Pranzo all’aperto (dining outside) where our chef prepares Artisan wood-fired pizza and serves tastings of local Big Sky Brews.
We bump dinner up an hour early (6PM) so if anyone wants to go to Music on the Mountain in Big Sky or the West Yellowstone Rodeo, they can. The Rodeo is finished middle of August and music the first week of September. You do not have to go to either event, some people like to relax and enjoy the quietness, once again whatever YOU want to do!
Fridays: Day-time meals and activities are similar to the other days of the week, including another great day for riding! If you signed up for a full week, this will be your last full day, so soak up all the beauty of Montana.
Friday dinner brings the weekly cookout with steaks, burgers, hot dogs, brats, and an evening of family fun. After dinner, the evening continues with dessert or roasting marshmallows and making s’mores by the fire.
Saturdays: Morning is the day of departure. We have grab and go style breakfast, shed tears, check-out, make reservations for the following year and say our goodbyes. Check out time is 10AM and then we do it all over again!
There you have it! A step by step schedule of the week for all you adults – who like me, need a plan! Here at the ranch you’ll find we are real people with a love and passion for the outdoors, Montana, horses and people! It is simple, we love what we do and can’t wait to share the adventure with you!
We book 12-18 months in advance, so reach out today!
