Read All About Our Unforgettable Anniversary Trip to Triple Creek Ranch in Montana
When my husband and I decided to stay somewhere closer to home for our 10-year anniversary, I knew just the place: Triple Creek Ranch.
I had long lusted after this luxury, adults-only ranch in Darby, Montana. The fact that anyone staying had to be 16 or older made it seem perfect for an anniversary or honeymoon. We were leaving our two kids overnight with their grandma for the first time in almost three years so this was important to us!
Plus, being from Montana means we don’t actually ever go to dude ranches. We just visit family…who don’t have horses.
Though when we dropped my kids off at my grandparent’s farm where they’d be hanging out with my mom while we were gone, my grandpa seemed quite amused by our upcoming getaway. “If you wanted to go on a cattle drive, we know people who can take you on one. You don’t need to drive all the way to Darby,” he told me.
I laughed and assured him we were going more for the yummy meals and pampering in a mountain setting that Triple Creek Ranch was known for and less for the cattle drive.
Though make no mistake, we were quite excited about the cattle drive excursion, which ended up being a highlight of our trip. More on that later on.
First, what is it like to stay at Triple Creek Ranch? And by that, I mean the service, amenities, and accommodations. Well, let me tell you because they were pretty epic…
5-Star Service at Triple Creek Ranch
The service was impeccable during our stay at Triple Creek Ranch. Upon check-in, we were immediately handed off to a concierge who got us up to speed on our stay and then escorted us to dinner (we were starving after arriving later than planned).
After dinner, she met up with us again to take us to our cabin.
She was so upbeat and friendly and gave us a quick yet thorough tour of our cabin and then left us to enjoy it.
Throughout our stay, any time we had a question about anything or needed something, the concierge team was quick to assist and so pleasant to work with. They even went through our sapphire panning finds to tell us if what we had uncovered from the dirt was an actual sapphire or not (some of them were! Woo-hoo!).
At dinner, everyone tried to learn our names even though we’d only be there a few nights. The bartenders were friendly and efficient. We were also impressed with our multi-course Chef’s Dinner and the professionalism of the sommelier.
The horse wranglers also made us feel completely at ease and comfortable, even though we are far from expert riders.
And proving just how much the whole state of Montana sometimes feels like one small town…
I noticed one concierge was from Billings (everyone who works at Triple Creek Ranch wears a nametag saying where they’re from) so I mentioned a lot of my family lives there and we’d be heading back there to pick up my kids. Then that somehow devolved into naming the small town my kids were currently staying in where my grandparents live.
The concierge’s ears perked up. “Wait…what’s your family’s last name?”
I told her and she broke into a smile since she knew several of my uncles and worked in the same industry as one of my uncles in Billings for awhile and spoke highly of him.
Small world? Yup, especially so in Montana!
Accommodations at Triple Creek Ranch
Triple Creek Ranch has all stand-alone accommodations ranging from standard cabins (called sugar cabins) to luxury cabins, most of which are within easy walking distance of the main lodge.
However, everyone staying in the luxury cabins got a golf cart, which was so fun to use we never walked anywhere! The standard cabins are located closer to the main lodge and are friendlier on the wallet.
In addition, larger, more private cabins are located farther from the main lodge around the vast property.
We stayed in the Nez Perce Cabin, a luxury cabin at Triple Creek Ranch that was close to the action yet felt so private.
From our back deck, we could only see wilderness – including a couple of deer! The back deck had our own private hot tub and relaxing patio recliners.
Inside the cabin, we had a separate, large sitting area that had views of the TV and fireplace. There was also a wide wet bar with a fridge, coffee maker, and microwave.
The bedroom area was large and had a second TV you could watch while lying in bed. The bed faced the patio so you can see nature while lying in it (if the blackout curtains weren’t closed).
Triple Creek Ranch also puts a big emphasis on local art. Incredible creations are located all around the property, including in the rooms.
Another “wow” factor for our 1-bedroom luxury cabin was the bathroom. It was the most spectacular bathroom I’ve ever had on a trip! It has his and hers bathrooms on each side of the large steam shower, complete with individual vanities, sinks, and toilets.
The fridge was stocked with water, soda, and beers. Microwave popcorn, trail mix, cookies, and chips were restocked each day as well.
There was also a bottle of chilled champagne and a welcome bottle of red wine waiting for us upon our arrival at the cabin.
Included Activities at Triple Creek Ranch
A big plus of the Triple Creek Ranch is that it is all-inclusive. You don’t have to think about anything while there. They even made it clear at check-in not to worry about tipping and that we could add something at the end if we so desired (which we did).
Included in the rate are some pretty incredible activities we did that were included in our stay:
- Horse Trail Rides
- Fly Fishing Equipment – including waders and poles
- Sapphire Panning – keep whatever gems you find!
- Swimming in the Heated Outdoor Pool
We also heard from many guests that the 2-hour property tour was excellent. It took you to parts of the ranch not typically open to guests and the views and wildlife sounded memorable.
Another fun-sounding activity we would have done if we had another day or two at Triple Creek Ranch was its Logging Camp. This area of the ranch included stations for learning “frontier” activities like hatchet throwing, fire starting, archery, geocaching, crosscut sawing, and branding.
And if you just want to relax in the sunshine and listen to nature, you can head to the pool next to the lodge, which also has a hot tub, fitness center, and poolside drink and food service. We even ate lunch down by the pool one day, which was nice.
Read More: The Best All-Inclusive Resorts and Ranches in Montana
Add-On Activities During Your Ranch Stay
In addition to the activities included in your stay at Triple Creek Ranch, there were a number of extra excursions you could opt to add on to your stay.
We added on the cattle drive, which was easily one of the best things we did during our stay. We got to go to a neighboring working ranch and help move the cattle from one pasture to the other while under the guidance of the two friendly horse wranglers.
Wandering around the rolling hills of the valley while on horseback with no other humans around except for our small group was an experience I’ll never forget. I truly felt like we were out of a scene from Yellowstone (which is actually partially filmed in nearby Darby).
Read More: Best Things to Do in Darby, MT
Other extra excursions you could add to your stay (with the help of the concierge before or during your stay) included guided fishing trips, whitewater rafting, scenic helicopter rides, and spa treatments.
We booked a couples massage that we did outside on our patio the morning before we left. It was pure bliss!
Dining at Triple Creek Ranch
One of the things that drew us to Triple Creek Ranch was its gourmet kitchen. The ranch puts a huge focus on its food, with farm-to-table menu items that rotate nightly.
The main dining room is lovely, with large windows and an alpine lodge ambiance. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. However, for breakfast, my husband and I always had room service (at no extra fee).
For lunch one day, we were having a lovely time lounging by the pool and we were brought Bloody Mary’s and lunch right to the poolside without having to leave to order. It was great service!
An afternoon snack menu with items such as hummus and pita bread or chicken fingers and fries is available.
We ordered from this menu the afternoon after our cattle drive while hanging out at the upstairs bar and lounge. This lounge was a popular hang-out place before and after dinner.
Drinks are part of your resort package at Triple Creek Ranch and the included wine list, cocktails, beers, and liquors were all excellent. If you want a higher shelf liquor or premium wine, there is also an extensive list available for you to purchase from.
While there was no late-night dining, snacks were stocked in our accommodation each day. Pastries, such as huckleberry scones were also available to grab and go during breakfast hours.
During meal time we also could get lattes or cappuccinos, which we enjoyed after our meal in the dining room, or got in to-go cups depending on our activities for the day.
We also did the multi-course Chef’s Tasting one night (extra fee) which was well worth the added cost. Each course was delicious and we enjoyed the explanation of the wine pairing from the sommelier.
A bonus surprise was that we got to bring the leftover wine from our Chef’s Tasting dinner back to our cabin with us! Because of that, I recommend doing this tasting toward the beginning of your stay at Triple Creek Ranch if you’re flying after you leave so all that wonderful wine doesn’t go to waste!
We corked it and took it back to Billings to share with my mom as a thanks for watching our kiddos!
This is Rugged Montana…Is Triple Creek Ranch Really That Luxurious?
Due to my travel writing career, I’ve stayed in some pretty amazing places all around the world (also, just so you know, my stay at Triple Creek Ranch was not comped in any way; I didn’t want to feel like I was working on my 10-year getaway trip!).
The service and accommodations at Triple Creek Ranch were some of the best I’ve encountered in the industry.
Plus, Montana’s friendliness permeates every inch of the ranch. The cabins were also incredible: a perfect blend of rustic western flair with state-of-the-art amenities and comfort.
But don’t just take my word for it; check out more reviews here!
Ready to book? The service starts early at Triple Creek Ranch. You’ll have to call or submit a form online and then a member of their concierge team will get back to you to arrange your booking.
Also, book early! We booked our stay at Triple Creek Ranch 11 months in advance and there was only one 1-bedroom luxury cabin left and 1 sugar cabin left and we had to shorten our trip there by a day due to availability.
This ended up working out since we stayed at Chico Hot Springs on the way to the ranch, but just know that this wonderful dude ranch books up early and fast!
It’s worth it to plan ahead, though. We will never forget our anniversary trip at Triple Creek Ranch and can’t wait to go back someday.
