IS THERE AN ELEVATOR IN THE MAIN LODGE? No, but there is a striking staircase made from burl wood harvested in the Madison Valley. We’re happy to assist with your luggage and will always take the time to get you settled in the lodge, but if you are unable to climb stairs we recommend that you consider staying in a Cabin.

WHAT TIME IS CHECK-IN? Check-in is guaranteed by 3pm. If you are interested in checking in earlier, please give us a call and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO SHORTEN MY STAY? We would love to be flexible on this, but we simply cannot. The Bar N Ranch has a very short season and last minute cancellations affect us greatly. If you shorten the length of your reservation within 30 days of arrival or choose an early departure during your stay, you will be responsible for the entire time reserved. We do encourage all of our guests to research Trip Cancellation Insurance.

IS THE RANCH FAMILY FRIENDLY? HOW ABOUT WEST YELLOWSTONE? Absolutely. Kids love it here! There’s plenty of room to run and be free. Kids enjoy activities around Yellowstone like horseback rides, hiking, Yellowstone National Park and more. Also, our ranch offers complimentary s’mores, a pool in  the summer, and more.

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 195 acres. You must have a Montana state fishing license to fish here (or pretty much anywhere in the area). Book a guided fishing adventure at Bar N Ranch after you book your stay.

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 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.

SHOULD I MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR AREA ACTIVITIES IN ADVANCE? If there’s an activity that you have your heart set on, yes, definitely book the activity through the vendor in advance.

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 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 slow and enjoy a leisurely trip through Yellowstone with time to stop and smell the sagebrush (so to speak).

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 lobby.

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; 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/Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is located roughly 90 miles to the north of West Yellowstone. There are several scenic ways to get here from there, so Bozeman ties in nicely with a Yellowstone National Park itinerary. Idaho Falls, Idaho (IDA) is located roughly 110 miles from West Yellowstone and is a comfortable two-hour drive from the area. Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC) is home to a small airport located 136 miles from West Yellowstone. Flying in and out of Jackson makes for a nice little Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Park 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 provides a shuttle from the Bozeman airport through the winter months and services both Big Sky and West Yellowstone. There is a fee for this service. If you’re just looking for directions… please click here.