Frequently Asked Questions
IS THE RANCH OPEN YEAR-ROUND?
The Ranch is only available to overnight guests from May 1st – October 15th. That said, the Restaurant is open year-round and operates on seasonal schedules. The Bar N does shut down entirely for roughly two weeks each November to give the Staff a little break.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO AT THE BAR N RANCH?
Again, there's plenty to do while visiting Yellowstone Country, but we have found that a lot of our guests enjoy spending a day lounging at the Ranch. Walk to the river and fish a bit, sit in a swing and read, lay by the pool and soak up the sun! Our winter visitors might enjoy a morning of cross-country skiing on our two hundred acres and then warming up by the fireplace in our inviting Great Room. Most all of our visitors, regardless of the season, have enjoyed the opportunity to sit-in and enjoy a movie from our DVD video library and actually relax on their vacation. There's as much or as little to do as you like ... just let us know how we can help you.
IS THE RANCH FAMILY FRIENDLY? HOW ABOUT WEST YELLOWSTONE?
Absolutely. Kids love it here! There's plenty of room to run and be free (ever mindful of the water, of course). We have a small playground just off of the pool deck, a one-acre pond for fishing, Ranger (the best black Labrador in the world), and a fire-pit for Smore's when the weather's nice.
The town of West Yellowstone is home to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center and they offer an activity especially designed for kids ages 5-12. In this unique program, kids first learn about grizzly bear eating habits and then accompany the naturalist and animal keeper into the bear habitat to hide food for some of our resident bears. After the food is hidden, kids get to learn how bears use their sense of smell to search out food. Visit the GDC online for more information. The IMAX Theater is another great find for kids. The movies are usually specific to Yellowstone Country and put a great spin on educating kids about the nation's first national park. Another great feature (enjoyed by all local children) is the city park. This is a nice departure from the natural wonders of Yellowstone and gives kids a chance to do something familiar.
DO YOU SERVE LUNCH AT THE RANCH?
Lunch is not available at the Bar N Ranch but we are happy to visit with you about options for dining in the Park, lunch on the go or favorite spots in the town of West Yellowstone.
WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF BREAKFAST SERVICE?
We serve a fantastic breakfast here at the Ranch and it's included in your stay! Breakfast is served daily from 7:00am – 10:00am. Please note that we are unable to accommodate requests for early (or late) service. For a quick peek at our breakfast menu, check out our Dining & Wine section.
ARE DINNER RESERVATIONS REQUIRED?
Dinner reservations are not required but are strongly encouraged. The Bar N Ranch Restaurant is quite small and growing in popularity and we turn lots of folks away each evening. Our restaurant hours do vary with the seasons. Please visit our Dining & Wine section for more information on service times.
IS FISHING AVAILABLE ON THE RANCH?
Definitely. Buttermilk Creek flows behind our Ranch cabins and into Danger Pond. Together, these continue on to meet the South Fork of the Madison River flowing through the back of our two-hundred acres. You must have a Montana state fishing license to fish here (or pretty much anywhere in the area). While we don't offer guided fishing through the Ranch we do work with area outfitters to provide this service. If you're not looking for a guide and just want to wet a line, you're welcome to borrow a fly-rod (or a spin-rod) from us (subject to availability). If you would like to rent a proper outfit for fishing, any of the local shops will be able to help you.
IS THE BAR N RANCH A WORKING RANCH?
The Ranch Staff does indeed work very hard ... but we're not pasturing cattle or keeping draft horses. There are a few working ranches in the area (on both sides of the state line) and we're happy to visit with you about our neighbors. The Bar N is a guest ranch and we cater to the leisurely visitor ... and cowboys from those working ranches that need a rest.
IS HORSEBACK RIDING AVAILABLE AT THE RANCH?
Horseback riding is not available at the Bar N. We do partner with both the Diamond P Ranch (located less than one mile away) and Yellowstone Mountain Guides to offer rides into both the surrounding national forest and the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park.
HOW FAR ARE YOU FROM THE PARK?
The Bar N is located roughly 6 miles west of West Yellowstone on highway 20. This means that you can leave the Ranch and be at the west entrance of Yellowstone within 10 – 15 minutes. In fact, we're close enough to Yellowstone that as guests of the Ranch you will enjoy views of the mountains in the Park from our dining room.
HOW MANY DAYS DOES IT TAKE TO SEE THE PARK?
"A lifetime" (if you ask locals) but for those of you with precious few days to spare ... we recommend a minimum of two days. It is true that you can do a two day tour (guided or un-guided) and visit the upper loop one day and the lower loop the next, but if you've got a little more time to spend you should plan to take it and enjoy a leisurely trip through Yellowstone with time to stop and smell the sagebrush (so to speak).
SHOULD I MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR AREA ACTIVITIES IN ADVANCE?
If your vacation won't be complete without it ... make a reservation. There's plenty to do in Yellowstone Country and plenty of outfitters to help you do it but without a reservation you might miss the opportunity. Keep in mind that activity reservations will require credit card guarantees and/or deposits and most activities (rafting, guided tours, fly-fishing, etc) will be on schedule, regardless of the weather.
HOW'S THE WEATHER?
West Yellowstone is a small mountain community at an elevation of nearly 6,700 feet. This makes for unpredictable weather that keeps everyone (even the locals) guessing. Our best advice for folks traveling through the area is to be prepared for anything and dress in layers ... 'cause a 30 degree morning just might turn into a 70 degree afternoon. It's not a bad idea to give us a call as your arrival date draws near and visit with the Ranch Staff about what's happening outside.
WHAT AIRPORTS SERVICE YOUR AREA?
There are a couple of year-round options for flying into Yellowstone County. The Bozeman Airport (BZN) is located roughly 90 miles to the north of West Yellowstone. There are several different ways to get here from there, so Bozeman ties in nicely with a Yellowstone itinerary. Idaho Falls, Idaho (IDA) is located roughly 110 miles from West Yellowstone and while it isn't a perfect fit for a day of Yellowstone travel it's certainly a comfortable two-hour drive from the area. Jackson Hole, Wyoming is home to a small airport located 136 miles from West Yellowstone and again, is a perfect match for a Yellowstone vacation. Flying in and out of Jackson makes for a nice little Yellowstone/Grand Teton package. West Yellowstone, Montana offers a small airport for summer visitors (roughly June through late September) and is located one mile north of our downtown. This airport (WYS) is serviced by SkyWest and is by far the closest option.
HOW DO I GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE RANCH?
Rental cars are available at all area airports. Because of extended travel times, shuttle service is a little tough to come by. A company called Karst Stage (406.586.8567) provides a shuttle from the Bozeman airport through the winter months and services both Big Sky & West Yellowstone. There is a fee for this service. Idaho Falls is home to a new shuttle service, Your Other Mother (208.524.0021). If you're flying into the West Yellowstone airport, someone from the Ranch will gladly pick you up (with advanced notice, of course) but keep in mind that Yellowstone is big ... and that's a lot of walking. A wheeled vehicle of some kind or a guided tour providing transportation is highly recommended. If you're just looking for directions ... please click here
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