Riverview Ranch Retreat & Western Adventures — Hotel in Alberton

We just returned from a 4 night stay at River View Ranch, and were very impressed with our stay. There is relatively little information about the ranch available online, so hopefully this review will be helpful to others that are considering a visit. In short, this is a small, extremely well-run operation that feels like a private ranch. There are nine rooms (which weren’t even half full during our visit), so it feels private and extremely peaceful. Staff easily outnumber guests, and are unfailingly polite and helpful. This is not a place for overbearing or extremely formal service, but staff naturally anticipate needs, remember names/preferences, and provide thoughtful touches that rival, if not surpass, the bigger name luxury hotel brands. Everyone at the Ranch was friendly, and clearly took pride in their job and in creating a memorable experience for us. |||—|Pre-Arrival||Good communication, they will email you to ask for preferences, flight arrival times, etc a few weeks prior to arrival. Emails were answered promptly, which was helpful.||—|Arrival||Missoula airport is small and easy to navigate, they will pick you up in a comfortable SUV and drive you to the Ranch. The drive is easy and only about 20-30 minutes.||—|Room|Accommodations are comfortable and have everything you need, but are not extravagant per se. All of the rooms have comfortable beds, pull out sofa, and small table that could double as a desk. Soft towels, quality toiletries, and separate tub check all the expected boxes inside the room. There is also a nicely sized balcony with excellent mountain views and a fire pit that is great at night. Housekeeping is noteworthy, the room was pristine and well kept, with chocolate and other gifts at turndown being a pleasant surprise. ||Wifi was present at the lodge although spotty and sometimes simply didn't work. Our cell service thankfully did work on property, although reportedly not all networks get service. ||—|Food/Drink|Food was very good, and made fresh in-house by a very friendly chef Dave. All of the food is included, and was flavorful and nicely plated, and modifications could be made as needed. Dinner was a multi-course affair, with local meat or excellent seafood. Menus are set so there aren’t a ton of choices, but we enjoyed everything that we ate. It isn’t wildly fancy/experimental food, but expect steak, chicken, fish that are fresh and well prepared. ||Breakfast was a peaceful start to the day, as we were often alone and found that our preferred drinks already being prepared upon our arrival to the dining room. The breakfast menu included a choice of eggs cooked to order or one daily special. It is a somewhat limited menu for longer stays and could probably do with a few more options for some variety. ||Lunch was soups, salads, sandwiches. All were fine, besides some particularly memorable sweet potato tacos that were excellent. ||In terms of drinks, beer and wine are included. The beer selection is wide and varied, and they will even do a tasting of local beers for you, which is a very nice touch. Wine selection had several reds/whites to choose from, all of which were fine enough if not amazing. The sparkling wine in particular is not a true Champagne, and could likely benefit from an upgrade, especially considering the nightly price point of the rooms. ||They don't include cocktails/liquor in the rate, which seemed a bit of a strange choice when everything else on property was included. Nevertheless, the cocktail list was notable and well worth exploring. We did an enjoyable cocktail making class with Tatum, which was fun and informative, and she makes excellent drinks (and is a great server). ||—-|Activities|The real highlight and one of the best reasons to stay at the ranch. Two activities are included and arranged every day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Activities were led by staff members, and were often completely private due to low guest counts. Think horseback riding through the forest (on or off trails), Polaris tours around the property, shooting sports, and more. Everything was led by a staff member and customized to however you want it/your skill level. We loved horseback riding with Ruth, and zooming around the property in a Polaris with Baxter. These activities were great, and we never felt outside of our comfort zone, despite living in a city and having relatively little outdoor experience prior to traveling. ||—-|Dress Code|Very relaxed, bring clothes that can get dirty during the day. Evenings/dinners were still casual. ||—-|Summary|Overall, we felt that this was an excellent stay and plan to return. We have traveled relatively extensively, and yet still felt this was a unique and memorable experience. We found it to be extremely causal and relaxing, and are arriving home refreshed. A big shout out to Kayla the General Manager, who is not only extremely friendly but also is seemingly omnipresent to help out with any needs. Her and her team set the scene for an extremely memorable trip, and we would highly recommend a visit...

Just got back from RiverView Ranch and WOW.

Really amazing experience. To start the airport pick-up was super convenient, and as we drove up to the lodge a huge herd of at least 200 elk were just hanging out, very cool to see firsthand.

The property itself is gorgeous. The rooms have views of their private lake and the mountains. Our room was spotless with the most comfortable bed (and they had like 8 different pillow options which my neck appreciated).

Every night they'd do turndown service with aromatherapy (of you wanted it) and leave lil' surprises which was an adorable and cozy touch.

The foood! Dave and Tom (the chefs) are seriously talented. Every meal was farm-to-table and absolutely delicious. I have some pretty annoying dietary restrictions and they handled everything with ease. Tiana and Tatum took care of us at every meal and were just genuinely nice people who remembered how we liked our coffee, that I love an extra scoop of ice cream, and both had a superb sense of humor. Impeccable service through and through.

Activities were varied which kept things entertaining and enjoyable. We did archery (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!), shooting range, horseback riding, several water sports on the lake, mountain biking etc. Landon ran the shooting, archery and Polaris tour and was excellent at instruction, I was hitting clays and targets which was super exciting for me as a first timer. My husband was having an absolute blast. Baxter handled the water sports and seriously knows how to drive for an awesome session doing jet-ski wakeboarding!

The horse program with Julie and Ruth made me sooo happy. I ride hunter/jumper and dressage back home, and I'm usually disappointed with equestrian activities on trips but this was quite rewarding. The horses are beautiful and well-cared for, and they matched us with the horse that would best for our individual sizes and experience levels. The trails had that exploratory factor to them that kept the rides fun, and we were able to get close to the Elk! The stables were cleaner than some hotels I've stayed in and tack was well maintained.

They have a solid gym plus mountain bikes you can take out on the trails. What really made the whole thing special was how they manage the bookings. There were other guests but it never felt crowded. It felt like we had this massive Montana ranch mostly to ourselves. The staff genuinely seemed to enjoy working there and it showed in everything they did.

The cottages for bigger groups looked amazing too - we're already talking about coming back with friends next year. If you're looking for a Montana ranch experience whether you're a couple, have kids, or planning a corporate retreat, this...

From the moment we arrived, Riverview Ranch felt less like a hotel and more like a perfectly orchestrated retreat. Everything here is intentional—quiet, spacious, and deeply restorative.||The Setting|The ranch sits in a pristine pocket of Montana where you can actually hear the wind and birds instead of traffic. One morning I went for a run on the trails and didn’t see a single person—just trees, sky, and birdsong. It was nothing short of magical.||The Food (Tom & Dave!)|The culinary program is a true highlight. Tom and Dave, the chefs, are phenomenal—creative without being fussy, comforting without being heavy. Every plate is balanced, beautiful, and memorable. They handled dietary restrictions and preferences gracefully; it always felt like an elevated experience, never a compromise.||The Staff (Exceptional Across the Board)|The people make the place. Special shout-outs to:||Tatum (Dining) – first and foremost. Very special individual. Genuinely warm, attentive, and made every meal feel personal. The authenticity was palpable.||Tom & Dave (Chefs) – absolute stars; they’re the reason meals linger in your memory.||Landon – welcoming and on top of every detail.||Michael – took my pregnant wife on an awesome but gentle Polaris ride; fun, safe, and thoughtful.||Braxton – incredibly accommodating with our schedule; everything felt seamless.||There were others whose names I’m blanking on, but truly everyone contributed to an exceptional stay.||Activities|The ranch offers a deep menu: horseback riding, Polaris/ATV, hiking, fishing, and more. They structure the day around two activities, which is perfect if you want your schedule packed. For us, one activity a day was the sweet spot—plenty of adventure with room to relax and enjoy the property.||Pace & Comfort|We never felt rushed. Staff checked in just enough to make sure we had everything we needed while preserving the peace and privacy that make this place special. The balance of guided activity and stillness is dialed in.||Value & Perspective|Yes, Riverview Ranch is pricey—and there’s a reason. If you’re used to California destinations, think about Yosemite in midsummer: lines, crowds, kids screaming etc Here, you trade all that for stillness, starry nights, and the rare experience of hearing birds chirp without a human chorus in the background. The premium buys you space, service, and quality you can feel.||Bottom Line|If you want a luxury ranch experience that blends nature, exceptional food (thank you again, Tom and Dave), and genuinely kind people, Riverview Ranch is it. We left refreshed, grateful, and already talking about when to come back. Couldn’t...