The Ranch at Rock Creek

Character and identity

The Ranch at Rock Creek spreads across 6,600 acres of meadow and forested hilltop between the Pintler and Sapphire ranges, with four miles of Blue Ribbon trout water running through it. At its heart, Granite Lodge is a two-storey stone and timber base camp with elegant Western furnishings, housing the dining room, nine themed guest rooms (Appaloosa, Winchester and the like), The Spa at Rock Creek, and a hearth-warmed great room set up for Scrabble and Missoula Mules. The Silver Dollar Saloon adds a four-lane bowling alley, karaoke, and old Western films. The register is all-inclusive luxury with a polished ranch-hand warmth.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining draw here is the land itself and the depth of activity built onto it: this is a working luxury ranch, not a hotel that happens to sit in Montana. Spend the money if you intend to ride, fish and explore daily; book a Granite Lodge room for the social heart of the property, and target late spring or early autumn for the best riding and fishing conditions.