Circle Bar Ranch Review near Hobson, Montana

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As a journalist, I’m fortunate to review dude ranches for a living. One of my favorite places to go horseback riding is in Montana. This Circle Bar Ranch review near Hobson, Montana, gave my family and I a chance to play cowboy for one wonderful and carefree week.

Six riders on horseback and a lead wrangler are crossing a shallow, crystal clear rocky river in central Montana. Green shrubs and pine trees flank the river with a blue sky above.

My husband and I drove to this part of central Montana from Oregon. We picked up our son and his fiancé at Bozeman International Airport and drove three hours to the historic Circle Bar Guest Ranch outside of Hobson, Montana. Situated on 520 acres, at the foothills of the Little Belt Mountains, the Judith River runs through it. Yes, that’s a nod to the Brad Pitt movie “A River Runs Through It” and the television show “Yellowstone” was also filmed in Montana. The Circle Bar dude ranch could serve as a backdrop for either Montana blockbuster.

What to expect at Circle Bar Ranch near Hobson, Montana

At 5,000 feet elevation, the Circle Bar Guest Ranch was open May through September. We arrived at the ranch after the 4th of July weekend. Our central Montana weather was postcard perfect. In the winter, the ranch horses and wranglers moved to their sister property in southern Arizona. The winter season in Hobson, Montana was better suited to deer and elk hunters, and hearty snow-loving souls.

We packed jeans, cowboy boots, cowboy hats and layers. Check my article on what to pack for a dude ranch vacation for a complete packing list.

There were many categories of dude ranches for horseback riding vacations. From Relais & Chateaux properties with personal butlers, to glamping dude ranches, there were places for every budget. This central Montana ranch was a member of A True Guest Ranch Collection, as well as the Dude Ranchers Association. This ranch dates back to the 1800’s and was rustic and authentic.

Four riders on horseback in a meadow in Montana. Left to right, 28 year-old cowgirl, 31 year-old cowboy, 65 year-old cowboy and 65 year-old cowgirl riding in Western saddles. Pine trees and green grass make up the scenery, as well as a blue sky with white-streaked clouds at Circle Bar Ranch.

Horseback riding at Circle Bar Guest Ranch

On our visit to Circle Bar Guest Ranch there were 4 wranglers and 38 horses. I can’t say enough good things about the wranglers. They were polite, professional, playful and had their horses best interests at heart.

“I grew up riding horses and had been craving to be around horses again,” said Serena Blake of Carbondale, Colorado. “This was the perfect opportunity to be back to my roots. After 10+ years of not riding, it was a great way to get back into the equine world with supportive wranglers and great horses. On the fast rides we had the opportunity to lope through breathtaking vistas.”

Dude Ranch activities near Hobson, Montana

As I’ve noted previously at other True Ranch Collection properties, you don’t need to be an equestrian to enjoy Circle Bar Ranch. In addition to horseback riding, there was archery, axe throwing, fishing, wading in the cold and crystal clear Judith River, UTV tours, sport shooting and line dancing.

While we enjoyed the hot tub during our horseback riding holiday, the swimming pool was not operational. We did meet one non-riding guest from the United Kingdom who was disappointed that the pool was not open. They moved to White Stallion Ranch in Arizona, which was open year-round and offered a spa and swimming pool.

Five horses with western riders are in the Montana pasture. A young adult cowgirl and cowboy hold coffee cups as they wait for breakfast to be ready at an outdoor Montana dude ranch trail ride. Bowls of yogurt, fresh fruit and plates of muffins are on the blue and white checked table cloth. Two thermoses of coffee and a glass carafe of ice water are at the right of the table.

Circle Bar Dude Ranch meals

One of my favorite features of all True Ranches was the all-inclusive style Full American Plan. Meals are chef’s choice served buffet style or plated. Every True Ranch Collection member was able to accommodate special dietary needs, as well as vegetarian options, with advance notice. We celebrated our son and his fiancés engagement and they served a special chocolate cake for us at the ranch.

Breakfast was served at 8:00 a.m. and included items such as scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, French Toast, yogurt, fresh fruit with granola, coffee and juice. Lunch included chicken Caesar wraps, cheese burgers, homemade soups and salads and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Fresh squeezed lemonade and excellent Montana well water were always available. Dinners featured steak, salad and corn on the cob, baked beans and loaded stuffed baked potatoes. We also enjoyed homemade pies, cakes and ice cream.

Our European visitors tried biscuits and gravy, as well as s’mores around the campfire, for the first time. Everyone enjoyed the breakfast ride to a beautiful meadow with breakfast burritos, hash brown potatoes, fresh fruit, cowboy coffee and orange juice. Non-riders could opt for transportation to the breakfast spot in the ranch van.

You’ll see in the frequently asked questions on the Circle Bar Ranch website that the ranch does not serve alcohol. Bring your own alcohol (for those 21 years of age and older) or guests may drive to the nearby Blue Nugget for libations.

Two-story red barn with 4 square small windows and an open barn door. Five dude ranch horses are tied to the metal, horizontal hitching post. The horses are wearing western saddles and halters. Blue sky over the 1800's barn structure at Circle Bar Ranch in Montana.

First time dude ranch guest perspective

“Having grown up in an outdoorsy family and hunted more western states than not, I have long held a healthy appreciation and understanding of the American west,” noted Evan Brown of Denver, Colorado. For a first time dude ranch visit, the Circle Bar Ranch definitely met my expectations.”

“Montana media spike in notoriety is well deserved, but needs to be tempered with reality. Our stay overlapped with different groups of European travelers. I can only imagine what impression the scale of Big Sky country felt like for them. The views are phenomenal. Yet, Mother Nature isn’t always going to gift perfect days. Severe weather can quickly serve as a reminder of why Montana is seasonal for so many.”

Brilliant shades of pink and gray cover the Montana sky at sunset. The ridge of pine trees on the hillside are dark in color as the sun sets in Montana.

If You Go:

Circle Bar Ranch  (406) 272-3403 info@circlebarranch.com

Hobson, Montana

Circle Bar Ranch review near Hobson, Montana, YouTube video and all photography by Pacific Northwest travel writer Nancy D. Brown. She was a guest of Circle Bar Ranch for additional magazine articles. All opinions are her own.

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