Dude Ranch Montana: Covered Wagon Ranch Review

 

Looking out to Big Sky, Montana from Big Horn Peak near the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park from between my horse, Essie's ears.
Horseback riding in Yellowstone Park with Covered Wagon dude ranch, Montana. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

On a cool Sunday afternoon in late September, I arrived at Covered Wagon Ranch in the Gallatin Valley. Big Sky country was beginning to experience the fall color change in western Montana. Nelly, the teacup pig, worked the grounds of the ranch like a Hoover vacuum cleaner, eating the grass around her. Cowgirls walked by, leading their horses to the barn. I had arrived in horse heaven at this Dude Ranch in Montana, ready to horseback ride through Yellowstone National Park.

Dude Ranch Montana: Inside the Covered Wagon Dude Ranch 

Near the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park,  Covered Wagon Ranch is located in Big Sky, Montana. It’s a family-owned guest ranch offering fabulous horseback riding in Gallatin Canyon and Yellowstone Park.  Established in 1925, this all-inclusive dude ranch gives guests custom-tailored rides, family-friendly dining and five-star hospitality in Big Sky, Montana.

The Covered Wagon Ranch is owned by Kurt and Melissa Puckett, along with their two boys. The Montana guest ranch is open from mid-June to the end of October. Montana weather changes frequently. (Refer to my Dude Ranch Montana packing list below for what to bring on a dude ranch vacation in Big Sky.)

Dog warms himself on the porch of Covered Wagon Ranch in Big Sky, Montana.
Covered Wagon Ranch in Gallatin Canyon has been welcoming guests since 1925. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

With a river running through it, the ranch features 10 historic log cabins, in addition to the Covered Wagon Ranch lodge. The lodge is where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, family-style, unless you choose to go horseback riding all day long. If you select a day ride, you’ll have a lunch packed for you in the morning and you’ll return to Covered Wagon Ranch in time for appetizers and dinner.The water at Covered Wagon Ranch comes from the Taylor Fork of the Gallatin River. The ranch has a sophisticated filtration system which allows them to provide pure drinking water for guest to consume.

“I believe we ride in some of the most beautiful country put on this earth,” said Covered Wagon Ranch owner Kurt Puckett. “We have the best backyard around and we are blessed to call it our home.”

Cowboy Kurt Puckett shares why he loves owning Covered Wagon Ranch while he sits at the wood dining room table in the Montana lodge.
Owner Kurt Puckett on why The Covered Wagon Ranch has the best backyard. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

For this reason, when I found CWR I quit looking for other places to horseback ride. I was so impressed with the care and love they give to their horses. The Covered Wagon Ranch has a string of 75 horses all owned by the ranch, and the owners  fit each person with a horse to match their riding ability. Even though this was my first time here, I soon found that there were many repeat visitors.

“This is my seventh year coming to Covered Wagon Ranch,” said Mary Mike Plough of Anderson, Indiana. “I’ve been coming to dude ranches out West for 20 years with my childhood friend Tony Hepfer. “I feel like I am coming home each time I pull in the drive. I love this place and the people here are wonderful.”

We also felt right at home in the cozy cabins. During my stay I quickly found that there was a real sense of community here, especially over food and gathering around the fire at night.

Deer and elk horns are mounted above the stone fireplace inside Taylor Fork Lodge at Covered Wagon Ranch, Montana
A large stone fireplace welcomes guests to Taylor Fork Lodge at Covered Wagon Ranch, Montana

Horseback riding in Yellowstone National Park

Wrangler Sarah Corning leads us on horseback through fall foliage at Yellowstone National Park Black Butte trail, Montana.
Fall colors while horseback riding in Yellowstone National Park. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

Horseback riding in Yellowstone Park with Covered Wagon Ranch was a unique experience. There are only a handful of outfitters that have permits for guided overnight back country trips and Kurt is one of those outfitters. Our Yellowstone Park ride started at Black Butte trailhead, off Highway 191 in Montana. Wrangler Sarah Corning led us on a 6 hour ride to Bighorn Peak, gaining 2,500 feet in elevation with Big Sky country views.

We rode on horseback through fields of foxtail grass, lodgepole pine, aspen, fir and willow trees until we arrived at Bighorn Peak.

On our trail ride I rode out to Meadow Lake with Wrangler Tirzah Cadacamo, Mary Mike Plough and Tony Hepfer. Both Mary Mike and Tony had been horseback riding in Yellowstone Park and coming to Covered Wagon Ranch for over seven years. They book their horseback riding holiday two years in advance.

We spotted fresh cougar tracks in the wet mud by the shore of the lake and interrupted a beaver at work on the lake. He let us know he was not happy with our presence with an angry slap of his tail on the water.

Our second day of our horseback riding vacation had us riding in Gallatin National Forest, a recreation area northwest of Yellowstone National Park. As I mentioned above, guests of Covered Wagon Ranch are very fortunate to have the flexibility to wake up and discuss with Kurt where you’d like to ride, all while eating breakfast fit for a hard-working cowboy. Guests don’t have to wake up early, unless they want to. They certainly don’t have to jingle horses – that’s cowboy slang for rounding up the horses and bringing them back to the barn.

Three horses and riders from Covered Wagon Ranch cross the Taylor Fork River, northwest of Yellowstone National Park.
Horses and riders cross the Taylor Fork River in Custer Gallatin National Forest, northwest of Yellowstone National Park. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

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Meals at Covered Wagon Ranch

Three bottomless cookie jars at Covered Wagon Ranch include, left to right, chocolate chip, peanut butter and molasses cookies on the side board inside the lodge at Covered Wagon Ranch in Big Sky, Montana.
Chocolate chip, peanut butter and molasses cookies at Covered Wagon Ranch. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

Meals at Covered Wagon Ranch are served family-style breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:30 a.m. with horseback rides typically departing at 9 a.m. Breakfast is cooked to order with rotating weekly specials.

A guest application is sent before your horseback riding vacation to access your riding ability and list any dietary restrictions. On my visit, the Covered Wagon Ranch had a jar full of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, in addition to regular fresh baked cookies. Don’t get me started on the bottomless cookie jars! Kurt caught me with my hand in the cookie jar on more than one occasion.

Guests typically stay Sunday to Sunday, but dates are flexible. The ranch offers Friday night cookouts with live music. Monday nights feature Blues and Brews with locally brewed beers offered complimentary. There’s also an option to attend the West Yellowstone Rodeo, offered nightly Wednesday-Saturday from mid June to the end of August starting at 8:00 p.m.

Be advised that Covered Wagon Ranch is bring your own beverage (byob) except Monday nights. Of course, lemonade, sweet tea, tea, orange juice, hot chocolate and coffee are always available in the lodge.

Plated dinners include offers such as pulled-pork served with brown sugar glazed carrots, macaroni and cheese, homemade rolls and salad or fried chicken with roasted Brussel sprouts, fresh cut French fries and corn on the cob or steak, fish and hamburgers. Desserts include fresh baked pie or cake and don’t forget s’mores around the campfire.

“An absolutely amazing place,” said Lacy Alexander of Lampasas, Texas. “The mountain and canyon views are breathtaking. All of the staff are wonderful. You truly do comes as guests and leave as family. We will definitely be returning in the future.” 

Covered Wagon Ranch activities for non-riders

Trout swim in Taylor Fork Creek at Covered Wagon Ranch in Big Sky, Montana.
A river runs through it at Covered Wagon Ranch on Taylor Fork Creek. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

In addition to horseback riding, Covered Wagon Ranch offers plenty of things to see and do in Big Sky for the non-rider. Benson Point hikes offer canyon views. There’s a hot tub on the ranch and a recreation hall with a pool table, board games, fireplace and library, in addition to an outside play area with swings and teeter-totter.

Don’t forget to purchase your Montana fishing license if you want to go fly fishing for trout on the Taylor Fork creek running through the ranch. The Taylor Fork River, Gallatin River and Madison River also offer blue ribbon trout fishing. Those interested in a cooking class may schedule one in advance.

“My wife loves to ride horses, but for the most part, I’m not a rider,” says Scott Myrick of Indian Land, South Carolina. “I may go out one time during the week. Each day as my wife heads out for her daily horseback rides, I have my own excursions. Covered Wagon Ranch is only about 10 miles to Big Sky and only 35 miles to the town of West Yellowstone and the Western entrance into Yellowstone National Park in Montana. This is where I spend most of my time.”

Fellow guests from Poland left for an overnight backcountry trip in Big Sky on my last day. The adventure-seeking couple from Warsaw said the trip was well worth the travel time. The ranch came highly recommended to them. “It was worth flying from Poland to Salt Lake, Utah and driving to Montana.”

Know before you go

Covered Wagon Ranch wooden wagon with canvas top sits in the field at the family-owned guest ranch near Big Sky, Montana
Covered Wagon Ranch has been a Montana guest ranch since 1925.

Each morning Kurt meets with the guests during breakfast to determine what type of ride they are expecting. Guests ranch vacations are a minimum of three days, with most guests staying a week or longer. Be advised that Covered Wagon Ranch is a small, family-run guest ranch with a huge percentage of returning guests. The ladies I spoke with book their favorite cabin two years in advance.

Be aware that Covered Wagon Ranch is in one of the most highly concentrated grizzly bear territories in the state of Montana. In addition to owning the guest ranch, Kurt was a former backcountry outfitter and hunting guide. Consider scheduling a pack trip or overnight excursion through the ranch. You might see elk, white-tailed deer, moose, mule deer, black beer, Grizzly bear, Gray wolf, Bald or Golden Eagles.

Covered Wagon Ranch is a member of Montana Dude Ranchers’ Association and the Dude Ranchers’ Association.

Review of Covered Wagon dude ranch, Montana, YouTube video and photography by equestrian travel expert Nancy D. Brown. Note: thank you to Visit Big Sky for arranging my stay. All views above are, as always, my own.

2 thoughts on “Dude Ranch Montana: Covered Wagon Ranch Review”

  1. Jessica,
    Covered Wagon Ranch is a family-friendly guest ranch in Gallatin Canyon, situated between Big Sky and Yellowstone National Park in Montana. Your kids would love the playground and recreation hall, in addition to the horseback riding. Of course, they have to meet Nelly the pig!

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