Nine Quarter Circle Ranch

The ranch is located in the high country of the Montana Rockies alongside a swift mountain stream called the Taylor Fork of the Gallatin River. In addition there are a great variety of other trout streams - Lightning, Buck, Wapiti, Meadow, Snow Flake, Cache, Daly, Bacon Rind, West Fork and the world famous Gallatin and Madison Rivers.

The ranch buildings are of log construction built in true Montana style. Interiors are log or knotty pine cut from local timber. The cabins are decorated with forest furniture and handmade quilts which are made at the ranch.

All cabins have private baths, most with tub and shower. Some have single bedrooms; others double and several three or four bedroom cabins to accommodate larger family groups.

Meals are served in the Dining Room and are home-cooked, family style… very informal with no dressing up for dinner expected. Several outdoor meals are scheduled each week including a late afternoon ride to dinner.

There is no mobile phone reception but the ranch does now have Internet service. Please BYOB for the evening Happy Hour. Due to the altitude, please be sure to take things carefully in your first couple of days as you may feel out of breath.

Nine Quarter Circle is the perfect horseback riding vacation in Montana. The trail rides are into deep, timbered forests or across grassy meadows with incredible views are experiences you will long remember.

The Kelsey family, who own the ranch, breed and train their herd of 120 Appaloosa horses personally, so they know each horse’s temperament and stamina in the mountains.

Western riding instruction is every Monday morning and additional assistance is available throughout the week. They offer two two-hour rides per day for all levels of riders. Aditionally they have two all-day rides during the week for the intermediate to advanced riders.

Each week, one of the all-day rides will ride in Yellowstone Park.

There are also smaller ponies for the younger guests and to round things off,  they  have a Gymkhana on Saturday morning so you can show off your newly  acquired riding skills.

There is a weekly two day pack trip to whet your appetite for a longer trip under the stars. Due to changes in Forest Service regulations and fees, the camp out will be an extra $35 per person paid locally (STA). The trip leaves on a Wednesday and returns Thursday afternoon.

They also offer extended pack trips in late summer to the Taylor Hilgard Wilderness Area and the National Forest surrounding the ranch. If you plan on this trip, all you will need is a sleeping bag and ground pad - the ranch supplies everything else.

There is also an additional $25 per person per day Forest Service charge and you need to be a reasonably competent rider. Minimum age is 13 if accompanied by parents.

The Saturday night square-dance in the barn "hay mow" will have you dancing and clapping along with the music. Among the weekly events at the ranch, the Gymkhana, or games on horseback, provides an opportunity for everyone to come and perfect their new riding skills.

Off the ranch are further fishing opportunities for which a licence will be required, and there are self drive trips into Yellowstone Park if this is not on your itinerary the following week.

There are also a number of independents rafting operators who offer trips of the nearby Gallatin River.