Montana Horseback Rides & Ranch Stay | Paintbrush Adventures Paintbrush Adventures

Ready for a Montana Ranch Vacation, Horseback Riding and More?

Paintbrush Adventures and the famous Barron Ranch offer a picture perfect setting, great hosts, and an authentic hands-on cowboy life. Experience horseback riding in Montana on a 5th generation working horse, sheep and cattle ranch. It is high energy, fast paced, and very informal year round unlike any dude ranch in Montana. Don’t look for set schedules and planned activities, but full days of work and play tailored to you. Go fishing, feed the animals, spend a day in Yellowstone Park, or explore the back country of Montana.

We provide customized 3 to 5 day Montana vacation packages personalized to you!

Ranch Vacations

Including daily Horseback riding, (non riders welcome) farm/ranch activities such as moving cattle, feeding the animals, learn roping basics, etc.

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Guided Horseback Rides

Get a day of scenic horse riding in Montana with 1hr, 2hr, and full day trail rides with lunch.

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Outdoor Adventures

Saddle to Paddle – Combine horseback riding and white water rafting.

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Fishing/Fly Fishing

The Stillwater River runs conveniently through our ranch, so you can spend a relaxing day fishing on the river.

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Montana Pack Trips

Includes horseback trail riding, fishing, and camping in the Montana mountain wilderness. Now, offered for your hunting trips!

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Drop Camp

Take a back country pack trip without the work! Includes packing your supplies in and out for you.

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You choose… whether it is staying on the ranch and participating in farm & ranch work like moving cattle, 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. We are also within an easy day trip to Yellowstone. You pick how you want to spend your Montana vacation experience! We also now are offering hunting trips. Call us for more info.

We are your Premier Montana Outdoor Adventure location in the United States, providing Montana Ranch & Horseback Riding Vacations and featuring Day Hikes, Wilderness Drop Camps, Fly Fishing, Horseback Riding, Custom Mountain Pack Trips, Hunting Trips, Saddle Paddle, White Water Rafting, Rodeos, Farm Stay, Family Reunions, Corporate Retreats as well as Western Working Ranch Vacations/Dude Ranch Vacations all in the highly popular areas of the Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness • Billings, MT • Cody, WY • Bozeman, MT • Livingston, MT and Yellowstone Park!

Licensed and Permitted in the Custer National Forest in the Beartooth Ranger District. Operating Under Montana Outfitters License #8880.

Autumn Whitener

12:46 11 Nov 23

My mother in law and I went together. Our guides name was Sharon. Wow! What an unbelievable experience we had! Thank you so much! This wasn't just a job to our trail guide, her passion was obvious and not only was she friendly and great to be around she was educational too! I really learned so much more on this ride than i have on any other ride before. If I ever get to come back to Montana I can guarantee I'll be back here to ride with you! Thank you for this amazing experience! ????Autumn Whitener

Sharon Me

14:56 29 Oct 23

Hello Wanda,My mother in law and I were there for a ride Tuesday. I believe our guides name was Shannon but I could be wrong, she had her daughter with her.I just wanted to leave you guys and amazing review but I didn't see where to do so. So I'm seending this message to say, Wow! what an unbelievable experience we had! thank you so much! This wasn't just a job to our trail guide, her passion was obvious and not only was she friendly and great to be around she was educational too! If I ever get to come back to Montana I can guarantee I'll be back here to ride with you! Thank you for this amazing experience! ????Autumn Whitener

Emily Downer

20:51 22 Oct 23

I took a 2 hour trail ride and full day trail ride with Paintbrush Adventures in October 2023. Sharon and Rebecca both ensured I, and everyone else on the rides, were taken care of and had a wonderful time. I was vacationing solo and felt completely safe and comfortable with these great people. The horses were sweet, the views and scenery were amazing, and we even got to see a bear and a bald eagle. Many thanks for a wonderful two days back home in the great state of Montana!

Mark Ramsey

17:57 20 Oct 23

Stayed with Wanda and Tiny at the ranch for a week and had an amazing time. Two of the kindest and caring people in the world and showed me the way of ranching. I will 100% be back.Sharon is an excellent guide and really cares for her horses. Fun terrain on the rides and great views. All skill levels will have a great time.

Joshua Bantam

16:49 18 Oct 23

Very good group! Ride guide was fun and kept the conversation going. She kept the whole ride entertaining, fun, and even mixed a bit of education in. The horses were well-trained and very well behaved.You can tell Paintbrush Adventures takes good care of their animals, and there's a bond of trust built.Thank you for a very pleasant experience!

Monique Crapper

21:55 23 Sep 23

What a unique piece of paradise! My family from Australia visited so we decided on a ranch stay in Montana and Wanda and Tini treated us to an unforgettable experience. Trail riding everyday was a highlight as we got to explore the breathtaking Beartooth Mountains. The sound of the Stillwater was majestic, the food delicious and the special meetings Wanda arranged so we could learn from local farmers was so thoughtful. The entire team at Paintbrush Adventures are kind, friendly and fun. Special shout-out to Sharron! I hope we’ll be back!

Razzi

20:40 10 Sep 23

My boyfriend and his parents are regular horse riders, but as it was my first time, they brought me here. The horses were so well trained! I couldn't have asked for a better experience, especially as someone who has a totally (ir)rational fear of heights.

Rene Younger

22:58 13 Aug 23

What an amazing morning! Sharon, Abigail, and Sophie were awesome guides for the 2 hour ride. Beautiful scenery, mountains, and eagles. The horses were fitted to each rider for the best ride. We had 4 children (5-10 y/o) and they thought it was a perfect day! Special shout out to Abigail as she ponied our young grandson and engaged him the whole time. Thanks for a great experience!!

Shane Langemeier

23:21 21 Jul 23

Our family spent six wonderful days with Paintbrush Adventures in July 2023. 3 days in their beautiful cabin sitting along the Stillwater River and 3 days on horseback with their mountain pack trip. I cannot say enough about Wanda, Tiny, Troy, Meagan, Jace and their entire crew at Paintbrush. Amazing country and people. Come visit soon. You will not be disappointed.

Jennifer Smith

20:17 21 Jun 23

Took a horseback ride with Paintbrush Adventures as park of a Saddle and Paddle package. Highly recommend! Friendly and knowledgeable guides. Gorgeous area.

Karen Kennedy

03:53 20 Jun 23

My girl friend and I took a trip out west from Columbus, Ohio. We booked a trail ride with Paintbrush Adventures. Our guide's name was Tiny and he was fantastic. I had been in a horseback riding accident 11 years ago, with a helicopter ride and an ICU stay. Had not ridden out side a fence until this ride. Tiny was so careful and gave me the most wonderful horse, Sherpa. We roade for 2 hours and I crossed a bridge and I had not done that since the helicopter ride. A very memoriable time.

RAY GRANGER

20:37 03 May 23

Scheduled a 2 hour ride today for two. Had a great relaxing ride. Beautiful views of the mountains and deer. First time rider here and was a little nervous at first. Horses were beautiful and well trained. Would definitely do it again!

Kathy Seymore

15:40 02 May 23

My husband and I absolutely loved it! Our guides were amazing. Definitely will do this again when we are back in Montana.

Marina Mitchell

12:20 20 Aug 22

What an amazing adventure we had with Paintbrush Adventures! My husband and I have been home for a week but, we are both still living off emotions and stories from our Pack Trip. Paintbrush Adventures Pack Trip was above and beyond anything we could could have imagine. I would highly recommend this Ranch to anyone. WE WILL BE BACK!

Stephen Merritt

19:45 07 Aug 22

Great horseback riding place offering rides along the river or as we were told could also do day and multiple day rides into the mountains. Very friendly people made for an enjoyable time.

Arbuckles Adventures

01:06 12 Jul 22

You won't be disappointed!

Chris Woolston

15:42 20 Feb 22

The Stillwater cabin sits on a beautiful stretch of river. You likely won't see any other fishermen except for maybe the occasional bald eagle, but the fishing is so good it would draw crowds just about anywhere else. Wanda offers true Montana hospitality. This isn't a resort. It's a real place for a real stay.

Scotty Thompson

21:45 05 Oct 21

Sharon took my father and I on a two hour trail ride and it was fantastic. 5 of 5 would recommend to anyone looking to see the countryside from a horseback point of view.

Kaitlin Winchell

21:27 04 Sep 21

10/10 would recommend! Beautiful trails and you can tell the horses are well taken care of. Our trail leader and her daughter were absolutely great to ride with. Will definitely be back next time we’re in the area!

SandJ Lund

00:28 19 Jun 21

We brought our two 13 year old girls for a two hour trail ride. They loved it! Their guide, Sharron was wonderful. Couldn't ask for more, a beautiful ride through gorgeous country. Thank you!

Thomas Mead

00:23 19 Jun 21

Our family of 5 went on the 2 hour ride as part of the Saddle and Paddle schedule and we loved it! We are on a year long family RV adventure as a family and this is totally one of our highlights! We were impressed at how all the horses were ready and lined up and at how little time it took for us to do our paperwork. Our guide was excellent! The horses were great and the scenery was amazing! We had places to stop and take pics and the guides helped us take them. It was a great time! I don't think I stopped smiling the entire time! I would recommend to anybody!

Emily Van de Wall

01:00 21 Sep 20

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!

archerdork

15:25 10 Jun 18

We had a blast on our trail ride, the view was lovely, as was our horses, and Wanda told us a lot about the land surrounding us. I’d happily return.Thanks to Paintbrush for squeezing us in on such short notice!

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Ready for a Montana Ranch Vacation, Horseback Riding and More?

Ranch Vacations

Guided Horseback Rides

Outdoor Adventures

Fishing/Fly Fishing

Montana Pack Trips

Drop Camp