Horseback Riding

Horseback Trail Rides

Here at our Montana guest ranch, the horseback riding program is focused on you. When you’re a guest here, you can ride as much or as little as you’d like. We offer daily riding options for a variety of ability levels, with varied lengths and routes that allow you to choose what type of riding experience you’d like to have from day to day. Our experienced team of wranglers lead our guest trail rides in, around and through the ranch’s 2,000 acres. Along the way, you’ll traverse trails that meander through forested terrain and our private on-site elk preserve as we explore some of Montana’s most beautiful landscapes, including spectacular views of Flathead Lake.

For horseback trail rides, all riders must be at least 6 years old, while kids 12 and under must wear a helmet while riding. As with any activity, our biggest concern is always the health and safety of our guests. Riders over 250 pounds will ride (or not ride) at the discretion of the barn manager and/or wrangler on duty.

New for this year, we've added an advanced riding program. Headquartered at the South Corral in our on-site elk preserve, our advanced options include trail rides, learning advanced horsemanship skills and working cattle. To participate in the advanced riding program, your riding skill will be accessed by a wrangler.

Activities

BREAKFAST RIDE

Saddle up early in the morning and take a horseback trail ride to breakfast camp.

ADULT ELK PRESERVE TRAIL RIDE

Cowboy up for our on-ranch trail ride that meanders through the elk preserve.

SCENIC LUNCH TRAIL RIDE

Perfect for advanced riders, this goes to our mountain cabin, with Swan Valley views.

KIDS BARREL RACING

Kids compete in the rodeo tradition of barrel racing in our ranch arena.

TEEN TRAIL RIDE

Our teen guests – and our wranglers – saddle up and explore the ranch on horseback.

ADULT TRAIL RIDE

Ride the ranch on a guided horseback trail ride with an experienced wrangler.

LITTLE BUCKAROOS TRAIL RIDE

Kids ages 6-10 set out on a horseback trail ride with our wranglers.

KIDS’S RODEO

A morning of rodeo games in our area, designed just for kids.

WRANGLER RODEO

Our wranglers will demonstrate an authentic part of the West through our weekly rodeo.

JUNIOR WRANGLER PROGRAM

Kids can help brush and care for our horses under the watchful eye of wranglers.

HORSEMANSHIP 101

Great for first-time guests, this activity offers an overview and hands-on experience with our horses.

Activities

Our wranglers offer private riding lessons so everyone feels comfortable out on the trails. For experienced equestrians, wranglers lead smaller groups that ride faster and cover some serious distance, all while venturing into some of the most untouched landscapes in the country.  

In addition to our daily horseback trail rides, guests at Flathead Lake Lodge can enjoy early morning breakfast rides to our wooded breakfast camp. Hungry riders – and their horses – can smell the bacon cooking long before they arrive. Once you arrive at breakfast camp, you can dig into a fresh-cooked hot breakfast around a cozy campfire.  

Additional specialty rides include our longer lunch ride, with an epic view of Swan Lake and the Swan Valley, rides through our private 500-acre elk preserve and the ride to our weekly steak fry in a mountain meadow.  

Children of all ages bring a level of energy and excitement to the barn and are encouraged to spend as much time with the horses as they’d like. Through our Junior Wrangler Program, kids can work beside their favorite wranglers to learn the basics of horse care and handling. And with our daily trail rides, younger guests can learn the essentials of horsemanship and basic rodeo techniques. At the end of the week, the kids rodeo is their chance to participate in a fun family rodeo in the arena.