Bear Creek Guest Ranch
Arrivals are normally on Sunday afternoon. Departures the following Saturday.
Keep Scrolling for more information regarding each special Event Week!!
Rodeo, Indian Relay Races, Native Sweat, Parade, Fry Bread
North American Indian Days
A very special week encompassing the
Blackfeet world and traditions.
Well alright, I think we’re on to a good one! How about the 1st “North American Indian Days,” an almost weeklong celebration at Bear Creek Ranch, beginning on Sunday July 7th and extending until Saturday July 13th? For years now, we’ve always recognized and participated in the annual Indian Days Celebration of the Blackfeet Nation, which normally begins during the 2nd week of July. But we’re wanting more!
On July 7th we’re planning a very special week with a strong emphasis on the Indian way of life not only as we see it but as they view their lives in the 21st century. I’ve always thought that the best way to learn about the Native world is to engage with it, socially, and face to face. That means making ourselves available through visiting, breaking bread together, listening to their stories, and spending a few days horseback with some of the finest native horse people there are on the planet. You will be our very special guests as we spend the week with any number of Native friends at our place and on their homeland.
We plan to attend the local Rodeo on the Indian reservation and take part in the festivities! You can try Fry Bread, watch Indian Relay Races (which is our favorite part for sure!!), and if you want, we have organized so that you can even take part in a traditional Native Sweat. Oh, and there's also a parade!
Naturally, I do put some extra emphasis on the horseback riding we’ll do, both on the reservation, and in the surrounding country that the Blackfeet people gathered, hunted, fished, and worshipped in. We’ll be riding with some of the fine native folks with whom I’ve ridden and gotten to know over the years. You’ll be riding in the country that was theirs before there were boundaries! I know from experience that being horseback for a day can be pretty uplifting for folks wanting to get to know one another. Good horses in good country with good people is the way I think. It works.
In addition the riding we’ll do on at least three full days, we’ll also be visiting with each other and our Blackfeet friends when we break bread in the mornings and evenings or simply lounging in the sun during a break in activities at the ranch. The idea will be to get to know one another, have some fun, or even saddle a few horses and rope in the arena. And yes, women rope.
We’ve already got folks booked for this week. So, if you are interested, please do call ASAP. We’ve got only five cabins available to guests, and this is going to be one good week, I am sure. There’s not another one like it.
We’re normally here at the ranch all day. 406-226-4489
Well, it’s about time ain’t it! It’s about time to pick out the best trail rides I’ve
ever done and then do ‘em again!
So, next season (2024), I’ll be putting together a week that will highlight some of the most awesome country I know, the best riding on our best horses, riding our best selection of trails one day with the potential of moving cattle the next day, and in addition we’re going to highlight each of our eight guests over the course of the week as I share with you country you’ve never seen before and perhaps never will again!
I started riding the country that surrounds me at my home, Bear Creek Ranch,
more than forty years ago. I came to the ranch with the idea that I’d gather up a
few horses and somehow, some way, be able to ride folks into the country that surround us. We do stay out of Glacier National Park for the most part but
focus our best rides both In the Badger-Two Medicine and Blackfeet Reservation
Country. Believe me, you “won’t believe” what you’re going to see. Over the
course of many years I’ve had the pleasure of riding areas that are “off the beaten path,” and not ridden by anyone. We’ve done those rides for, in many cases,
years, and have yet to ever see another soul. We can ride with “effect” and not at
a regimented walk in a crowd. If we care to hit a trot or a lope, we’ll do so. Do
keep in mind that we’ll also pay attention to our horses and will manage their days with care directed towards their lives as well. Hitting it too hard isn’t good but riding too slowly isn’t what you are coming for either. I think our many guests that have ridden with us over the years would agree. And by the way, if you care
to, there’s a bunch of reviews on our operation at TripAdvisor.com. Feel free to
take a look!
So back to “my favorite” rides of the last half century, almost! Beginning on
Sunday, August 25th we’ll be picking up 8- 10 guests at the airport in Kalispell. The
ride back to the ranch is about seventy miles so we’ll be at the ranch in any hour or so. You’ll be staying in one of our five cabins and eating some real filling and
nutritious homemade meals every morning and evening. We pack lunch in saddle bags and eat on the trail each day. Following an introduction to the ranch and our staff we’ll be riding in our sand arena to match everyone up to the right horse and
the right saddle. We’ve got plenty of horses to choose from and you will be welcome to ride the same horse all week or switch things up and ride a few different ones.
For the record, we do have a weight limit of 225 pounds and on the week in question we are asking that you have some riding experience. You don’t need a lot of experience as we’ve got horses that will be more malleable than others, but you will feel more comfortable if you’ve got the basic horsemanship skills covered.
The ideas I have for the following week are to ride a different bit of country every day. I’ll run our options by you each evening and we’ll go from there. Wind, rain,
or snow won’t be a factor during this period of time. The sky is blue and sunny,
rain will be hard to find, and snow season is still a few months off. No mud and
no bugs! You’ll be riding the mountains, the foothills, and the coulees along the
river. You won’t need to ride nose to tail. Spread out when you care to. On any
given day we may have the opportunity to see a bear, black or grizzly. They’re
there and you’ll see tracks and scat. We see the big ones from a distance and
with a group on horseback there is no danger.
I’ve always maintained that a day horseback is a day well spent. That’s where we
want to go! There’s a whole lot to be said about swinging a leg over and heading out. That’s really the essence of a good ride. If you’re riding in good country, on a
good horse, and with good folks, you’re way ahead of the ballgame. Everything
else is gravy! You are going to be riding with some good people. Believe it or
not, we rarely have a mix up or an unsatisfied customer. So many of the groups
that have been informally put together for the adventure vacations are a big part of the joy you’ll experience over the course of the week. You’ll be meeting folks from our country and beyond. This past season we had ‘em from Sweden,
Ireland, and Australia.
If after reading this you still find yourselves with some questions regarding times,
dates, and details please feel free to call us here and send an e-mail. We’ll
probably be here but if not just leave a message. Some guests talk to us a half dozen times before they ever arrive. Ask away. No worries.
So, we’ll be good to go when you’re ready! We’d love to have you with us on this very special, first of it’s kind adventure vacation. I don’t know of another outfit that does it like us. Bring some clothing, boots, and a hat along with a good sense of humor and an appetite.
Hope you are well and again looking forward to another warm weather season,
still another 6 months ahead of us!
Let’s talk soon,
Bill.
15750 US-2, Essex, MT 59916 United States | (406) 226-4489 | bill.bearcreekranch@gmail.com
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