Ranch Overview
The Bar W Guest Ranch in Whitefish, Montana is open year-round and is ready to show you what Western hospitality is all about! As a small Montana dude ranch that can host up to 60 guests per week, we pride ourselves on remaining flexible and attending to each guests’ expectations. While there are many activities offered at the Bar W, horses are the center of attention and riding is our core focus. All riding abilities are welcome, and we offer daily trail rides, ranging from one hour to all day, horsemanship lessons, barrel racing, and team penningOn our Montana dude ranch, there’s a variety of Western activities available outside of the saddle including swimming and paddle boarding on Spencer Lake, fly casting lessons, archery, skeet shooting, roping lessons, hiking, and our kids program. Activities continue into the evening with line dancing, attending a local rodeo, country singers, s’mores around the campfire, and wagon rides.
During the summer months children are the heart of the ranch. Kids learn to explore nature with our kid’s counselors who guide them on nature walks, crafts, fishing lessons, horse painting, and more. Spring and fall are adult oriented with themed specialty weeks including our Cattle Drive weeks and Adults Only weeks!
The Bar W Guest Ranch is known for our superb customer service, intimate size, down-home cooking, and well-rounded activity selection. The Bar W is conveniently located 4 miles from the vibrant resort town of Whitefish, 20 minutes from Glacier International Airport, and 30 minutes from Glacier National Park.
At the Bar W, people arrive as guests, and leave as family. Give us a call and start planning your dude ranch vacation!
| Guest Capacity | 60 |
| Seasons | Mid-May – End of October |
| Dates Open | Mid-May – End of October |
| Min. Age for Independent Riding | 7 |
| Adult-Only Weeks | Yes |
| Nearest Airport | Kalispell/Glacier Park (FCA) |
| Elevation | 4,000 |
| Wheelchair Accessible | No |
Ranch Rates
| Accepted Payment Methods | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover |
| Adult All-Inclusive Rate | $2,700 |
| Adult Rate | Click Here to View Rates |
| Child Rate | Click Here to View Rates |
| Service Charge/Tip Rate | Click Here to View Terms & Conditions |
| Tax Rate | Click Here to View Terms & Conditions |
| Travel Agents Accepted | No |
Ranch Accommodations
The Bar W Guest Ranch offers three types of lodging for guests. Guests have the option to stay in our traditional western style lodge, our intimate and rustic cabin suites, or our one-of-a-kind Glamping tents. Each accommodation provides a different and unique experience during your vacation. Our main western style lodge is 6,200 square feet with six bedrooms, three common spaces, kitchen, and a game parlor to entertain guests for hours. The Bar W cabin suites are the perfect setting to enjoy an intimate dude ranch vacation while watching the eye-catching Montana sunsets from the private deck just outside the suites. Our rustic cabins are great for groups and families looking to experience the true western way of life. Bar W Glamping, or glamorous camping, provides guests with an unparalleled cowboy vacation. Guests will experience the best of both worlds – feeling a part of nature while staying in an elegant setting with the comforts of home. Located next to our pasture full of wildflowers, from their front porch, guests can watch deer, or our horses graze in the meadow. You will never think of camping in the same way again.| Cabin Accommodations | included |
| Lodge Accommodations | included |
| Weekly Stay Schedule | All guests experience a 6-night package stay, checking-in on Sunday and checking-out Saturday. |
Ranch Activities
Along with the beautiful weather, Montana summers bring a variety of outdoor activities around the dude ranch and surrounding area. The fishing is as good as the sunsets, catching large trout and Pike both on the Bar W trout pond and Spencer Lake. Take the family for a leisurely cruise around the lake on a rowboat, canoe or paddle boards! Jump in for a refreshing swim, hike miles of trails, enjoy a relaxing afternoon of birding and lawn games, or explore the unspoiled nature of Montana on Bar W mountain bikes. Join our expert wranglers for skeet shooting or try your hand at archery. If you’re feeling adventurous, take the afternoon to whitewater raft down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River with Glacier Raft Company or go on a UTV ride off-site (rafting and UTV rides are an additional charge, but we provide transportation for you!). After a long day of activities, unwind in the hot tub or sit back, relax, and let Montana surround you. Your day doesn’t have to be over when the horses are fed and put out for the night. Enjoy an evening wagon ride, cowboy singing, campfires, cookout dinners, line dancing, and even experience the excitement of the local rodeo when scheduled.Team penning and sorting as well as roping lessons are available during our weekly schedules. In addition, during the spring and the fall, we offer our Western Cattle Drive weeks!
Spencer Lake is on property and is an ideal swimming hole! There is a dock, rowboats, canoe, paddle boards, life jackets, and of course floaties.
| Sightseeing Tours | nearby |
| Fishing Instruction | included |
| Campfire Gatherings | included |
| Hay/Wagon Ride | included |
| Additional Cattle & Ranch Work | included |
| Cattle Gathering | included |
| Children's Programs | included |
Area Activities
| Fishing (River) | nearby |
| Fishing (Lake) | included |
| Hunting | nearby |
| Golf | nearby |
| Swimming Lake/Stream | included |
| River Rafting | extra |
| Mountain Biking | included |
| Shooting Sports | included |
Ranch Dining
All meals are served buffet style in the Horseshoe, our new dining center at the ranch. All meals are included in guest week vacation packages. Our meal style is hearty ranch fare and plenty of it! We do not provide alcohol, but guests are welcome to bring their own and enjoy an adult beverage during meals or evening activities. We are happy to accommodate any dietary requirements or allergies. If you are ready for some incredible, homestyle Montana meals, visit the Bar W, where guests come as strangers and leave as family.| Family-Style Dining | included |
| Fine Dining | nearby |
| Onsite Catering | extra |
| Cookouts | included |
| Bar/Lounge | nearby |
Technology
Cell service is available on and around the property. WIFI is available in the lodge, cabin, gate house and office. There is a television in the lodge with satellite TV.Follow us on Instagram
What's the Difference?
Dude Ranches
At Montana Dude Ranches horseback riding is the central activity. Fly-fishing and other varied western activities await you.
Working Dude Ranches
Montana Working Dude Ranches allow you to experience life as a cowboy – with cattle drives, round ups and ranch work.
Resort Dude Ranches
Montana Resort Dude Ranches offer western activities with higher end amenities and dining experiences.