Bison Quest bison and wildlife adventure vacations

Activity/Tour

We offer two types of unique vacation experiences. If you are looking for a very private, very exclusive vacation where you are our only guests on our ranch, then you are looking for our Bison and Wildlife Adventure Vacation. Experience the pleasure of sleeping in your log cabin, or relaxing in a Lakota Sioux tipi while surrounded by a powerful bison herd in the magnificent Montana wilderness. Learn about the natural history of this awe-inspiring animal and participate in a bison behavioral study with our wildlife biologists. You can sit back and enjoy the solitude or fill your days with activities like whitewater rafting, horseback riding, hiking, or participating in wildlife studies and eco projects alongside our biologists. We are not a 'dude ranch or typical resort' where you will spend your entire vacation and meals with dozens of other people. Here, you are the private guests of internationally known wildlife biologists on the Wild Echo Bison Reserve shared only with wildlife, blue Montana skies and the Wild Echo bison herd. This Bison Quest vacation is available to only one private group at a time...yours.


But for those of you (either singles or groups) who want more than a "typical vacation", who want to actually partake in collecting data for wildlife studies, for those who wish to make the "wild" world a little better while learning about it, for those who want to be part of something bigger, then our Bison Quest Wildlife Internship Week is for you. Join our small group (4 to 10 individuals) and work alongside our biologists on habitat restoration and wildlife studies here on the Reserve. And, after our 3 day work “week”, we whisk you off for a complimentary overnight trip to Yellowstone National Park. Check our website for our current Work Week dates.

Age range, type of group

Families, kids, seniors, singles, couples, any age and gender.

Sleeping and meals

Accommodations
We have 2 authentic and charming log cabins. The main floor of each log cabin has one king size or 2 twin beds, as well as a private bath, with sink, shower, and toilet. The half loft upstairs also has 1 or 2 beds. We provide an “old west” feel combined with the luxuriousness of 400 count fine bed linens, cozy comforters, and buffalo robes.
We also have authentic Lakota Sioux tipis available for a place to relax, have a massage, sit around a campfire or even sleep in, if you've never had the experience!

Sauna Experience Native American Style
Bison Quest camp also features a traditional native American sweat lodge and you are invited to experience its ancient purification rites. Although we will share with you some of the traditions used by Native Americans here in Montana, the sweat will be uniquely yours.

Meals
We are not gourmet cooks and you're not going to find fancy French meals or elaborate sauces whipped up to cover your food here on the Reserve. You can find those things in any big city. We make the kind of meals one eats on a western ranch. Simple, natural, wholesome, healthy, and scrumptious. We’ve never seen anyone turn their nose up at our food!

Your first meal will probably be a Dutch oven "buffalo" roast with organic vegetables and homemade breads. We have a variety of foods available (one of our questionnaires will be about your food preferences), but for those of you who like beef, you’re going to love bison. It’s a little sweeter than beef (with a lot less fat, calories, and cholesterol) and the roasts just melt in your mouth. Of course, we have other options for those who wish them.

Special Dietary Needs
If you have personal needs and/or allergies, feel free to contact us. We are always open to learning about new ways of cooking that cater to your personal experience. We will do our best to accommodate any special dietary needs you have (food allergies, vegetarian, vegan, kosher, etc). All we ask is that you work with us to make sure that all of your needs are met. Additional fees may apply if we need to purchase unusual food items.

Restrictions

We don't have any restrictions on age or gender, but because of the remoteness of our ranch from medical care, people with health issues will need to take that into consideration. Since you will be living surrounded by a bison herd, pets are not allowed for their own safety.

Rates

Our rates depend on which of the two vacations you are joining us for. The Internship Work Week (6 days and 5 nights) is $1975/person.

The rates for the Bison and Wildlife Adventure Vacation depends upon the number of people in your group and the number of days you will be our guests. Check the RateCard or our website for more detailed pricing information.

A percentage of your Bison Quest Package deposit will be donated to benefit students at Fort Belknap Community College on the Fort Belknap Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Reservation.

Other Information

Activities: All lodging, meals, guide services and activities on the Reserve are included in both of our vacation packages. However, any off-Reserve lodging, meals and/or activity fees are not included unless otherwise specified. Airport pickup, as well as transportation to all listed activities, is complimentary. Allow one full day for each activity unless otherwise noted.

Inclusive activities (one daily because of time constraints):

* All projects (see Eco Projects), activities, lodging and meals while on Wild Echo Bison Reserve
* Yellowstone Overnight 2-Day Trip
* Horseback Riding with mountain picnic

Activities that can be arranged for an additional fee for the Bison and Wildlife Adventure Vacation (transportation is complimentary):

* Addition of massage on the Hot Springs & Ghost Town Day Trip - approximately $90 depending on type and length
* Professional massage on Reserve - $300 for 2 people, $75 for each additional person
* Whitewater Raft or Float Trip - approximately $80/person depending on type of trip (no children under 8 years)
* Guided Day of Fishing - $450 for 2 people

Advance Reservations

A deposit of 25% is required to confirm your package and rates at the time of booking, with the balance of the package rate due 30 days prior to your arrival date. Because of the limited number of groups, deposits are not refundable but may be credited toward a future visit if you need to change dates. If you wish to change the dates of your stay, you must notify our office in writing. After 30 days prior to your arrival date, you will be charged for the entire time of your reservation. Above rates are subject to change without notice. We accept MasterCard, VISA and Discover Card.

This is a wilderness experience and activities are subject to change or substitution because of weather or unforeseen circumstances. Since we only work with one private group at a time, we do have the flexibility to move many of our activities to different days if it helps provide you with the best experience possible.

Discounts Offered

Since Bison Quest provides a unique opportunity for families to spend time together without all of the interruptions of our modern, fast-paced world, we offer a 15% discount off the total price for Parent(s) with children 4 through 17 years (minimum 3 people). For families with 3 or more children, we offer a 20% discount. There is no charge for children under 4 years of age.