It looks like it is shaping up to be a great summer fishing season here at the Ranch!  Montana's snow pack recently rose above average and we have experienced a fairly mild spring.  Given these conditions, all of our blue-ribbon trout fisheries should be in great shape by mid June when the Ranch re-opens.  The off-season so far has been spent exploring some of the amazing fishing options that are available in Montana.  Checking out new areas of the Gallatin, spending time on the Madison and making a couple of expeditions to the mighty Missouri.

Happy spring! This is the time of year when we spend half of our days watching crocus bloom outside the office and the other half measuring snowfall. Over the next couple of months, the average temperatures will rise, the grass will turn a darker shade of green and we'll be welcoming our horses back home from being out to winter pasture! Until then, we'll look for more snow and moisture and cooler temps to hold our nearly 100% of winter snowpack in tact.  As we prepare for a few marketing trips to Orvis stores,

Welcome to springtime fishing in southwest Montana!  Temperatures are starting to rise, more bugs are starting to move around, and the trout are getting more aggressive by the day!  Over the last weekend the weather and fishing were both spectacular.  Temperatures got up into the 50's with bright sunny blue skies and fish were feeding heavily on nymphs.  A few blue winged olives were even spotted fluttering around the banks which is a great sign that dry fly action is just around the corner.  On the Gallatin River, nymphing should bring some healthy

Magic happens when we spend time in the mountains. The crisp clean air and magnificent views quiet the mind and arouse creativity. What better time to have a simple sketch book and retractable pencil on hand? To paint? To gather sticks and stones and build something? There is no pressure to create a masterpiece, just an innocent invitation to stop, look, listen and uncover your own personal meaning. When we allow ourselves this expression, we enhance our lives. We gracefully fall into a meditative state that heightens our awareness and stimulates a deep appreciation of nature. We communicate without being

This is one of the most popular questions we get asked.  With a plethora of activities for all ages, it can be difficult to decide how long to stay at a Guest Ranch.  During the summer, our guests participate in horseback riding, fly fishing, trips into Yellowstone National Park, a full kids program, hiking, canoeing, white water rafting, rock climbing, oil painting, photography and more!  Some Ranches require a minimum number of nights to ensure that guests get the most out of the experience.  For us, we have a 7 night minumum in July and August and

When people think of Montana, there are certain characteristics that come to mind: cowboys, ranches, the beautiful big sky, the abundance of wildlife, fly fishing and, of course, trout. Here at The Dining Room at Lone Mountain Ranch, we have created a relationship with Trout Culture in Virginia City, just over the hill in the Madison Valley.  Justin and Chris are one of our local farmers who raise and nurture the trout we serve here regularly. Chris and Justin started Trout Culture mainly because 90%+ of all the trout in America are raised in

We got our first taste of springtime over the past few days in the greater Yellowstone area with temperatures in Big Sky reaching the mid 40's!  The sight of melting snow discouraged some, but it got me excited about how amazing the spring and summer fishing will be around the ranch.  To the delight of all the Nordic and Alpine skiers it is snowing again today and my ambitions of casting caddis flies and grasshoppers will have to wait for now.  With springtime almost upon us, it also marks the annual spawning season for the Rainbow Trout.

As a self-proclaimed professional adventurer, I have spent the past five years traveling to many exotic and faraway places. I’ve also spent much time trying to get to know our own spectacularly vast country. For as long as I can remember, I had been intrigued by the idea of Montana—a still wild place, filled with rugged mountains and endless open spaces. I finished a summer of work up in Alaska and decided it was time—I was going to Montana. Friends who have lived in the area for many years told me that Lone Mountain

In the Lone Mountain Ranch Dining Room, you will find a commitment to local, sustainable and in-season foods. Our Chefs, Captains and Servers are excited and delighted to provide you not only with the highest quality food, but also the story of its journey to your plate. All food comes from someplace, but where and how makes a big difference. Below we have included one of our more frequently used recipes, as well as the story behind it, to give you just a taste of the culinary experience that awaits you at Lone Mountain Ranch. Each Sunday morning during our

It was a beautiful day on the Gallatin!  The sun was shining bright with blue bird skies and I was practically alone on the river.  After landing several fish, I enjoyed a nice break by relaxing on the river bank with a fresh made pastry.  Thinking the day couldn't get much better, I continued to drift my nymph rig through the hole that had been so generous all day.  My indicator suddenly sank and I set the hook.  Without hesitation a monstorious brown trout went airborne and the battle began.  After a few