Overview

Three Bars Cattle & Guest Ranch opened its doors to guests from around the world in 1992. Jeff and April Beckley, along with sons Tyler and Jesse, share with guests their heritage of the west, of cowboys and horses and a time when life was simpler. In this valley of 10,000 peaks, with an abundance of clean, fast moving water, green fields, breathtaking mountain vistas, wildlife, horses, cattle, and cowboys, this is truly one of those vacations that is an experience not just another vacation. This is how memories and friendships that last a lifetime are made.

Warm friendly staff and unparalleled scenery welcome you to Three Bars Cattle & Guest Ranch. The heritage of the cowboy and the west surround you as you begin your adventure. This unique upscale guest ranch is a combination of dude ranch, cattle ranch and horse training facility. The ranch has already established a reputation as one of the world’s premier guest ranch destinations. There’s a team of 30 on staff to take care of the 40 possible guests and 80 ranch horses. This gives a clear picture of what is important at Three Bars - service and horses, in that order.

The main activity at the ranch is, of course, their HORSEBACK RIDING PROGRAM. It includes group riding instruction for those unfamiliar with the sport as well as more advanced lessons for those wishing to improve their skills. Wranglers lead morning and afternoon trail rides into high mountain vistas and along rushing rivers and creeks. The trail rides are geared to various levels of riders, and fast rides are offered for the more adventurous. Rides are available for families to ride together or kids can be part of the kids horse program without mom and dad. Private and semi-private riding lessons are available at all levels of ability for an additional charge, and group lessons are offered as part of the ranch package to all riding guests. Three Bars horse program is unique in the industry do to the fact that Jeff and Jesse Beckley are professional western reining horse trainers. They have around 20 competitive reining horses in training at all times at the ranch. Guests are welcome at the reining barn and riding arena to watch these horses in training daily. For those who enjoy this sport, as well as people who have not seem reining horses before, one evening at the ranch is set aside for a reining horse demonstration where Jeff and Jesse show guests these horses as they slide to a stop and spin on a dime. The ranch has two outdoor and one indoor riding arena comes in handy for those occasional rainstorms that arrive in the mountains.

FLY FISHING season opens June 15th and the ranch has fly fishing equipment available for guest use. They suggest that real avid fly fisherman bring along there own gear. The St. Mary’s River flows on one end of the ranch, it is catch and release fly fishing only with somewhat limited access, one of the best fishing holes on the river is best accessed via a 15-minute walk from the lodge. Local guide services will pick ranch guests up at the lodge for half and full-day walk and wade trips, or full-day float trips on the St. Mary’s, as well as other local fishing rivers. Fishing licenses can be purchased at the ranch lodge.

HIKING at the ranch is highlighted by a half-day guided hike offered weekly to a pristine waterfall where guests can go for a dip to cool off. The ranch has hiking trails for you to explore on your own that are marked and mapped leaving from the ranch buildings. Evening hikes your best chance of seeing wildlife such as white tail deer, elk and, if you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a beaver along Perry creek or the St. Mary’s River.

RIVER FLOAT TRIPS are always a highlight during the months of July and August. Spend one fun afternoon floating and splashing in the river – you’re sure to get wet! It is not a wild river raft trip but more of a fun float. This is included in your package at no additional charge.

KIDS’ PROGRAM at the ranch is designed for children ranging in ages from 7 to 12. The ranch tries to keep the kids active with riding, hiking, swimming or doing kid stuff like catching frogs and horse face painting. The kids ages 7 to 12 are welcome to trail ride with kids’ rides, or as a family unit. Your family is welcome to spend the week doing everything as a family or kids can join in the kids’ program - parents are always welcome to join in the kids’ program as well. Children eat meals with their parents for breakfast and lunch, and for dinner the ranch offers a children’s menu at 6:00pm, or they can wait and eat with the adults at 6:30pm.

Back at the ranch the TENNIS, a SWIMMING POOL, and MOUNTAIN BIKES are always available. EVENINGS will find guests playing volleyball, sitting around a campfire, learning to swing a rope, trying their hand at archery, playing fire engine games, watching a reining horse demonstration, or just relaxing in the hot tub.

Less than 20 minutes from the ranch there are four major 18-hole GOLF courses, with very reasonable green fees. The courses range in degree of difficulty and in location from beautiful high mountain courses with unparalleled mountain vistas, to breathtaking river courses. The ranch is happy to set-up a tee time for you. You will need your own transportation if you plan on playing the local courses.

AREA ATTRACTIONS include the parks of Banff, Waterton, Lake Louise, Glacier, Kootenay, and Yoho. The gates to these parks are from two to three hours’ drive from the ranch. Other attractions are the Calgary Stampede that runs for ten days in early July, and Spruce Meadows - a world-class equestrian center that houses world show jumping competitions throughout the year (also located in Calgary). You’ll also find the head smashed in buffalo jump, a Native American historical site and museum. Fort Steele historic RCMP outpost and restored gold rush town is a 20-minute drive from the ranch for a fun off ranch afternoon for the family.