The Circle Bar Ranch

Details & Features

The Circle Bar Ranch on the Judith River is a historic guest and working ranch that dates back to the late 1800s.  The ranch sits in the bridging corridor that connects the alpine habitat of the Little Belt Mountains to the Judith River Valley.  This dramatic scenery drew western artist Charlie Russell to spend time on the ranch and in the area.  Over a century has passed and the ranch remains a great location for a small cattle outfit, family retreat or full-scale dude ranch.  Buying a working guest ranch or family retreat is a lifestyle choice for one’s family. In today’s hectic world this type of shift may be exactly what is needed.

The ranch is nearly 520 acres of rolling hills, timbered ridges and over one mile of lush river bottom.  State land borders the property, giving access to the Helena – Lewis and Clark National Forest.  This is a perfect location for fishing, hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and bird and trophy big game hunting.

The Circle Bar Ranch was originally inhabited by the Blackfeet Indians who used it as a hunting ground. By the late 1800s, the United States of America claimed primary ownership of the area and men began staking out their claim on the land. The ranch assumed the name “S Lazy 4 Bar” in 1890, which was one of the earliest brands in Montana. The land later became the Middle Fork Cattle Company and was used to buy, sell and raise cattle and horses. The business eventually developed into a hunting and recreation business and in 1904 the owners procured a hotel license, as they planned to serve meals and become a guest facility. In 1920 the ranch took on the new brand and name of Circle Bar Ranch. The ranch was bought and sold twice more before the current owners purchased it in 1982.

• Lodge, cabins and barns
• Abundant wildlife
• Proximity to national forest
• Dude ranch, personal or corporate retreat