The Bar W Guest Ranch is a dude ranch near Glacier National Park, ready to treat you to true Montana hospitality from the moment you arrive until long after the sun sets. Nestled between two pine-covered ridges in an idyllic setting at the base of Spencer Mountain, The Bar W Guest Ranch is located just a stone’s throw from the town of Whitefish, Glacier National Park and Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort... and we are less than 4 hours from where Yellowstone is filmed!
We are a small ranch that can host up to 60 guests per week. All guests experience a 6-night package stay, arriving on Sunday and departing on Saturday. Horseback riding is core to a week at the Bar W and with our proximity to public land, we are able to ride on close to a million acres.
At the Bar W Guest Ranch, horses are central to the ranch experience and our riding program is the ranch’s main attraction. Our knowledgeable wranglers, the assorted terrain, and our large herd of good mountain horses make riding at the Bar W exceptional. The Bar W is a horseman's dream and, coupled with our views, our rides are second to none! Check out our basic Riding Guidelinesso that we can help you have the safest and happiest trail experiences while you are here!
Your trail ride adventure begins when we match you with a suitable horse, followed by an orientation designed to help you feel confident on your horse. At the Bar W, our emphasis is always placed on your safety and the welfare of the horse. Our trail rides are walking only, and children must be at least seven years old to go out on the trails... and adults may not exceed 230 pounds to help the comfort of our horses.
Don't Forget Our Amazing Outdoor Arena(136 x 232)
This is a true western style arena where we conduct clinics, give lessons, offer team penning, and barrel racing. The outdoor arena is perfect for horseback riding activities during your guest ranch vacation package.
What Other Great Activities (Besides Horseback Riding) Are Available During My Stay?
Our ranch and area activities are boundless as we provide our guests a full western themed vacation complete with hatchet throwing, 3D archery, fly fishing, roping, cattle drives, rodeo games, wagon rides, line dancing, branding, and campfires. Or you can always just sit back and relax and let Montana surround you with its big skies, amazing wildlife and simple serenity.
The main lodge is 6,200 square feet of classic rustic style and traditional western flare, carefully appointed to complement our western hospitality and designed to make each of our guests feel truly at home.The Main Lodge will sleep up to 25 guests between the six bedrooms. With the use of the two game room futons, the Lodge can sleep a total of 29 guests. The Lodge is perfect for group ranch vacations, a vacation home rental, or bed and breakfast stays. Guests renting the Ranch for a wedding have the option to use the lodge, cabin suites, and glamping tents for Saturday night of the event. Laundry services are available to guests after 6 pm and the hot tub is open until 10 pm every night.
Glamping at the Bar W offers you a luxury camping resort experience combined with a true cowboy vacation at a ranch 23 miles from Glacier National Park. This is no ordinary pup tent. When you’re Glamping, or “Glamorous Camping,” you get the best of both worlds – feeling a part of nature while staying in comfortable, well-appointed accommodations. Nestled by our pasture full of wildflowers, guests can watch our horses graze in the meadow from the front porch.
The Bar W offers four luxury canvas tents decorated Bar W style, offering Glacier National Park glamping you won’t forget. Each tent has a queen size bed, a handcrafted log futon, private porch, refrigerator and coffee maker. A private, heated bathroom is located just a few feet from your tent.
Note: Glamping is available for ranch vacation packages from Mid-May through the end of October.
Summer is when Montana is in high gear so we have amazing Guest Packagesavailable. Glacier National Park is in its high season, the energy is contagious, the lakes and streams take on a refreshing charm, and the Bar W Guest Ranch is in full swing. All the area’s activities are at their peak and the Flathead Valley is busting at the seams with fun. It’s a great time to bring your family and friends, or come alone and experience Montana the cowboy way. During the summer months, the Bar W Guest Ranch offers a six-night all-inclusive ranch adventure package with check-in on Sundays.. just fill out our forms and let us know when you want to come and we'll get back to you with a great package!
How Is The Food?
The Bar W not only offers a celestial vacation for the soul and body, but it also takes your palate to places that are out of this world. We have a great menu with an excellent array of ranch-inspired dishes. We offer a full breakfast every day, including juice, fruit, and a marvelous selection of breakfast options throughout the week, for example eggs, bacon, sausages, ham, muffins, and more. Montana Coffee Traders coffee awaits you in the Horseshoe dining center as you awaken each morning, and we have a wonderful array of teas available.
Lunch is served buffet style in the new dining center, the Horseshoe. Enjoy a wide variety of lunches throughout the week including sandwiches, fruits, salads, tacos, fries, veggies, desserts and more!
Dinners are served buffet style in the new dining center, the Horseshoe. Throughout the week, we offer various selections of delicious soups and rolls fresh from the oven. We have delectable salads and meats available including beef, pork, poultry, fish, and a delicious array of BBQ selections throughout the week. At your request, we happily accommodate vegetarian and vegan preferences, or other special dietary needs.
Desserts...well, all are homemade and all are out of this world! Whether it’s in the Horseshoe dining center, or over the campfire, our meals are always delicious and leaving guests with a warm smile and full belly!
“What a terrific week we’ve had our whole family (16 in all) celebrating, bonding, learning, growing, planning, and being together for our 80th birthday celebration!!! It was such a gift and a treasure!! Dave and the staff were such fun and good teachers! It couldn’t have been nicer!” -Sara and Robert
“I fed my soul here at Bar W Ranch. Such beauty, such quiet, such peace. Waking up to the sounds of prairie dogs and horses was the best alarm clock. Our Glamping tent was glorious. And I could have sat on that rocking chair all day! Next time I’ll book a full week!” - Erin
“What a fantastic week here at the Bar W. Wranglers were the best at keeping us entertained, becoming our family by joining at every meal. Food was excellent. Thank you Rachael, Cindy, Grace, & Deb for serving us those extra pounds. I learned a lot on my week here at “camp”. Thank you again for the great memories.” - Judy
Great vacations don't happen by accident-- -but all it takes is a phone call! We are easy to get to, conveniently located just north of Kalispell and Glacier Park International Airport, which is serviced by several major airlines, including Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Sun Country Airlines All of this and more is what you can expect from a ranch vacation at the Bar W Guest Ranch, where people arrive here as guests and leave as family... so pick up the phone and call us today!
The Bar W has a horse vacation that will keep you coming back year after year. We promise to give you the wonderful experience you are dreaming of-- and so much more. Pick up the phone or send us an email and we'll make sure to have a room ready and your horse saddled!
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