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Nestled along the Judith River the Circle Bar Ranch is a historic guest ranch that dates back to the 1800s in central Montana. At 5000 feet in elevation, the Circle Bar enjoys the best of Montana’s summer weather with a host of activities for your family and friends to enjoy. Our Full American Plan rates include lodging, all meals, horseback riding and ranch activities.
We had a great time at Circle Bar Guest Ranch. My husband and I prioritize riding so we didn’t do any of the other activities. The other guests enjoyed these activities. But the riding was great. I would return for the cattle drive ride which was a lot of fun (driving cattle from one pen to another and back again). We also enjoyed the fast ride - landscape and the area was beautiful. Food was great - buffet of eggs and meats for breakfast (plus lots of extras like fruit and bagels). Lunch was buffet as well with things like soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, Mexican. Dinner was one or two main options like bison ribs, steak, pasta. They do accommodate dietary restrictions as needed. The staff were all great - the wranglers were friendly and helpful - and patient with any nervous first time riders. Accommodation was adequate. You can buy beer, wine and soft drinks at the Blue Nugget down the road - but they are closed Monday and Tuesday. We will be returning to Circle Bar! Thank you!!…
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Date of stay: August 2023
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
My wife and I spent five nights and six glorious days at the Circle Bar Ranch and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. We were welcomed by the managers and quickly became new friends with the other adventurers present. We were able to do every activity and none of them disappointed. The food was surprisingly excellent, Chef Danny hit it out of the park! Accommodations were spacious and full of character. The staff was personable and competent and we were all welcomed like family. Not only would I strongly recommend Circle Bar Ranch, I would go again.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
A group of family and friends traveled to the ranch to celebrate the 80th birthday of a family member. The area is mountainous with the Judith River running through the property. The riding was spectacular along trails that were along the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Activities included swimming in the river, archery, shooting, hiking, ATV trips and fishing. The meals were family style and very good. We enjoyed long conversations and loads of laughs at the table. Our room in the lodge are was very comfortable and convenient to all areas of the ranch. The horses were excellent. The cattle driving was the ride that was most memorable. This area in Montana also had some interesting off site taverns, restaurants and cities with shopping.
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Date of stay: July 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.
Our family has been on going on "dude" ranch trips for 7-8 years now and this one was as good as it gets. Not every trip has been the same terrain or vibe and that's what makes each one unique. Circle Bar takes the cake for our families favorite riding. You ride through and across rivers, up mountains, across evergreen forests, open fields and through national parks. The beauty at Circle Bar is unmatched. Now let's get to the other stuff. Adults and kids alike have endless activities to do throughout the day. ATV rides, shooting guns, branding our western gear, fishing in the Judith River or just floating in tubes down the river after a long morning ride. Our hosts (Kyle and Emily) and all the staff were always more than happy to do whatever we wanted. They even changed or added some specific rides just so we could all experience everything the ranch had to offer. Kyle & Emily went as far as personally performing two different "shows" for us. Think falcon training and dog training....and I mean unbelievable shows you would pay a lot of $ to see. The food was excellent, and the kitchen staff always asked what we needed or if anyone needed anything that wasn't on that day’s menu (we had some picky kids and adults:) The ranch/land itself dates to the late 1800's and became Circle Bar in the early 1900's. My favorite part of Circle Bar is that the current owners purchased the land/ranch after it sat unused for years to bring it back to life and preserve the "cowboy" lifestyle of taking care of the land, the cattle, the horses all while providing the rest of us with a top notch vacation experience.…
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Date of stay: August 2022
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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.
There is no better way to spend your summer than in Montana on horseback... and Circle Bar Guest Ranch is just the place to do it! The ranch is set in a remote location of Montana a short drive from Great Falls Airport. Our family (2 adults and 12 year old daughter) within a larger group (ages 5-75) spent a week at Circle Bar and had the time of our life... First and Foremost the riding and staff are the star of the show! The riding can range from beginner level to more advanced and it does not disappoint... Riding through meadows, pines and rivers were absolutely incredible!! What also makes this ranch so unique is the ability to round-up cattle... If you are looking to get your inner "cowboy on" you will be obsessed with this activity!! They have a horse perfect for every rider! My horse, Loosy, was a handsome Apaloosa that was steady and reliable! The wranglers were incredibly knowledgeable and even after 7 years of western riding, I learned something new every day. In terms of the food and accommodations... I absolutely loved the 4 bedroom cabin we occupied that week... I could not get enough of the art work and the beautiful sunsets while sitting on the porch at night. The food was comfort meets ranch... Options for breakfast and lunch buffet style and plated meals at night... We never went hungry! I also loved that there were other options for activities for those who want to enhance their experience or are non-riders. Archery, ATV tours, and shooting are all available. In the afternoons, we loved going out to the Judith River and floating on tubes... horse friends coming up to join in the fun!!! I can't say enough about this special place and the staff that work there... Thank you Kyle, Emily, Isabelle and John to name a few... This was a vacation that we will never forget!! …
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Date of stay: August 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.
Our family spent a week at Circle Bar last summer and we still reminisce about all of our adventures and laughs. We were there with friends as well and can’t say enough wonderful things about our experience. It is a great recharge for the battery! The rides were scenic and the wranglers were extremely helpful. I rode horses growing up but it had been years. I stayed back one day from a ride and did a private lesson to work on my trotting and loping skills. I learned so much in that 1 hour from my very attentive wrangler Isabel! Our rustic cabin was very spacious for our family of 4 but we also spent very little time inside. Our 10 and 12 yr old loved the horseback riding but they also spent afternoons tubing down the Judith River! The staff was very attentive and worked hard to give us a great experience. The food was delicious and our chef even made a special coconut cupcake tower for dessert one night when he found out our son was turning 10 on the ranch! Also, don’t miss out on the cattle drive. This was probably my favorite activity on horseback!…
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Our family loves the dude ranch experience and Circle Bar did not disappoint! Rustic cabins, the Judith River (perfect for cooling your bum after a long day of horseback riding) and a picturesque red barn created an idyllic setting for our family adventure in Big Sky country. Beyond the ranch lies National Forest with sweeping views of meadows and hillsides. There were different types of horse rides for the entire family from slow rides and fast rides, to a cattle drive, and my FAVORITE the 3-hour Adventure Ride with multiple stream crossings, ascents and descents, and a cave to explore. We did the UTV ride out to the Russell cabin and the sheer cliff walls along the road were stunning! The food was great, the staff was attentive and friendly, and the wranglers were engaging and knowledgeable. I think they had as much fun as we did! All the kids talk about now is going back to “The Ranch”. And honestly, I can’t wait to get back too! Thank you Kyle and Emily and the entire crew!…
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:The ranch did not have a liquor license when we were there, so bring provisions accordingly.
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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.
Stayed for a week and wished we could have stayed longer. We had a great time enjoying all of the possible activities that were available. Horseback riding, ATV tour through some of the Lewis & Clark National Forest to the Charlie Russell cabin, archery, pistol and rifle shooting, an unbelievably beautiful hike in a portion of the Lewis and Clark National Forest, all of which were provided by a friendly staff. The facility managers, Kyle and Emily were so nice and went out of their way to make our week there feel like we were staying with friends, which by the time we left was so true. We would (and hope to) go back again some day, a great time in a beautiful setting, worth every penny!
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
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.
I am a dude ranch junky, and have been to the Circle Bar ranch two times in two years. Each visit has been amazing and I recommend it to anyone that I tell my wonderful stories to. I was there the same week as "Larry" and I remember him and his two grandsons because they were a sullen bunch. This is a rustic ranch out in the middle of Montana! There will be problems during any travel, but I felt that the staff at Circle Bar did an excellent job fixing/working with any issues. The incredible rides and friendly people make it all worth an inconvenience here or there. I'm already booked for an even longer stay this June. I absolutely love this ranch, the management, the wranglers, and the rest of the staff!
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
I first went here as a kid in the 1950's it was a great memory s took my grandkids back Their memory; toilets backed up did not work and were not fixed. Ugh! No fish in the stream. Power bikes broke down No one to take us to charley russels cabin as promised last morning a sign that read something like "out of natural gas so cold cereal for breakfast Meals over all were marginal No happy campers here
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Date of stay: June 2022
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Service
Room Tip:find another place this is a corporate owned and run place
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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.