Rocking Z Guest Ranch

Had a fabulous horseriding holiday here in September 2024. The owners, Patty and Zach are very welcoming, and their wranglers are happy to meet your needs. Well behaved and schooled horses. Absolutely would come again.

Such a fantastic ranch! The owners and staff treat you like family and work hard to make your experience everything you want it to be. The horses are absolutely amazing and every ride was beautiful. I can't wait to go back!

Our daughter is having th time of her life at Rocking Z Ranch! Zack and Patty went above and beyond to ensure Andie got to the Ranch on time due to delayed flights. The ranch hands found the perfect fit in the horse Vicaro and are so attentive and patient while teaching horsemanship. The food is outstanding and the beds are comfy. Our daughter is already planning her return trip! Thank you Zack & Patty and entire staff at Rocking Z Ranch!!

If it were possible to give a 5 Stars Plus review for the Rocking Z Guest Ranch we would!! We loved every single minute of our visit! The staff is absolutely amazing & the family who owns and operates it make you feel like part of their family! | From the moment you arrive, you are greeted with open arms! The food (3 full meals a day) was fantastic - and they make sure to know of any dietary restrictions before the week begins. With the dining area being set up with 3 beautiful (family made) wooden tables, each seating 8 people, you eat family style for every meal. Nobody has assigned seats, so you can move around for each meal and get to know more of the employees and guests! We looked forward to every meal conversation and made many new friends! When Zack or Patty sat with you, you knew that you would be hearing about more of the amazing history of their ranch and the surrounding area! | When we arrived, we were getting unpacked (in our spacious, western decorated room), when Patty came to our door and told us that if we were interested in joining the group that was going to the Rodeo in Augusta, that we just needed to grab a hat and come on down to the white van! We were so excited to have something special to do so quickly after our arrival! With that ride we met 3 other guests, 2 employees & two of Zack & Patty's granddaughters. Zack was our driver, and he told us so many interesting facts on our way, AND they continued throughout the rodeo! We had a wonderful afternoon!! | After breakfast on Monday, we met the horses after a group meeting with Anna (Zack & Patty's daughter), who found out our individual histories with horseback riding and our hopes and goals for the week!! We found out quickly that no matter your level of riding skill, they had the Perfect horse and instructor for you! Each day included opportunities to increase your skill level through activities with your horse ((ex. obstacle course, arena activities, trail rides & caring directly for your horses (grooming, saddling, washing)).| Lastly, we just can't express in words how magnificent the scenic views were all around the ranch and trails! We will Definitely plan to return in the future! Mark & Deb Morich|

A friend and I visited Rocking Z for a week and had a fantastic time.|We were after time with great horses and we got this! I rode Teddy and Blaze, both highly trained, fun, safe and adorable. As a dressage rider I’d never ridden in a Western saddle, but of a fish out of water to start with but now wondering how comfortable my saddle at home will be!!|My favourite day was the all day ride, where we took the horses off site, stunning scenery and so much fun. I also loved the ground work sessions especially the last one which was on liberty which was really rewarding. The cattle shifting was memorable too. |The family are warm, so knowledgeable and totally professional. Also a big thank you to Justi, Julia, Lucy, Magda and Spencer. I hope I got everyone.|A long way from home but I hope to be back !!

The riding was outstanding. The Wirth family went out of their way to accommodate guests requests. They arranged for extra wranglers to insure we were able to go for all day picnic ride on a slightly shorter lope. The meals were excellent served family style and always plenty.Rooms are tastefully decorated and very comfortable. This was our second time here and loved meeting the growing families of Zack and Patty's children. The grandchildren were precious. Maria let guests a choice to drive a pair of work horses. Amazing opportunity!

Breath taking scenery.||More riding than I could have dreamed of. More horses than I have ever seen. A horse for every type of rider, beautiful, intelligent and responsive. A huge opportunity to learn and practise our horsemanship from the ground up. Add to this the most extraordinary family, huge hearts, knowledgeable, generous and welcoming. Outstanding staff and interns who in reality felt like an extension of the family. So patient, so willing to help us all learn a new way with horses whilst having a blast along the way. ||The food was, without exception, fresh, super delicious and plentiful. ||The rooms were spacious, warm and clean. Everything we needed. ||Added bonus of a wonderful array of guests from all over the world, who we shared our week with. ||A bucket list trip for me, that surpassed my expectations in every way.||Thank you Rocking Z|Kiwi Liz

If you’re find yourself conducting vacation research, then let me save you some time- our time at Rocking Z was by far the most incredible trip we’ve ever taken. My husband and I chose to come here for our 10th anniversary trip, with the expectation of spending a week riding/learning about horses and taking in gorgeous scenery. What we experienced was beyond expectations. As beginner riders, the staff not only took our skill level into account as we started out, but also allowed our experiences there to progress in difficulty as we gained confidence in our riding. By Thursday my sweet palomino Sunny and I were traversing a steep hilltop (by my own request!) to push cattle to another pasture. The all-day ride was likely our favorite experience, and I think most of the guests that participated in that would agree. ||Most days consisted of a great trail ride in the morning (absolutely no nose to tail riding) and then working on a skill in the afternoon (like barrel racing!). The horses are so well trained and taken care of, you’ll find yourself wondering how it’s even possible that they know so many minute details about 90 different horses. The passion and care of the staff are evident in how well they care for their animals.||The food is spectacular. Every meal home cooked, delicious, and hearty. Eaten buffet style while sharing tables with the other guests, we reveled in the opportunity to get to know the other guests who traveled from around the world. So much so that many goodbyes were long, included a great many hugs, and even a few exchanged numbers to stay in touch. ||The rooms were clean, comfortable, and contained everything we needed. Right down to the airport pickup/drop off, the staff at the ranch made everything so easy that all we had to do was get to Helena! ||The family and staff are incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating, and welcoming. I am so thankful for the experience I had with them. We look forward to the time we will certainly be back. Give me the wild wind for a brother and the wild Montana skies!

I wish I give could this place a million stars! I just got back from a trip of a LIFETIME!!! I have horses at home and have ridden my entire life but this place teaches you so much more about horsemanship. They truly cater to what you want out of the experience. The hospitality was out of this world! The family and all that work there are so warming and knowledgeable. I tried venison that Maria had shot herself, quartered and hauled back to the ranch. it was AMAZING!!!!! I seriously could go on and on and on about this place but there are literally not enough words to express how incredible this place is.

Great guest ranch for all types of riders! Awesome folks and welcome you with open arms. Will be back!

Great scenery people, daughter said best day she ever had!! Family enjoyed all to do!

A dude ranch? I wasn't sure about this trip, a gift from friends. And now my husband and I are busy figuring out when we can go back! The Wirth family and everyone at the ranch made our stay such a fantastic experience that it's hard to put it into words. Warm smiles, wonderful horses, gorgeous scenery, home cooking, and songs around the campfire. They even managed to get my husband (who didn't enjoy any previous horse experiences) on horseback - TWICE. The first time was because he promised me, the second time was because he enjoyed it so much.

I had such a magical time at Rocking Z that I'm not really sure where to begin with telling you about my incredible stay! It was a horseback riding vacation come true! If you google "Montana Dude Ranch" you get dozens of results for places spread across the state. I researched several and sent out emails requesting more info and Patty Wirth from Rocking Z not only wrote back to me within a day, but she was the only one who specifically addressed all of my concerns and answered all of my questions. Then she called me a few days later to explain things in even more detail and make sure that this was the right guest ranch for me. Talk about service! I knew that Rocking Z was where I was going to spend my solo ranch vacation. I wanted to spend my week at a ranch where I could ride horses all day as well as advance my horsemanship skills. From the moment I arrived I was made to feel right at home and was welcomed with smiles from every one of the Wirth family and all of the interns that work there. The rooms were large and warm (both in decor and temperature!) and the beds were so comfortable! I was surrounded by gorgeous scenery: rolling hills, bright blue skies, green grass and dozens of friendly, well trained horses. I think one of the greatest assets to the ranch is the other guests! People come from all over the world to experience Rocking Z and since everyone eats meals together family style in the lodge and we all go out on rides together (in the same riding level) you really get to know one another. It's like a family after a few days! Who would have thought that a small working family ranch in the middle of Montana would be a melting pot of international culture bringing people together from all over the world to share their stories and experiences with the common bond of the love of horses? During my stay I met 2 amazing sisters from England and we did all of our rides together, talked and learned about each others cultures and became friends! I was the first person from LA they had ever met! Within 15 minutes of arriving on my first day, Maria (ones of the Wirth's daughters) was giving me an introduction to their horses. She led me into the corral with about 25 horses and started walking me around telling me their names and fun facts about them. Pretty soon horses were coming up to us to get pet and scratched and following us around as she introduced me to other horses. Their horses are so friendly and just love attention! As a horse lover, this was a dream come true to be able to interact with so many horses who love human contact and are genuinely friendly. I haven't had Western riding lessons in a long time, and their entire staff was friendly and knowledgeable with their instructions. After some practice I was able to saddle and bridle my own horse after "catching" her from the corral. The staff would check to make sure everything was tightened properly but they totally let you try it yourself first if you want. I was able to be as involved and interactive as I wanted to be which was so great! Everyone was so encouraging as well! What did I do at the ranch? Everything I could have wanted and MORE! I went on trail rides that overlooked some of the most spectacular views I've ever seen. I rode well trained, obedient and responsive horses who were matched up to me specifically! (If you go, ask for Joker or Storm. They are awesome!) We did trail rides with long canters across green pastures and up rolling hills. We did some cattle wrangling and learned how to twirl a lasso and rope a real calf! I learned how to ride bareback and we got to help bring in the horses from the pasture in the morning and turn them out to pasture at night. We went camping overnight in just sleeping bags out in nature with a campfire and homecooked campfire meal made in dutch ovens. I learned how to barrel race, and saw 2 brand new foals that were born during my stay. I got to try Parelli games with 2 different horses with Maria's help and I learned so much about horses and the Parelli method that I know I am a better rider for it. Maria sang for us after dinner and played the guitar and fiddle and even did a duet with another guest who also played! Every single member of the Wirth family and the staff (interns) there took care of every need we could possibly have. The food was incredible and home cooked! And if you have a special request or need, they are happy to accommodate. The hospitality here is warm and genuine! When my stay there was over it was so hard to leave after being surrounded by such positivity, beauty, hospitality and experiencing the most unique and magical vacation of my life. But I have my memories and photos to last until I can get back up there for the next trip. I can't wait to go back!

Although I had owned horses and ridden very extensively in my younger years, I hadn't ridden in any length in over 30 years. I wanted my 3 adult girls to experience what I had when I was younger so I booked a week at Rocking Z. However, I gained so much more than I ever expected. We arrived to spectacular scenery and a lovely ranch nestled among the mountains. Our room was lovely, with western decor and an awesome pot belly stove that operated via a thermostat. We were so surprised that we were the only Americans and our other guests were from all over the globe. What an unexpected blessing to get to know and become friends by the end of the week with these amazing fellow horse lovers! Maria and Anna are amazing equestrians who were able to transfer the basics of the Parelli method of horsemanship to our little group. The horses on the ranch were very well loved, healthy and very responsive. We rode hours every day and each trail ride was more amazing then the next. The rides were challenging and for a Midwesterner, not used to heights, a little daunting. The scenery on the rides were ever changing and you would think that the beauty couldn't be matched but every turn was even more beautiful. We also learned barrel racing and cattle cutting - something I always wanted to do. Please come to the ranch with an open mind and heart and you will grow in knowledge of being able to work with a horse in the kindness way and obtaining maximum results. I went to the ranch to ride in beautiful country and have a bonding experience with my family but I gained so much more than that - I met extraordinary people from around the globe and family who ran a ranch that became family to me. Thank you Pat, Zack, Anna, Maria and Ben!!! Mary!