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.

Updated October 7, 2026

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27 stables in Montana

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Wilderness Pack Trips- Yellowstone

Emigrant, MT5.0(2)

Rating from Google Maps

Wilderness Pack Trips- Yellowstone is a pack-trip outfitter in Emigrant.

Trail RidingPack Trips

Rating from Google Maps

Wolfpack Outfitters Inc

Ennis, MT4.9(49)

Rating from Google Maps

Wolfpack Outfitters Inc is a pack-trip outfitter in Ennis. They offer private, custom horseback rides for groups, with horses brought to a mountain trailhead or the visitor's ranch.

Trail RidingPack Trips

Rating from Google Maps

Yellowstone Horseback Riding at The Diamond P Ranch

West Yellowstone, MT4.8(435)

Rating from Google Maps

Yellowstone Horseback Riding at The Diamond P Ranch is a trail riding stable in West Yellowstone. Rated 4.8 by 435 reviews.

Trail Riding

Rating from Google Maps

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Stables, bridle trails and camping in Montana

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Browse all 2,579 bridle trails

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