Round up 600 to 1000 cattle and drive them to their summer pastures in southwest Montana's Big Belt Mountains. 

Big Belt Mountains
  Cattle Drive

These drives start out on the Missouri Valley floor at elevation around 4,000 feet. We trail east up the Big Belt Mountains and move the cattle through canyons with limestone rim rocks and across high ridges through Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine forests. Except when we are in the depths of the canyons, distant snowcapped mountains are always in view. The high ridges of the Big Belts go between 7,500 and 9,500 feet of elevation. During the drives, guests move between 400 and 1000 head of cattle. These cattle drives go right through the mountains. To give each guest the possibility to chase cattle we have a number of mini cattle drives going on within the large cattle drive. Along with the cattle drive, we have educational opportunities, intellectual offerings, and additional entertainment. We offer the guests a chance to learn fly fishing and roping. There are creeks that offer fly fishing opportunities at every camp. We have a Cowboy Poetry night. One evening we have a History Night where we try to share with our guests a glimpse at the Indian, gold mining, ghost town, and natural history of the local area. There is even a Country Dance night and a special Award's Night. Blended in with it all, are evenings of campfire song, trail rides, and laughter. There is a wrangler for every 4 riders. The drive is close to Yellowstone National Park (120 miles) so that you may be able to include a trip there in your itinerary.
If you don't want to ride a horse but would like to participate in the cattle drive, we offer a wagon train ride. Just relax on the trail and join the crew every afternoon at camp.

CDMT03
Included: Accommodations, meals, 5 riding days
7 days/ 6 nights    
2008 Dates:  $ 1,750
06/02-06/08    06/16-06/22    08/11-08/17
2009 Dates:  $ 1,995
06/01-06/07    06/15-06/21    08/10-08/16

Taxes: included 
Gratuities: 10-15% suggested

  availability & reservation

Meeting:    Townsend 
Airport:      Bozeman
Transfer:    Between 12 noon and 1 PM included from Bozeman airport
Tack: Western 
Horses:     Quarter mix
Pace :        Moderate with some trots
                  and few canters 
Level:        Good novice +
... you will enjoy the trip the most if you are an intermediate rider ... but less experienced riders can join.
Max Riders: 45
Notes: non-riders can come along on the wagons.
Min age is 12

Sample ITINERARY

1st Drive: June 02 - 08
Probably the longest riding drive, round up cattle and take them about 40 miles
2nd Drive: June 16 - 22
Drive Cattle from winter pastures to summer pastures.
3rd Drive: August 11 - 17
This time we drive cattle from summer pastures to other summer pastures.

Day 1: Arrive or be picked up at the Bozeman Airport between 12 noon and 1 PM. We'll transport you to Townsend. There's time for necessary shopping, and getting a fishing license, if you plan to fish. We'll drive you to the first camp for dinner, getting acquainted, and orientation.
Day 2: Breakfast at camp. Introduction to horse, familiarization with horse and tack. Basic riding class and safety briefing. Short trail ride. Lunch. Roundup of cattle in surrounding foothills, corral cattle for the night. Dinner, entertainment/fishing, etc. Briefing on next day's plan, singalong.
Day 3: Breakfast. Saddle up horses. Start cattle on the trail. Lunch along the trail. Trail cattle during the afternoon to a holding pen, where they'll be corralled for the night. Dinner at new camp. Entertainment/fishing/possibly a trip to the hot springs, briefing for tomorrow, singalong.
Day 4: Breakfast. Continue along the trail until lunch at noon. Move on up the trail and corral cattle for the night. Dinner at new camp. Entertainment, briefing for next day, singalong.
Day 5: Breakfast. Gather up cattle and trail them the last few miles to their summer pasture. Lunch along the trail. Ride to camp in late afternoon. Relax, swim/fish, get ready for dinner and barn dance.
Day 6: Sleep in! Breakfast. Trail ride. Break camp and drive back to the valley for lunch and relaxation. Time for touring and shopping if you like. Steak dinner and closing program (with awards) at ranch. Sleep at ranches of hosts, or motel...your preference.
Day 7: Breakfast. No activities. We will deliver you to the airport.
 

WHAT'S FOR DINNER - sample

Day 1:
Rib Steak / Ranch Potatoes /
Cowboy Beans
Day 2:
Grilled Chicken / Potato Salad /
Green Beans / Carrots
Day 3:
Ham / Macaroni & Cheese /
Peas & Mushrooms / Apple Sauce
Day 4:
Grilled Salmon/Scalloped Corn /
Trout/Green Beans / Barbecued Lamb/ Lasagna / Chuckwagon Potatoes
Day 5:
Barbecue Country Ribs / Baron of Beef /
Backaroo Spuds
Day 6:
T-Bone Steak / Fried Spuds&Onions /
Sheepherder Corn

Every Night:
Salad or Relish Tray
Choice of Vegetable: Two each meal
Bread: Garlic, Grilled, Sourdough, or Plain
Drinks: Fruit Juice, Coffee, Tea, Water, or Milk
Condiments: Ranch, Low-fat Ranch, French, and Italian dressing
Cattle Drive sauces: Barbecue, Teriyaki, and Sweet & Sour
Fresh Fruit: Apples and Oranges

Guests requiring any type of special dietary requirements are requested to notify us no later than two weeks prior to the start of their drive so that specific arrangements can be made.
Lunches may vary from drive to drive. Sometimes we have sack lunches along the trail. Other times when the chuck wagon follows closely behind the cattle, we have hot soup or chili, a sandwich, fresh fruit, and a candy bar. Cold water, fruit juice, coffee, tea, and cocoa are available at all times.
Breakfasts include eggs, bacon or sausage, pancakes with maple or blueberry syrup, muffins or sweet rolls, French toast, milk, juices, coffee, and generous portions of fresh mountain air!
Thanks and see you in camp.
Your Chef -- Sagebrush Sandy

Frequently asked Questions

Do I need to be an experienced horseback rider?
No, we provide horses for all levels of experience. We begin every drive with a fundamentals class and trail ride. Your wrangler will carefully assess your abilities and match them with a horse suited for you. If you want to accompany the drive, but prefer not to ride horseback, we offer a team and wagon option.

What kind of horse will I get to ride?
Most of our horses have Quarter horse breeding. Other breeds include Appaloosa, Paint, Morgan, Tennessee Walker, Arab, and Thoroughbred.

Where will I stay?
We camp along the route of the cattle drive. We have large wall tents set up and ready for occupancy at the campsites. These tents comfortably accommodate 4 to 8 people. Couples, families, or others preferring more privacy may request smaller tents. The crew dismantles the small tents and moves them to each new campsite and sets them up again. You will be asked for your preference of lodging prior to the drive.

What do I need to bring for staying overnight on the trail?
You need to bring a warm sleeping bag (A flannel liner or extra blanket are recommended in case of cool weather). We furnish sleeping pads to go underneath the sleeping bags. The large tents have heaters in them, but you'll still want a warm sleeping bag. Bring personal toiletries, and casual outdoor clothing. The smaller privacy tents have no heaters and may not remain completely dry in a torrential downpour.

How about bathing and toilet facilities?
We're still working on the perfect shower! We have plenty of warm water for daily washing, and provide biodegradable soap. During the week, you'll get a chance to soak in a natural warm sulfur spa, with water chemically comparable to that at Baden-Baden. We usually camp near a creek with a good swimming hole or so. We have Portatoilets on a lowboy trailer that travels with the drive. They are available at rest stops and remain in camp until the last rider leaves each day.

What about medical services?
We have a certified emergency medical technician or physician on every drive to attend any emergency medical situation. We have radios and cell phones along, and can be in touch with the ambulance in minutes. Commonly, most medical attention is devoted to sunburn, allergies due to dust or pollen, and mild dehydration. It is very important at our altitude to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water!

What kind of weather can I expect?
Hot, cold, warm, sunny, windy, warm, cool, drafty, exquisite...That will cover most of it. Anything is possible in Montana's weather! The cattle have to go when it's time, so we've experienced every kind of weather, and are prepared to make the best of it. Think layers in clothing, and bring raingear.

What about meals?
We have a fully equipped cook wagon on the drive. You'll be served hot family style meals at breakfast and supper every day. Noon meals are generally taken along the trail, and may be a sack lunch, or may be a hot meal delivered by the camp crew. If you have any special dietary requirements, we are happy to accommodate them. Just let us know in advance of your arrival.

What about alcoholic beverages?
We cannot provide alcohol, but we can pack any liberation which you care to purchase prior to the drive. A cocktail around the campfire can take the sting out of soar aching muscles.

Will I actually participate in real cowboy work?
Yes. You and three other guests will have your own wrangler. Together the five of you will become a team responsible for every phase of the cattle herding process. Some days you might be in "drag" position (end of the herd). Other times you will be working the "flank" position (sides of the herd), or you might even have you own "mini-herd" to trail. Sometimes when we are moving a herd of 1000 head, the cattle from "point to drag" will be strung out well over a mile along the trail.

How many head of cattle can I expect to drive?
Each cattle drive is different, but generally speaking, the smallest herd you will send up the trail will be about 400 head (200 pairs). The largest number that we trail is about 1000 head. Keep in mind that our cattle drives are "the real McCoy," and the cattle movements we make have to be done. We move cattle from at least four different ranches, and each ranch has different needs and varying numbers of cattle.

Will I actually get up into the mountains?
You bet! Many of our cattle drives start out on the Missouri Valley floor at elevation around 4000 feet. We trail east up the Big Belt Mountains and move the cattle through canyons with limestone rim rocks and trail across high ridges through Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine forests. Except when we are in the depths of the canyons, distant snowcapped mountains are always in view. The high ridges of the Big Belts go between 7,500 and 9,500 feet of elevation. Mountain ranges visible in the distance include the Bridgers, 10,000 feet; Spanish Peaks, 10,800 feet; Crazy Mountains, 10,800 feet; Tobacco Roots, 10,400 feet; Elkhorn Mountains, 9, 500 feet; Castle Mountains, 8,500 feet.

How many people will be on the drive?
We limit each drive to 35 to 40 guests. A fully-booked cattle drive will result in 55-60 mounted riders, which tends to make a herd of cattle get up and pay attention! Visitors find the large remuda of horses picketed and corralled each night a memorable and impressive sight.

Will we be in the saddle from daylight to dark?
No. You'll be riding for several hours each day, in order to get the cattle moved up to forty miles by the end of the drive. But there is plenty of time after the cattle are corralled in the afternoons to fish, to hike, to take a short trail ride to watch elk and deer, or to just relax. After supper each night we have entertainment such as cowboy poetry, natural history presentations, or roping classes. On some drives, we take advantage of a nearby hot spring for an evening's relaxation after supper.

Where can I go fishing?
At most camps, we have a creek running by that you can fish in. And, we will teach you how to fly fish if you are interested. You'll need to purchase a fishing license when you arrive for your cattle drive experience.

"We have explored the ruins of Machu Pichu, climbed the pyramids of Egypt, rafted bold waters of West Virginia and more, but none of that compares to the fun and friendship we experienced on the BBMCD.  We plan to do it again and again."
M&N F.  Guatemala

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