Seasonal Activities

SPRING, SUMMER, FALL SEASONS

In these seasons, guests relax, meet, play, observe and learn our approach to ranching as they enjoy this unique place on the edge of Yellowstone.

Spring is a time of preparation, when cabins and lodge are deep cleaned, vehicles and equipment checked out and tuned up, ditches cleaned and pivots readied for irrigation, fields dragged, fences adjusted and repaired, saddle horses hooves are trimmed and shod, saddles and bridles cleaned and oiled.

As the world warms, winter snows melt, streams rise and rush, the range begins to green, wildflowers bloom, migratory birds return, bears emerge from their dens and the wildlife have their young.

Shifting into summer, the gardens are planted, water is spread across our fields, and cattle return to the high country. Beavers get busy, fish get active as insects hatch, aspen brighten with new leaves and cottonwoods release their summer snow and pines their pollen. Alternately wolves howl and coyotes bark. Anticipation has transformed into action. Riders move the cattle up country, monitor range health, and wage (organic) war on weeds. Hikers head for the peaks.

As fall weather sets in, the aspens go golden, bull elk bugle to challenge one another while cow elk call softly to their young to stay near, snow sticks to the ridges, bears dig for yampa, and slowly the land grows quieter. Meanwhile water diversions are shut down, fences dropped to ease wildlife migration, firewood is sustainably harvested, cattle gathered, boundaries marked and patrolled. Nordic ski trails are cleared and posted in readiness for winter use. With the onset of winter, the cattle leave the Basin and the saddle horses get a well-earned rest.

WINTER SEASON

During winter, two to six feet of snow blanket the Tom Miner Basin and surrounding mountainsides. Winter reservations are available from mid-December through March. We offer our guests numerous opportunities to participate in the winter activities of the ranch. We hope you’ll join us.

We offer daily skiing for $12, and overnight rentals in back country cabins starting at $60. For more information and/or to make winter reservations, please call (406) 848-7729

* Staff Assisted **Require Hired Guide And Are Off Ranch.

Snowshoe

Take a winter hike on snowshoes to enjoy the views, track wildlife, or photograph, all at your own pace. We groom 20 kilometers of trails for both cross-country ski and snowshoe enthusiasts; snowshoers can stay on the skate ski paths. Additionally, 7 kilometers are marked as a backcountry trail. With advanced notice and an additional charge, we are happy to arrange guided snowshoe tours.

Three primary trail systems depart from ranch headquarters and head deep into the Basin. Our terrain offers a variety of challenges, but the most effortless trail, Willow Way, rolls south past the horse arena. The route crosses Tom Miner Creek and continues on a 6.5 kilometer loop. For an easy kilometer, the trail winds through willows and an open meadow, then among a distinctive aspen grove. Hidden in the willows, the Davis Cabin homestead still stands, a tribute to a family that arrived in the Basin in the early 1900s. The rustic shelter is reminiscent of their more rugged lifestyle. Rent this cabin for a backcountry adventure at an affordable price.

Willow Way cruises another kilometer to meet the Anderson Trail, which is a straight shot, and then slightly downhill back to headquarters. Another short trail leads south from this junction to the Anderson Cabin, a one-room warming hut. Terrain is similar although once out of the aspens and alders, views of the 10,300-foot Ramshorn Peak, Twin Peaks, Sheep Mountain, Specimen Ridge, and Yellowstone's boundary suddenly appear.

Intermediate snowshoers find the Skully Trail system initially challenging, then delightful. The track heads west and after gliding past a frozen pond and between large aspens, the trail connects to Ezra’s Trail. En route, you'll wonder if the devilish .3 kilometer, 400-foot climb is truly worthwhile. It is. Once at the Skully Tent, Mountain Lion Run trail and Skully Loop head off through timbered and rolling terrain. The snowshoe back down from the tent is a .3 kilometer steeper incline on Ezra’s Trail. Alternatively, the more gradual Tini’s Revenge boasts grand views of the Davis meadow and across the valley to surrounding peaks.

The more challenging Reed Sawmill Trail climbs en route to a cabin that was once part of the Reed family sawmill operation. A nearly 10 kilometer round trip in the Pine Creek drainage, this trail offers scenic views of Paradise Valley, Emigrant Peak, and the lower portion of Tom Miner Basin. The trail ascends through summer pastures and into wooded Middle Creek drainage and continues to climb to the warming hut historic Sawmill Cabin at 7,400 feet. The return trip offers more declines, banked turns and views of nearly the entire ranch. About 7 kilometers of this trail are marked and left as backcountry.

The ranch has numerous pairs of adults and kids snowshoes. More equipment options are available in Livingston at Timber Trails (406) 222-9550, and in Bozeman at Northern Lights (406) 586-2225 and Bangtail Sports (406) 587-4905.

X-country Ski

We groom 20 kilometers of trails for cross-country ski enthusiasts. Additionally, about 7 kilometers are marked as a backcountry trail. Both skate-ski lanes and classic tracks are regularly maintained. Our conditions predictably offer blue wax conditions much of the winter. With advanced notice and an additional charge, we are happy to arrange guided ski tours, and provide ski lessons on the ranch.

Three primary trail systems depart from ranch headquarters and head deep into the Basin. Our terrain offers a variety of ski challenges, but the most effortless trail, Willow Way, rolls south past the horse arena. The route crosses Tom Miner Creek and continues on a 6.5 kilometer loop. For an easy kilometer, the trail winds through willows and an open meadow, then among a distinctive aspen grove. Hidden in the willows, the Davis Cabin homestead still stands, a tribute to a family that arrived in the Basin in the early 1900s. The rustic shelter is reminiscent of their more rugged lifestyle. Rent this cabin for a backcountry adventure at an affordable price.

Willow Way cruises another kilometer to meet the Anderson Trail, which is a straight shot, slightly downhill ego-boosting cruiser back to headquarters. Another short trail leads south from this junction to the Anderson Cabin, a one-room warming hut. Terrain is similar although once out of the aspens and alders, views of the 10,300-foot Ramshorn Peak, Twin Peaks, Sheep Mountain, Specimen Ridge, and Yellowstone's boundary suddenly appear.

Intermediate skiers find the Skully Trail system initially challenging, then delightful. The track heads west and after maneuvering past a frozen pond and between large aspens, the trail connects to Ezra’s Trail. En route, skiers wonder if the devilish .3 kilometer, 400-foot elevation climb is truly worthwhile. It is. Once at the Skully Tent, Mountain Lion Run trail and Skully Loop head off through timbered and rolling terrain. The fast ski back down from the tent is a .3 kilometer speed run for thrill seekers and skiers with powerful snowplows. For less experienced skiers, the more gradual Tini’s Revenge boasts grand views of the Davis meadow and across the valley to surrounding peaks.

The more challenging Reed Sawmill Trail is not groomed and climbs en route to a cabin that was once part of the Reed family sawmill operation. A nearly 10 kilometer round trip in the Pine Creek drainage, this trail offers scenic views of Paradise Valley, Emigrant Peak, and the lower portion of Tom Miner Basin. The trail ascends through summer pastures and into wooded Middle Creek drainage and continues to climb to the warming hut historic Sawmill Cabin at 7,400 feet. The return trip offers downhills, banked turns and views of nearly the entire ranch. About 7 kilometers of this trail is marked and left as backcountry.

The ranch has no ski rentals. Ski equipment is available in Livingston at Timber Trails (406) 222-9550, in Bozeman at Northern Lights (406) 586-2225 and Bangtail Sports (406) 587-4905 and in Gardiner at Park's Fly Shop (406) 848-7314.

Conditions historically allow us to open for skiing by the Christmas holiday.

Sledding

Data Collection On Wildlife Movement

Wildlife Viewing & Tracking

Photography

Outdoor Fire Pit

Cards & Games

Observe Low Stress Livestock Handling*

Google Earth & GPS Range Work*

Riparian Monitoring*

Hiking

Tennis

Disc golf

Lawn games*

Rafting**

Horseback riding**

Participate in noxious weed identification & removal*

In the firm belief that organic practices benefit beef, produce and rangeland (hay and pasture), we go to great lengths through every season to combat noxious weeds by manually pulling, "dead heading" and using organically approved, non-toxic vinegar spray that effectively kills a variety of weeds without the use of chemicals. While weed management is a daily routine for land and livestock staff, once a week all ranch staff come together in a collective force to combat populated areas of noxious weed such as houndstongue, knapweed and hoary alyssum. A specialty "weed crew" is also employed in the middle of the growing season and has made a continued substantial contribution in ridding the land of these harmful plants by collecting and removing truckloads of the destructive plants.

In the summer of 2012, larvae of the Police Car Moth were discovered eating the flowers and leaves of houndstongue. This astounding finding brought researchers from the University of Idaho to the ranch to collect and study this caterpillar, a potential biological agent against houndstongue. So far the results are promising and enthusiastic researchers are making an annual trip back to the ranch for ongoing data collection and analysis.

Lastly, we combine seasonal timing, “prescribed” herding techniques and rangeland management by using cattle as tools to graze certain noxious weeds such as Canada Thistle in order to negatively effect the reproductive cycle of the plant. After the cattle have impacted highly populated areas, re-seeding takes place in these same areas using native grass seed in hopes of rehabilitating the natural reproduction of the native grass species.

We have experimented with the use of goats to combat our noxious weeds. Unlike other ruminants, goats prefer to graze weeds, including toxic weeds and other woody plants over grass. Goats can digest toxins other grazers cannot and have a uniquely shaped mouth, which destroys the seeds of the plants they consume. Thus, many people use goats to address problems such as an influx of rose bushes, noxious weeds and other woody forbs that grow along creek sides and in pastures. The goat mobs we have brought in graze on knapweed, hoary alyssum and houndstongue, using portable electric fence to keep them contained and safe against predation. By grazing the goats, who love the seeds and flowers of these plants, we are attempting to interrupt and even diminish the reproductive process of these particular plants. Research shows that with patience and consistency, goats can make a substantial difference on weed growth and reproduction.