Description
Located just outside the small town of Greenough in the Blackfoot Valley, Paws Up is a Montana ranch that sprawls across nearly 40,000 acres of pristine Montana wilderness. Come here if you’d like to experience the old West and adventure by day and twenty-first-century comforts in the evening.
Guests can enjoy dude ranch activities such as trail riding suitable for novice and advanced rider alike on horses from one of the West’s best stables. Or saddle up and join seasoned ranch hands to drive a herd of cattle, gathering them from the pastures and trailing them to the corrals to sort them – truly an experience of a lifetime. There is also a huge variety of wilderness adventures of all kinds, from fly-fishing on the Blackfoot River, abseiling cliffs made famous by Lewis & Clark, clay pigeon shooting, white water rafting, ATV riding, backcountry camping trips and a superb programme of activities for children.
What is so different about Paws Up is that after a full day of Western adventure, you’ll come back to superb gourmet cuisine, a great spa where you will be soothed and lulled by the chirping of birds under the pine trees, and amazing facilities.
Accommodation options are fabulous. The luxury ranch homes range from three-bedroom cabins ideal for families complete with panoramic vistas, a sense of privacy and a private deck where you can soak in your six-person hot tub, to the ultra-secluded Blackfoot River Lodge, a light-filled retreat with stunning views from every window, and the allegedly haunted Morris Farmhouse, built in 1908 and decorated accordingly—except for the flat-screen TVs. In summer, and if booked well in advance, guests can also opt for deluxe safari-style tents pitched along the Blackfoot River, which come with a private butler who will be able to schedule anything from a chuck wagon ride to a gourmet campfire cookout or your next spa treatment. The ultimate accommodation option is Pinnacle Camp, situated on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Blackfoot River and Elk Creek, with breathtaking views and six large tent suites (including Tango Point, an exquisite honeymoon tent).
Accommodation
The Resort at Paws Up offers first-class, luxury accommodations comprising 28 private vacation homes and 24 luxury camping tents. The expansive luxury accommodation comes complete with panoramic vistas, uber-privacy and an extensive list of features including private hot tubs.
Childcare
Supervised, age-appropriate activities include everything from horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking and fishing to nature education, wrangler activities and wildlife appreciation. The Paws Up 'Kids Corps of Discovery' is held seven days a week. Full and half-day programs are available for children aged 5 to 12. Activities include a trip to a ghost town, a day of fun in the sun at the Paws Up lake house, authentic ranch experiences and more.
Facilities
Tank, Paws Up's full-service bar, offers the finest drink selections in a casual environment complete with flat-screen TVs, music, and spectacular views. There are also two on-property atmospheric Montana restaurants, the refined yet rustic Pomp, open to the public for dinner, and the more Western Trough, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Or if you prefer the rustic outdoors you can opt for the Chuck wagon adventure as a scenic wagon ride takes you to the banks of the Blackfoot River, where you can enjoy an authentic campfire dinner.
Spa Town at Paws Up is a colony of pristine white tents joined together by a wooden boardwalk, situated just past an authentic babbling brook and nestled among the soaring pines. The welcome tents feature full baths and showers, while individual treatment tents are fashioned with a lovely sink, a heated massage table, and a view of the meadows.
Activities
The Resort at Paws Up offers a vast menu of wilderness activities from working out in the fitness centre, to the extensive hiking trail system including access to the nearby Lubrecht, geocaching, fishing, volleyball, badminton, group yoga classes, pony rides, inflatable watercraft for kids, croquet, disc golf, ladder golf, basketball, and various activities in The Lewis & Clark Reception Barn including billiards and games.
Services
At Paws Up you can also step into a world of incomparable creature comforts featuring decadent spa treatments, gourmet cuisine, personalized service, wireless internet and in-home laundry.
When to travel
Montana has an extreme continental climate with very cold winters and warm summers. Summer is the best season to visit for hiking, fishing, camping, and wildlife watching. It will be warm during the day and cool at night. Autumn brings spectacularly clear days; cool, clear nights; and calm winds up until late October. Winter is a glorious season here, though it can be very cold. Spring in likely to be chilly with snow or rain
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Location and directions
Greenough, Montana, United States of America
Situated on a sprawling 37,000-acre working cattle ranch on Paws Up Road, Greenough, in central, western Montana.
How to get there
9.5-hour flight to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, followed by a 1.5-hour flight to Missoula airport. Paws Up is then a 50-minute transfer from the airport.
