WILDERNESS WORKSHOP – REINDEER LORE & ANTLER ART

A Montana native, Elsa Janney grew up along the Continental Divide in Butte, Montana. From an early age, she had an affinity for animals and nature. Their beauty and inspiration worked its way into all aspects of her life. After a few years in Alaska running sled dogs and training reindeer, Janney returned home with a new set of skills making antler art and holistically training and healing animals. In this workshop, Elsa Janney supplies antler pieces and other natural artifacts, along with the tools and guidance for guests to craft various pieces

SNOWSHOEING / NATURE HIKES

There’s no better way to take advantage of the winter wonderland at Paws Up than with an invigorating snowshoeing or hiking expedition. Take in the breathtaking sights as you hear the crunch of snow beneath your feet. You’ll clear your head, explore the vast grounds of The Resort and work up a hearty appetite before heading back to another great feast on the ranch.

SNOW TUBING

If you have the need for speed, the surrounding hills and meadows of Paws Up offer ample opportunities for snowy pursuits you usually only find at snow tubing runs at ski resorts. Here you can test the limits of gravity aboard one of our snow tubes.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

With reliable snowpack and a history of Norwegian and Swedish settlers, Montana cross-country skiing could practically be considered the state sport. You will be outfitted with the best equipment and lead through the expertly groomed trails of the Lubrecht Experimental Forest. Imagine gliding your way under a canopy of conifers freshly dusted in white powder. From time to time, you’ll stop to enjoy the incomparable serenity of the Montana wilderness in winter and focus on your skiing techniques.

BROOM HOCKEY AND CURLING

Come try your hand at this Winter Olympic sport where you slide a 40-pound stone along the ice as your MCAP friends help "curl" it into scoring position with custom brooms OR grab a broom and enjoy the sweeping views.

Who knew pushing a stone or sweeping a broom could be such a blast?

COW CROQUET

For an equestrian experience unlike anything you’d find on another dude vacation ranch, show your mastery of wrangling cattle by taking part in the thrilling and challenging Cow Croquet. You will mount horses in the Saddle Club’s indoor arena and try to guide cows through one of five gates—just as if you were knocking croquet balls through metal hoops in the back yard. The team with the best results and times wins!

SNOWMOBILING

The RPMs race as well as your heartbeat as you blaze a trail through virgin powder amidst towering pines and before an audience of curious animal onlookers. This is snowmobiling in Montana and it doesn’t get any better. The crisp, clear days add a clarity to your senses you’ve probably never experienced before. With your eyes wide open—as well as your jaw—you’ll soak up the majesty of the biggest sky in the world. The Garnet Mountain Range will serve as the ultimate picturesque backdrop as you explore Garnet, Montana’s best-preserved ghost town. In the winter, Garnet is only accessible by snowmobile, so the only tracks you’re likely to see (other than your own) belong to the resident wildlife.

HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDE

Temperatures may drop, but enthusiasm for horseback riding in Montana never seems to. Even while Mother Nature covers the landscape in a beautiful white blanket, the equestrian activities at Paws Up keep trotting along for incredible winter dude ranch vacations. Take a trail ride on snow-packed trails, and the crunch of hooves is often the only sound you’ll hear. Wildlife is easier to spot, as local elk, deer and bison stand out from the vast whiteness, nosing about for food.

MOONBIKES

Enjoy the rush of snowmobiling in virtual silence, save for the soft swish of fresh powder you’ll leave in your wake. This is the thrill of exploring Paws Up’s winter wonderland on a MoonBike: an electric snowbike with precision agility and an emissions-free footprint. Inspired by and manufactured for exploring the French Alps, these ultra-lightweight machines allow you to whoosh through the Ranch’s snowy acreage in near silence, leaving nature virtually untouched.