No matter the season, there is a growing list of activities that are perfect for solo adventurers or the whole family. For the thrill seekers, take whitewater rafting trip or hang from the trees on a zipline tour. Prefer a slower pace? Explore Yellowstone National Park and watch the bison graze in Lamar Valley.
Need help planning your Montana vacation? Call your front desk and ask our experienced guest service team.
(406) 995-4132
Rainbow Ranch warmly welcomes families with children of all ages, offering a plethora of activities to create unforgettable memories. Little ones can enjoy fishing in our pond, while the whole family can embark on scenic hikes or play on our dog-friendly lawn. On request, guests can engage in lawn games and unwind in our incredible outdoor infinity hot tub. Our restaurant provides kid-friendly dining options, and the adventures don't end on our grounds. Use Rainbow Ranch as a perfect base camp to explore the awe-inspiring Yellowstone National Park and the breathtaking Montana Rockies. Whether or not you're hosting an event, book your stunning family vacation at Rainbow Ranch and embark on an extraordinary journey together.
Our proximity to the nation's first national park could not be better. Being just 45 minutes from the West gate of Yellowstone National Park makes us the perfect hub for your vacation. The ecological diversity within the park is incredible, so expect to see some bison, elk, deer, and antelope among others. You can see some of our favorite spots in just one day or spend a week exploring and hiking the different regions of the park. Yellowstone can be visited by car, or you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a guided tour. In the winter, you can also enjoy guided tours via snowcoach and snowmobile.
With 5,800 acres of skiable terrain across four different mountains, it's no wonder Big Sky Resort is referred to as "the biggest skiing in America". The terrain is suitable for a variety of difficulty levels from beginner to expert. You can even enjoy the views from over 11,000 feet in the summer too with the Lone Peak Expedition.
When planning your journey to Rainbow Ranch Lodge in Big Sky, it's essential to be aware that ride-share services are limited and will not guarantee timely transportation. Instead, we highly recommend considering reputable transportation companies that offer reliable rides from Bozeman Airport to our location. Please contact the front desk at (406) 995-4132 for recommendations on airport transportation.
While transportation services are convenient, we'd like to stress that the most recommended option for experiencing Montana's vast beauty and attractions is renting a car. Having your own vehicle provides the freedom to explore the expansive landscapes and attractions at your own pace.
For convenient local travel within Big Sky, consider the Sky Line shuttle, which offers complimentary transportation around the town center and up to the mountain.
Here's a local tip: Drive your rental car to the town center and take the bus up the mountain to avoid traffic and potentially hazardous driving conditions, especially during winter months when snow tires are crucial for safety. Your journey to Rainbow Ranch Lodge will be as enjoyable as your stay!
The Gallatin River, that runs right through our backyard, boasts some of the world's best fly fishing. Rainbow Ranch Lodge is proud to partner with Gallatin River Guides to offer you both half-day and full-day guided fishing packages. Don't need a guide? Bring your poles, rods, and Montana fishing license, and enjoy everything the river has to offer on your own schedule. For more guided fly fishing trips, Gallatin River Guides also offers year-round floating and wading trips on the Gallatin River, Madison River, and Yellowstone River. They offer customized fishing trips to all experience levels. For those that don't want to leave the property, or want to practice before they get out on the river, borrow one of our fly rods and cast into our stocked trout pond. Fly fishing is popular year round.
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Want to experience the Wild West? There is no better way than a guided horseback riding trip. Local outfitters offer pack trips and trail rides for all experience levels. Some of our favorite horseback riding outfitters include Canyon Adventures, Jake's Horses, and Cache Creek Outfitters. These outfitters offer a variety of trips that will introduce you to the beautiful western landscape around our property and across Big Sky. Get on the saddle and discover our surrounding trails by horseback. Horseback riding is available in both the summer and winter.
Feeling adventurous? Want to take full advantage of the Gallatin River? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then a whitewater rafting trip might be for you! Whether you want to relax and take in our gorgeous surroundings on a scenic float or want to ride some gnarly whitewater waves, there is a trip for you. From May to early September, Geyser Whitewater and Montana Whitewater can take you on a rafting adventure that you are sure to remember.
See Montana from the trees on a zip lining adventure. There are a variety of different courses available in Big Sky, Gallatin Gateway, and West Yellowstone, making us the perfect central location for adventure. Go with friends and family or team build with your coworkers. Montana Whitewater and Yellowstone Aerial Adventures offer many different kinds of zip lining trips from long lines of that will make you soar through the sky to high ropes courses with platforms, ladders, and sky bridges. Zip lining is typically offered from May through early September.
Besides the guided snowmobile tours in Yellowstone National Park, you can rent one of these fun rides and explore the wilderness surrounding our property. In the summer you can rent ATVs from Canyon Adventures and ride through the mountains to Buck Ridge Trail. In the winter, ride through fresh snow and take in the stunning views of the Spanish Peaks, the Taylor Peaks, and the rugged Sphinx Mountains. Canyon Adventures offers ATV and Snowmobile trips for all ages and experience levels.
We are located in the heart of the Custer Gallatin Nation Forest and are only 15 miles from the Yellowstone National Park boundary. There are a multitude of hiking trails that surround us, each with their own unique natural features like wildflowers, waterfalls, forests, and streams. Just across the bridge on our property is the Lemonknob Loop Trail that takes you through fields of wild Montana flowers and a lookout across the National Forest land. There are so many hikes around us that there really is something for every skill level. Some of our favorite hikes include Ousel Falls, Beehive Basin, Lava Lake, Storm Castle Peak, and Porcupine Creek. In the winter, bring your snowshoes or rent a pair from one of the many nearby sporting goods stores.
Learn to mush your own team of huskies in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In the winter months, Yellowstone Dog Sled Adventures leads dog sledding trips right from our lodge and into the wilderness. These dog sledding trips are very scenic and take you from sagebrush meadows through sub alpine forests. For obvious reasons, these dog sledding trips are extremely popular and we recommend you schedule them well in advance.
Pedal your way to some mountain peaks and stunning views on the mountain bike friendly trails and dirt roads that are around us. Bring your own bike or rent from one of the nearby bike shops around us. Some of our favorite mountain biking trails include Porcupine, Garnet Mountain, Ramshorn Lake and Mica Creek.
