The idea of the Bar W began with a father’s longing to escape the rigors and chaos of the office and stave off burnout. Dave Leishman, future owner of the Bar W, and his daughters, Meghan and Emily, were persuaded by a long-time friend to head west and visit a dude ranch. It turned out to be a life-changing, priority-altering vacation. It was the complete package, a true western experience.

Here at the Bar W, we have assembled a team to provide our guests with an unforgettable experience. Our goal is to make each guest’s vacation experience one that will last a lifetime. Folks arrive as guests and leave as friends and family.

“Our first trip to Montana literally changed our lives - we hope you give us a chance to make a difference in your life as well. We will do our best to make sure that your stay with us is one that keeps you wanting to return year after year.” The Leishmans

The Bar W Story

Sit Back, Relax, and Let Montana Surround You©

Beautiful vistas and rolling ridges adorn the countryside of this cozy Montana dude ranch. The Bar W is ready to treat you with true western hospitality, from the moment you arrive until long after you have left – you will always be a part of the Bar W. Nestled at the base of Spencer Mountain, between two pine covered ridges, there are over three thousand acres available for horseback riding and outdoor activities. Guests feel miles away from civilization and find it hard to believe they are just minutes from one of the most vibrant towns in Montana. Whitefish was named one of the “Top Ten Cool Towns” by Frommer’s Budget Travel.

The Bar W has blended elegance with old west informality to

create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Whether you

stay in our spacious lodge, cool glamping tents or Amish built

cabin suites you will feel right at home – bring your favorite

slippers and sit back relax and let Montana surround you.

Packages Include:Accommodations, Meals, Maid Service, All On-ranch

Activities, Fishing, Skeet Shooting, Boats, Access to

Surrounding Wilderness, and Guided Trail Riding.

The Bar W is an idyllic piece of paradise

to soak in year round!

…working at your desk or at home – you are fully engaged (something you haven’t been able to do for a while) decisions are easier and you are moving through the piles of work and getting stuff done that has been weighing on your mind for a while. Then, mentally you wonder back to a few days ago – you were on a horse named Buster, at the US – Canadian border riding in the white sand surrounding a beautiful aqua blue/green lake called Koocanusa watching a herd of elk. A day you ended around a campfire with good food, great company, a whole bunch of stories, laughter, and a country singer. Of course no campfire is complete without a traditional campfire dessert, s’mores.

You catch yourself smiling about how great you felt on the back of your horse, the new friends you made –staff and guests, how important the staff made you feel (or how well the staff took care of you), the breathtaking scenery, and all the new things you tried - you sigh – smile bigger - and then you start ripping through the piles of work and projects totally invigorated and recharged.

Picture Yourself...

Well, you were just at the Bar W Guest Ranch in Whitefish, Montana...

...where time runs a little slower, things seem a little easier and everyday feels like Saturday© .

Riding Program

At the Heart of the Bar W…is our horse program of course! Your vacation on horseback will begin with the proper matching up of you and one of our horses. Emphasis is always placed on your safety as well as that of our horses. You’ll start out by getting to know your horse before setting out to ride some of the most diverse terrain available on the million acres the Bar W is permitted on. You’ll ride in the mountainous Montana terrain surrounding the ranch, the peaks of Stryker Ridge and Sunday Creek, the open meadows of Swisher Lake or if you go on our cattle drives, the wide open prairies of the Blackfeet Reservation.

If you want to improve your riding skills we are happy to

oblige, in fact we totally enjoy helping out. Want to learn to

move cattle or to throw a rope – yup that’s included.

You can also saddle up and enjoy the array of arena activities including barrel racing, cattle work, and horsemanship lessons. From American Quarter Horses to Percheron and Clydesdale Drafts, from rodeo to trail rides, the Bar W has it all.

The family experience is emphasized at the Bar W. Kid’s will participate with the adults in most activities following the horseback rides. The children’s program is

designed for 6 years and younger to learn about the cowboy way of life, Native American heritage, hiking, fishing, painting the horses, tacking horses (age appropriate), crafts, and campfires. Horse lessons and the Junior Wrangler Cowpoke Corner are sure to keep your little one engaged.

Bar W Cowpoke Program

The value of the kids program is in the fun & social orientation of the activities that

captures the interest of the entire age range of the participants.

Where Nature Replaces Screens

Ranch Activities

Evenings are also chock full of activities with going to the local rodeo, campfire cookouts with a country singer and s’mores. Enjoy views of the peaks of Glacier National Park during our ridge top BBQ dinners, square dances, adults night dinners, and you won’t want to miss the ranch rodeo’s award ceremony.

There is So Much to Do!Around the Ranch…when you aren’t in the saddle - there is plenty for all ages to do and discover at the Bar W. Guests are invited to explore the entire property - watch horses being trained, help with the chores (if you like, of course), fish for big pike on Spencer Lake or trout in our pond, hike the miles and miles of trails, go birding, mountain bike, swim in the lake, throw horseshoes, or play badminton, volleyball, or a leisurely game of pool. You can even test your archery skills or try your hand at breaking some clay pigeons or rifle shooting. All this and more is what you can expect from a ranch vacation at the Bar W. Oh yeah – we can schedule a massage for you as well.

Summer is when Montana is in high gear, the energy is contagious, the water of the lakes and streams take on a refreshing charm and invite you to surround yourself in their clean, cold, and invigorating essence. All the area’s activities are at their peak and the Flathead Valley is busting at the seams with fun. Montana is alive and you can feel it everywhere – great time to be here!

If all the activities on the ranch aren’t enough, the Flathead Valley is a year-round playground for families, singles, and groups of all ages. There’s no shortage of options including shopping, whitewater rafting, nine world-class golf courses, loads of hiking trails, boating, lake and stream fishing. Whitefish Mountain Resort is only 12 miles down the road. You can zip-line, walk in the tree tops (both very, very cool) or take the alpine slide for a whirl down the mountain.

In the Area...

With the very cool town of Whitefish just 4 miles away, after the activities at the ranch are over, head out for some great night life with wine lofts, breweries, bands, and dancing – that is if you aren’t too tired. Oh yeah, don’t forget, the stunning Glacier National Park is located just 23 miles from our family dude ranch and the drive there is almost as beautiful as the park itself. (almost!)

Activities of Interest

• Shopping (3.5 miles)• Whitefish Lake Golf Club (1.5 miles)• Glacier National Park (23 miles)• Big Mountain Ski & Summer Resort (12 miles)

• Glacier River Rafting (23 miles)

• Mountain Biking (Out the back door)

• Helicopter Rides (10-23 miles)• Whitefish Theater Co. (3.5 miles)• Fishing (0–2 miles) The Bar W staff is pleased to assist in making reservations for guests looking to enjoy the Whitefish area.

Accommodations

The Bar W has blended elegance with western informality to create an atmosphere that truly comforts – especially after a long day in the saddle. As one of our guests said “the Bar W is not like going on vacation – it’s like going home and putting on your favorite slippers.”

The Bar W cabin suites are the perfect setting to enjoy your intimate dude ranch vacation overlooking the south pasture and our string of horses.

This isn’t an ordinary “pup tent.” The Bar W glamping, or glamorous camping, provides guests with a true cowboy vacation at the ranch in an elegant setting with the comforts of home. Guests will never think of camping in the same way again.

Dining

Wait until you sit down to breakfast or dinner and taste some of the best down-home cooking this side of the Mississippi - Montana style! Meals are prepared with love and care and are always served in hearty portions - no one leaves hungry. Have a unique food requirement? Just let our cooks know and we’ll accommodate your request. We’ll change it up a bit during the week with dining venues – we like to use the whole ranch, so in addition to the lodge, we’ll be eating at the gazebo on the lake, in the play meadow, and on the our ridge where you can see as far as the peaks of Glacier National Park.

Winters at the Bar W - The fun just keeps on going on...

As a blanket of snow covers the valley - it comes alive with a crisp clear sense of beauty. The place to be during the winter is at the Bar W Guest Ranch. Time will run a little slower – things will seem a little simpler – and everyday will feel like Saturday. While at the ranch go “dashing through the snow” in an open sleigh led by a team of draft horses, or try snow shoeing on the surrounding 3,000 acres.

Use the Bar W as your base lodge to:

Ski or snowboard at Whitefish Mountain resort ranked one of the top 10 resorts in the United States – just 12 miles away. With 300 inches of snow a year you’ll find this ski area has it all - terrain for all levels.

Explore the hundreds and hundreds of miles of groomed and un-groomed snowmobile trails all around the area.

Go dog sledding in the Montana wilderness – just 10 minutes up the road.

Go snow shoeing in Glacier National Park led by one of the Park Rangers. You can even add to the adventure by taking a relaxing half hour train ride there and back.

Ski Back Country at Great Northern Powder Guides just 10 minutes up the road.

Go cross-country skiing on the 200 or so miles of groomed trails right in the area.

From excellent shopping to fun nightlife and top rated restaurants there is something here for everyone.

Or Just Sit Back, Relax and Let Montana Surround You.

“The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” Spoken by Will Rogers, Winston Churchill, and Ronald Reagan, among many others and finer words were never spoken. Man’s universal love of horses has taken man and horse into a world of incredibly diverse use. But, there’s one area of the horse world that isn’t mentioned enough and that’s “Cowboying,” and that may be the best of them all.

Cattle Drive

“Cowboying on the Great Divide”. It’s all about horses, cattle, great country, and you!At the Bar W, we have created a cattle drive adventure that rounds out all of the experiences of a cattle round-up. Having participated in traditional cattle drives, we wanted our guests to experience the “best of ” what a cattle drive entails – not just moving cattle. Over this four day trip with base camp on 50,000 acres of the Blackfoot reservation, you’ll ride as far as you can see to gather up the cattle, drive them back to the corrals, sort the mother cows and calves, brand, inoculate, and doctor the young males.

You’ll feel like (actually you will be) a real cowhand riding out for different herds – long horns one day, then cows and we may even go out for some bucking horses before heading back to the ranch.

We’ll round out the week with an all day ride on the Canadian border riding on white sand along an aqua blue/green lake watching out for elk – what else can we say!

“Tons of fun! Love loping and going to the Reservation! Awesome group of people and the staff is great! Best vacation ever!” Katherine & Michael, Charlotte, NC

The Ultimate Photography Week - full of opportunityJust the beauty of Montana, all by itself, can turn the average tourist with a pocket camera into a photographer whose pictures will adorn the walls at home for years to come. Now, add to the splendor of the Montana scenery, majestic horses, authentic cowboys and cowgirls, Glacier National Park and incredible wildlife with settings of unparalleled opportunities and what do you get? You get a dream vacation for amateur and professional photographers to soak in from sunrise to sunset – which by the way are pretty terrific in themselves.

Did we say wildlife? What would you say about taking a picture of a mountain lion or a wolf 10 feet away from you? What about an endangered snow leopard at the same distance or a grizzly bear? Maybe, a baby lynx will show up. We are pleased to have partnered with Triple D Game Farm over the years to provide the perfect setting for some once in a lifetime opportunities. Picture yourself taking a picture of a curious wolf sniffing your foot as the trainer says – “be still ma’am/sir.” Wow!

But it’s more than taking pictures – this is a total package with accommodations, meals, horseback riding, clay pigeon shooting, fishing, square dancing and all of the photo shoots. After a full day of riding, fishing and photography, relax with our informal cocktail hour in the lodge by the fire. Or, if you prefer, loosen up those sore muscles in our hot tub before a homemade dinner you will not soon forget. So grab your camera and prepare to be awed.

Cowgirl Up“Cowgirl Up” is a 6 night/5 day all-inclusive woman’s adventure retreat in keeping with the simple yet elegant Bar W style. The Bar W is offering an all inclusive package for women to “Cowgirl Up” with their best friends, sisters, daughters, or just come alone and enjoy the camaraderie as the “girls” take over the ranch. This special package combines nature’s simplicity with western informality and provides you with a true Montana retreat to refuel your spirit and delight your body.

At the end of the day, wind down and enjoy the Vintners presentation and cocktail receptions followed by a down home Montana style dinner that will absolutely delight your palate. Then head down to the Blue Moon for some “two stepping” lessons or out to the hot tub for more relaxation under the stars – it’s up to you.

“Traveled here alone - leaving with many new friends. Incredible trip and

great memories. Thank you Bar W.”

Noel Canton, OH

Where women show up as strangers and leave as sisters...

“What a truly amazing experience! Thank you to all the Bar W staff for an incredible week and for making me and the rest of the “cowgirls” feel so at home.” Jennifer Modesto, CA

In addition to the million acres of trails, prairies and mountainous terrain, novice and experienced riders will also enjoy working cattle and learning the fine skill of individual and team sorting and penning in the arena. And, just when you think life doesn’t get any better, you’ll kick off your shoes for a honey and hot cream rock foot massage followed by a couple hours of real pampering.

Adult Week...No KiddosPlease come and join us for a week of memory making at the Bar W Ranch “Adults Only” Week. Solo travelers, couples, friends and parents alike are invited to unwind for a 6 night getaway. The Adults Only Week at the Bar W is an all inclusive retreat designed for you to relax, have fun and let your stress evaporate into the fresh mountain air.

Your biggest daily dilemma will be choosing between the fantastic trail riding or working on horsemanship skills with team penning/sorting of cattle, barrel racing, and roping! For spending time out of the saddle we offer something for everyone including skeet shooting, fly casting lessons, archery, horseshoes, boating, fishing, campfires and guided hikes. Wind down at the end of each day and join us for our informal cocktail receptions sitting by a cozy fire in the lodge.

Imagine a place where you can find rest for your body, mind and soul and you can just simply breath again!

Adult Week...By mid-week you’ll be ready for a night on the town in Whitefish (recently named one of the “Top Ten Cool Towns” by Frommer’s Budget Travel) have a fantastic dinner at local eatery and then hitting the local watering holes! Or back at the ranch, relax in the hot tub and gaze at the stars that fill Montana’s big sky, take a walk, read a book or just chill.

So if you are ready to make some lasting memories, come join us for great riding, scenery, camaraderie, and fun.

Family ReunionsThe Bar W is made for family reunions. The size, layout, and programs lend themselves to the perfect family reunion get-a-way and get together. Adults will experience the freedom of letting go and having time to reunite. Kids will run free, build memories and make lifelong connections with the other kids they don’t get to see all the time. Family units will have the space and time to bond and grow closer individually as well as engage with the entire family during meals and activities. The entire itinerary is designed to foster friendly family interactions – square dance together, take wagon rides, sit around the campfire, sing songs with a country singer, eat s’mores and tell family stories, play a game of volleyball or soccer and just enjoy each other.

Larger groups can take over the whole ranch where we can accommodate family sizes of 50 or so. There are many options for smaller groups – just take over the lodge with 26 or the whole cabin with 16. We’ve had success with all sorts of family sizes - so tell us what’s on your mind and we’ll see what we can put together to make this a vacation that lasts you and the whole family a lifetime.

With so many different activities at The Bar W there is always something for every family member. So, whether horseback riding,

taking lessons, working in the arena with cattle, trail riding, skeet shooting, fishing, hiking and exploring, swimming in the lake, archery, playing Bocce Ball or croquet, shopping in Whitefish or just relaxing, there is an activity for everyone.

The truly best atmosphere for reuniting the family soul.

And then there is just everything else that the Flathead Valley has to offer right down the street (that is if you ever even want to leave the ranch) with shopping, whitewater rafting, Glacier National Park, world class golfing, lake and stream fishing, boating, zip-lining, walking in the tree tops at Whitefish Mountain Resort, great nightlife, and top notch restaurants.

“I expected it to be a special vacation but I couldn’t have imagined how great. We had what seemed a month’s worth of activities in a week all organized by the most engaging group of people. The best part being our own family rodeo.”Carol Martin & family, 20 of us in all.

We recently went to Disney and were hoping that the Bar W would be somewhere in the same ball park and I have to tell you - you blew it away. As a family we all have something new that we can do anywhere in the world - horseback riding. We didn’t have to worry where the kids were all the time. There wasn’t constant

stimulations coming at us - we actually had some down time. We spent more time together as a family and we grew much closer as a family unit. And now, we too feel part of the Bar W family - we loved the staff and we made lifelong friends with the other guests.” Bernadette Dore, Massachusetts

2875 Highway 93 WestWhitefish, MT 59937

Call us today for more informationOffice: (406) 863-9099

Toll Free: (866) 828-2900www.thebarw.com

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