The Resort at Paws Up: Ultimate Montana Luxury Ranch Retreat

We had a truly fantastic, one-of-a-kind experience at Paws Up. Everyone in our family (mom, dad, 15 year old son, 12 year old son) loved the whole trip. Our boys have a bit of a screen addiction but were barely on while we were here. We stayed in a beautiful luxury camping tent and had a full pavilion on our campsite with incredible food and an open bar. The staff at our pavilion was so nice (especially Meredith) and the pancakes were amazing (all the food was good!). All the activities we did were fun and safe and also had great, intelligent, helpful, kind staff to guide us. We did fly fishing and kayaking and clay shooting and a back country quad ride, among other things. All were fantastic. The Big Sky bash was lots of fun and Pomp, the upscale restaurant was so nice. The property is clean and safe. It was a great experience! My only tiny complaint was that sometimes they served us too much food. I felt bad wasting it. But this is a good problem to have.

Staying in the tents was such a fun and unique experience. My favorite part was waking up each morning to coffee delivered right to the tent and then ending the day around the campfires at the dining pavilion after dinner. The heated bathroom floors were a luxury I didn't know I needed, and I loved that the tents felt private and tucked away, complete with a hammock outside that was perfect for an afternoon break. The made-to-order breakfasts were probably my favorite meal of the day, though honestly the food was excellent from start to finish. Lunches and dinners never disappointed, and whatever you do, don't leave without trying the bread at Tank & Trough—it deserves its own fan club. As for activities, the Backcountry Tour was easily my favorite. The scenery was absolutely stunning, and it felt like we were getting access to parts of Montana most people never get to see. I also tried my hand at target shooting and a cattle drive—both completely new experiences for me. Thanks to the fantastic guides and instructors, I went from "I have no idea what I'm doing" to feeling pretty darn confident by the end. What I loved most about Paws Up is that it lets you be as adventurous or as relaxed as you want. One minute you're out on a cattle drive, the next you're enjoying a great meal, sitting by the fire, and heading back to a luxury tent. It's a pretty special combination, and I left wishing I could have stayed a few more days.

Overall, we had a great time at Paws Up! However, if you choose to go before the season starts like we did, you may not get the full experience offered. Here are my pros and cons (note we went as a family of 3 and our daughter is 4, and we stayed in Moonlight camp): Pros: - the location is surreal! Beautiful mountains and grassy plains and a rushing river with wildlife sightings every day - the food was amazing, especially the food at camp. From lobster and steak to quail and intricate salads, the food was top notch - there are activities for everyone. We took advantage of fishing, go carts, horseback riding, kids adventure camp, cattle drive, and rafting. The guides for each activity were nice and knowledgeable Cons: - it seemed like it was the employees’ first day. Sometimes we would order something at the restaurant and it would be completely forgotten. Never offered things that they brag about in advertising like outdoor games or coffee in the morning at the tent. we had to continually request things that we didn’t expect to at such a luxury resort (kids meal availability, fixing a hole in the tent that a squirrel came through, etc.). - staying at a camp meant we needed transportation and the shuttle was supposed to come every 15 min but rarely did - there was no check in or welcome when we got there so we didn’t fully understand how everything worked so we had to figure it out ourselves. Again overall we had a great time but if we were to come back, maybe we would wait until the end of summer when things run more smoothly. It’s too much money to not get everything out of it!

I can’t say enough good things about my stay at Paws Up in Montana. The views alone are worth the trip… absolutely breathtaking in every direction. The food was consistently excellent, and what really stood out was the staff: incredibly responsive, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Every detail felt thoughtfully handled. One of the highlights was getting out on the trail for horseback riding. The wranglers were fantastic. They were patient, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience both fun and confidence-building. The horses deserve a shoutout too—they were calm, well-trained, and total pros. This place strikes that rare balance of adventure and comfort. Each house was fully equipped with everything one could need. It’s like they thought of everything ahead! I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique, high-end ranch experience. I’ll definitely be back.

If you're thinking about booking the trip to Paws up, do it! I can not recommend the tented camps more! You fall asleep to the sound of the river each night. The tent is a step up from glamping, nicer than most 5* hotel rooms! The food is unreal, so many incredible options on the menu as well as a great variety of different locations on property. The experiences are so unique, cattle drive on horseback is a must if you've ever dreamt of being a cowboy! Take the ATV's to the ghost town, one of the coolest experiences. Staff is great and attentive! only 45 min from Missoula airport, makes the travel day very easy!