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The WJ van
arriving at Twin
Peaks Ranch
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Jill on White
Eyes, Viv on
Vic at Twin
Peaks Ranch
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Great, rustic
accommodations
with all the
amenities
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WAVE Journey enjoyed a week of riding,
roping and rafting at Twin Peaks Ranch!
WJ's time at Twin Peaks went by far too quickly!
We had so much fun that we didn't want to
leave and wished we could stay for at least
another week.
Highlights:
Gorgeous scenery, mouth-watering food,
clean,cozy and comfortable accommodations,
horses to suit all skill levels and sizes, friendly
and competent staff, exceptionally clean and
well maintained swimming pool and hot tub,
large variety of fun and challenging activities.
Perfect For:
Families, Singles, Romantic Getaway, Work or
Family Retreats, Groups
Negatives:
This is such a wonderful experience that a week
isn't long enough! Book to stay longer if you
can. If you want more than beginner horse
rides, make sure you inquire when booking if it
will be possible during your stay - generally
rides that are scheduled are nose to tail trail
rides.
Bottom Line:
We can't wait to return in the near future and
take some WJ.com readers with us!
Reviewed: July 2007
WJ Recommended:
Definite YES!
Travel Tale: Twin Peaks Ranch: Saddle Up
and Put Your Life Jacket On!
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Taken from their website: Twin Peaks Ranch - Salmon,
Idaho
Located near Salmon, Idaho on the wild “River of No
Return”, Twin Peaks Ranch offers guests a one of a kind
western vacation. If you’re looking to get in touch with your
inner cowboy or just get away and relax, our 2,900-acre
working ranch will provide you with an authentic Wild West
experience.
Founded because of its ideal location for sportsmen
activities, guests can participate in the widest variety of
western activities found anywhere. Whether it’s riding lofty
trails to our high mountain tent camp, fishing an alpine lake,
or floating the Salmon River’s white water rapids, there is
something for everybody.
At Twin Peaks Ranch you can enjoy the widest variety of
western activities found in the Northern Rockies. From
riding to wrangling to rafting, you can experience it all.
Come break trail over the Continental Divide where Lewis &
Clark came over on their way to map the Northwest
Territories. Herd cattle through the open range of our
working ranches 2,900 acres. Raft the rated Salmon River,
or as many know it, the “River of No Return”. Or just relax in
our heated swimming pool. Fishing, target shooting, arena
riding, overnight trips, evening entertainment and much
more await you as well.
www.twinpeaksranch.com
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Trail ride at
Long Hollow
Ranch
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Three Sisters
views
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WJ spent three nights at Long Hollow
Ranch.
WAVE Journey was incredibly disappointed with
the experience at Long Hollow.
Highlights:
Scenic location and nice horses.
Perfect For:
Christians. Those who want very little activity,
never been on a horse before, and are not
particular about what they eat.
Negatives:
Service was poor. Food was terrible - did not
cater to the vegetarians in the group who had
informed them of dietary requests prior to
arrival. Horse tack was very dirty and saddles
incredibly uncomfortable and too small for adult
riders. The ranch is Christian faith-based
(perfect for those of that faith), but their website
does not state that and you don't know until it is
imposed upon you when you arrive. The ranch
did not deliver in any category the goods that
they promote.
Bottom Line:
If this had been their first season in business we
would have cut them some slack and made
suggestions for improvement. However, after
seven years of the ranch being in this business
we were appalled at the low standards. We
found this ranch to be very overpriced for what
they deliver.
Reviewed: June 2007
WJ Recommended:
Definite NO!
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Taken from their website: Long Hollow Ranch - Sisters,
Oregon
Looking for a dude ranch vacation, cowboy vacation, or
horse ranch vacations? Or, working cattle ranch horseback
vacations, cattle drive, horseback riding vacations, fly
fishing vacations? Look no further. We have them all.
Long Hollow Ranch is a guest ranch with good old fashion
values. The newly remodeled 100-year old ranch house
welcomes you to historic Central Oregon. The friendly
ranch style atmosphere, the cozy guest rooms and
home-cooked meals satisfy and refresh our hungry and
tired guests.
Explore the ranch on horseback or hike the bordering high
desert rimrock. Fish to your heart's content in the ranch
reservoirs or spend a relaxing afternoon reading on the
veranda, pitching horseshoes in the yard by the campfire or
practicing your roping skills.
Hey, don't forget Long Hollow Ranch is located in the heart
of one of the Northwest's most scenic recreation areas. Golf
courses manicured to perfection abound, whitewater rafting
awaits the adventurous. Roaming the antique and quilt
stores of Sisters, a true town from the Old West just minutes
away, revives the spirit.
Long Hollow Ranch is also an authentic working cattle
ranch, so live those cowboy dreams by working with ranch
hands on authentic ranch activities from fixing fence to
moving irrigation to working with cattle.
www.lhranch.com
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WAVE Journey did a site inspection of
Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge.
The lodge offers a beautiful setting, first class
facilities, friendly staff and plenty of activities for
all ages and levels.
Highlights:
Historic lodge in a very scenic location on
Flathead Lake, delicious meals, horse rides for
all riding levels, children have their own
activities and meal times, comfortable
accommodations with all the amenities, large
variety of activities for adults and children alike.
Perfect For:
Families, groups, conferences, executive
retreats.
Negatives:
This large lodge can accommodate up to 120
people in log lodges and 20 cottages; so if
you're looking for a quiet, intimate setting this
may not be what you're looking for.
Bottom Line:
WAVE Journey looks forward to visiting Avrill's
in the near future and experiencing first hand
the facilities, services and activities. We liked
what we saw and the variety of activities - horse
riding is divided into adult and children's rides.
Date of site inspection: July 16, 2007
WJ Recommended:
YES
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Taken from their website: Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
- Bigfork, Montana
Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge is a 2,000 acre, family
operated Montana dude ranch. Nestled in a bay on the east
shore of Flathead Lake, Averill's ranch features horseback
riding in the Rocky Mountains of northwest Montana as well
as a variety of other activities including fishing, sailing and
swimming.
Horses and hospitality are a way of life at Averill's Ranch.
Riding at the ranch ranges from mountain trails to lessons,
horse games and arena events.
Flathead Lake Lodge was built in 1932 as a boy's camp
and acquired by Les Averill when he returned to Montana
from the war in 1945. His boyhood dream was to build a
dude ranch and hunting lodge for city folks to experience a
part of the west. That dream came true with the purchase of
the Flathead Recreation Ranch for Boys, now Flathead
Lake Lodge
Guests can enjoy the cozy ambience of our historic log
lodges or one of our rustic cabins nestled on the shores of
Flathead Lake, the largest natural fresh water lake west of
the Mississippi.
www.avrills.com
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Michel &
Michele from
France
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Long Hollow Ranch:
At Long Hollow Ranch WJ met a couple from
France, Michel & Michele (Mr & Mrs). In fact, we
all arrived at the same time and became fast
friends during a few days of frustration at the
ranch.
Michel & Michele had booked to spend 8 days
at Long Hollow, but after a series of very
disappointing experiences they left the ranch
after 4 days.
Long Hollow did not deliver the horse riding
experience that Michel & Michel were looking
for, had asked for and had been assured (via
email) could be delivered.
Their mission was to spend a month in the USA
riding horses, working cattle, etc... They have
been riding Western for 30 years and are very
experienced.
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NOTE:
WJ spoke with the head wrangler at Long Hollow on behalf
of Michel & Michele to find out if they could take them out
for more than a 90 minute nose to tail dusty trail ride - as
they were expecting to be riding all day working cattle, etc...
A wrangler did take them out without the beginner riders,
but the ride was only slightly longer and still around the
same dusty trails.
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Bar M Ranch - Reviewed by Michel &
Michele from France
In mid-June, Michel & Michele from France
spent a few days at Bar M Ranch, 30 miles
northeast of Pendleton, Oregon.
The following is Michel & Michele's report:
The Bar M isn't a ranch for people who have
ever seen horses!
Our first ride on the Saturday was between
9h30 and 10h30 (1hr), the same thing in the
afternoon. So, we had to tell the woman you
called (WJ called Bar M on behalf of Michel &
Michele to make sure that they would be able to
take advanced level rides), that we were leaving
the ranch the following morning.
A young wrangler came to ask us what
happened and we explained once more, we own
horses and don't want such a beginner ride. He
promised to do something.
The next day (Sunday) we rode from 9h30 till 7
pm through the mountains - having our lunch in
a bag for the first time.
The wrangler talked to us about another great
ride on the other side of the valley, so we
decided to leave only on Tuesday morning,
hoping our Monday ride would be as good as
the Sunday ride.
In fact, the young man didn't know where the
trail was and we tried to find the trailhead all
morning. He said he never has riders with some
experience and he never rides all day as he
has done with us.
In the main house where we stayed, there were
8 rooms - very small - and 3 bathrooms shared
by 16 people. As the bathrooms are also used
by all the people who are coming into the main
house, you can imagine what can happen when
the ranch is completely booked.
So, I can't tell you it's a good place to stay for
anyone more than a beginner rider.
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Taken from their website: Bar M Ranch ~ Adams,
Oregon
Built in 1864 as a stage coach stop during the Civil War
era, the historic Bar M Ranch is as timeless as the western
traditions on which it was founded. Those traditions
continue today, making the Bar M the ultimate destination
for a fun, relaxing and memorable western vacation. From
large families to adventurous individuals, everyone is
welcome here at the Bar M. The peace, quiet, and beauty
of the ranch also make it an ideal location for weddings,
corporate retreats, meetings and other group events.
Heading up the Umatilla River, the Bar M Ranch is located
just 31 miles / 50 kilometers east of Pendleton, Oregon.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, the sprawling
3,000 acre ranch is tucked away amid tall old growth pine
and fir trees on the ranches hills, and cottonwood trees on
the canyon floor right next to the Umatilla River. Let our
laid-back western atmosphere change your pace of life.
Horseback riding, natural hot springs pool and hot tub,
spectacular scenery, recreational opportunities, and
delicious home-style meals make the Bar M the perfect
year-round ranch getaway.
www.barmranch.com
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Deadwood Outfitters - Reviewed by Michel &
Michel from France
Michel & Michele had reservations with
Deadwood Outfitters for the end of June 2007 -
to spend three nights in the wilderness on a
pack trip.
Five days before Michel & Michele were to meet
up with Deadwood Outfitters in Idaho, WJ left a
message on the company's voice mail to
confirm the arrival dates and inquire if it were
possible to start the pack trip a couple of days
early. Deadwood Outfitters never returned our
call.
This is Michel & Michele's report:
Our stay with the outfitter near Boise was better
than Long Hollow or Bar M.
But the overnight pack trip I asked for (4 days/
3 nights) became 1 1/2 day/ 1 night.
We were going to leave the Deadwood Outfitter
but the guide was able to take us for 2 full days
of riding on Wednesday/Thursday.
In fact, Deadwood Outfitters were not waiting for
us as they never received the money I sent
them on January 18, 2007.
So now I have to fight with my bank to get this
money back.
What an adventure...
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Taken from their website: Deadwood Outfitters ~
Garden Valley, Idaho
Deadwood Outfitters is an Idaho hunting outfitter
specializing in Idaho guided elk and deer hunts. Deadwood
Outfitters has the ability to help you plan a great weekend
getaway or an adventure of a lifetime, any season of the
year. In the summer months, we specialize in family
adventure trips---everything from 2 hour horse back trail
rides to extended backcountry pack trips, Saddle-n-Paddle
Adventures and great fishing. Elk hunts, mule deer, whitetail
& bear hunts provide great fall expeditions. Then, in the
winter, our lodge becomes the ultimate "back country"
snowmobile experience.
Deadwood Outfitters LLC has been family owned and
operated since 1969 by Tom & Dawn Carter and their family
in southwestern Idaho. Formally owned by Dawn's parents,
Dan and Marge Rotthoff, Tom and Dawn took over the reins
full-time in 1994. Now with our grandchildren, that makes
four generations of our family serving our guests here on
the Deadwood. Our outfitted trips are operated on Idaho's
Boise National Forest and the Frank Church River of No
Return Wilderness.
http://deadwoodoutfitters.com/
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