Paintbrush Adventures
Paintbrush Adventures
4.5
About
Welcome to our world of beauty and serenity. The Stillwater Valley & Beartooth Mountains in Custer National Forest are filled with breathtaking scenery, a variety of wildlife and rich history. Join us for a riding, packing or ranch experience that you will never forget. We offer hour rides, day rides, day hikes, drop camps, pack trips and guided fishing trips. Trips are tailor-made for you. Paintbrush Adventures and the famous Barron Ranch offer a picture perfect setting, great hosts, and an authentic hands-on cowboy life. It is high energy, fast paced, and very informal year round unlike any dude ranch in Montana. You choose… whether it is staying on the ranch and participating in farm & ranch work like moving cattle, feeding the animals, going on scenic rides, or roughing it in comfort and style on one of our mountain pack trips or any combination of activities and excursions. You pick how you want to spend your Montana vacation experience!
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
23 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
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PattiG0718
Knoxville, TN2 contributions
Jul 2021
We had a hard time finding a place that wasn't sold out and made quite a drive to Paintbrush Adventures. It was WELL worth it! Although skilled as a young person, had not ridden in many years but Sharon was excellent at choosing a great horse for both myself and my husband and making us feel comfortable. The ride was beautiful and taking the horses down to the river was so much fun! Her daughter took some great pictures for us and Sharon had such interesting stories and gave us ideas for nearby places to see as well. We would have enjoyed a longer ride but the heat was so excessive, we did the 1 hour. We would gladly do it again!
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorna Nicholson
11 contributions
Jun 2022
Me and my friend enjoyed a week long ranch vacation with Wanda and her family, which massively exceeded all expectations!
All horses were trained incredibly well, to suit people of differing abilities, they were healthy and cared for with heartwarming personalities. We were lucky enough to watch Troy and Brooke working with some young colts . Their natural horsemanship techniques were mesmerizing to watch.
We were involved in 2 cattle herding's during our week, we were hands on in learning the 'cowboy' way of rounding them up and moving them on. We got to see all kinds of wildlife and the views are heavenly.
We were also invited on 2 branding days with close family and friends, getting hands on with the vaccinations and others tasks. We were even taught to rope! It was truly heartwarming to be welcomed into this family, invited to BBQ's and made to feel at home. It felt as though we had known this family our whole lives.
I feel it important to mention that we arrive just 1 week after some horrific flooding which caused a lot of damage to the ranch and surrounding towns. Wanda's family and friends rallied to fix things for our stay. Although there was still much to be done, Wanda made sure our experience was as fulfilled as it would normally be.
This holiday was honestly the best, we were so sad to leave as it felt like home. I can counting the days until i get to go out and visit again. Thank you to Wanda, Tiny, Troy, Brooke and everyone else for such a magical week <3
All horses were trained incredibly well, to suit people of differing abilities, they were healthy and cared for with heartwarming personalities. We were lucky enough to watch Troy and Brooke working with some young colts . Their natural horsemanship techniques were mesmerizing to watch.
We were involved in 2 cattle herding's during our week, we were hands on in learning the 'cowboy' way of rounding them up and moving them on. We got to see all kinds of wildlife and the views are heavenly.
We were also invited on 2 branding days with close family and friends, getting hands on with the vaccinations and others tasks. We were even taught to rope! It was truly heartwarming to be welcomed into this family, invited to BBQ's and made to feel at home. It felt as though we had known this family our whole lives.
I feel it important to mention that we arrive just 1 week after some horrific flooding which caused a lot of damage to the ranch and surrounding towns. Wanda's family and friends rallied to fix things for our stay. Although there was still much to be done, Wanda made sure our experience was as fulfilled as it would normally be.
This holiday was honestly the best, we were so sad to leave as it felt like home. I can counting the days until i get to go out and visit again. Thank you to Wanda, Tiny, Troy, Brooke and everyone else for such a magical week <3
Written July 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emily V
Orange County, CA36 contributions
Sep 2020
My husband and I booked a 3 day/2 night pack trip with Paintbrush Adventures and it was absolutely amazing! We had never done anything like it before and now cannot wait to come back and do it again. Wanda and Tiny know the Absaroka Mountains like the back of their hand. We felt safe and comfortable the entire trip. It was a breathtaking 8 mile ride into camp, which was right along the Stillwater River. We learned how to fly fish, hiked around and walked upstream with lunch/drinks in our backpacks and enjoyed our time in the wilderness. We loved getting involved with helping with the horses and mules. Tiny was not shy on showing us what to do and how to help! Wanda and Tiny have the biggest hearts, are so accommodating and provide you with the real deal! We are looking forward to visiting them again in 2021!
Written September 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer G
3 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
What a wonderful place to visit. We stayed in the cabin right on the river. Wanda was so accommodating along with the individuals that work for her. She has so much history to share about this beautiful area that I could have asked questions and talked to her all day. She truly loves this land, the people that live there (past and present) and her horses. She knows each and everyone of them so well. We felt very safe and comfortable with our kids riding with us on the horses they paired them with. Kids loved it too.
Thank you Paintbrush and Wanda for a wonderful stay in Montana!!!
Thank you Paintbrush and Wanda for a wonderful stay in Montana!!!
Written July 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aldridge Family
Needville, TX19 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
Of all the horseback riding adventures we’ve taken, none can stack up to this one! The scenery and routes can only be described as “out of a movie,” and the staff is nothing short of exemplary. The horses are very well tempered and good for a variety of skill levels. If you want to see some of the best sites Montana has to offer, book a paddle and saddle and enjoy the trip!
Written June 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
P N
Denver, CO8 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
I booked a last minute trail ride for myself, husband, and 8 & 11 year old kids. The owner went out of her way to accommodate us. Sharon was our guide and made it a WONDERFUL experience for all of us, making sure my 8 year old was comfortable since it was his first time. The scenery was beautiful and peaceful, the horses were sweet, and Sharon let my kids spend extra time petting the horses. We felt safe the entire time. It exceeded my expectations and was better than any trail ride experience I’ve ever had. I didn’t want to leave!
Written October 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judy
Salt Lake City, UT4 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
Thank you Sharon for a great horseback riding adventure! You don’t have to be an experienced rider with Sharon by your side. You ride calm horses up and down mountain trails and along the river. The scenery was breathtaking! A majestic ride filled with nature. I am a 58 year old woman and I went with my son 26 and daughter 23. We all enjoyed it so much and can’t wait to come back! If you come to Montana don’t miss out on this Great Ride!
Written June 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dukdang
Malvern, PA2 contributions
Aug 2012 • Couples
We booked with Paintbrush adventures for a week of ranch days. City Slickers IV - Curse of the East coasters. We could not stay on the Ranch or in their Ranch house (which I heard is beautiful) along the Stillwater river (Fishermen usually book this far in advance) because it was booked. We stayed at another ranch 8 miles away but we were there from 8AM to 10PM. If you have insomnia, this will cure it. Every night we hit the bed hard! Some nights we did not even shower before bed, that's how tired we were. It's not hard work but for a couple of people who sit at a desk all day (who goes to the gym a few times a week), all day walking around and doing stuff wears you out quickly. Tini (Wanda's husband showed us the farm and the cattle and sheep. Tini showed us how he horseshoes them and help us learn to saddle our own horses. He was a the quintessential working ranchman/cowboy who would leave after breakfast and come back before dinner with his hands all black from the work that he did all day. These people work hard! For our ranch days we fed the sheep and lambs and chickens and we took daily horseback trips to check on the cattle, long horned steer across 1500 acres! We saw the old homestead houses and old abandoned school houses and rode across the rolling hills as if we were in a dream. We corralled a Bull (who had gotten out of the fence onto a neighbor's land) for maybe a mile or two on horseback and got him back into the horse trailer - That was quite an adventure! I watched Emily (a ranch hand from England) galloping and grabbing her hat to catch up to the Bull…it was so graceful. At one point we were on the horses and we went into a Lope (which is faster than a trot but slower than a gallop) which was so much fun and scary at the same time. One day Troy (Wanda's son) let us watch him break a 3 year old horse. I was amazed at how really non physical it was and how it was almost all psychological. He really has an amazing rapport with horses and Mules. I was transfixed for 2-3 hours. On the last day, we had a rodeo day, where we got to do barrel runs and games that use all the horse riding skills that you learn all week and it was amazing at what I had learned! From basically a non rider to a person who was confident and proficient on a horse. My girlfriend noticed that we had not seen a gym in a while and it made sense that when you lead this type of life, you really don't need to go workout because your entire day is physical. I thought my investment in a cowboy hat and cowboy boots were a great investment because I got a lot of use from them. The ranch days were such an adventure and so much fun!
Written May 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarpeDiemMT
Billings, MT35 contributions
Jun 2012 • Family
Our group of family and friends totaled 12 and we were easily accommodated on a glorious trail ride. The mountain view and river trail are gorgeous. The horses and equipment top notch. We enjoyed every minute of this experience and recommend it highly. For the record, most of us had no experience around horses. Wanda's horses and her staff are well-trained for this type of situation and so this didn't matter. Great experience!
Written November 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ewilk0
Nottingham, UK1 contribution
Sep 2016 • Solo
I stayed at the Barron ranch for 2 weeks - a once in a lifetime chance to experience living in this beautiful area - and experience it we did.
The whole family welcomed us into their lives so that we felt like friends and guests rather than tourists or visitors. We became part of the family - helping move sheep, going to auctions, seeing the experts at work shoeing mules as well as a little shopping and visiting some amazing attractions such as the cave paintings near billings.
We went a number of rides in the local area, riding up steep paths into the mountains - stunning scenery that left me wanting to stay in the mountains on one of the camps that the family run.
As a pretty novice rider I felt safe on the sure-footed horses and we were all matched according to our ability.
The accommodation was luxurious (open fire in the master bed room!) the food delicious - made by wanda in her own kitchen and eaten alongside the family, and the company lovely - friendly local people with a genuine wish to put you at your ease and make sure you have a great time. Thank you Wanda, Tini, Ty, and all of the crew - you better watch out I might be back! X
The whole family welcomed us into their lives so that we felt like friends and guests rather than tourists or visitors. We became part of the family - helping move sheep, going to auctions, seeing the experts at work shoeing mules as well as a little shopping and visiting some amazing attractions such as the cave paintings near billings.
We went a number of rides in the local area, riding up steep paths into the mountains - stunning scenery that left me wanting to stay in the mountains on one of the camps that the family run.
As a pretty novice rider I felt safe on the sure-footed horses and we were all matched according to our ability.
The accommodation was luxurious (open fire in the master bed room!) the food delicious - made by wanda in her own kitchen and eaten alongside the family, and the company lovely - friendly local people with a genuine wish to put you at your ease and make sure you have a great time. Thank you Wanda, Tini, Ty, and all of the crew - you better watch out I might be back! X
Written October 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Paintbrush Adventures (Absarokee) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Paintbrush Adventures
- Hotels near Paintbrush Adventures:
- (1.13 mi) Stillwater Lodge
- (1.02 mi) Bed & No Breakfast Bunkhouse
- (3.93 mi) Lena's Cabins
- (5.13 mi) Hand Built Log Cabin in Ponderosa Forest
- (8.96 mi) Luxury Riverfront Beartooth Mountain Lodge - Private Retreat! Visit Yellowstone
- Restaurants near Paintbrush Adventures:
- (1.10 mi) Niemi's Rosebud Cafe
- (0.91 mi) Ginger's Coffee Corral
- (0.95 mi) Dew Drop Inn
- (6.53 mi) MontAsia
- (3.74 mi) Wild Flower Kitchen
Paintbrush Adventures Information
Excellent Reviews | 17 |
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Very Good Reviews | 6 |
Paintbrush Adventures Photos | 29 |