Resource Guide
Bureau of Land Management
(916) 978-4400; www.blm.gov
Madison Ranger District
(406) 682-4253; www.fs.fed.us/rl/b-d
Montana Heritage Commission
(800) 829-2969; www.virginiacitymt.com
Upper Canyon Outfitters
(800) 735-3973; www.ucomontana.com
Virginia City Overland Stage and Horseback Company
(406) 843-5200
A stagecoach carrying happy passengers rattles into town. A steam locomotive chugs up to the old depot with whistle wailing. False storefronts, weathered boardwalks, and aged hitching rails line the street. Western music tumbles out of the swinging doors of the Bale of Hay Saloon.
You don't need a time machine for this trip, just a journey to Virginia City, Montana.
In Virginia City, you can immerse yourself in Old West fantasies and walk where history was made. You can also ride out of town and explore on your own or visit a nearby guest ranch. Organized rides are held every Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Upper Canyon Outfitters, a ranch owned by Jake and Donna McDonald, is located 40 minutes from Virginia City in the Ruby River valley. It's an incredible place to go for riding, cattle drives, pack trips, fishing, and lodging.
Enjoy this bonus photo album from our trip! (For more on the region, see "Old West Adventure," Postcard From … Montana, The Trail Rider, March '10.)
