Your Girl’s Getaway Glamping Guide in Gardiner, Montana

It’s no secret that Montana is known for its beautiful mountain ranges and plentiful outdoor adventure. From fishing, hiking, horseback riding and even off-roading, you’re never lacking anything to do while venturing throughout the state. 

With plenty to see and so much to do throughout Montana, camping (and glamping) is a huge hit with locals and visitors alike and it makes for such a unique experience whether you’re traveling solo, with your spouse, a group of friends or the entire family. 

Last year we took such a fun camping trip and ever since I’ve been dreaming up another adventure like this one!

This year I decided it should be for the girls. 👯‍♀️

While I’m all for getting dressed up in my favorite sparkly dress, high heels and sporting a hot pink lip to hit the town with my best friends, I’m also really into the slowness that Montana also brings with it.

So, this time I left the sparkles at home, packed my best outdoor shoes and loaded up for a weekend of fun with 3 of my favorite people in the world – and let me just tell you… it was life-giving!

If you’re in search of a more typical girls trip filled with bottomless mimosas at brunch and cute stops around the city, here’s an itinerary for that.

But if you’re looking to embrace the beauty of the Montana mountains and glamp your heart out, this is for you.

A 3-Day Glamping Guide in Montana

With all of the opportunities for adventure throughout Montana, there are TONS of outfitters and guides that you can follow to plan your perfect trip.

Whether you’re looking to hunt, fish, go horseback riding, hike, raft or all of the above, there are so many resources available to you so that you don’t have to plan and piece everything together on your own.

For our trip specifically, we worked with Flying Pig Adventures for the Paddle and Saddle adventure!

This outfitter partners with a nearby ranch, Hell’s A-Roarin’, for the horseback riding part of the trip.

This ranch prides themselves on their rustic hospitality and are dedicated to helping you create lasting memories.

I can attest that they have both of those things figured out – our experience from the very beginning to the moment we left was nothing short of amazing. 

They’ve truly thought of everything to make your trip one to remember. 

Through Hell’s A-Roarin’, you can book your stay in one of their cabins or wall tents – we chose a cabin for our trip! 🏕

It was the larger of the two with one bedroom with a queen bed and the other with two bunk beds. Fully equipped with coffee, plumbing and power! 

On our first full day on our adventure, we opted for a horseback riding experience led by the Hell’s A-Roarin’ guides who are familiar with the area’s terrain, wildlife and history, ensuring a safe and educational ride. 🐴

They made everything so easy and it was so nice to have everything planned for us – essentially all we had to do was show up! The guides were friendly and so knowledgeable.

We had one rider that was pretty nervous, she was able to have her horse led by the guide leading the pack. He was very gracious with her & made her feel comfortable the whole way! Conquering fears day one. ✅

When you book a horseback riding adventure with this outfitter, you can choose how long you want your ride to be and you can trust that you’ll see some of the best scenery in the state as you travel through Yellowstone. 

The trails take you through dense forests, open wildflower meadows and along the banks of rushing rivers and serene lakes so you can take in all of the beauty that Montana has to offer.

And if you’re lucky, you may even spot some notable wildlife on your ride, like elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep or other animals that make Montana so special. 🦌

Another awesome thing to note about the horseback rides with Hell’s A-Roarin’ is that their tours are suitable for riders of all skill levels and they can accommodate anyone over 7 years old, making it a perfect opportunity for families, regardless of your experience with horses! 

All of their horses are well-trained and they provide all necessary riding equipment (aside from proper attire and shoes – that's on you!). That is actually the majority of the way they make their money - buying, selling, trading and training horses.

They are very skilled and the horses reflect that. It was fun to get to know their personalities & friend groups – horses definitely have clicks! I was on “Brownie” and Brownie is a driven, head strong beauty that loves to be in the front and you weren’t going to tell him any different. I loved every minute of soaking in his energy. 

After a day of riding and seeing some of the most beautiful sights, we enjoyed a steak dinner, courtesy of the cooks at the ranch, and each other's company around a cozy campfire.

The sunset was honestly one of the best ones I’ve seen - the whole sky on fire with the horses in the background. You don’t know whether to take a million pictures or try to burn it in your memory so you have it forever.

It was the perfect depiction of a Montana night and it’s a moment I’ll cherish forever!

The next day, it was time for our “paddle” part of the adventure! Our overnight rafting trip included an afternoon of rapids before we made it to our campsite on the banks of the Yellowstone River. 🏞

This experience truly felt like something you only see in the movies and I’m SO glad that we did it.

The fully-outfitted camp comes fully set up and equipped with a cook shack, fire pit and comfy chairs so you can relax amongst the serene sounds of the river. 

Upon arrival to camp, you’ll settle into your wall tent or teepee that includes all of the accommodations you need, including beds, sleeping bags and pillows – all you need to bring are your PJ’s and toiletries! 

We call it “glamping” because bathrooms with electricity and outdoor showers are on site, so you can fully wash up and get cozy before dinner and s’mores. 

I have to say the food was out of this world. Our guides made it a five star experience from start to finish. We enjoyed steak + shrimp tacos with a little smuggled in tequila (😏). I don’t know about you, but steak + shrimp tacos were never on our camping menu!

On our final day of the trip, we woke up to crisp air and hot coffee, enjoyed one more sit around the campfire and ate a yummy breakfast before packing up for another 14 miles down the river. ☕️ 

This was the highlight of the whole trip. You couldn’t have asked for better weather and the water was crystal blue. Plenty of opportunities to swim! And we took full advantage of it. Let me tell you, there is nothing like a cool dip in the river on a hot summer day. Something about it cleanses your soul. 

You finish your rafting day by going through the infamous Yankee Jim Canyon with 3 sets of decent rapids. Guaranteed to raise your heart rate, get a little wet and maybe even let out a “whoohooo” from places you didn’t know existed. (Maybe that was just me….totally in the moment!)

You truly get to top off your trip with one more adventure full of sightseeing before heading back to reality.

Flying Pig made it so easy to enjoy the trip because they take care of everything for you once you book, so you can sit back and truly soak in the time with those you’re traveling with.

Patrick and his crew are top notch business owners and you feel the five star customer service the whole time!

This glamping trip with the girls filled my soul and it’s something I believe everyone should experience at least once!

It gives you a great taste of what Montana life is all about and allows you to slow down, get outdoors and enjoy the simpler things in life without all of the hustle and bustle.

If you’re searching for some other camping or glamping destinations near Billings, you can’t go wrong with these paired with an outdoor adventure itinerary like this!

Here’s to getting outside this season, friend. ☀️