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Montana horse country. Backdrop for the Equestrian Hubs Montana stable directory

Stables & Ranches · Montana

Stables & Ranches in Montana

Ride 27 stables across Montana. Maps, hours, contact info, photos, and verified operator profiles, all in one place.

Big Sky country. Glacier, the Bob, and the Yellowstone headwaters.

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Highest rated

Stables & Ranches in Montana by Google rating

Ranked by Google rating, then by number of reviews, across the 25 of 27 stables in Montana with 10 or more Google reviews.

StableCityRidingRating
Paintbrush AdventuresAbsarokeeTrail Riding5.0108 Google reviews
Bear Creek Guest RanchEssexRanch Stays5.0100 Google reviews
Rocking Z Guest RanchWolf CreekRanch Stays5.067 Google reviews
Bob Marshall Wilderness OutfittersOvandoTrail Riding, Pack Trips5.021 Google reviews
Lost Creek RanchKalispellTrail Riding5.021 Google reviews
McCord TrainingMoltRiding Lessons5.021 Google reviews
Diamond 7 Western Riding, LLC & Diamond 7 Trail Rides, LLCDillonTrail Riding, Western / Reining5.020 Google reviews
Morning Glory FarmColumbia FallsRiding Lessons5.010 Google reviews

All listings

27 stables in Montana

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Top camping

Most-booked campgrounds in Montana

Federal campgrounds in Montana that Recreation.gov lists for horseback riding, ranked by how many times they were booked in fiscal 2025.

  1. 1

    Eagle Creek Campground - Custer Gallatin National Forest

    1,154 bookings
  2. Sloway Campground2

    Sloway Campground

    480 bookings
  3. 3

    Owl Creek Corral

    22 bookings
  4. Bear Creek Campground - MT4

    Bear Creek Campground - MT

    4 bookings

Bookings: Recreation.gov, fiscal 2025 (Oct 2024 to Sep 2025).

On the map

Stables, bridle trails and camping in Montana

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About Montana

Montana is horse country in the plainest sense: the animal still earns its keep here. Guest ranches fill the valleys, Paradise Valley near Livingston among them, working cattle outfits run stock across the eastern prairie, and trail stables ride out into the Flathead and Gallatin national forests. From the Rocky Mountain front to the high plains, the terrain changes but the arrangement doesn't: horses are how you cover this ground, and riders of any level can find an operation built around that fact.

The western half of the state belongs to the mountains (the Missions, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness), and to the pack-trip outfitters and guest ranches that work them. Riders follow historic trails into country no road reaches, learning backcountry horsemanship the way it's still practiced. Whitefish, Big Sky, and Darby anchor these operations, each a short haul from forests and alpine meadows. Riders after structured instruction or show-ring miles will find riding academies and boarding barns around Missoula and Bozeman, covering both English and Western disciplines.

East of the mountains, Montana flattens into rolling hills and open plains cut by the Yellowstone and the Missouri. Working ranches out here still center their horsemanship on cattle, and the boarding and training barns lean toward Western performance and ranch-horse development. The riding is different too: long gallops across open country, drops into river breaks, and the particular quiet of Big Sky country with no mountain trail in sight.

Wherever you land, the facilities are shaped by what surrounds them, an easy afternoon along Flathead Lake at one end of the spectrum, a week-long string ride into the Bob Marshall Wilderness at the other. Montana's public lands are vast and largely open to stock, which is what makes the state work at this scale. Pick a region and you get its character; there's no generic version of riding here.

When to ride in Montana

Peak Jun–Sep

Full season

Quick facts

Bridle trails mapped
2,579
Stables listed
27
Best season
June through October

Trip guide

Know before you go in Montana

Federal permits, lotteries and timed-entry reservations in Montana, from Recreation.gov.

Confirm current requirements with the agency that sets them before your trip. Rules and fees change every season.

  • Interstate Equine Movement Requirements

    All equines entering Montana must be accompanied by a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), issued within 30 days of entry, and a negative Coggins test dated within 12 months for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). These documents must be presented upon request by state officials.

  • Montana Brand Inspection

    Horses entering Montana for change of ownership, or before crossing a county line or leaving the state, are subject to brand inspection by the Montana Department of Livestock. This ensures proper ownership documentation and disease control.

  • Certified Weed-Free Forage

    When packing into or riding on many public lands in Montana, including National Forests and designated wilderness areas, visitors are required to use certified weed-free hay, pellets, or cubes. This regulation helps prevent the spread of invasive plant species. Verify specific requirements with the land management agency for your destination.

01Are helmets required for trail rides or lessons in Montana?
Montana law doesn't mandate helmets for adult riders, but most reputable operations do, riding academies especially, and any outfit putting beginners or minors on guided rides. Ask about the policy when you book; don't assume.
02Can I bring my own horse to Montana for trail riding or boarding?
Yes, with paperwork. Your horse needs a current negative Coggins test for Equine Infectious Anemia and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection from a licensed veterinarian. Depending on why you're coming and how long you're staying, Montana's brand inspection laws may apply as well.
03What type of riding discipline is most common in Montana?
Western, by a wide margin: trail riding, ranch work, and Western performance events, all rooted in the state's cowboy economy. English facilities and instruction exist too, mostly in the larger towns like Bozeman and Missoula.
04Are there opportunities for multi-day pack trips into Montana's wilderness?
Few states do this better. Licensed outfitters run guided pack trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, among others: anywhere from a few days to over a week in the saddle, camp to camp, in country you can't reach any other way.
05How far in advance should I book a guest ranch stay or guided trail ride?
For guest ranches in peak summer and early fall, think months ahead, sometimes a year. Trail rides and lessons are more forgiving, but several weeks of lead time is still smart if your dates are fixed.
06What are the typical costs associated with equestrian activities in Montana?
It depends on what you're buying. A one-hour guided trail ride runs roughly $75-$150 per person. All-inclusive guest ranch stays of several days to a week land between $2,000 and $5,000+ per person. Lessons typically cost $50-$100 an hour, and monthly board ranges from $300 to $800+ depending on the facility and where it sits.

Watch & learn

Watch & learn, Montana

  • YouTube

    Wrangling Wild Horses in the Mountains of Montana | Short Film Showcase

    National Geographic

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  • YouTube

    Arabian HORSE climbs a mountain ~ MONTANA trail ride POV!

    The Clever Cowgirl

    0
  • YouTube

    10 Hours in the Saddle - A Day in the Life of a Montana Cowboy

    Life in the West

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