HOME ON THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK

If you want to channel your inner “Yellowstone,” The Ranch at Rock Creek is the perfect spot to hang your hat and immerse yourself in a luxurious version of the Western lifestyle. The only 5-star hotel in Montana, the Relais and Chateaux property is set on 6,600 acres of Big Sky Country. As soon as you pass through the tall timber arch marking the entry of The Ranch at Rock Creek, you get a sense that your luxurious adventure has begun. Choose from twenty-nine unique rustic yet elegant accommodations in four styles: lodge room, upscale canvas cabin, historic barn, and luxury home, all lovingly designed with a sophisticated blend of classic Americana and Western aesthetics. I stayed in “Bull”, a Creekside cabin, which is so chic and thoughtfully designed that I was shocked to learn it was canvas! It truly was “glamping” at its finest. One of my favorite features was the electric hearth, which heats the room and casts a cozy glow, acting as a nightlight. The sound of the water running outside is cathartic and invigorating, immediately reducing your heart rate down and coaxing you into an effortless sleep in the dreamy four-poster bed. Vistas across the river and over one of the ponds reflect the primary-colored autumn leaves on the incredible specimen trees with verdant mountains dotting the backdrop. Adirondack chairs in front of each residence invite you to gaze into nature or read. All guests are given bicycles, the preferred method of transport between the myriad of activities there are to choose from. Pedaling across the property alongside the burbling river, shaded by towering trees and encircled with sapphire mountains, you can easily lose track of time but won’t want to miss what’s up next.

Luckily, The Ranch provides a detailed schedule for your customized experience. This may include fly fishing, horseback riding, sporting clays, and riflery all year long, as well as many other seasonal activities for summer and winter. In the summer months, guests enjoy a weekly rodeo, breakfast ride and barn dance. Come winter, The Ranch becomes a snowy wonderland with adventures including cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, snowcat tours, sleigh rides, snow and snowmobiling just outside the door. Alpine skiers and snowboarders can join The Ranch's Ski Concierge to enjoy the nearby Discover Ski Area. Expert team members instruct and help make each endeavor loads of fun. The property's one and one resident sheep, Louise may appear at any time hoping for some affection and to join your fun.

The riding program is robust all through the year, with over 75 horses on the property varying in breed, color and size. So that you truly feel that you are at home, there are boots, helmets and any other gear you should require available. The herd is mostly comprised of quarter and paint horses, with a lovely group of draft crosses and draft team horses as well. One of the most beautiful experiences comes at the end of the day when the horses are let out to pasture, as you watch them roam free, you truly feel you have crossed to the other side and living in the Wild West.If it is respite you require, The Ranch at Rock Creek is fully equipped to support your self-care journey. It is an ideal setting to explore the terrain on a horse, on foot, or on your bicycle. Climb to the foothills of the surrounding Sapphire Mountains to peer across endless expanses of land or meander alongside the Blue-Ribbon Rock Creek and meditate surrounded by the therapeutic benefits of nature.

The spa is fully loaded with a range of sustainable products that reflect their commitment to the environment. Detox in the sauna or submerge in the tub for Medicinal Springs Mineral Therapy treatments using the same minerals that fill Montana’s geothermal springs. Combat the drying effects of travel and elevated climate with a hydration body wrap or take your massage in Mother Nature, creekside in one of the covered Conestoga wagons--no spa music needed, the running river outside serves as your serene soundtrack.

If all the outdoor living leaves you hungry, you are in good hands with the kitchen here. The food is top-notch and caters to the health-conscious and the hedonist alike. Early risers can start at the breakfast buffet in the Lodge’s reception, enjoy coffee next to a crackling fire with an offering of irresistible baked goods always a special selection for the vegan and gluten-free. Breakfast choices include the most delectable lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes, chia seed pudding and eggs any way you desire. The bacon is cooked to a crisp melt-in-your-mouth perfection and is simply unrivaled. Dinners are various themes each night of the week and paired with suggested wines from the extensive collection. The most memorable ranch cuisine for me was the elevated Northwestern BBQ night serving locally raised Montana brisket, BBQ chicken and ribs with out-of-this-world sides, including white cheddar grits, collard greens, cornbread and unforgetta-ble grilled sweet potatoes in a chilli vinaigrette. Sink into one of the well-worn leather sofas for post-dinner drinks or head to The Silver Dollar Saloon for some evening entertainment. For some friendly competition, there is a bowling alley in house. Karaoke and an array of musical performances are also popular pursuits. Leanne Rimes, who calls The Ranch at Rock Creek “home away from home” recently performed for lucky guests.Families, couples and friends will discover that The Ranch at Rock Creek, which began in the 1800s as a silver mining ranch is a special place that offers a real slice of Western lifestyle without sacrificing true comfort.