Bitterroot Ranch summary
The Bitterroot Ranch is a remote 1,300 acre working ranch surrounded by the Shoshone National Forest and a 52,000 acre wildlife refuge. The terrain is extremely varied; sagebrush plains, grassy meadows and rocky gorges give way to forested mountains and alpine clearings. Your hosts place a strong emphasis on their riding program and provide several horses for each guest, splitting the rides into small groups according to ability.
The broad range of riding activities includes lessons with certified instructors to intermediate level, a cross country course for experienced riders, team sorting, herding cows on grazing allotments in the national forest, cattle drives, roundups, pack trips and trail rides. Excellent fly fishing on a private stream and superior cuisine and wine contribute to a more sophisticated ambience than that at many dude ranches. Salads come fresh from the garden, ranch raised beef and lamb is served, and bread is baked fresh in the ranch kitchen.
As well as the opportunity to participate in one to two day pack trips whilst staying at Bitterroot, the ranch also offers an exciting Washakie Wilderness Pack Trip which takes place on one set departure each year.
Wild and Exotic Bitterroot Ranch sample itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Wyoming and transfer to the Bitterroot Ranch.
Bitterroot Ranch can accommodate up to 30 people in twelve charming cabins, each with private bathrooms and electric heating. Many rooms have wood burning stoves and views of the surrounding mountains. They are situated on either side of a trout filled stream to take advantage of the ranch’s natural feel and remote location. Guests gather in the main lodge for meals and relaxing evenings.
Day 2 – 7: You will have the next six days to explore Bitterroot Ranch and the surrounding area.
Although an emphasis is placed on riding, there are a variety of activities on offer around Bitterroot including cattle drives (according to season), fly fishing, hiking and white water rafting nearby. For the serious rider there is also a cross country course is available for your enjoyment with over 80 jumps of up to three feet.
Riding is usually for between 4 – 6 hours per day, returning to your comfortable cabin during the evenings. There is also the option of 2 – 3 day pack trips into the spectacular wilderness of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem near the Continental Divide (additional charge). The best way to experience the full majesty of this country is by traveling on horseback with pack animals to set up camps in the remote heart of the wilderness. A cook and wrangler provide excellent service. The route of the pack trips takes you over spectacular passes of between 11,000 and 12,000 feet and through pristine mountain valleys with little human presence. The mighty rivers of America have their beginnings here as tiny springs. Each valley has its own distinct character with meadows of lupine in one and craggy cliffs in another. On longer pack trips we will camp in the same spot for two nights to allow guests to ride out for the day, hike, fish, or just relax. This wonderful adventure provides an opportunity to see this glorious, untamed landscape which is unchanged since the early explorers found it.
Day 8: After breakfast depart from Bitterroot Ranch.
Notes:
Sample itinerary. The cost of this itinerary varies depending on the dates you visit Bitterroot between May and September.
The cost of 8 days and 7 nights (including 6 days riding) is based on two people sharing accommodation.
Rates include twin bedded accommodation, all meals, fishing and daily riding except for Sunday.
Rates exclude flights to the US, transfers to the ranch, personal medical insurance, extra drinks, supplements for a pack trip, visa fees.
If you would like to participate in a 2 or 3 day pack trip (whilst at the ranch) this will cost £30 extra per person per day.
A single supplement person is charged for single guests.
Rider prices are based on a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8 people. 1 – 2 day rides are based on a minimum of 3 people and a maximum of 6 people. Airport transfers are not included.
The Ranch is open between May and September. Depending on when you visit there may be opportunity to drive cattle onto or from the hills.
Neither Wild and Exotic nor the operators or suppliers can accept any responsibility for changes to itineraries or dates that may arise due to weather or unforeseen circumstances such as changes, disruptions or delays to airline flights for whatever reason. This holiday is subject to Wild and Exotic’s terms and conditions, a copy of which is available on this website under the general info tab.
Wild and Exotic Washakie Wilderness pack trip itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Dubois for overnight accommodation. Dubois is a quaint western town which has only about 1,000 inhabitants and the tourist trade is the main business. There are some interesting shops and art galleries. Stewart’s Trapline Gallery, has a fine collection of Indian jewellery at considerably lower prices than Jackson. The Dubois Museum has excellent exhibits about the history and geology of the area. Dubois is proud to have America’s largest herd of bighorn sheep living just above the town and is home to the National Bighorn Sheep Centre which has impressive exhibits of these fascinating animals which were once so abundant in the area and provided a large part of the food for the local Sheep Eater Indians. The wild sheep were nearly wiped out by diseases brought in by domestic sheep, but have now recovered to some extent although they are nowhere near the numbers of 200 years ago. In July and August square dances are held on Tuesday evenings and several bars often have live music.
Day 2: Transfer by car to the end of road where you will meet your guide and the horses waiting to take you on an adventure into the most magical places of this wilderness. Mount and head up the trail with its many switchbacks toward Shoshone Pass far above. You will wind past lovely Trail Lake. Be sure to keep an eye out for wild animals along the way. At the top of the pass the view of the other side is absolutely breathtaking and you will twist your way down through Elysian Fields of wild flowers to Bliss Creek Meadows and the Shoshone River to make camp for the night.
Day 3: The camp will remain here until the next day and you can ride out to explore this magnificent valley, go fishing (this place has some of the best fishing in the Rockies for wild trout) or just relax or hike around camp. This is a favourite place for Shiras moose which you will see with any luck at all.
Day 4: Get an early start as today is the longest day of the pack trip. We will traverse Hidden Basin which lies between two spectacular mountain passes with superb views. We may see eagles soaring and big horned sheep perched on the incredibly steep sides of the mountains. Towering peaks surround us all day and provide a dramatic backdrop for our camp on Frontier Creek.
Day 5: Continue down Frontier Creek and cross the Wiggins Fork to camp in the green meadows of Caldwell Basin, a long, narrow valley ringed by steep mountains and thick forests. A lovely trout stream runs through it.
Day 6: Climb out of Caldwell Basin heading eastward on the Blue Creek Trail to cross another chain of mountains well above timber line where there are often big herds of elk eating the tender grass and drop down into Bear Creek to camp for the night.
Day 7: In the morning we will pack up and climb the Teepee Creek Trail to cross another mountain chain well above timber line again. The Valley of the East Fork of the Wind River lies on the other side and one can see a chain of beaver ponds and a ribbon of river shimmering through the trees in the distance. Ten miles on down the stream lies the Bitterroot Ranch and the end of the pack trip. It is the first permanent human habitation you will have seen for six days. Dinner and overnight in Dubois.
Day 8: Depart in the morning after breakfast.
Notes:
Places are limited and other dates and short pack trips are available on request.
The itinerary consists of 8 days, 7 nights with 6 riding days.
The cost of this itinerary is based on two people sharing accommodation. If you would like to participate in a 2 or 3 day pack trip (whilst at the ranch) this will cost $50 per day in addition to the stay at Bitterroot Ranch.
Rates include accommodation, all meals, fishing and daily riding except for Sunday. A single supplement is charged for all guests booking alone.
Meeting point is either Riverton or Jackson. Transfers to the ranch for an additional charge.
Rider prices are based on a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8 people. 1 – 2 day rides are based on a minimum of 3 people and a maximum of 6 people.
The pace is mostly slow and sometimes challenging. The tack used is western and the horses are local ranch bred.
Neither Wild and Exotic nor the operators or suppliers can accept any responsibility for changes to itineraries or dates that may arise due to weather or unforeseen circumstances such as changes, disruptions or delays to airline flights for whatever reason. This holiday is subject to Wild and Exotic’s terms and conditions, a copy of which is available on this website under the general info tab.
Wild and Exotic Bitterroot Ranch fact sheet
Accommodation: The ranch can accommodate up to 30 people in twelve charming cabins, each with private bathrooms and electric heating. Many rooms have wood burning stoves and views of the surrounding mountains. They are situated on either side of a trout filled stream to take advantage of the ranch’s natural feel and remote location. Guests gather in the main lodge for meals and relaxing evenings.
Activities: Although an emphasis is placed on riding, there are a variety of activities on offer around Bitterroot:
Cattle Drives: The Bitterroot cattle graze on the adjacent national forest land from July to October. Guests who ride well enough can help the cowboys with the challenging work of herding the cows into the mountains the first week of July and rounding them up again the last week of September. The cattle are spread out over fifty square miles of high mountains, forests, clearings and river valleys so that riders are often off the beaten path in country where one encounters wild game like elk, deer, moose, and grizzly bear. During both weeks guests will return to their cabins each night and have breakfast and dinner in the main lodge. All cabins have their own private baths and electric heat and there is a hot tub at the lodge. Guests can participate in the cattle work as much or as little as they wish. Other options are fishing, hiking or relaxing. The itinerary for these rides is subject to change and totally dependent upon the location of the cattle. Riders participate in the routine of a working cowboy gathering scattered herds, driving them to and from summer pasture, and sorting animals. This work is varied and unpredictable but requires long hours in the saddle. Please note that weather, unexpected movements of cattle or Forest Service instruction could change plans at short notice.
Fly Fishing: There are some excellent opportunities to fly fish for trout on our own private stream, in our well stocked ponds and in neighboring lakes and streams. The Dubois area gets much less fishing pressure than Jackson Hole or almost anywhere in states like Montana, Colorado and Idaho. The East Fork of the Wind River runs through the ranch for over a mile and holds many cutthroat trout between 8 and 14 inches although they have been caught up to 20. Our private stream is for catch and release only.
For five miles above the ranch the stream flows through a steep, spectacular gorge lined by rocky cliffs towering over a thousand feet above the stream in places. Below the ranch the stream enters another gorge which is not as steep for three miles where there are some lovely pools. We also have two stocked ponds with rainbow trout up to five lbs. which are ideal for practicing fly casting and learning to play large trout. On the south side of the Wind River Valley most of the streams stay clear all year. Torrey Creek is about a 45 minute drive from the ranch. It connects three beautiful lakes which are up to a mile long and hold some fine rainbows and browns.
Pack trips: The Bitterroot Ranch has an ideal location for pack trips into the spectacular wilderness of Wyoming. The Ranch borders the Shoshone National Forest which extends to the borders of Yellowstone Park and is part of the largest wild ecosystem remaining in the lower 48 states. Pack trips enable you to explore the wildest parts of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem near the Continental Divide. The best way to experience the full majesty of this country is by traveling on horseback with pack animals to set up camps in the remote heart of the wilderness. A cook and wrangler provide excellent service. The route of your pack trip takes you over spectacular passes of between 11,000 and 12,000 feet and through pristine mountain valleys with little human presence. The mighty rivers of America have their beginnings here as tiny springs. Each valley has its own distinct character with meadows of lupine in one and craggy cliffs in another. On longer pack trips we will camp in the same spot for two nights to allow guests to ride out for the day, hike, fish, or just relax. This wonderful adventure provides an opportunity to see this glorious, untamed landscape which is unchanged since the early explorers found it. Guests staying at the ranch can book a two- or three-day pack trip.
White water rafting: This is best at the Snake River near Jackson which is a two hour drive from Bitterroot Ranch. The best idea is to stop in Jackson before or after a stay at Bitterroot.
Breeding and training: The ranch herd is made up of many different breeds including Quarter Horses, Mustangs, Percherons, Appaloosas, Icelandic Horses and crosses. We raise friendly, sensible, purebred Arabians which have proved excellent for trail riding and herding cattle as well as taking jumps on our cross country course. In training the young horses we use the non confrontational techniques of Linda Tellington-Jones who has been coming to the ranch for many years to start our young Arabians.
Children: Discount of 25% for children between the ages of 4 and 15.
Cross country course: A cross country course is available with over 80 jumps which advanced riders can try during the week. It is not an intimidating course since no jump is more than three feet, but there is a wide variety of obstacles including ditches, drops, oxers, pickets, coops and walls.
Food: While the emphasis at our ranch is on horses and riding, we feel that culinary enjoyment is also a vital part of your vacation and make a special effort with our cuisine. Salads come fresh from the garden, ranch raised beef and lamb are served, and bread is baked in the kitchen. Wine is provided at cocktails and with dinner. We also cater to special diets with prior notice.
Getting there: Riverton airport is one and half hours drive from Bitterroot Ranch and Jacksons airport is two hours drive away. Cars may be hired at both airports and taxis will collect and transfer guests to area airports given advance notice.
Horses: Local ranch bred.
Non-riders: There is a large discount for non-riders. Please contact Wild and Exotic for the latest rates for non-riders. Those who come primarily to fish will have more flexibility if they bring a car.
Insurance: Essential.
Length of rides: Riding on pack trips is between 6 – 7 hours per day.
Owner participation: The Fox Family feels that the quality of our equestrian program is of paramount importance; therefore Mel, Bayard and Richard lead rides personally nearly every day.
Pace of rides: Mostly slow, sometimes challenging.
Ride safety: Your safety is taken seriously. We keep rides small, carefully match horses to riders, ensure that people of similar skills ride together and train ride leaders carefully. We insist that everyone wear a hard hat and our trail guides carry mobile phones to summon help in case it is needed.
Single supplement: Mandatory for all guests booking alone.
Size of rides: Minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8 people. One to two day rides are based on a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 people.
Tack: Our horses are trained Western so they are used to neck reining and going on a loose rein. We use mainly Western saddles, but there are also English saddles for those who have independent seats and hands. Each horse has its own bridle and we are very careful to use saddles which fit the horse well. This is more of a problem with English tack as our horses tend to be rather wide. We have had the most luck with saddles from the Arabian Saddle Co., Frank Baines and Sharon Saare endurance saddles.
Trail riding: This is a land of vast expanses which offers you an exceptional variety of riding terrain. Sagebrush plains, grassy meadows and rocky canyons give way to pine clad mountains with Alpine clearings. Spectacular new views keep opening up and perpetually snow clad mountains are usually in view. You seldom see other people on these riding adventures since we are 17 miles from the nearest paved road and four miles from the nearest neighbour. To the north we border the Shoshone National Forest and our trails there lead quickly into wilderness. The next ranch in that direction is 50 miles away. There are several historical and geological sites which provide interesting destinations for riding tours. One is an old hideout of Butch Cassidy and another is an area in the badlands where many petrified bones of prehistoric animals can be seen. Early in the season a profusion of wildflowers embellishes our trails. We frequently cross the beautiful East Fork of the Wind River which flows through the centre of the ranch and is excellent for fishing.
Weather: The best time to visit Wyoming is between the months of June and September. In Jackson, the average summer temperature is 65 F, but can go as high as 80. Bighorn, at Burgess Junction, the average July temperature is 55 F. All of this differential weather is due to the range of elevation in Wyoming. From, the Belle Fourche River Valley in the state’s northeast corner, at 3,125 feet, to summit of Gannett Peak in the Wind River Mountains, at 13,804 feet. The range of temperature is mostly due to the fact that Wyoming is far from any moderating influence of oceans.
Weight limit: A weight limit of 200 lbs applies for all riders.
USA general information and map
Capital: Washington
Getting to Bitterroot Ranch: There are regular flights from London to Denver in Colorado with British Airways and other major airlines. Guests normally fly from Denver on to Riverton or Jackson airports with either United Airways or Delta Airlines. Riverton airport is one and half hours drive from Bitterroot Ranch and Jackson airport is two hours drive away.
Time: GMT minus 7 hours
Try not to miss: Bitterroot Ranch, Wyoming for the stunning mountain scenery and an action packed riding holiday. Wild and Exotic currently offer no other destinations or activities within the USA.
Visas: UK citizens do not require a visa to enter USA for stays of less than 90 days provided they are in possession of a modern passport.
