Alta Ranch Guest Comments
2010
Aspen
We came for
the fishing and to check out the location for a family vacation
spot…Alta Ranch has solitude, privacy, wonderful accommodations,
beautiful scenery, great views, abundant wildlife, quiet days
and peaceful nights and really good fishing. In two days
of fishing at the ranch and the West Fork just below the dam,
the two of us landed 74 cuts and rainbows without even trying
hard. Some were very nice size including a 16 inch spawning
male and a couple of 15 inch cuts who hide in the under banks,
woodpiles and deep holes—all on dry flies. If we worked at it,
I am sure we could have come up with a small Bull trout or two.
Very nice and a lot of fun. On second thought, maybe we don’t
want the kids and grandkids to come here. We may keep it all to
ourselves. Ron and Rosemary, California
Once again
we were here! Usual fishing, walking, bicycles. Hot weather
until it rained on Monday. Fishing a little slow. Holden
eagles, turkeys, nighthawks. Will long remember the fox running
across the road his tail streaming behind him. Hiked Blodgett
Canyon trail. Nancy and Ted, New York.
We came here
to fly fish. The West Fork turned out to be fishing very well.
My husband caught 25+ in 1 ½ hrs. on the same fly! Two were 14
inch cutthroat. Tried Rock Creek (up from Clark Fork).
Disappointing as the water was too warm this week there. Very
beautiful. This cabin more than suited our needs. Very peaceful
for us. Thank you for all the amenities! You have a “little
piece of heaven” here!! Jill and Charlie, Ohio
What a
delightful place! Try not to get caught up n activities and
doing things. Take time to sit on the porch and “smell the
roses.” Listen for the sound of the humming bird’s wings as it
comes to the feeder in the afternoon. Watch the tall Aspen sway
in the breeze. Smell the scent of pine on the air—certainly
something we don’t get in Ohio. Hear the West Fork of the
Bitterroot as it rushes past your front door. If you’re lucky,
you’ll hear the coyotes howl, see the deer playing in your front
yard early in the morning. Remind yourself to look up now and
then and you might even see a bald eagle glide by. Enjoy this
place, respect it and leave it like you found it for those who
come after. Gary, Ohio
Thank you so
much! You are great hosts, we admire “your dream” here and how
beautiful your ranch is! We have enjoyed every moment—quiet
mornings with the humming birds and the river, the afternoon
light on the meadow and the floating clouds, the moon sets at
night—but most of all the peace and quiet with the singing
river! The fishing was fabulous! We had two great hikes
to Baker Lake and to Boulder Point Lookout (where there were
huckleberries and elk near the top!) Met interesting people on
the trail. Our porch sitting and a BBQ with Wishbone were so
enjoyable. Thank you again for sharing your piece of paradise.
We hope to come back again, Tony and Karen, Washington
Ponderosa
Had three
wonderful nights here. Wish we could stay longer. Next time
though for sure! Last morning we woke to see a herd of elk
around our fire pit. It looked like they had taken our place
roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. What a scene. Our grandson
loved the pond. It was hard to get him out of the paddle boat.
His mother and he stayed a little too late last night and got
caught in a nightly bat feeding. They rowed to shore very
quickly. Our cabin was filled with family and friends, and we
thank you for a great mini vacation. P.S. don’t try to climb
Trapper Peak until August. Part of our group almost made it,
but the snow stopped them. They were proud of themselves for
making it that far. Thanks Idaho
Tomorrow
will be the day that we have to leave our home away from home!
It’s such a joy to be here every time we come. It goes without
saying that the scenery, the wild flowers, the cabins, the
dinners cooked for us are wonderful, but most of all we are able
to be with all of you. We hope and pray we will be able to come
back at Christmas time. Thanks for everything. Yoli and John,
California
I loved
staying in the cabin. I even saw one bear and two of her cubs.
I bet no one else in my class has seen a bear! Emma
We had a
wonderful time at your ranch. It was our first time in Montana
and it has left a beautiful impression in our lives. Peter and
Katrin are a lovely couple who are so down-to-earth and
friendly. Thank you for suggesting the horseback riding—we had
fun and the horses didn’t mind putting up with such beginners.
This place really brings you back to the basics. Family
first—everything else, second. We can do with so little and be
happy, as long as we have our health and people around us that
we love and who love us. Life is not a race and this cabin
helps one understand that. God bless our great country! Many
wishes to return here and feel nature’s hug. Erik, Kris,
Katrina, Emma, and Charlie, Florida
First two
nights in Ponderosa were great! Saw Mama moose and baby last
night! Looking forward to the rest of the stay in the
Cottonwood and finally relaxing! John and Mary, Idaho
I have been
having so much fun on our first day here; we went hiking with
Wishbone. Then we went rafting down the creek and went
panning. It was raining, but the way that it was raining was
beautiful. The sun was shining when the rain was coming and
Wishbone loved the rain and the first night I could not sleep at
all because this place is awesome!!! I was too excited to go to
sleep! 11 years old, Washington
The fresh
mountain air and everything has definitely rested me up! We
hiked up at Hughes Creek, panned for gold, slept good, floated
down the river, and had the best time of our loves! The best
vacation I’ve ever taken all thanks to you! I have insomnia,
but I sleep wonderfully here…thank you very much for your
generosity and hospitality. It is very much appreciated. You
can definitely find us here next year. God bless and much
appreciation. Mark and Kim, Washington
Cottonwood
Thank you for making us feel so welcome at the
Alta Ranch! It looks like we are the “first of the season”
guests and the upgrade to the Cottonwood was a real treat for us
during our 25th wedding anniversary vacation. We
drove up many forest service roads, hiked a number of trails,
toured Daly Mansion, Big Hole National Monument and Fort Own,
geocached Lewis and Clark sites, drove to the Idaho border twice
(Los Trail Pass and Nez Perce Pass), drove all over the West
Fork and East Fork areas and saw few cars and even fewer campers
in the parks. Along the way, we’ve seen elk (mostly in your
meadow), deer, big horned sheep, wild turkeys, and a baby moose
while putting over 900 miles on our rental car in 8 days!
Thanks for keeping us supplied with cut wood for the stove on
these drizzly wet days. You were kind enough to include us on a
picnic with your close friends, Louis and Lori, in the
wildflower meadow on a lovely, sunny day. This is our first
vacation rental experience and we’ve loved it. The website told
us. Brian and Chris, California
Cottonwood is starting to feel like a second home
to us. We so much appreciate your graciousness—it makes the
physical surroundings even more welcoming. We eked out our
fishing despite the high water. We even had some hits on salmon
flies, which was a thrill…not to mention a few Brookies for
dinner. Thanks as always. We’ll see you next year. Susan,
Phil, Alice and Bob, Washington
What a great place! Having lived in the Big City
(CA) all of my life, what a fabulous contrast. Fished some
sightseed (saw?) A great deal just to unwind in general, the
wildlife was such a sight, to see wild turkeys walk by and stand
eye to eye with a big horn sheep and watch an eagle fly free
gives one pause. Cabin was everything I hoped it would be, to
see the meadow change from morning to night and the stars, words
fail. Thinking of coming back with the family soon. Larry
Spent 7 nights at the ranch—first two at
Ponderosa. Saw a moose calf by the stream! Hikes: 1) Baker
Lake (great Alpine Lake); 2) Como Lake loop—but only did the
south portion up/back from the falls due to weather.
Beautiful!; 3) Did the mountain right across the street. Access
an old logging trail a short drive up Hawks Nest Road. Great
view of the valley! 4) Hiked around twin lakes at the end of
Lost Horse Road. A long and bumpy ride, but a nice ending.
Drove to the Hot Springs—pretty ride and a nice soaking! The
silence is deafening—a wonderful break from reality. Got stuck
in a hailstorm—turned on to a side road, pulled into a
stranger’s open garage door to wait it out. A great vacation!
Mary and Joe, Illinois
Spend the weekend celebrating our first
anniversary. If you’ve been here, you already know it’s
wonderful We’ll be back. Matt and Renie, Montana
Moose Crossing
Thank you so
much for the opportunity to stay at the ranch in Moose Crossing
cabin. We enjoyed every minute we were here. This is truly a
magical and beautiful place! We got to see all kinds of wildlife
and had a great time on our hikes. We are sorry we have to
leave. We could stay here forever and never get tired of it.
The cabin accommodations were super! It gave us a sense of being
at home. We are planning a family vacation this summer or next
and have decided we want to come back here!! Se you next time!
Again thank you for everything! Dana and Mandy
Had a great
stay at the cabins. Everybody I met here were super. Many
people in New England would love to spend time here. The
contrast of sky, trees and water is special. Will tell everybody
back East about the fabulous place. Ken, Massachusetts
Thank you so
much for letting us stay at your ranch! We really enjoyed
ourselves. The wildlife was amazing. We have seen big horns,
elk, moose, an eagle, white tailed deer, mule deer, and the
geese with their babies. We had a long drive from Oklahoma, but
it was well worth it! We loved the cabin and the stories you
guys told us. Thanks The Honeymooners, Jennifer and J.P.
Oklahoma
Thank you
for sharing a little piece of your heaven with us! Your cabins
are perfect and equipped with more than we’d ever need! We
managed to see and capture on disc 6 elk, 3 whitetail deer, 8
goats, and one eagle. …Sure was a blessing to get away from our
constantly busy life to exactly what we envisioned. Thank you
for having us and creating such a place for folks like us! Terry
and Theresa, Illinois
This has
been another amazing trip to the Alta Ranch. With all the
rainfall, everything was beautiful and green. The first night
we got here we saw the local moose. What a cutie! This year the
water level was high, but we still caught some fish. We even
got lucky and caught one in the pond. My mom and I had early
morning runs and we saw all kinds of wildlife. It made the
three mile runs more bearable. Thanks so much for making the
Alta Ranch one of our fave vacation spots in the summer. The
Priddy Family, Montana
Our stay
here was wonderful! Wonderful weather. Wonderful
accommodations. Wonderful activities and a wonderful group of
family and friends. We are 19 strong, ranging in age from 66 to
10 years—a reunion of family and friends. We flew in and drove
in from CA, TX, CO, PA and NY and occupied Moose Crossing and
Alta Vista. The guys had great luck with their fly fishing
efforts—fishing sometimes 3 x per day. We also took an all day
ATV ride and an all day whitewater raft trip. Guides and trips
were 1st class. The cousins had a great time boating
on the pond and panning for gold. We never saw the resident
moose, but did spot mule deer, mountain sheep, otters, an osprey
and even a young bald eagle. Again, a 1st class
assortment. This was a great opportunity to renew relationships
and friendships. Joyce, Pennsylvania
Thank you
Peter and Katrin for having such a wonderful place. It has been
a great stay, but too short. We have seen all the wildlife from
eagles, elk, deer, but no moose. The fishing has been great
with 10 fish on my final day and got broken off by a big one in
your pond. It has just been the greatest stay. You both have
been the best hosts and the cabin is the greatest. It was
perfect! Thank you for the use of your table. We loved easting
on the porch and enjoying the scenery. Our stay was the best.
Linda and Jerry, California P.S. start feeding those pond fish;
they are not big enough.
Thank you
for the restful, relaxing few days. It is absolutely beautiful
here! Every day is breathtaking. We saw white tail deer, 7 or 8
elk and were entertained by the chipmunks and humming birds.
Now back to Kansas. Marty and Dan
Many thanks
for being such wonderful hosts. We have had a fantastic,
peaceful, restful time here. Moose Crossing cabin is
exceptionally well equipped and all we needed was food. We were
entertained dawn to dusk by the aggressive humming birds and the
cheeky chipmunks. The fishing in the river was also very
entertaining; we caught lots of obliging cutthroat trout. We
saw deer from the porch, elk in the meadow and on the road and
Big horn sheep. We will return to Montana. Now the long
journey home Andrew, England
Thank you
for working so hard and making your place comfortable; all the
little details matter. We caught lots of fish including the
monsters from the pond. Wish we could stay longer, but must get
back. Harris and Doris, California
Alta Vista
Words cannot
express our gratitude toward you for your generosity and
kindness shown to us over the past week. You are the “hosts
with more than the most.” We feel so blessed to have seen elk,
deer, sheep, turkeys, osprey, fish, fox, ticks, squirrel,
humming birds, vultures, longhorns, horses, pronghorn, alpaca,
moose and peepers!! Actually, 31 less than when we arrived!
Thank you for the beautiful hikes and wonderful conversations.
Your ranch is amazing and Katrin you are an amazing woman!
Judge, you’re not too bad either. You have a little piece of
heaven here and we are so happy you have shared it with us. We
will be back to visit again. We look forward to many more
chances to share your ranch with you and to many more years of
friendship. It was special to spend this time to get to know
you both a bit more. We love you both, Lory and Louis,
California
We love the Alta Vista. What a wonderful place! Thanks for a
wonderful vacation! Tom and Bette
My name is
Zylind, and I will be spending 3 days with 6 other people—my
family. When we arrived, I was absolutely amazed. It was
awesome, so much fun to stay in. For our first night, we didn’t
have enough time to grocery shop, so we ate the snacks we had
from the long drive. The game room was also an absolute blast
to stay in. Well this is our first night, so I hope our next 2
days will be fun-filled and exciting. Our second day was very
warm; we walked to the pod and the other side of the river.
That was very exciting. Also when we looked out the window we
could see a rock with a salt lick for the cows; there are also
lots of deer droppings. Later that night we made a bonfire and
roasted marshmallows. During our walk we took a rowboat to the
pond and I learned how to row with my grandpa. Later on we went
fishing and caught a small trout and a bigger brook trout.
Today was our final day so we went gold panning, but did not
find anything, but my aunt found a small black rock with gold
flecks. Also her boyfriend went fishing and caught lots and
lots of fish. This is pretty much what we did all day, but I
could tell everyone had fun. Tomorrow we have to get up early
for the long car ride and train. Zylind, Zane, Zac
While our
stay we saw a couple deer and some elk. Also some eagles,
shooting stars and the big dipper. The stars were amazing,
millions and millions of them.
My name is
Neely, age 10, and I have never experienced something so
beautiful and amazing in all my life. I saw a V of geese, 2
elk, 2 deer, 6 mountain goats, 18 horses (non-wild), and 20
cows. My papa saw a whole herd of deer. I hope that whoever
reads this will have fun too. It’s really fun here!
2009
Alta Vista
Thank you very
much for the opportunity our families had to spend our summer
vacation at the Alta Ranch. 6 adults and 3 children under
2 1/2 found the Alta Vista home a "perfect" fit! The
weather was beautiful all week. The elk, deer and cow
moose with calf were a nice surprise daily! Fishing was
great catching cutthroat in the 14" to 17" range. The pond
trout were a challenge to land for sure. A special thank
you for helping to arrange our 30th wedding anniversary
"renewal" of vows on the upper deck. Peter's reading of
our new vows was absolutely perfect! We like to find new
places to stay when we come out to Montana in summer and this is
truly the best! No need to look for others. We'll
definitely be coming back! Scott, Bonnie, Adan, Tina,
Conner, Alexis, Brandon, Lisa, and Lily
Aspen
We enjoyed
our time at Alta Ranch! Your website represents Alta Ranch
very well, Aspen was just what we expected. We've had a
wonderful vacation-- cabin was great, the property was peaceful
and a great place to explore. The winter wonderland was
quite scenic. (It snowed twice.) Thank you for your
hospitality. We look forward to our next stay at Alta
Ranch. Bob and Susan, Washington
Thank you for
the opportunity to enjoy your beautiful ranch! This is truly a
piece of the country that was greater than we expected.
Thank you! Ron and Leah, Texas
Love the
country, serenity; at nature's best! Wonderful!! Thank you and
we will see you (ya'll) again--Ted, Texas
We LOVED our stay at the Alta Ranch. The cabin, river,
meadow, pond, grasses, trees, birds, and so many different
animals of all kinds were very fun to see. The weather was
perfect. The hikes and walks were great. My husband, his
son-in-law, and our 3 grand-boys all had a wonderful time fly
fishing, mountain bike riding, panning for gold, shooting, rock
skipping,
and making “finger surf boards” to ride the river
waves. Our daughter and I went on 2-2 ½ hour hikes every day—it
was marvelous. This has been an absolutely world class,
memorable vacation. We hope to come again soon. Thank you so
very much. Paul and Lorraine, Utah
Here again, 4th year in a row. Quiet
and restful, fished above Deer Creek and below the dam. Once it
warms up the trout seem “crazy” about grasshopper flies! Deer,
turkey, osprey, ducks, elk calling, vultures, maybe a golden
eagle, chickadees, and the hummers. Walked Castner Creek Trail
and bicycled. Weather clear and hot. Boated on pond. Fished
Ranch, fast water. Nancy and Ted, New York
We were here less than 3 hours when a moose
crossed the river right below the cabin. We were less than 50
yards away! My first sighting of a real live moose! Saw him
again the next morning. We really enjoyed the cabin and the
area. Nez Perce Pass was beautiful. Drove across Skalkaho Pass
to Philipsburg…not for those afraid of heights. Philipsburg a
little too touristy for us, but did like the candy store. We
leave in the morning (I’ll be kicking and screaming), but we
will return. Thanks for a great stay. Lyle and Nancy,
Washington
A sanctuary,
in many different senses. We felt much-needed peace here, saw
elk and deer herd, walked the gorgeous land and renewed
ourselves here-- much needed! Seldom have I seen such a
well-stocked and convenient cabin—everything is provided. We
leave refreshed and determined to return! Matt and Lara,
Washington
We’ve had
such a peaceful and restful week here. We had two mornings at
32 degrees, but the wood stove made our stay in the Aspen very
cozy. Thank you Peter and Katrin for such a wonderful and
comfortable stay. See you in August. Joan and Gary, Idaho
What a
mistake!!!! That we only had 2 nights in this beautiful spot!
We are already deciding what week we want to return in 2010.
Early morning with fog on the pond…darling hummingbirds,,,
campfire by the sound of the creek…warm afternoon sun—peace and
quiet: love the memories. Cabin was spectacular: clean, new,
well-kept and well-stocked. Quality touches: linens, cookware,
throws, night lights and lanterns. Thank you so much! Janice
and Larry, Georgia
Our time
here at Alta Ranch has been precious. We enjoy the
peaceful setting, the hiking, campfire and cozy cabin.
This Bitterroot Valley is full of beautiful hikes just on
logging roads, let alone the National Forest trails. Thank
you for your outstanding hospitality. We felt like honored
family guests the way you shared such a clean, inviting cabin,
We shall certainly recommend Alta Ranch to everyone we know.
Dennis, Linda, Jonathan and Matthew
Thanks once
again for a lovely stay in your special corner of Paradise.
It's been a challenging summer for us, but now we are back on
track. The fish, the scenery, the quiet--all were perfect.
We'll see you next year. Susan and Phil, Washington
Thank you so
much for sharing this great piece of Montana. My wife
Valerie and I had a great stay and sure enjoyed the cabin,
meadow and pond and breathtaking scenery. We saw 14 elk
from the porch to the right and 9 elk to the left. Thank
you for your hospitality. God bless you! Rich and Valerie,
West Virginia
Thank you
very much for the memorable stay at the Aspen. We saw and
did what we expected and more. We saw deer, elk, turkeys,
had great fishing and of course the moose. They were the
best! We had a great hike to Baker Lake, got caught in a
marble-sized hail storm on the way up. Never seen such big
hail; it just kept getting bigger. Had a great drive to
Salmon, Idaho, had the best Monte-Cristo. Really, we
couldn't have asked for more. Thank you Peter and Katrin.
Hope to see you guys in the winter. Pete and Gretchen,
California
Alta Ranch
was all we had hoped for. What a beautiful place.
You are truly blessed. Thank you for sharing it with us. Susan
and Terry, Minnesota
Thank you
for the opportunity to enjoy your beautiful ranch! This is truly
a piece of the country that was greater than we had expected!!
Ron and Leah, Texas
We
thoroughly enjoyed our short stay at Alta Ranch...wished we had
more time! Thank you for sharing this great little piece of
Montana. Warm regards, Carol and Todd, New Jersey
Love the
country, serenity; at nature's best! Wonderful!! Thank you and
we will see y'all again.
We enjoyed
our time at Alta Ranch! Your website represents Alta Ranch very
well. Aspen was just what we expected. We've had a
wonderful vacation...the cabin was great, the property was
peaceful and a great place to explore. The winter
wonderland was quite scenic (It snowed twice). Thank you for
your hospitality. We look forward to our next stay at Alta
Ranch. Bob and Susan, Washington
Alta Ranch!
This place is absolutely amazing! We had the most amazing time
here! The cabin was perfect! The scenery and
mountains are breathtaking! We could not have dreamed of a
better place to get away from it all for a night. We
anxiously look forward to our next adventure at ALTA RANCH!!!
Zane and Lindsey, Idaho
Cottonwood
The entire family
enjoyed our stay at the Alta Ranch. 4 days of peace and
relaxation. We found the Cottonwood cabin very comfortable
and well stocked. Hiked several trails in the area and were able
to see many deer and elk up close. The views of the valley
and surrounding hills were outstanding. Our son and
grandson caught the largest trout we had ever seen. A fish
story to be remembered for many years. A truly wonderful
place to reconnect with family and make many cherished memories.
Jeff and Family, Washington
Today we arrived
at the Alta Ranch and went fishing as soon as we settled in.
My name is Garrett (18 years old) and my younger brother Cutler
is 13 years old. Between the two of us we caught 20 or so
trout out of the Bitterroot and I landed a monster 25 inch
Rainbow out of the smaller pond. Day one was a blast and I
hope tomorrow when Mom and Dad go we will have just as good of
luck as we did today.
Today Dad, Cutler
and I got up at 5:00 a.m. and drove down to Rombo State Park and
fly fished. Later on in the day we fished here at the
ranch and Mom caught her first trout of the day. Cutler
and I fought several monsters and landed one nice 20 inch
rainbow (lost several flies in our attempts). This evening
the fishing slowed way down thanks to the rain, but was a
wonderful evening of fishing despite the weather!
Today we slept in
and enjoyed it very much. We didn't have much luck fishing
due to the pouring rain. Rain looks and feels so much
better here. So instead of fishing, we took a
one-lane gravel road up through the mountains to Gem Mountain
and found some 60-70 cts of sapphires. It was a blast.
Then we came home through some of the most wonderful country and
saw hundreds of deer and elk.
We would so like
to thank the Spinetta's for sharing their beautiful Ranch with
us, We enjoyed the cool mountain air, beautiful views, and
fun outdoor activities. Brad, Deena, Garrett and Cutler,
Missouri
Ponderosa
We have been
on many family vacations to cool places due to being in the
military (USAF) but we’ve never done a family vacation like this
kind before ever!! It was the perfect place for us to come,
rest, relax, laugh, and walk among God’s glory on Alta Ranch.
We enjoyed hiking throughout, fishing (Dayve finally caught one
in the pond), wading in the river, and enjoying the peace and
quiet too. It’s a beautiful ranch and the stay and
accommodations were perfect for us as well. IT was the perfect
getaway for us to come and find solace, and peace. Thank you so
much for blessing others with your beautiful ranch and using it
to allow others to bask in this truly beautiful place. Our
entire family will cherish this wonderful place forevermore.
Thank you for making our first trip to Montana a beautiful
experience. We hope to return again! Be blessed and continually
offer your beautiful ranch! Dayve, Elizabeth, and Alyssa,
Washington
Thank you Katrin
and Peter and Family; you are such thoughtful and caring hosts.
We felt at home the minute we walked through the door of this
delightfully comfortable cabin--after all, it only took 14 years
for us to arrive here. Now we are looking forward to
returning in less than two months. Last night we watched
the darling yearling moose as he browsed in on the willows below
the cabin until it grew too dark to spend time with him.
This morning we saw an osprey, vultures, stellar jay, our
delightful little rufous hummingbirds-- and a poor little
squirrel and I frightened each other. See you Labor Day
weekend. Pat and Annette, Idaho
We had a blast we
did. Wow! We had an amazing week that went by way too
fast!! Fishing, hiking, biking, reading, wading, boating,
relaxing, panning and exploring every day. This is such a
beautiful quiet place and we loved the very comfortable
accommodations. Thank you for a wonderful time.
Holly and Kirk, Idaho
Great time by
all--fishing was good above and below the dam. Very
relaxing and time was found for cross country biking, walking,
jogging, and playing in the river. Mark and family, Montana
The weather was
wonderful and the fishing great! We were greeted early
each morning by the animals and ended each day by watching them.
The hummingbirds showed us their skills as "fighter pilots,"
what a display. The snow in the pass was a special
greeting for Floridians. Bill and Eileen, Florida
We had a
delightful time here on your beautiful ranch. Not one
minute here was unsavored. This truly is a bit of heaven on
earth. Thank you for everything. See you again soon.
My sweetheart caught 47 fish here on the ranch, all within 500
yards in 3 days. I would say the fishing here is pretty
spectacular! Mitch and Kristine, Utah
Such a wonderful
hidden retreat with wonderful comforts of home! However,
at home we don't see herds of elk, deer, moose or the like
passing through our yard. There are so many beautiful
places in this big country of ours and we have discovered
another secret treasure on the map. Katrin and Peter you
are wonderful hosts! The cabin was so much more than we hoped
and a true delight. My favorite time was early mornings,
wrapped in the warm sofa throw, sitting on the couch with a hot
cup of coffee watching the local animals wander by as if to say
"good morning." Michelle and Gary, Florida
Our kids Jack (4
1/2) and Delia (3) absolutely loved their "Moncation" - a
conglomeration of "Montana" and "vacation"- and there seems no
place more stereotypically "Montana-ish" than Alta Ranch!
There's something about this place- a different smell, a
different sound- that makes a person feel like they've gone back
in time. Many thanks to Peter and Katrin for their
generosity (complimentary upgrade to the enchanting Ponderosa,
bouquet of lilacs, the offers of errands or tips) and their
beautiful upkeep of this Ranch. We'll tell our friends and
hope to plan another stay soon. Shannon, Jack Jack, Delia,
and Karen, Washington
Just a quick note
to Peter and Katrin to say thank you for the amazing stay here
at Alta Ranch. The wildlife and wildflowers, the fishing
and paddle boat on the pond, taking walks with my grandchildren
and enjoying the wonder of their delight in all Alta Ranch has
to offer has been amazing. No sell phones, internet, or
TV--Wonderful! Quality time with the family-- Priceless! "The
Moose"--What a sight! We spotted her outside the cabin the
second night we were here. Then the next day she was
eating in the bushes just past the bridge, but the best she
saved for our last day she brought her new baby for us to see!
We all loved it here and hope to be back soon. I leave
here refreshed and renewed (renewed as my 60+ years will renew!)
Thank you again Karen, Washington
Despite the high
river and substantial showers, we didn't have any problems
finding a few fish every day! The elk didn't seem to mind
the downpour either, and let us fish near them without spooking.
We didn't see the moose, but her track is apparent below the
cabin every morning. From the look if it, she is up and
down the river every day. Went to the wildflower meadow up
Blue Joint where we saw lots of bear evidence and elk.
Fished the river downstream from the dam; not much luck, but a
couple of salmon flies might indicate good things to come!
Had a GREAT time. Our thanks to Peter and Katrin fro
letting us share their beautiful home. Jim and Carol,
Washington
One day of rain,
the first with the remaining days absolutely beautiful! We did a
lot of back country driving and sightseeing, once even through
sleet and a hail storm on our way to Shoup, Idaho--a destination
not reached due to a fallen tree--We even set our alarm clock
for 2:00 a.m. to fully appreciate the fantastic Montana starry
night show. Our wildlife encountered list included a moose
with her calf, numerous turkeys with chicks, deer with fawns,
many elk in the meadow and in front of the cabin, bison and
antelope at Big Hole, yellow-headed blackbirds, western
tanagers, mountain sheep, 2 Clarks' nutcrackers, a ruffed
grouse, eagles, ospreys and hawks, black-chinned hummingbirds,
Rufous hummingbirds, a swan, greater scoulp, 2 common
mergansers, snakes, herons, and a vole. On our final day
along the river we spotted s red-lidded trout angler, a yellow
capped rod caster, a brown panted fish seeker and a red-shirted
meadow walker. My wife also saw on numerous occasions, a
pale-legged nap taker. All in all a fantastic vacation!
We loved the peace and quiet. Wayne and Rose, Illinois
2008
Alta
Vista
The Alta Vista was all we could have hoped for.
This has been the most amazing trip either of us has ever been
on. From our wedding on the upper deck, to the amazing
video of moose in the pond right below our feet, every day has
been an adventure. The fishing was amazing. We took
a couple of day trips up Hughes Creek and Overwhich and we saw
bears!! Wild turkey, a bald Eagle, whitetail deer, 2 bull moose,
a cow and a calf, 3 bears and a gaggle of mule deer! What
an incredible experience. I would be remiss if I failed to
mention the Blue Heron! The cool nights with the fireplace
going were very relaxing and dare I say romantic. We plan
to return every year for our anniversary. Thank you Peter
and Katrin for a wedding we only dreamed of! Alta Ranch
made our dreams come true! Jeff and Kristi, Nebraska
Ponderosa
Thank you! We absolutely loved Alta Ranch.
Fun fishing the West Fork of the Bitterroot and the huge
rainbows in the pond. Beautiful cabin. Thanks for
sharing your lovely piece of paradise." Noelle and Andy
"Our three couples came her for a family reunion.
One from Seattle, another from Southern Colorado and the third
from Eastern Oregon. Montana is an incredible state and
the atmosphere of this cabin celebrates its rustic and wild
origins. What a thrill to watch the abundant wildlife--the
moose greeted us the very first morning. We were able to
watch the young bull moose as well as mamma and very small baby.
A rare sight for all of us. The evening breezes were
soothing and the nights restful after adventuring out during the
day. We too went to the sapphire mine and around Big Hole.
We stopped in Wisdom for coffee and were pleasantly surprised!
The gallery and cafe was an entertaining visit. We enjoyed
the unique clothes and furniture then sat down for the most
wonderful pies. Thank you for a beautiful experience."
"Staying at Alta Ranch is the perfect way to
truly experience the natural wonders of Montana. The day
we arrived, we were greeted by a young bull moose from the
willows off the back deck of the Ponderosa. In addition to
the bull moose, we saw the mama moose charging a white tail deer
who was too close to her calf, which we saw when mama went over
to it to check on it. We saw a mama turkey with her 8
poults and several white tail bucks, does, and a fawn. The
humming birds were always present to keep us amused and we
caught some great tasting small brook trout right her on the
property. We really don't want to leave. Our stay
here was truly wonderful!" Bob and Marguerite, New
York; Karen, Colorado; Bonnie, North Carolina
"We loved the peace and tranquility of your
beautiful spot. The cabin was comfortable and homey, with
everything we needed and Pete loved the river and fly fishing.
Walks to the ponds and along the river were a treat and we even
saw the baby moose! Fantastic end to our honeymoon." Pete and
Alicia, Oregon
"My husband and I enjoyed a much needed break
from work with the Forest Service and your relaxing 'home away
from home' incredible cabin. It was a true delight to
spend time in August enjoying the Bitterroot forests rather than
fighting fire. Thank you to our gracious hosts. You
spared no expense in making your Alta Ranch and absolute
pleasure and delight for all holiday guests. We were able
to view three moose within the first half hour of our stay and
our sunset walks have been nothing short of breathtaking!
Thank you for sharing!" Lisa and Larry, Montana
"Five of us came here as part of a celebration of
our sixtieth birthday this year. We have been friends
since going to high school together in the sixties. The hosts
have been extremely gracious and helpful in making our trip and
stay memorable. Highlights of the stay were different
types of wildlife seen--deer, elk, turkey, moose and a pack of
wolves. The clear blue sky contrasted with the green trees
during the day was picture perfect. The sky at night was a
spectacle to be seen--clarity and sparkle of the stars was a
sight to behold. During the day the temperature was in the
70-80 range and at night in the low thirties. We all
caught some fish, but the fish in the pond were a challenge.
We had a breathtaking experience winding up the mountains to see
the hot springs at Salmon National Forest--Horse Creek Hot
Springs." Dan, Dixie, Ron, Bill and Joe, Pennsylvania
"Moose, elk, deer, bald eagles, osprey, great
blue herons, humming bird, wild turkey, cedar waxwing, and the
list goes on and on. This place was simply amazing and
truly relaxing. We went sapphire mining, horse back
riding, and rafting on the Salmon River. Cannot wait to
come back again and share the beauty of this place with others.
As far as honeymoons go, I think ours was perfect for us.
The beauty of this place was both captivating, humbling, and
relaxing all at the same time. Of course these types of
vacations always go by too quickly and unfortunately it is our
time to move on. We had an amazing time here and will remember
it forever. P.S. Straight off the deck and to the left
we've seen a mamma moose with her young--SPECTACULAR!" Cody and
Katie, "Honeymooners" Oregon
"What a spectacularly gorgeous ranch you
have--moose and deer grazing outside our door at 6:00 a.m. and
the birds are just beautiful! The cabin is graciously
homely and has everything you need including its own resident
hummingbird. The walk in the Bitterroots are gorgeous
also--I only wish we had further time to explore! Thank
you for letting us stay! " Tom, Jenny and Heather, U.K. and
Sydney Australia
"It would be very easy t fall in love with this
place. The fishing is tremendous, the scenery beyond
words, the wildlife abundant and an amazing place to stay.
Thank you for sharing your 'heaven on earth' with us. We
can see why you have made it your home. There is so much to so
and see, and we hope to return soon to explore much more of the
area. Thank God for the USA and the freedom to be in and
enjoy places like Montana! Thank you Peter and Katrin for
your gracious and wonderful hospitality." K and T, Washington
"Our first trip to Montana, what a great place to
be! The fishing was great and the sites were beautiful.
I have never seen a cutthroat trout before and after catching
one, I've come to realize their beauty. While taking the
paddle boat out on the pond, we saw a moose getting into the
water. Watching the sunset over the mountains was probably
the most beautiful part of the day. My wife and I really
enjoyed getting out of the heat and we will definitely be back
next year." Keith and Kelly, Arizona
"More fun, deer, elk, and a cute puppy. All
but 3 of 9 hooked a fish. Some pan for gold, lost a pan
and one of our guys caught it down the river where they were
fishing. Abby was relieved because she thought you would
throw her in jail and throw away the key. We all loved it.
Hope to come back again."
"This has been our third year at the ranch, but
our first time in the Ponderosa. Man is it big! We
fished as usual but the water was extremely high for the year,
so fishing was tough. We still had a blast though.
It was yet again worth the 3 day stay. Our hosts were very
gracious and gave us good fishing spots/tips and also told us a
way to visit meadows with beautiful flowers. We hope to
come again next year!" Tom, Linda, Halle and Hannah,
Montana.
"I can't imagine a more beautiful place.
Our second visit has been even more delightful than our first.
Peter and Katrin are the perfect hosts, and they genuinely care
about their guests. The hummingbirds are back and are
buzzing (humming?0 around the feeder. Other high points of
our visit--bighorn sheep in the middle of E. Fork Rd. (turn left
at Sula Store), and Blue Joint Lookout (ask Peter) wildflowers
are gorgeous! We love this place!" Margaret and
Milt, California
"Another wonderful visit! Snow (light
dusting), sun, fire in the fireplace, cool temperatures and most
importantly MOOSE! We watched a moose's evening meal in
the willows. What an awesome sight. Katrin and Peter
were awesome to us and we hate to leave. These are
days we will always treasure. Thanks so very much." Dave
and Nikki Texas
“What
an incredible place! Anyone who thinks they live in God’s
country has never seen Montana! The views/scenery and wildlife
totally phenomenal –an eagle visited on the 25th (my
birthday). The hummingbirds came each morning for breakfast,
the hiking trails had breathtaking views—with each step the
wildflowers were abundant—“Kodak moments” were everywhere! This
was a trip I will cherish forever for a multitude of
reasons—many already mentioned, but the most memorable of all
was that my daughter brought me to this pristine place to
celebrate my 60th birthday! What an incredibly
fabulous daughter and what an incredible memory. Thank you
Spinettas for your gracious hospitality—we do hope to return and
plan to share our experience with many!” Jean and Melanie,
Florida
“Another wonderful visit! Snow (light dusting), sun, fire in
the fireplace, cool temperatures and most important MOOSE! We
watched a moose’s evening meal in the willows. What an awesome
sight. Katrin and Peter were awesome to us and we hate to
leave. These are days we will always treasure. Thanks so very
much!” Dave and Nikki, Texas
“I
can’t imagine a more beautiful place. Our second visit has been
even more delightful than our first. Peter and Katrin are the
perfect hosts, and they genuinely care about their guests. The
hummingbirds are back and are buzzing (humming?) around the
feeder. Other high points of our visit—bighorn sheep in the
middle of the E. Fork Rd. (turn left at Sula store) and Blue
Joint Lookout (ask Peter) wildflowers are gorgeous! We love
this place!” Margaret and Milt, California
“This
has been our third year at the ranch, but our first time in the
Ponderosa. Man is it big! We fished as usual but the water was
extremely high for the year, so fishing was tough. We still had
a blast though. It was yet again worth the 3-day stay. Our
hosts were very gracious and gave us good fishing spots/tips and
told us a way to visit meadows with beautiful flowers. We hope
to come again next year!” Tom, Linda, Halle and Hannah, Montana
More
fun, deer, elk and a cute puppy. All but three of nine hooked a
fish. Some pan for gold. Los a pan and one of our guys caught
it down the river where they were fishing. We all loved it.
Hope to come again.”
“Our
first trip to Montana. What a great place to be! The fishing
was great and the sites were beautiful. I have never seen a
cutthroat trout before and after catching one, I’ve come to
realize their beauty. While taking the paddle boat out on the
pond, we saw a moose getting into the water. Watching the
sunset over the mountains was probably the most beautiful part
of the day. My wife and I really enjoyed getting out of the
heat and we will definitely be back next year.” Keith and
Kelly, Arizona
It
would be very easy to fall in love with this place. The fishing
is tremendous, the scenery beyond words, the wildlife abundant
and an amazing place to stay. Thank you for sharing your
“heaven on earth” with us. We can see why you have made it your
home. There is so much to do and see, and we hope to return
soon to explore much more of the area. Thank God for the USA
and freedom to be in and enjoy places like Montana! Thank you
Peter and Katrin for your gracious hospitality.” Terry and
Karen, Washington
“What
a spectacularly gorgeous ranch you have—moose and deer grazing
outside our door at 6:0 a.m. and the birds are just bountiful!
The cabin is graciously homey and has everything you need
including its own resident hummingbird. The walks in the
Bitterroots are gorgeous also. I only wish we had further time
to explore! Thank you for letting us stay.” Jan, Heather and
Jenny, U.K. and Australia
“Moose, elk, deer bald eagles, osprey, Great Blue Herons,
Rufous humming bird, wild turkey, cedar wax wing, and the list
goes on and on. This place was simply amazing and truly
relaxing. We went sapphire mining, horseback riding, and
rafting on the Salmon River. Cannot wait to come back again and
share the beauty of this place with others. As far as
honeymoons go, I think ours was perfect for us! The beauty of
this place was both captivating and humbling and relaxing all at
the same time. Of course these types of vacations always go by
too quickly and unfortunately it is our time to move on. We had
an amazing time here and will remember it forever.” Cody and
Katie, Oregon
P.S.
Straight off the deck and to the left we’ve been seeing a Mamma
moose with her young—SPECTACULAR!”
“Our
three couples came here for a family reunion. One from Seattle,
another from Southern Colorado, and the third from Eastern
Oregon. Montana is an incredible state and the atmosphere of
this cabin celebrates its rustic and wild origins. What a
thrill to watch the abundant wildlife—the moose greeted us the
very first morning. We were able to watch the young bull moose
as well as Mama and very small baby. A rare sight for all of
us. The evening breezes were soothing and the nights restful
after adventuring out during the day. We too went to the
sapphire mine and around Big Hole. We stopped in Wisdom for
coffee and were pleasantly surprised! The gallery and café was
an entertaining visit. We enjoyed the unique clothes ad
furniture then sat down for the most wonderful pies! Thank you
for a beautiful experience.”
Aspen
What a
wonderful, beautiful gem just 2 hours south of Missoula.
With the kids at school, we dropped off our dog and Griz
football tickets with friends and came to the Alta Ranch for our
24th anniversary. The Aspen cabin is clean, cozy and equipped
with everything you need including BIG coffee mugs and
appropriate red wine glasses! The weather was beautiful
(mid 70's) for our hike and we got back in time to run over to
the Homestead to see the Griz kick a field goal to win with
seconds left. Loved it here. Donna and Howard,
Montana
“…Our
wildlife exposure consisted of many deer and a huge herd of elk
each night in the meadow. We did see a few different bird
species; geese, ducks, chickadees, red-breasted nut hatches and
red-napped sap suckers and countless robins. Unfortunately, it
seems as though we are one of the few who did not get to witness
the mother moose and her calf down in the willows by the pond
(although she was rumored to be frequenting the same). Other
than the peaceful solitude we experienced and the crisp morning
and evening air, the highlight of our stay was listening to the
dueling pack of wolves howling out their territory from both
sides of the river. We enjoyed our stay and only wish we had
seen more.” Thanks Jan and Ray, Illinois
“The Alta
Ranch made the perfect home-base for our exploration of a
stunningly beautiful part of the country. We had a wonderful
time…the Aspen is so cozy and cute we really wish we could stay
longer! We will certainly recommend to friends and hopefully
visit again ourselves soon!” Andrea and Matthew, Texas
“A very
relaxing stay at Alta Ranch. Peter and Katrin are wonderful
hosts and delightful people. Fishing was challenging, but fun
anyway. The river was flowing fast having been fed by rain and
snow the week before we arrived. Stream fish were all Cuts to
14” or so and good fighters. Pond fish were a delight for Chris
our 3-year old. We’ve seen deer and elk with calves, but didn’t
see the moose that others did. All in all, we’ll be back.”
Larry, Laurel and Chris, California
“We had a
wonderful time here at Alta Ranch. Peter and Katrin are
wonderful hosts. Alex and I really enjoyed meeting the extended
family. The boating at Painted Rocks will forever be in our
memories of GREAT times. We are off to Glacier, but will always
remember the ‘awesome’ (Alex’s description) start to our Montana
adventure. Thank you!” Cheryl and Alex, California
Fished
upstream from Deer Creek. Good fishing, water high. Visited
Selway River, high water, fishing very slow. Saw does and
fawns, ospreys, bald eagles, turkey hen with brood. Western
Painted Turtle. Enjoyed hummingbirds, bicycles, walking. Hope
to return next year.” Nancy and Ted, New York
“This week
at the Alta Ranch has been a wonderful experience for our
family. I had planned the trip to the Northwest to have our
daughter experience the mountains and all the nature it offers.
The family took a day or so to get used to the quiet, relaxed
atmosphere, but the Alta Ranch turned out to be all I could of
hoped for. The weather was great every day. We did white-water
rafting in the Salmon River with the Kookaburra Group which was
great! We saw mountain sheep, bald eagle retrieve fish, and the
scenery was magnificent. We panned for sapphires in Hamilton
and had a great time finding several beautiful stones. We spent
several hours bathing in the sun and swimming at Painted Rock
Lake. Here at Alta Ranch we saw moose every day. We caught the
mom and baby moose in the pond twice the same day. The next day
my wife and I went over in the morning and sat on the park bench
waiting to see if they would come back and sure enough they came
out of nowhere and did the routine of mom going into the pond
and baby going to the opposite side to wait for her to finish.
That evening I was fishing on the river east of the pond and the
moose mom and baby again came out of nowhere to watch me fish
right on the opposite side of the river. We saw deer,
chipmunks, and bald eagle during our stay. It will be a trip to
remember and may do again next year.” Jeff, Carol and Claire,
Illinois
“P.S.
Fishing was good and fun. I caught fish every time I went out.
Also coming down from the Grubstake in the middle of the
mountains we saw a baby red fox. Hummingbirds were intriguing
to watch. Also woke us up in the morning.”
"We had a
wonderful but all too brief stay. Hiked Nelson Lake,
canoed the reservoir, relaxed and observed the gorgeousness of
Alta Ranch." Michelle and Mike, Washington
'"Thank you
for a wonderful
stay. We came here for our honeymoon. It was exactly
what we needed and wanted after all of our wedding craziness.
We had a very memorable time. Megan and Charlie, Montana
"Thank you
for the much needed relaxing vacation. It was our
honeymoon as well, just a year late though. We drove up to
the Skalkaho Falls and the Horse Creek Hot Springs. The
view from the cabin is breathtaking. We hope to visit
again as a family! " Ty and Cathy, North Dakota
"Found the
Alta Ranch searching on the Internet. We've never been to
Montana and I wanted to spend somewhere for my 50th birthday in
peace and quiet. It is everything I though of and more.
Peter and Katrin are so nice. We will definitely keep the
Alta Ranch in our memories for a very long time. I wish we
could have a CD of the river sound. I hope to come back
here some day. Thank you so much." Rick and Donna,
Wisconsin
"Our
stay was special! We found the ranch beautiful and relaxing.
The cabin was cozy and the weather spectacular. On our
last night my wife (Kathy) came running in the cabin and was so
excited to see what she thought was an elk. It was a bull
moose 40 yards in front of the cabin, Also we saw a deer
and her fawn one morning. Katrin is a real gem. She
never stops trying to please her guests. I missed many big
fish in the pond. We hope to come back to the Alta Ranch
some day. Montana is great!" Bruce and Kathy,
Georgia
Cottonwood
“10 days of
peace, quiet, and nature at its best! What a beautiful part of
Montana! This cabin (Cottonwood) was perfect with the best view
of wildlife. Thanks for everything. We will think of this
place often in the days to come and hope to return soon!” Elke
and Zuonko. Arizona
“Thank you
so much for a wonderful stay. Your place is beautiful, the
cabins are perfect. The Cottonwood was just what we needed.
The weather threw a few curves, but that’s life.
J
The wildlife is amazing. We will definitely recommend this to
everyone we know...” Monty and Dallas, Oklahoma
“Thank you
for a wonderful 3-day stay! We are celebrating our first
wedding anniversary here in MT as this is where we were married
last June. The Alta Ranch allowed us quiet time together to
simply relax and enjoy the simple things like coffee on the
deck, watching the wildlife (we saw elk, deer, bald eagles, and
a moose!), cooking dinner and eating on our own private picnic
table, evening campfires, amazing hikes and listening to the
wonderful silence each night. The Alta Ranch is a slice of
heaven and we are so grateful to Peter and Katrin for sharing it
with us!” Ben and Michele, Illinois
We spent a
wonderful 5 days in the Cottonwood. Elk and deer were in the
meadow most mornings and evenings. Slept really well!! And
de-stressed. Visited Painted Rocks Reservoir and
campground---fished and kayaked. Lots of great dinners at the
cabin. We had a bonfire on the last night of our stay. The
Alta Ranch is a slice of heaven!!” Deb and Laura, Terry and
Kathy, Washington
“We are
leaving after our third year’s experience in the Cottonwood
cabin. Despite swollen rivers, we had great times fishing the
beaver ponds, creeks and occasional branches of the river.
This morning a herd of elk stopped by to say farewell, babies
scampering across the meadow playfully. Thanks to you both for
your many kindnesses and gracious hospitality.” Susan and Phil.
Washington
“What can I
say? Our third year here and we’re scheduled to return next
year and we only come back because we love it. Even though the
river was ‘out of joint,’ we explored new territory, had such
fun at the beaver ponds, caught fish in unexpected places,
basked in the serenity of the meadow and really always
appreciate the two of you and your helpfulness, your enthusiasm,
and your contagious zest for living. Thanks for the memories!!”
Alice and Bob, Washington
Wonderful
place. Beautiful scenery, relaxing. The river and pond provided
great fishing for all. Saw moose and lots of deer. The bonfire
and stars at night were lovely. Thanks for everything—we had a
great time and hope to be back.” 3 families,
“Thanks for
great few days. Peaceful place. Rest was awesome. Hope to be
back in the future.” Jurgen and Bernadette, Louisiana
My
grandparents and my family came up for the stay of a lifetime!
My brother landed a 7 pound rainbow trout! I learned to canoe.
The owners’ grandkids gave us a grand tour. This is a slice of
heaven! The stars were so vivid we could see the milky way.
The whole family saw tons of shooting stars! It was perfect.”
Katie, Kenny, Jimmy, Montana and Illinois
We have
really enjoyed our stay in the Bitterroot Valley. The
Cottonwood has been a really comfortable base for our many
explorations in the area. We especially enjoyed our walk
up Trapper Peak with fantastic views of the surrounding
mountains. The wildlife watching has been superb too.
Thanks for your hospitality. The trout was delicious! Tim
and Rosie, England
Heard that
Alta Ranch was a great place from our friends Bruce and Wendy,
who stayed at the Cottonwood in July of 2007. It was that
and much more. The Spinettas are wonderful hosts, always
solicitous of your needs--nice to a fault. Karen and I had
a really wonderful time--enjoying the company of Karen's brother
Rob and his wife Pat from Colorado Springs. The ranch
itself is a great place to be--good fishing on the West Fork, a
neat meadow to walk around and Cottonwood cabin with all the
cozy comforts of home. We cam mostly for the fly fishing
and were not disappointed. Chuck Stranahan is a great
guide--we all did a day with him walking and wading. I
would recommend him to anyone for his overall knowledge of the
area. We also were guided on a drift raft trip by Jed
Fitzpatrick, a personable and good young guide out of Sula.
I'd recommend a trip to the Big Hole Battlefield--that was a
moving experience for all of us. Our last night here was
topped off by a fantastic star sky, along with a wonderful show
of the Milky Way. I would recommend the ranch to
anyone--the solitude of the Bitterroot Valley, along with Peter
and Katrin's hospitality, coupled with great fishing, certainly
made for a memorable vacation for us. We'll be
back--hopefully soon. John, New Jersey
We had a
wonderful time at the Cottonwood cabin and fished
everywhere--the West Fork, East Fork and main stream, but have
to say, the best fishing was in the pond. We each caught
lunkers! Highlights included seeing 4 moose (with young
'uns) the hot springs at Horse Creek and riding mountain bikes
down the pass via Woods Creek, with some spectacular views at
the top. Thanks for a terrific time--we really loved the
cabin. The clan from Washington
2007
"We
had a great time. We snowmobiled 180 miles in 3 days and only
saw a small portion of this beautiful state. It was fabulous!
We saw elk, moose, white tail deer and mule deer. I listened to
the coyotes one night. It’s been our best vacation so far. We
hope to come back next year." Glen and Gina-- Texas
"This is
our first trip to Montana and we are very impressed with
everything. The river view and sound of it flowing down makes
you very relaxed. Lolo Springs is worth the drive. You come
from there very relaxed. The beds are very comfortable, we felt
like at home but with a great view of the mountains here in the
Ponderosa." Dina and John-- Michigan
"We are so
happy we found you. This is a slice of heaven." Julie and
John-- Michigan
"What an
awesome ranch you have! We had a great time here and we hate to
leave. But, hopefully we will see you again soon." Mike,
Darci, Tanner, Ashley and Shayla
"This place
is beautiful. So quiet and peaceful. We all caught lots of
fish in the West Fork and a couple in the pond. The paddleboat
on the pond is fun! Hopefully, we’ll be able to come back next
summer for more great fishing!" Marlys, Phil, Sean, Cristin,
and Chris
"We have
been here 2 times and this 3rd time was just as
enjoyable and relaxing. We had a family reunion at this
wonderful place. …Everyone had a fun time enjoying the river and
the pond. It was very relaxing for all. Cabins were
comfortable and clean. We’ll spread the word about this special
place. "
"Words fail
to express the beauty of this place… We saw a cow moose and her
calf, elk, eagles, white-tail and mule deer--and we thoroughly
enjoyed the constant drama at the hummingbird feeder. I caught
my first fish--a true miracle. We have already made
reservations for next year and are anticipating another
wonderful experience." Margaret and Milt--California
"The
heavens proclaim the glory of God and the firmament shows forth
the work of His hands. Day after day certainly takes up the
story at Alta Ranch. A very blessed and restful vacation.
Plentiful reading, exquisite evenings on the porch, invigorating
hiking, successful fishing and His countenance gracing all.
Thank you! " 3 priests—North Carolina
"Great
place! Thanks for the memories and great service. This was the
first and best cabin I’v ever stayed in. What a view. Thank
you for making our honeymoon so spectacular…" Brannon and
Marissa--Kentucky
"I believe
it was Steinbeck who said, “With other states I have admiration,
respect, but it is Montana I love.” How true a statement. What
is it about this state? Is it the Bitterroot Mountain Range and
its thick Ponderosa forests covering the landscape, brown and
red and green like the Rainbows and Cutthroats that reside
within the cold waters of the Bitterroot River and creeks that
pour down from the canyons? Is it the brief rising and setting
of the moon over a narrow canyon of sky, when in the almost
mystical moments just after the sun has set and the moon is pale
and yellow, that the fish rise to the surface and make the best
fishing, even if it is brief. Is it the mama moose and her baby
that hide among the thick grasses of the meadow? …We have
enjoyed our stay at the Alta Ranch and like so many visitors, we
have talked about making Montana our home. " Nicole, Scott,
Gracie and Molly, Utah
"We had
such a wonderful, relaxing, and enjoyable time at the Alta
Ranch. We loved staying at the Cottonwood cabin- it was so
comfortable and nice to have so many things provided for us.
What a wonderful area to hike, explore and fish. It was so
memorable and we needed to connect as a family after a hectic
school and work year. Thank you so much to our hosts, the
Spinettas, for making us feel so at home. We look forward to
coming back again next year! P.S. We especially enjoyed watching
the baby fawn—so cute! " Oregon
"What a
wonderful time we have had at the Cottonwood cabin! Yesterday
when we headed out to go fishing, we saw a bald eagle with a 10
inch fish in its talons—what a sight! That says it all! Fishing
was great—lost a few flies in the willows, but we were rewarded
greatly by just the smell and sounds of the great outdoors! The
afternoon thunder storms and the smell of the rain--it just
doesn’t get any better than this! Thank you so much for giving
our family wonderful memories! " Jamie, Ian, Nathan and Alec,
Texas
"Thank you
for the fun family vacation; it allowed us to reconnect with our
dad in a very new way. We aren’t usually ones for the outdoors,
but the Alta Ranch changed that. We especially enjoyed watching
the hummingbirds, both the dominant and docile ones. It was
incredibly interesting and funny. The cabin was very clean and
the beds nice and comfy. The river was cool and fun, even when
we fell in with our clothes on." Casey and Caren, Utah
"We had
such a good time at the Alta Ranch. We enjoyed watching the
mama moose and her calf as well as deer and elk. If you want to
see tons of wildlife you can go to Hughes Creek as well—no gold,
but bear and moose galore. Thank you for letting us stay at
this wonderful place. " Jeff and Terri
"This is our 5th year coming to this area and Alta Ranch is
still our favorite for rest, relaxation and lots of reading.
We had perfect weather this year and as usual enjoyed
spotting the various wildlife in the immediate vicinity,
especially the recently born fawn who we saw bounding
through the meadow last night, running to his mother to eagerly
nurse..."Leanne & David, Texas
"This is our second year at the Cottonwood cabin at the Alta
Ranch. We stayed for two weeks. The best part of our
visit were days where we stayed on the property,
fished, watched the kids play in the river and played the Washer
game next to a bonfire. This truly is a perfect family
vacation..." Scott & Kathleen D.,
New Jersey
"The Alta Ranch is so comfortable we'd like to stay a month!
The fish in the pond are huge - but tough to catch. Thanks
for everything!" Pat C., California
"From
Virginia to Montana we flew.
The
journey was long, this is true.
But
once we saw Peter,
and
Val, we did meet her,
'twas
worth all the trouble, we knew.
Into
our cabin we stumbled,
to a
king bed awaiting we tumbled.
Awoke
with a yawning,
a new
day was dawning,
mountains rising afore us, did humble.
Day One
and Day Two we went hiking.
Castle
Rock, Baker Lake to our liking.
Climbing high, it was tough,
on our
muscles 'twas rough,
so Day
Three was porch sitting and writing!
The
rest of our time, an explore,
jeep
riding and rafting and more.
We
soaked in the stream
Did we
holler and scream!
Learned
Lewis & Clark history galore.
Thirty-eight wedded years do we toast
We
thank the Spinettas, our hosts
for
renting their ranch
to
enrich and enhance
our
journey 'cross US the most."
David & Ruth H., Virginia
"Our stay was wonderful. Just being out in nature is a joy
all to itself. The cabin was great, so homey! The
Spinettas were great hosts. They gave us good info
about the area! I just fell in love with all the
mountains, rivers and lakes in this area. There is no
place on earth as beautiful and endearing as Montana!
Some day, if my dreams come true, I will have a place here with
my wonderful husband that we can share with all our family!"
--Alison & John C.,
Kentucky
"We
enjoyed this delightful get-away for our first two nights of
Hanukkah. The children found pine cones and small branches
for decorations as a beautiful center piece for our table.
We enjoyed cross-country skiing and sledding. It will be a
while until our bodies forget the jump at the bottom of the
sledding hill! : ) The cabin was perfectly accommodated.
We didn't lack or wish we had a thing! We so appreciate
how clean it is! Thank you so much!"
--Nate & Sara A.,
Montana
"We've had the best time. Since we can't take the Aspen
with us, we'll be back to visit it again. Next time, we
stay longer...3 days was just getting started."
--James & Marty L., Texas
"After all the "guy" trips my husband has made here, I finally
got to experience it first hand...as beautiful and serene as I
had expected. My favorite was sneaking up on the young
moose in the pond. Thanks for the hospitality and for a
very neat and well cared for ranch. We'll be back!"
--Dave & Judy B., Kansas
"We
had a wonderful time at the Aspen. The weather was great ,
the surroundings beautiful and the cabin was excellent!
We've seen several moose, elk, mountain sheep and hundreds of
birds. Our 1.5 year old daughter enjoyed the river and all
the toys in the Homestead. Thanks for everything
especially the warm welcome and great service!!!"
--Marco & Sarah S.,
Massachusetts
"The Alta Ranch has met and exceeded our expectations.
Relaxing, beautiful, quiet and friendly. The highlight of
the trip was catching two "Monster" rainbows. We hope to
come back and enjoy the clean cabin and groomed
surroundings."
--Kent & Nancy A., Michigan
"I am 11 years old and we have had a great 5 days here. It
was so fun! I caught my first trout on my Dad's fly-rod.
My Mom saw a moose on her run. I loved going on the
paddleboats in the pond. My brother and I could explore
the land. It was neat. I live all the way down in
Hot Springs, AR. The travel up here was worth it."
--Julia L., Arkansas
"Full of wonder - Bicycles, walking, fishing out beyond Deer
Creek. Ospreys, amusing hummingbirds, floating on the
pond, sitting on the porch..."
--Nancy and Ted S.,
New York
"We'll miss our little log home away from home, and the
beautiful West Fork. Never knew there were so many
cutthroat trout streams in Montana - 'if it has water init, it
probably has a cutthroat in it'. Aspen was home to us - we
had a great time here and hope to come back."--Bob & Cheryl R., New York
"We had a great three days and were very impressed with your
ranch and most of all with your hospitality. The fishing
was great and we hope to return soon."--Tom & Linda P., Montana
"I'm 11 years old and today was the last, but special day
because I caught my first fish on a fly-rod! I love this
place so much I'm going to put all the pictures we took here and
put them in a special album! I'll look forward to visiting
here again soon!"
--Hannah P., Montana
"Thank you so much for the stay. The kids really enjoyed
feeding the fish from the row boat! They will be talking
about that for some time to come. This is definitely a
place to come back to! --Solar & Kelly L.,
Idaho
"We
had an absolute blast on your beautiful and peaceful ranch last
week. The cabin was perfect and the views and mountain air were
more than we could have expected...We simply love Montana and
adore your property. You live in a piece of heaven there.
Thank you so much for your hospitality and for allowing us to
spend a few days with you."
--Greg & Anneta B., Industry, Texas
"This
was by far the most relaxing and enjoyable vacation our family
has ever had. The cabin, property, and your hospitality
was outstanding. My kids wanted me to tell you that their
favorite part of this vacation was your dog Wishbone.
Thanks for making this an excellent vacation. Next year we
are staying for two weeks!"--Kathleen & Scott, Bridgewater, New Jersey
"It
was a wonderful vacation! The cabin and ranch were more
rather than less than what usually appears on the internet.
Thank you for all your kindness and help. The kids had a
blast."--Becky & Rich, Idaho Falls, Idaho
"The
(Aspen) loft was a great hit with the kids. They enjoyed the
creek and playing out in the open area. Overall the stay was
enjoyable and the surrounding areas were absolutely gorgeous."--Zurina C., Pocatello, Idaho
“Excellent in
all regards. The ranch and surrounding area are beautiful.
Cottonwood is a great cabin. Just what we were looking for.
Thanks! --John W.,
Maryville, Tennessee
“The cabin is
equipped very well. We appreciate all of the conveniences being
handy…Ziploc bags, paper plates, etc. We also like the books on
birds, plants, etc. and the complete notebook. We also like the
game of washers and well-stocked fire pit. This is a great
place for a vacation. Thanks for keeping it going! ==Barb &
Dennis A., Monticello, Minnesota
“We loved our
time here! The cabin was comfy and clean. We had a great time
fishing – especially on the ranch. Thanks for making our
vacation wonderful! --Radene &
Steve O., Laurel, Montana
“Do you recall,
as children perhaps, the ‘let down’ you experienced just after
the anticipation, excitement, and joy of Christmas Day? Well,
now that I’ve returned from Montana and the stay with you at
Alta Ranch, I’m stuck with that let down…” --Donn S. and
Diane R., Lee, New Hampshire
“We had a great
time. We enjoyed the cabin & the ranch & had a lot of fun
playing in the river. We’d be happy to come again!” --Jennifer A.,
Bainbridge Island, Washington
“Thanks for all
the info on fishing, it’s great for people unfamiliar with the
area. We also liked the games on hand. Maybe we’ll make it
back someday and we’ll be sure to tell our friends about Alta
Ranch.” --Benjamin &
Katherine A., Barrington, Rhode Island
"Very clean,
wonderful. You thought of everything. The site on the Internet
showed a lot of the activities/facilities but not till we
arrived did the full beauty become apparent ... We fully enjoyed
the ranch. The wildlife, quiet, and tranquility was great ...
walks, campfires, bar-B-Q's were all great. The kids really
enjoyed feeding the fish and the elk in the meadow. We enjoyed
the games and other wonderful things in the Homestead
[clubhouse] ... You are very hospitable and went above and
beyond to make our stay truly enjoyable and make us feel at
home." --Ken and Cheryl
H., Kirkland, Washington
"In all
our travels out west, yours is the nicest place by far ... Most
beautiful hiking trails of all the places we visited. Remote,
yet we found everything we needed or wanted."--Andy and Joyce
N., Summerville, South Carolina
"Just a
note to thank you for the manner in which you hosted our recent
vacation in the Bitterroots. All of our expectations were met or
exceeded. You were there to answer our questions or meet our
requests yet you were not intrusive. The area information guide
and the reading materials that we found on the coffee table in
the cabin were extremely helpful as we planned our daily
activities. The ranch and cabin were well laid out and included
many unexpected amenities. The Homestead building with its
complete laundry and satellite TV were an example. The natural
beauty of the area, the historical sites (especially the Big
Hole National Battlefield) and the excellent fishing all suited
us perfectly. All things considered, it was the peaceful,
unhurried getaway that we needed."--Ken and Joanne
B., Redding, California
"It was
more like a "home" than a cabin. Very peaceful and beautiful
views. "Trained" moose and everything ... We'll be back!!"--Mickie and Bill
B., Ft. Myers, Florida
"I just
wanted to let you know how very much I enjoyed my stay at your
lovely ranch. This has been a wonderful week for me. The
peaceful beauty, the full array of activities you offer, and
your incredible hospitality made for a memorable vacation! If
not for family at home, I might very well give you a deposit on
another week." --Nancy A.,
Warwick, Rhode Island
"Cabin was
very clean and comfortable ... The kids loved the river. We
enjoyed the quiet and wildlife ... We wish we could have stayed
longer. --Jim and Denise
J., Amherst, Ohio
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