We visited Fairmont simply because we were looking for a nice place to stay while in the area. Our…read moreroom was lovely and all the amenities were great but what stood out for me were the healing qualities of the mineral water. Each day I looked forward to soaking in the wonderful new pools simply for pleasure, not giving a thought to the healing qualities of the water. However, by the end of our second day, I realized that lingering pain from an earlier accident and hip surgery was so much better. The arthritis in my back was practically non existent. Other family members could see a change in my mobility. I was able to extend my stay and my little vacation turned into a period of rehab. Every day I would walk in the water and do my stretches . The minerals in that warm water did wonders for my body and it was so enjoyable and fun. If you are dealing aches and pains or just need a little rejuvenation, this wonderful place is a must-visit. I definitely plan to return.

If you're planning to visit the front desk , just know you might be interrupting coloring time. I…read morecame in because my key card wouldn't work (which seems to be a regular issue), and instead of an actual solution, I was told to wait 5-7 minutes and try again. Not only is that not helpful, but the lack of urgency or basic customer service was pretty wild. Access to your building shouldn't depend on timing it between arts and crafts sessions.

Where do I begin to explain what an amazing experience we had at the Ranch. We arrived with a…read moregroup in total of 31 for a family reunion of sorts, and were all wowed by the service and special touches. Even from the pickup, I knew this experience would be special. I had a great conversation with Nora as she and some colleagues picked us up from Missoula and drove us to the Ranch. She talked about what makes this ranch so special and all the things she enjoys doing there. After a prior day of travel, it was also very nice to stretch out in the large vehicles provided (with water and snacks) and enjoy the amazing drive. We also had a side stop in Philipsburg where my two children really enjoyed the candy store! Once we made it to the Ranch, the wow's just kept coming. After dropping our bags, we had some of the best farm to table food I've ever had! The chefs take great pride in the food they are putting on the table the ingredients they select from. The service in the main dining hall (The Buckle Barn) is also top notch! Big shout outs to Storm and Claire! Storm took the time to get to know my kids and their VERY PICKY eating habits and had their specialty meals waiting for them for when we sat down to eat. Doing this simple task of getting a food for a child (that's not even on a kid's menu) really but my anxious mind at ease over the fear of "what will they eat this trip???". Side note: There was also a picnic lunch one day and without asking, Storm also had those sandwiches already packed in our lunch bag. Having two young children on a trip, it's often seen as parenting in a different location, not the case here. The Ranch provided camp for my two children with some of their younger cousin's every day, both morning and the afternoon so they could go and enjoy the Ranch at their pace. They got to fish, took UTV rides, made tie-dye t-shirts, mined for sapphires, and many arts and crafts, all in the beautiful surroundings of nature. This wonderful accommodation allowed my husband and I to have an actual vacation while away. We flyfished, went to the multiple gun ranges, sat by the creek, rode horses (request the guide Sierra, she's great!), did archery and ropes courses, and got to enjoy the time together. The accomidations were very lovely. Our large group took over 4 of the 5 cabins and each had their own charm. We watched the 4th of July fireworks from the comfort of the porch wrapped up in the cozy robe provided by the Ranch. Each night after a long day of activities and wonderful food either in the Buckle Barn or out by the Pebble Pond, you would come back to your bed turned down with a wonderful new product waiting for you provided by the Spa. I can't say enough good things about the time we had at the Ranch at Rock Creek and can only wish to one day return to the flowing waters of it's cool creek, and the stary sky's that light the way.

Amazing! Not sure where to start!! Our family of 4 spent the week of Thanksgiving '24 here at The…read moreRanch at Rock Creek and had a culmination of experiences that would forever be remembered. We flew into Missoula and spent one night at a downtown hotel before making our way to the ranch. From the moment the RC driver met us in the hotel lobby to the time we were dropped off at the airport we were impressed. The experiences at RC was totally awesome. Each time we would head out with our private guide we embarked on an unforgettable journey. We started off as a family doing the UTV tour of the ranch. Absolutely beautiful and serene time! One of my favorite experiences was the respite by the creeks edge. The staff had made a fire for us, placed some hammocks out, some games and books on our picnic bench. This was of course accompanied by a great bottle of wine and a charcuterie board! Our kids did some fly fishing while mom and I relaxed that afternoon. All of the facilities are top-notch and there is a ton of detail at every turn on this property. Some of our favorite shooting experiences were the rifle range and revolver shooting course with our guides Karson & Robert. The food at RC is an experience in itself and as good as you can imagine. We were lucky enough to meet the new chef Zach and he is truly passionate about his work! His first meal at the ranch was nothing short of amazing. Each dish was absolutely incredible & ultra tasty! The entire staff was so kind and attentive to us which we truly appreciated. Many thanks to Candace to making sure everything was perfect for us! Emily our breakfast server was so kind and thoughtful in the way she greeted & served us each morning! Brett was our dinner server most nights and he was always a joy to be around. He was also quite fast on the 5k Thanksgiving day but not quite as fast as Reed! Overall we had a some incredible expierences and plan to return to RC in the near future!

Travel snob who highly recommends this facility. Can only speak for the Sunset Dome but it was…read moreperfect. Perfect time of year to go. Mother's Day weekend 2025. There is nothing like a Montana sky!

Our favorite place to reset! Accommodations are top notch. Cleanliness is on point. We have stayed…read morein 4 of the 5 domes and a cabin we have never been disappointed! I recommend you take a flash light. Other then that 20/10 recommend!

These cabins were perfect! We rented 6 for a family get together. The place is amazing, clean,…read morequiet and the kitchens were well equipped. The beds were very comfortable. The small lake on the property was fun for the kids with paddle boards and canoes. They have a large pavilion in the center with bbq grills and plenty of tables. None of us wanted to leave. We will definitely go back and stay longer next time.

During our trip to MT to visit family, we reserved two separate occasions to stay here. The first…read morereservation, we couldn't make it due to travel issues. The owner was gracious enough to offer a free stay in the future. The second time, we barely made it, arriving at 4:30 am. The little time we spent, I enjoyed thoroughly. The cabins are well furnished, clean and functional. The decor is cute and contemporary. The bed was very comfortable. The views around the pond are fabulous. I wish we had been able to spend more time, it is a lovely place to stay.

This is our go-to place for hiking. Known simply as "The Rattlesnake" to locals, here you can find…read morea variety of hiking trails for people of all ages. This area is gorgeous and full of natural beauty. Regardless of which hiking trail you decide to explore, you will be taken back by the beautiful Montana scenery. My family and I have been coming here for 13 years now, and it still remains our favorite spot to soak up some nature. If you are just traveling through the area and came to this review, I promise you won't be disappointed. Here's a little secret: during huckleberry season, you will find there are plenty of huckleberry bushes scattered throughout the different trails. I would suggest grabbing a handful to snack on while you are hiking. If you aren't sure what they look like, Google "huckleberry bushes." The second you taste the sweetness of one, you will know. Be sure to bring some water with you if this is your first time. Also, don't forget to take lots of pictures!

Wonderful hiking area with abundant wildlife! Fortunately we did not come across any bears!read more

At 5,806 feet above sea level, the summit of University Mountain looms almost half a vertical mile…read moreabove the University of Montana campus, with plunging views into nearby Hellgate and Pattee Canyons. Despite such prominence, it is far less visited than Mount Sentinel (elevation 5,158 ft.), marked halfway up its steep slope by the letter "M," which acts like a magnet for students and trail runners alike who switchback up and down on a regular basis. Even joggers and hikers who use other trails in Pattee Canyon rarely make a stop here, preferring instead to drop down to the Clark Fork and the Kim Williams Trail (via Crazy Canyon Road and the Hellgate Canyon Trail). That's too bad. Because University Mountain is a key stopping point on what I consider to be the best short hike that you can do from the university district: a four summit loop that visits, in sequence, the summits of South Sentinel, University, Radio Tower Peak (elevation 5,543 ft.) and North Sentinel before dropping down back into town. The loop begins and ends at the Evans Ave trailhead. It's around 7-8 miles long with 3,000-3,500 feet of elevation gain/loss, depending on which trail connections you choose. Parts are fairly steep (more than 1,000 feet gain over less than 1 mile of distance), but the views are incredibly rewarding. From the exposed ridgelines, you can gaze in various directions at other prominent peaks outside of Missoula - Lolo, St. Mary's, Stuart, Cha-paa-qn, Sheep, etc. It's a convenient way to orient yourself in three-dimensional space, gazing across miles of open sky in all four compass directions. When the snow falls, as it did earlier this week (October 3), then this hike is particularly lovely, although you may need snowshoes if the accumulation is heavy. The feeling of isolation is very strong, despite the proximity of Missoula down below. But 2500 ft. is a *lot* of empty space, and one of the pleasures of this loop is the chance to gaze down into Hellgate Canyon below your feet, or back South towards the Bitterrroot Range, or West towards the airport where tiny-looking planes are landing, or North into the Rattlesnake, or East at the Sapphire Range. The smells of fresh pine, the feel of rushing wind, the crunch of frozen snow, the sound of your beating heart, it all flows and fixates in your imagination. Three or four hours later, as you walk the residential streets on your way home, you gaze up at the steep slopes of Sentinel and remember what it was like to be perched atop its twin peaks, to disappear into the tree-filled saddle between them, to struggle step-by-step up the exposed ridges, and to reach the cluster of radio towers at the halfway point of the hike. This is not a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's close enough to become a part of your seasonal routine. Each season the loop feels and looks different, and it's doable 12 months out of the year. As much as I love the university down below, the best classroom is higher up, at the summit of University Mountain. You'll learn more there than you can in any seminar, about nature, about time, about space, about the untapped reservoirs of strength in your body, and about where you fit, in a metaphysical sense, in it all. Standing alone on the summit, where the terrestrial colors of land melt into the blue infinity of sky, you perch on unsteady feet, pause to let your pulse subside, and discover in a lightning flash of unexpected insight just what a great thing it is, to be able to breathe. Then, when your eyes have adjusted to the immensities of distance, you blink, swallow, and smile. Time to move on. The next summit awaits.

My husband went to high school in Missoula and we were back for his reunion so we decided to take a…read moremoment and do this hike. It's not that far out of town from Missoula and has a decent size parking lot. There's also a few trails that you can take one being the Canyon Creek Trail, and the other being the Blodgett Canyon. We went with Blodgett Canyon. This trail is approximately a 3 mile hike up to the top where it is spectacularly beautiful! The hike itself is not that difficult although there are a few steeper parts. The view along the way is spectacular, so we didn't hike very fast...once we got to the top we hung out for about half an hour just looking at all the amazing beauty surrounding us. We were also there on a day when it looked like someone had gotten engaged at the top as we found a trail of rose petals, and a heart of rose petals at the top. I say kudos to whichever guy planned this!!! It was so cute and such a beautiful backdrop for an engagement!

What a beautiful hike and way to spend some time enjoying nature!…read more For the overlook trail, you are mostly going up hill the whole time so be prepared for a bit of an incline. The trail has a lot of trees so a good portion of it is shaded, but parts are still in the sun. Depending on the time you come, this trail gets pretty busy so be prepared for that. There is a nice opening spot up top so you can hangout and enjoy the views. I recommend packing a lunch or little picnic to enjoy up there before heading back down.

I did not have high expectations of this place as I've never heard of it before this trip, though…read morewanted to visit since it is a NPS site. It exceeded my expectations and I kind of loved it even though he did not get to do everything that it had to offer. We had a self tour of the ranch and learned about different part of it (stables, bunkhouses, saw old vehicles, blacksmith shop, etc. Got to pet some horses, help put the chickens away, and we got to practice lassoing. We were there for just about 2 1/2 hours and I would have stayed longer. I would have wanted to tour the house (we didn't think our kids would be patient in there) and see the rest of the grounds. The ranger working was great too. As there were no interpreters there, she told us about some of the things and as I mentioned, she let my kids help with the chickens. A great, interesting place to stop just about at the midpoint from Bozeman to Missoula.

Absolutely worth the stop. This ranch was acquired by the NPS with all the original documents,…read morefurnishings, out buildings and conveyances. This is a working ranch. In summer staff grow, cut and store hay in the way thenoriginal ranchers did. A chuck wagon is set up by the barns where staff cook over an open fire and tell stories of cattle ranching. And yes, they do still have cattle on the ranch. Besides a tour of the home and many barns, bunkhouse and sheds, there are multiple trails to enjoy. This area gets quite hot in the summer so be sure to have water and sun protection. In winter it's windy and cold, so dress warm. A good amount of both car and RV parking is available. Public restrooms near the visitor center and the house. If in the area, this is definitely worth a visit for an hour or a day. Picnic tables are availble for guests use.

It's now more of an AirBnB than a traditional inn but a great stay. I stayed in Rattlesnake Apt for…read moreone night. It's bigger than the pictures convey and it was very clean. I was just passing through town on this trip but it'll be a top choice in the future, especially if you want to be close to the university.

We loved our stay!! We booked room 6 which is the only room on the third floor. It was spacious…read more You have the bed and tv area which you can close off. And then you have the kitchen area and outside patio. We had great views of the train and mountains facing the back/parking lot and we had views of the river as well. The house is maybe a 10 min walk from popular eateries. It's right next to the doubletree that has a riverfront restaurant FINN, which I recommend going for haply hour. It's also near the library which is brand new and has amazing facilities. We even reserved a meeting room on the too floor! There aren't any cons, except for lots of stairs and creaky floors. We didn't hear our neighbors at all. There was a shania twain concert when we were there, held at the Washington-Grizzly Stadium. We could hear it pretty well from our room! The room was thoughtfully prepared. We were provided toiletries, extra blankets, cooking utensils, etc.

Absolutely incredible company. They hosted 13 of us and it was such a great experience for…read moreeveryone. They were super fun, they made sure everyone was safe, and were able to direct our wild group with ease. It was such a fun experience we are going to make this an annual experience. Couldn't recommend more!

Such a fun, beautiful trip down the Alberton Gorge in early September with Hutch. Water level was…read morelow enough that the rapids were crazy but the water was refreshing to swim in but not bone chilling. Great time had by all. The 5 Star reviews are well deserved.