The road from Jackson to Flat Creek is half the fun! It's a surprise to end up in this beautiful canyon after the ride in. The Cissy Cabin (usually used by families) is very spacious and well-appointed while keeping the wilderness feel. The staff is both knowledgeable and friendly. Although coffee is delivered to your cabin each morning of your stay, we preferred to sit in the kitchen to observe the "show" while the staff prepared breakfast. It felt just like we were with family and sharing the morning together. Our teenage girls were very pleased with the horseback riding, while the fishing and hiking were some of the best we have ever experienced. To ease our self-inflicted aches and pains (all in the name of leisure!), the staff graciously prepared the wood-burning sauna for our relaxation and we were so blessed to have made new friends of the other 6 guests who were there at the same time. Joe and Marcia always share the history of the ranch and love to field the variety of questions that arise from the guests. Equally able in managing are Trey and Shelby who made the first part of our stay so warm and inviting. We will remember our stay very fondly, recommend this destination to friends and hope to visit again very soon.

Traveled with seven girls who have hiked all over for twenty eight summers. This definitely has been our best spot. Everyone hiked at their own level, ride horses if they wanted, learn to fly fish and top off the day with a sauna and a gourmet meal. The cabins are precious with a Lauren feel and very large, warm and cozy. You are in the real wilderness with wonderful stories of the ranch's history from owners, Marcia and Joe. It was a most restful time and greatly enjoyed by all.

In planning our 1st Howell family adventure, we were looking for a place that was both beautiful, rustic, private and would allow for the many different activity levels and interests of our family. My husband chose Flat Creek Ranch and what a wonderful, perfect choice he made for all of us. After 2 days in Jackson Hole, Joe Albright, owner of Flat Creek Ranch, picked our family of 7 up and took us for a long hike to the tents on Sheep Creek where we would stay for 2 nights. We had day hikes through the Gros Ventre, campfires at night with a clear view of the stars, great views of the Teton Mountains, and delicious food prepared in the mess tent. Two of us chose to hike with our guide up Jackson Peak, while the five others fished at Goodwin Lake. After two days roughing it, we hiked into Flat Creek Ranch and were delighted to see our cabins sitting on a beautiful lake, surrounded by the mountains and flowing into a babbling stream beside the cabins. During our 4-night stay at the ranch, we enjoyed the horseback riding, hiking, fly fishing, canoeing, suana and even the ping pong and horseshoes. We appreciated the staff offering a variety of activities on different levels so everyone had something they enjoyed doing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were superb, with may of the herbs and greens coming from their own garden. Appetizers, beer and wine was served on the porch overlooking the lake and was a wonderful time to meet the other guests, discuss the day's events and hear Joe and Marcia's story of the history of the ranch. The service was excellent, beginning with coffee brought to your cabin before breakfast, and including meeting any need you had with a great smile and cheerfulness. All seven of us loved our Flat Creek Ranch experience for different reasons, but we all agree that we plan to return again and again.

We drove from Michigan to Jackson (Hole), WY from Michigan over two days. We stayed at the Best Western in Jackson the night before our visit to the ranch. We spent the following morning shopping and browsing the Jackson Town Square before meeting Joe, Marcia and others from our ranch group at the local fly fishing shop.

Joe, Marcia and the fly shop set all folks planning to fly fish up with the right flies prior to us hitting the road for the ranch. Arrangements were made at the fly shop on who would ride how far and in what ranch truck up to the ranch. After leaving Jackson the ride begins with a drive through the National Elk Reserve. Because we drove a small car the plan for us was to park our car in a parking area at the end of the Elk Reserve and take our gear and us up in one of the ranch trucks. We rode in Marcia's truck with another couple and Marcia said that the 15 mile drive usually takes 1-1/2 hours. It is hard to imagine a 15 mile driveway until you experience it :-) The road beyond where we parked our car should only be attempted with a truck having HIGH ground clearance. The ruts and water keep most of the folks away from the ranch.

Upon arrival we were introduced to our cabin. We stayed in the Josephine, which is the closest to the lake and also on the river. Our first impression was how loud the river was! We laughed and decided that leaving the wooden door open with just the screen door to let in fresh air was not going to be an option at night. (What can you say - city folks!!)

Dinner each night begins with appetizers and beverages. The first night everyone had a chance to introduce themselves and get to know the others in the group. At dinner Joe & Marcia instructed us to sit apart from our traveling partners so that we could get to know others in more detail. Joe & Marcia tag teamed over dinner to tell the group the history of the ranch. We did not know prior to visiting that the ranch had been in their family for several generations. Knowing that made the experience more enjoyable. It is nice that Joe & Marcia care enough about their place to let others share it with them.

The daily schedule is...
7:15am - morning wake-up and beverages delivered to your cabin
8:00am - breakfast
1:00pm - lunch
7:15pm - appetizers
8:00pm - dinner

The first full day we elected to do a horse ride in the morning. The ride was approximately 3 hours long. The horses were well behaved and did the trail up mountains, down mountains, off trail, through water & mud and up rivers with little hesitation. All I needed to do was HANG ON and keep from being knocked off by my horse (General Jack Frost). The views were awesome!! Artic lakes, fresh streams. The smell of the forest was also very refreshing.

The morning of the 2nd day we choose an intermediate hike. The hike took us up and down mountains. Having done what they call an intermediate hike I know I would not be up to a strenous one. I don't know how many mountains we hiked up and down, but it had to be at least 5. My comment to my husband was my Nordic Trac only goes to an incline of 10 and the "up" was at LEAST a 15 :-) The end result was a view of the Teton Mtns. It was worth the hike!

The highlight of day 2's afternoon was fly fishing. Trey (resident fish expert) fitted us with gear and gave us basic casting instructions. He helped place all the fisher people in the water and even helped me land my first cut throat trout! A late day thunderstorm brought everyone back to the ranch in time for dinner. Joe & Marcia left the guests in the care of Trey & Shelby (the Managers) when they went into town. All guest employees are just fantastic.

The last full day my husband fished and I relaxed in one of the cabin deck chairs and read. The weather was 70's and sunny. It was a perfect way to relax - not too hot, not too cold.

Many of our fellow guests fired up the small wood stove in their cabins both morning and night. We fired ours up only the last night to share a bottle of wine before bed, not for the warmth, but for the glow of the fire. While it was cool at night the beds had flannel sheets, a wool blanket and two other blankets to keep us toasty warm.

Some observations...
It gets REALLY dark at night.
Taking a "fire extinguisher" of Bear Spray on a hike is a little intimidating.
I should have prepared better for the hikes ahead of time.
Some folks had minor nose bleed issues with the mountain air (me included).
The food and service was 100% top notch.
My husband's prime catches were a 17" brook trout and a 20" cut throat.
It would be a GREAT honeymoon spot.