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Lowdown

  • Established

    1890s. Guest ranch since 1998

  • Owner

    Shayne Jackson

  • Manager

    Desiree Sides and Randy Bock

  • Tel

    406-293-5000

  • Nightly Rates (per adult)*

    Summer: $250 - $350
    Winter: $250 - $285

  • Nightly Rates (per child)*

    $325 - $395

  • Minimum Stay

    Summer: 6 days
    Winter: 5 days

  • Maximum Guests

    20

  • Works with travel agents?

    Yes

  • Great For

    Action & adventure, Peace & quiet, Diverse scenery

  • Memberships

    Dude Ranchers Association
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch is an authentic working cattle ranch located in the northwest corner of Montana. Our main emphasis is our horse and cattle program. You'll experience horses that are comfortable working cattle, or just leisurely heading out and exploring country.

Beginner riders to experienced leave here with more knowledge about horses, horsemanship, and cattle, than they've experienced anywhere else. We like to get to know you, work with you individually, and tailor each day to you. It's exciting for us to see how much you progress in the week.

You will find "more" here, from the care put into our lodging and meals, to the care of our horses, fine custom tack, and excellent facilities. "More" in the sincerity of our staff as well as the owner, Shayne Jackson, and "more" in what you find in yourself, and what you can do.

You will experience a well-rounded horseback riding program centered on what these horses can do with cattle and will leave here a better rider wanting "more."

Stay current with all the happenings at McGinnis Meadows by visiting their monthly newsletter. OR follow us on Facebook and instagram .

Good time to go

We have specific times in April & May, and then in June & October that are ideal, please keep an eye on our events page. In winter enjoy riding in our heated indoor arena starting colts and fine-tuning your horsemanship skills.

Children at the Ranch

Great for children aged 12 and over

Children are welcome to join us here at McGinnis Meadows yet there are no supervised children's programs.

We ask that children are big enough to handle their own horse and have "the want to" to ride, as they ride right along with the adults. We offer special children's rates.

Minimum age children can ride

12 and over

Environmental & Social Practices

Conservation

We are proud of their land management practices on our 25,000 acres of summer range. We are a showcase ranch setting an example for proper land management for other ranchers. We have set the standard for the Best Management Practices of the land owner, Weyerhauser Company and as an example to go by for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in training their staff.

Ranch History

Homesteaded in the 1890's by the Davis family, you'll find remnants of the past, such as their original house site, the later used "Davis Place," and the "Old Orr Place." Still used today, little log houses nestled along the edges of the tree line and the meadow. Cattle moved into the valley in the 1920's.

With his love of riding, and carrying on the Vaquero tradition of teaching horses, Shayne established the guest ranch in 1998. Although riding is our main emphasis, this country lends itself to an abundance of outdoor experiences. Hike to the ridge-top from the ranch and see the Cabinet Wilderness Area, mountain bike the abandoned old logging roads, catch a brook trout just before dinner, or just listen to the rustling leaves of the aspens from your private deck. A pleasing mix of the old with the new, we invite you to be a part of its history.

Your Manager, Desiree Sides and Randy Bock

Des started riding horses when she was in college and was hooked immediately! She was introduced to Buck who sent her to the ranch for their top notch teachers and horses. Des rides the colts, future guest horses and client horses in addition to assisting Shayne in teaching guests.

Randy left PA when he was 17 and flew to WY. He knocked on a few doors and has been working on cattle outfits, guest outfits, guided for hunters and packed up to 66 horses on 100-mile trips into the Yellowstone area. He even rounded up wild horses for the BLM! He heads up the cattle, the fencing, the haying and more!

Lowdown

  • Enjoy

    Gourmet, Ranch-style

  • Meals served

    everyone eats together

  • Alcohol

    wine provided with dinner

  • Enjoy dining in

    nature settings, patio, dining room (casual attire)

  • You'll definitely love

    fresh daily bread, fresh daily desserts

  • Dietary restrictions catered for

    lactose intolerant, vegans, vegetarians, Gluten free

The cheeriest cooks in the West will greet you every morning and evening. Every meal is prepared with pride, and the refrigerator is always open to you. If you're hungry around here, "It's your own fault!" You'll enjoy fresh breads, salads, fruits, and vegetables. Mouth-watering entrees include garlic bacon wrapped rib roast, Flambéed brandied mushroom chicken, and the most tender barbecued ribs you'll ever find! McGinnis Meadow's brandied pecan pie will send you over the edge!

Our cooks are cheerful, warm and inviting and cook up the best meals in the west! While catching up the horses in the morning, you'll be drawn to the kitchen by the scent of plate-sized pancakes splashed with Montana's famous huckleberries handpicked from our secret huckleberry patch (only the bears know about it). We pack our lunches for a new lunch spot every day.

We offer a variety of beverages, including locally brewed beer, but if you have a favorite wine, pop or beer, we recommend picking some up in town.

Guest Favourites

  • BBQ Babyback ribs
  • Good 'ol pot roast smothered with potatoes
  • Grilled ribeye steaks

Lowdown

  • Address

    6220 McGinnis Meadows Rd
    Libby
    Montana
    59923
    USA

  • Remote Location

    Yes

  • Elevation

    3400 ft

  • Private Land

    1000-5000 acres

  • Public Land

    5000-10000 acres

Nearest Town - Libby

Libby has a population of 5000 (approx), and is situated 45 miles / 45 mins from the Ranch.

Facilities in Libby include: grocery store, post office, atm, gas station.

For shopping Libby offers: small hometown necessity shops, boutique shops.

Nearest Airports

Glacier International Airport, Kalispell

Distance

70 miles / 1 hour 15 mins

Airlines

Delta, United, Skywest, Horizon, Alaska

Ranch shuttle

$100/person roundtrip

Lowdown

  • Type of Riding

    Western Riding

  • Riding opportunities for

    Beginner, Intermediate, Experienced

  • Most riders are

    Intermediate

  • Rides are grouped by

    Rides dictated by ranch work

  • Pace of ride

    Walk, Trot, Lope

  • Guest Horses

    70

  • Horse Types

    Quarterhorse, Draft Cross, Geldings

The Setting

Private Land (1000-5000 acres)

McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch is situated along a wide open meadow at 3,300 feet elevation with a year round creek and surrounded by tall timbered mountains.

Public Land (5000-10000 acres)

Our Riding

Weight limit for riding

Up to 210 lbs

Riding considerations

no riding experience needed, We recommend a good level of physical fitness, We consider height and athletic ability as well as a guest's weight

Hours in the saddle

Hours can depend upon ranch work and guest interest.

Why our riding stands out

  • Buck Brannaman-style horsemanship - working with the horse's natural instincts to gain their trust and loyalty
  • We encourage a hands-on experience with the horses from catching them up in the morning to graining and letting them out at night - all with safety at the forefront
  • Full time horsemen & women who live here year round ensures that they know each horse to better find your match and know the surrounding country to take you new places and forge new paths

Sample Riding Itinerary

Sunday: Check in is at 3 pm. Settle in, get acquainted and meet the crew. Orientation is at 4:30pm on the week's activities and to learn your expectations too. Includes live horse demo on some aspects of horsemanship.

Monday: Come out at 7:15 am to watch horses being brought in, or sleep in. We'll see you at 8:00 for breakfast. 9:00 AM we'll meet you out by the horses. We work with you individually to adjust your saddle, and to learn this style of riding. We take all the time necessary to ensure you are comfortable with your horse, and you learn all the skills for a great week.

Tuesday - Friday: We are flexible. There's always cattle work to be done on summer range, learn to work your horse cutting and sorting yearlings, further your horsemanship skills, learn to throw a rope from the ground using roping dummies, or find new routes over the surrounding mountains.

Thursdays: There is always of course, RIDING, but this day is a good one to maybe see some of the sites around northwest Montana. Kootenai Falls, Glacier National Park. We can also set up reservations to go white water rafting, or on a guided fly fishing trip. Shopping sprees at the local western stores, or find a treasure at an antique store. Rental car needed for off ranch activities.

Saturday: Leisurely breakfast, group photos, and we never say good-bye! It's "Till next time, you're part of our family now!"

Riding Lessons

You will quickly become familiar with your horse through the hands-on horsemanship lessons taught by our experienced wranglers.With personalized instruction from our team of experts, you'll soon feel comfortable heading out on cattle drives, exploring country in any direction from the ranch, and learning to work cattle sorting cutting, and ranch penning. You are welcome to ride and experience as much as you wish.

Details

lessons come with package

Given by

wrangler

Location

on the trail, in the arena

Natural Horsemanship Clinic

Clinician

MMG Wranglers - Buck Brannaman

Details

Clinics occur yearly

Focuses on

Wrangler taught - May 15 - 21, 2011Our Horsemanship Week teaches you from the ground up Buck Brannaman/Ray Hunt style of riding. Bring your own horse or ride one of ours. A great time to work on your own skills with your horse and become a confident rider in an arena, outside covering country, and working cattle sorting and cutting. Buck Brannaman taught - Typically last two weeks in July, Buck Brannaman Private Ranch Clinics. Space is limited sign up as soon as you can or be put on the waiting list. Buck Brannaman holds two private ranch clinics for our guests only here at the ranch. Each week covers both Horsemanship 1, and Cattle Working. Ride one of our horses or bring your own. They include: Six night stay, Sunday through Saturday, all meals, lodging, three straight days with Buck Brannaman and two days with our experienced horsemen either working on horsemanship, or cattle working, or moving cattle on summer range. No extra charge to bring your own horse (we'll provide hay, and its own space).

Cattle work - pasture gathers

At McGinnis Meadows, not only do you learn horsemanship, but you also put everything you've learned to use working cattle. May-Oct. we have steers that you and your horse can track, learn to cut, and ultimately ranch pen. You can also prepare for our cattle drives learning to move our herd of yearling steers in our meadows.  Cattle drives start when we turn our main herd of cattle out during the third week of May. Drive cattle all summer long on 25,000 acres of spectacular country surrounding ranch and state land in Northwest Montana. Moving cattle to new pastures, reriding for strays, and pushing cattle up to the high country is a real hoot! We'll teach you about the ways of cattle, and about proper land management. Our Fall Gather runs through late October. In the brilliance of the Fall colors, we'll cover a lot of country. You'll learn about tracking cattle, and there will be some waspy ones that don't want to come in too badly! You are welcome to ride and participate as much as you wish. Each evening we come home to the heartiest of meals, and 1st class lodging so you'll experience the best of both worlds!

When

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Frequency

Weekly

Interaction

Guests participate

Branding work

May 1-7, 2011 This is the week for those who love to ride and rope all day long! We use long ropes - 60' and throw BIG LOOPS. If you ride and rope the Vaquero Style and Buck Brannaman/Ray Hunt Style this is the week for you. We'll be roping yearling cattle in a safe instructional environment. Bring your rope horse or ride one of ours.

When

May

Frequency

Yearly

Interaction

Guests participate

Arena Work

New state of the art indoor riding facility

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBW27aqry8A&feature=youtu.be

Type

indoor arena, outdoor arena

Activities

sorting, roping from the ground, cutting

Lowdown

  • Nightly Rates (per adult)*

    Summer: $250 - $350
    Winter: $250 - $285

  • Nightly Rates (per child)*

    $325 - $395

  • Nightly Rates (non-rider)

    $300 - $335

  • Minimum Stay

    Summer: 6 days
    Winter: 5 days

  • Preferred Arrival Day

    Sun

  • Preferred Departure Day

    Sat
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

McGinnis Meadows can cater for up to 20 guests. Accommodation includes Cabins and Lodges. See below for details and indicative rates.

Cabin | Cabin

Rates (Per Person)*

$308 - $335
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

5 nights

Description

Our cozy facilities are nestled amidst larch and aspen trees, rolling meadows, and timbered mountains, decorated in a Western motif. The welcome feeling carries through to each of the rooms in the lodge and the Amish handcrafted log cabins. Cabins include a living area with a propane fireplace, coffee pot, iron and ironing board and a private deck. Each has a queen-sized bed with denim down comforters and Pendleton wool blankets, fluffy robes, complimentary slippers, complimentary water bottles for your rides, and plush towels for bath and hot

Rooms

2

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Amenities

fridge, seating area

Cabin | Cabin

Rates (Per Person)*

$308 - $335
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

5 nights

Description

Our cozy facilities are nestled amidst larch and aspen trees, rolling meadows, and timbered mountains, decorated in a Western motif. The welcome feeling carries through to each of the rooms in the lodge and the Amish handcrafted log cabins. Cabins include a living area with a propane fireplace, coffee pot, iron and ironing board and a private deck. Each has a queen-sized bed with denim down comforters and Pendleton wool blankets, fluffy robes, complimentary slippers, complimentary water bottles for your rides, and plush towels for bath and hot

Rooms

2

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Amenities

fridge, seating area, plush bathrobes

Cabin | Cabin

Rates (Per Person)*

$308 - $335
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

5 nights

Description

Our cozy facilities are nestled amidst larch and aspen trees, rolling meadows, and timbered mountains, decorated in a Western motif. The welcome feeling carries through to each of the rooms in the lodge and the Amish handcrafted log cabins. Cabins include a living area with a propane fireplace, coffee pot, iron and ironing board and a private deck. Each has a queen-sized bed with denim down comforters and Pendleton wool blankets, fluffy robes, complimentary slippers, complimentary water bottles for your rides, and plush towels for bath and hot

Rooms

1

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Amenities

fridge, plush bathrobes

Cabin | Cabin

Rates (Per Person)*

$308 - $335
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

5 nights

Description

Our cozy facilities are nestled amidst larch and aspen trees, rolling meadows, and timbered mountains, decorated in a Western motif. The welcome feeling carries through to each of the rooms in the lodge and the Amish handcrafted log cabins. Cabins include a living area with a propane fireplace, coffee pot, iron and ironing board and a private deck. Each has a queen-sized bed with denim down comforters and Pendleton wool blankets, fluffy robes, complimentary slippers, complimentary water bottles for your rides, and plush towels for bath and hot

Rooms

1

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Amenities

fridge, seating area, plush bathrobes

Lodge | Lodge

Rates (Per Person)*

$308 - $335
* Rates will vary based on Season and Accommodation selection. Please contact the ranch directly for Date Request, Availability and exact Rate quote/proposal

Minimum Stay

5 nights

Description

Our cozy facilities are nestled amidst larch and aspen trees, rolling meadows, and timbered mountains, decorated in a Western motif. The welcome feeling carries through to each of the rooms in the lodge and the Amish handcrafted log cabins. 3 rooms in our lodge each have a queen sized bed and reading chair. 2 rooms have their own assigned bathrooms not attached to the rooms, but are just outside the lodge in a very nice bathhouse. 1 room has its own bathroom down the hall. We built the bathhouse so no one would have to share a bathroom.

Rooms

6

Bathrooms

Private bathroom, Shared bathroom

Amenities

plush bathrobes

Booking Policy

To confirm your stay, we require a $500 per person deposit. 60% of balance due by February 1. Final balance due 30 days prior to arrival. Reservations made after February 1 require a 60% deposit.

Included in your stay

meals, activities, lodging, Riding, Summer season: Kayaking/Paddle boarding on nearby lake, weather permitting, hiking, massage

Extras

Tax

$4.80/person/night

Gratuity

Regarding Gratuities- We are often asked about ranch policy regarding gratuities, which are greatly appreciated. Each of our staff members operate on the premise that giving their best to each guest is a priority, including those working behind the scenes to keep the ranch running smoothly. This ensures you have the best experience possible. Should you wish to provide a gratuity, we have a tip pool that includes all staff and any tips are split evenly among them.

Massage

$80 plus gratuity

Guided Fly Fishing

available through local guide

Lowdown

  • You can borrow

    Cowboy hats, Cowboy boots, Riding helmets, Saddle bags, Rain coats

  • Communications

    Wireless Internet/Wifi, telephone, free long distance.

Onsite

Shopping

You'll find name-brand clothing with our logo, Sunbody Hats, Backward Z jewelry, personally designed by Jo-Anne Jackson, Special McGinnis Meadows gifts for friends and family, and custom tack. We also carry the Ryan Michael line of clothing.

Outdoor Activities

mountain biking, bird watching, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking

Water based Activities

hot tub, Nearby pristine lake for our guests to paddle board, swim or kayak

Spa

relaxation massage

Winter Activities

cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

Fishing & Wildlife

Excellent fishing is available on local rivers and lakes just minutes from the ranch. These crystal-clear waters abound with brook, brown, cutthroat, and rainbow trout, bass, perch, and pike.

We also have two miles of McGinnis Creek running through the property. Here, both beginning and experienced anglers will enjoy the opportunity to catch the native eastern brook trout that inhabit the creek. With so many excellent fishing holes you may not see another angler all day! Set up a guided trip on the Kootenai River with one of our local guides. The yet undiscovered Kootenai River currently holds the world record for an amazing 33+ pound Rainbow Trout!

Fishing on offer

spin, fly

Wildlife

Coyotes, Wolves, Bears, occasional Mountain Lion, Moose, Elk, Whitetail deer, Mule deer, Bald eagles, Golden eagles, Red tail hawks, Wood Peckers, Hummingbirds, Grosbeaks, Rocky Mountain Bluebirds, Ducks, Canada Geese, Ravens, Cottontail rabbits, Ground squirrels

Additional Services

Corporate Retreats

For groups of 20-30.

Corporate retreats are welcome for up to 15 people. Make reservations a year in advance to set aside a week exclusively for your group.

Weddings

We can cater for groups of 20-30.

Simple weddings are enjoyed by all at the ranch. McGinnis Meadows is a popular place to go for honeymooners!

Local Attractions

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park, one of the largest of the national parks in the lower 48 states, is located in the northern section of Montana near the Canadian border. The park is known for spectacular mountains, glaciers, lakes, and a diverse variety of wildlife. Much of the park is backcountry and wilderness, crossed by over 700 miles of trails. Despite its remoteness, the park draws over 2.7 million visitors a year.

Distance

120 miles / 2 hours

Highs

  • This is a true horse and cattle ranch, and they incorporate guests into their way of life with the added feature of a high-end ambience
  • They follow Buck Brannaman-style horsemanship: The horses are fine-tuned to leg pressure, are trained to work cattle and carry a beginner on a basic trail
  • Highly organized and smooth operation from staff to services, horses, and facilities - meticulous on every detail of your stay

Lows

  • There are no supervised children's programs, however children are invited to ride right alongside the adults

Visitor Reviews

Dont just take our word for it, see what visitors like you say...

Another awesome week

As usual, the accommodations and food were wonderful and the staff all incredibly helpful and supportive. I made huge strides with my young horse and horsemanship, as well as getting her out to join the excitement of bringing in the last of the cows. I will be back!

5 stars

You can find more reviews for McGinnis Meadows on TripAdvisor