Selkirk Mountains Guest Ranch

Introduction
Idaho USA Imagine a comfortable, rustic vacation that takes you back to nature, to a time when things were simpler.

The warm, western hospitality, country gourmet dining, and the beauty of Idaho’s wilderness will make your guest ranch stay not just a vacation, but an authentic western experience with memories that last a lifetime. You will love our hands on approach to horseback and trail riding instruction and the personal attention you will receive.

Saddle up for some good old fashioned fun as you ride along the ridges and valleys of this fifth generation Idaho dude and guest ranch. Ride through grazing cattle or sneak a peek at deer, bear, and other wildlife in their native surroundings. Watch a Red-tailed Hawk soar overhead and listen to the song of the birds welcoming you to a new day. 

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a stationary ride, so all nights are spent at the same location.

Description
This ranch is still in opperation after over 75 years and we are proud to say that our Guest Ranch is rich in Idaho ranch history.
Ranch amenities include: The Great Room for dining and meeting space, the upstairs loft for relaxing, the recreation room, outdoor hot tub, basketball court, horseshoes, playground for the little ones and laundry facilities.



Lodge Rooms - max 2, 3 or 4 pax
There are 4 rooms on the upper level and 2 rooms on the lower level. Each room has its own theme and comes with a private bathroom. Most rooms can sleep 2 people but some rooms have the option to accommodate three and one of the ground level room can even accommodate up to four people.


Standard Cabins - max 6 pax
Each of the 3 cabins is uniquely decorated and has a main bedroom on the ground level with extra beddings available upstairs. There is one private bathroom in each cabin and most cabin are also equipped with a small kitchenette.



Deluxe Cabin - max 6 pax
This Cabin offers a private tucked away feeling with a stunning view of the Meadow where you can watch cattle and horses grazing, and maybe even watch deer, elk, and moose pass through the valley. This is the perfect cabin for a honeymoon or a place to celebrate an anniversary or special occasion. Its open floor plan with your own river rock fireplace will make you feel right at home. But, if you should decide to bring the kids there is a lower level with two full-size beds and a half bath.

Room Occupancy
Triple and quadruple occupancy are possible.
There is no extra charge for solo travelers. Solo travelers will be housed in the main lodge rooms.  



Meals
All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on the last day.

During the summer months, drinks (beer & wine) are included during Happy Hour.

Dietary Restrictions
We can accommodate most dietary restrictions. Please let us know ahead of time so that we can cater to your needs.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Equipment
A saddle can make the difference between a great ride and a terrible ride for you and your horse. Therefore, we provide our guests with quality, custom made, John Fallis or Vick Bennett Balanced Ride Saddles. These saddles create a more comfortable ride for you and your horse because the seat design is nearly flat to place the rider on the horse’s true center of gravity. Also, the rigging design reduces the bulk under the riders' legs permitting more leg contact with the horse and promoting more control. This design also reduces pain in your knees while riding. Finally, the stirrups are designed to hang farther forward than conventional stirrups to increase the rider's stability and balance.
Our horses are our greatest asset, so we believe it is vitally important to take care of their comfort. With this in mind, we have chosen to invest in WYNGZ RidezCool saddle pads, which are designed to be lightweight, flexible and comfortable.

Riding Groups
We prefer to ride in small groups of about 5 riders for one wrangler.

Fitness Level
Riding a horse is often viewed as the physical output equivalent of sitting in a chair, however, we can assure you it is not. A research lead at Texas A&M shows that on a 1-hour long trail ride with a combination of walking, trotting, and cantering, you could burn up to 300 calories. This would be equivalent to an hour spent participating in a Zumba class, downhill skiing or snowboarding, using a step machine, surfing or playing tennis.
This is why we recommend taking a daily walk or bike ride before your stay, in order to get your body ready. Even a little bit of extra movement each day will make a difference when you get to the ranch. Second, strengthen your core. Your body’s balancing tool on a horse is your core. Lastly, get your stretch on! Getting on your horse requires a little bit of legwork. Helping your body out ahead of time by doing just a few stretches per day can go along ways to prep you for riding. Of course, we do have mounting blocks to give you a little boost and help to relieve the stress on your horse’s back while mounting.
Do you have to be in perfect shape to go on a dude ranch vacation? Absolutely not! But, a little bit of proactive work ahead a time can help to prevent or lessen the time it takes your muscles (and your rear) to get used to riding a horse.

Helmet
Children ages 12 and under are required to wear an SEI approved riding helmet. Also, anyone 18 years old and under, visiting the ranch without a parent/guardian on site is required to wear an SEI approved riding helmet. Adults are not required to wear a helmet, but it is strongly encouraged.

Pet Policy
We do allow dogs in the cabins but not in the rooms at the lodge. There is a pet fee of $15 per night per pet.  Guest pets are not allowed on any rides so please bring a crate your dog can stay in while you are away.

Horses
We are very proud of our four-legged working partners. We maintain a herd of more than 50 registered Quarter horses, Appaloosas, and Paints for our saddle horses as well as one team of Belgian Percheron crosses, three teams of Percherons and one team of 1/4 Percheron for our sleigh and wagon rides. 
Our horses are worked with and handled at an early age to begin adapting them to their future uses. As two-year olds, we begin their official training, getting them used to the saddle and working them in the round pen. They then graduate to the arena, and then to some short trail rides. We use a training system called the “Basic Handle,” founded by Monte Forman and Pat Wyse. This system creates a safe, responsive, and sensible horse. Of course, we carefully breed and maintain horses that have a disposition that lends itself to the guest ranch industry.
As three- and four-year-olds, these horses are used as mounts for our trail guides. Then, as five-year-olds, they begin their career as mounts for our guests. We use both mares and geldings and rotate mares in and out as they produce more offspring for our future string.
Our quality ranch raised horses are perfect for the beginner or the experienced rider. Our goal is always that our horses would be gentle enough for a beginner but light, responsive, and athletic enough for an advanced rider to enjoy.

Itinerary
The riding program begins with an orientation where the wranglers introduce you to your horse for the week and give instructions on how to ride and what to expect throughout the week during your stay.
Each day you will enjoy morning and afternoon rides where you will explore the north Idaho mountains, valleys and meadows around the ranch. One day, you will pack up for a day ride to Grouse Creek Falls for swimming or enjoy a ranch perimeter ride with views of the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountain Ranges. One evening, saddle up for a dinner ride with campfire grilled, ranch raised beef steak.

Other horseback experiences include lessons in the arena, moving cattle, cattle sorting and arena games. Our 70' by 150' indoor arena means even if its raining, we will have horseback activities available.



Sample Summer Itinerary - subject to changes
Our All-Inclusive Summer Program is offered from May 30th to October 2nd 2021. We also offer Adult-Only Weeks, in 2021 these will take place between September 6th and 26th. In 2022, these weeks will take place between September 4th and 24th.
During the rest of the year, enjoy a B&B stay in a lodge room or rent a cabin for a cozy get away. Two-hour guided horseback rides are available in the Fall and Spring for an extra fee. When the snow flies, our saddle horses get to take a vacation but you can enjoy an old fashioned sleigh ride.

Note: Sunday is the horse’s day off so no horseback rides are available.

Day 1 (Sunday):
3:00 pm – Check-in. Unpack, explore the grounds, play yard games, or kick back and relax.
5:00 – 6:00 – Happy Hour. Beer and wine will be served at the lodge.
6:30 pm – Dinner. Dinner is served in the great room of the lodge.
7:30 pm – Mosey down to the horse pasture to see the ranch horses. You may even get to meet your horse for the week.

Day 2 (Monday):
8:30 am – Wranglers run the horses up from the meadow.
9:00 am – Breakfast
10:00 am – Meet at the horse barn for your horseback orientation and a 1.5 hour trail ride.
12:30 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Afternoon Ride (1-hour ride or 2-hour ride offered) or skip the ride and go for a self guided hike or mountain bike ride.
5:00 pm – Wranglers run horses back to the meadow.
5:00 – 6:00 – Happy Hour. Beer and wine served at the lodge.
6:30 pm  – Dinner
7:30 pm – Archery practice

Day 3 (Tuesday):
8:30 am – Wranglers run the horses up from the meadow.
9:00 am – Breakfast
10:00 am – Meet at the barn for a morning ride (about 2 hours) and the lope test (if you wish to go on a fast ride you must first pass the lope test) OR 3D Archery.
12:30 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Afternoon Ride. A fast ride and a slow ride are offered this afternoon (ride may be a little shorter because of dinner cruise - from June 14 to August 30 only) OR Trap Shooting.
5:00 pm – Wranglers run horses back to the meadow.
5:00 -6:00 – Happy Hour. Beer and wine served at the lodge.
6:30 pm – Dinner in the Great Room of the lodge
8:00 pm – Movie on the lawn

Day 4 (Wednesday):
8:30 am – Wranglers run the horses up from the meadow.
9:00 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Make sack lunches for the day ride.
10:00 am – Meet at barn for all day ride. Today we will offer Huckleberry Ridge Ride or a ride to Grouse Creek Falls*. We should be back at the Lodge around 4:30pm.
5:00 pm – Wranglers run horses back to the meadow
5:00 – 6:00 – Happy Hour. Beer and wine will be served at the campfire on the lawn.
6:30 pm – Dutch Oven Dinner. Served outside at the fire pit.
7:30 pm – Music around the campfire
8:30 pm – Boot branding at the campfire

*: For Grouse Creek Falls you may want to bring a swimsuit, water shoes and towel (ask for towels at the lodge) for a refreshing dip at the Falls. The trip home in wet jeans can be long. There is a half mile, moderate hike into Grouse Creek Falls. A 1 hour ride and transportation to lunch at Grouse Creek Falls will also be available this morning.

Day 5 (Thursday):
8:30 am – Wranglers run the horses up from the meadow.
9:00 am – Breakfast
10:00 am – Cattle Sorting. This is a competitive team event. Bring your game face!
12:30 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Afternoon Ride
3:00 pm – Youth Horsemanship Horse Show. Participants of the Youth Horsemanship program show off what they have learned in a fun horse show complete with ribbons.
5:30 pm – Wagon Rides and roping practice.
6:30 pm – Dinner
8:00 pm – Wranglers run horses back to the meadow.

Day 6 (Friday):
8:30 am – Wranglers run horses up from the meadow.
9:00 am – Breakfast
10:00 am – Morning on your own OR Pack River Canoe Trip.
12:30 pm – Brown bag lunch on Pack River.
12:30 pm – Wranglers run the horses up from the meadow
2:00 pm – Horseback Ride.
5:00 pm – Depart for steak dinner ride.
6:30 pm – Steak Dinner
7:30 pm – Ride back to the lodge
8:00 pm – Wranglers run horses back to the meadow.

Day 7 (Saturday):
8:30 am – Wranglers run the horses up from the meadow.
9:00 am – Breakfast
11:00 am – Check Out


Children's Program
During the July and August, children staying with family at the ranch have the opportunity to be involved in one of the most educational and fun dude ranch children’s program available. This program is designed for kids age 8 – 18. Hands on experiences with their horse are the centerpiece of this program. Children will receive our ranch’s horsemanship manual to help expand their learning experience. The program starts on Monday morning and is concluded on Thursday evening with a horse show, complete with trophies and ribbons. Children will be responsible for their own horse and equipment. They learn horse husbandry skills and equipment care. Every morning they will help prepare their horse for the day’s activities.
Kids 12 and younger are required to wear a helmet.



Included Non-Riding Activities
For the non-rider, the ranch offers many other activities (available at no extra cost) that will fill your day with relaxation, education or adventure. Horseback riding is our main focus, but we have many other activities that you can participate in including: Horse shoes, Teepee camp, Evening campfires with songs and s’mores, Basketball, Pool table, Foosball & Movies.

Guided E-Bikes Rides
We are excited to announce a new addition to our menu of activities here at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. Guided QuietKat eBike tours will be available for our guests to experience. Our Summer guests will have the opportunity to enjoy these bikes as part of our All-Inclusive Guest Ranch Packages. The minimum age for this activity is 13.
QuietKat ebikes are built for better access to the great outdoors and geared towards those who want non-obtrusive access to the backwoods. QuietKat ebikes enable people to access the wilderness in a fast, fun and sustainable way. They are engineered for off-road travel, providing portable, stealthy and powerful transportation with less physical effort than a traditional mountain bike. Lithium-ion batteries supply clean, green and silent power to navigate all types of riding landscapes.

3D Archery Course
First, hone your skills on our stationary course, then hit the trail on a mild, guided walk through the forest. Along the way, you will stop at each 3D archery target and see if you can beat your fellow archers to the bullseye.

Trap Shooting
This is a recreational and competitive activity, using shotguns, where participants attempt to shoot clay disks flung into the air at high speed. Minimum age to participate is 12 years old.

Clay Pigeon Shooting
On Tuesday afternoon, trade your horse in for a shotgun and work on your aim. In Skeet Shooting, participants, using shotguns, attempt to shoot clay targets flung into the air before they hit the ground. The minimum age to participate in this activity is 12.

Mountain Biking
Take a self-guided mountain bike ride on the ranch’s 1100 acres. We have mountain bikes of varying sizes available for you to use at any time during your dude ranch vacation. The terrain on the ranch varies from rolling hills to more extreme elevation changes. Grab a trail map bandanna at the ranch office and pick your trail route to fit your riding experience.

Hiking
With the scenic beauty of the Cabinet Mountains at your cabin’s doorstep, hiking at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch is a great way to experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Get your map from the ranch office and explore our piece of North Idaho paradise on a self-guided hike.

Relax in the Hot Tub
At the end of the day after all your guest ranch adventures, the hot tub is the perfect way to unwind and relax. The outdoor covered hot tub is located just outside the lodge with easy access from the lodge rooms or cabins.



Extra Non-Riding Activities - inquire for rates
Other off-ranch activities can be arranged for you for an additional fee. We are also easy driving distance of many attractions including: Silverwood Theme Park, The Idaho Club Golf Course, Downtown Sandpoint, Schweitzer Ski Resort and Glacier National Park.

Fishing
Fly fishing or lake fishing on the beautiful Lake Pend Oreille with local outfitters is a fun and exciting day activity. 

Kayaking
Kayaking on Lake Pend Oreille is relaxing and the perfect half day or day long outing for a hot summer day. Make it a real day on the lake adventure: rent a boat and explore all of Lake Pend Oreille’s 111 miles of shoreline.

White Water Rafting
Montana River Guides, located near Paradise Montana (2.5 hour drive from the ranch), will be your host for this great escape down the Clark Fork River. 

Rates and Dates for Selkirk Mountains Guest Ranch

Dates Note: Most guests arrive on a Sunday and depart on a Saturday, but for your flexibility we do offer shorter stays (min 3 nights) and arrivals any day of the week.
Sold Out for the entire 2023 season as of 3/21/23

Other Info
Meeting: Sandpoint, ID
Airport: Spokane International Airport (GEG)
Transfer: --

Climate:
                                                Sandpoint area

• Long pants or jeans .
• Cowboy boots – If you don’t have a pair we have a boot closet full of boots of all shapes and sizes for you to borrow while you are here.
• Tennis shoe or hiking shoe
• A hat – A baseball cap, cowboy hat, or other brimmed hat will help to shade your eyes from the sun on your many outdoor excursions. If you don’t want to bring a hat, the ranch gift shop has a wide selection of cowboy hats and baseball caps to purchase.
• Swim suit
• Water shoes
• Rain coat
• Warm weather clothes (shorts, t-shirts, etc.)
• Sweatshirt or coat
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray – In the early summer and early fall, the mosquitoes and gnats come out in the evenings so a little bug spray is a big help.
• A Good Book – Take some time to kick back and read that book you have been meaning to get to or, borrow one from the ranch library.