Veering off the main road and hitting the long gravel road leading into the valley, we were greeted by rolling hills framed by snow-capped mountains and filled with grazing cattle and wildflowers. We added a good hour onto our arrival time simply from stopping to take in the incredible scenery and wildlife along the creeks and West Boulder River; we even watched an osprey fly off with dinner from the river.

When we finally pulled up to Ellison Ranch, Kent invited us in and we shared a drink and discussed the different camp site options. Since it was getting late, we decided to set up our tent on a closer spot next to the West Boulder River and "Ted's beach," named after his son.
We hit up Holly's Road Kill Saloon (a cool spot a couple miles away) with Kent for dinner, and he gave us a tour of the other incredible spreads in the valley; his neighbors including a well-known actor, a former anchorman, a Hollywood stunt man, and an author to name a few.

In the morning we planned to photograph Kent and a few others as they moved cattle from one field to another. When we met for coffee, we learned that plans had changed, and Kent offered to give us a tour of the ranch. We hopped in the gator and my pup Dylan ran along behind us with Kent's cow dog (and her new best friend), Niña. We stopped at our next camp spot on a ridge overlooking the valley, went through the fields where some of his cattle were grazing, and went up to a vista where we looked out on seven different mountain ranges and the Yellowstone River; it was absolutely breathtaking.

After the tour, we were lucky enough to be invited to move cattle with Kent and two other cowboys, which was a dream come true for both Branno and myself (neither of us having extensive experience with horses or cattle). We rode through fields of wildflowers with Kent as our incredibly patient and gracious guide.

Immediately after, he gave us a tour of the old homestead where Ellison Ranch began and where Kent's mother-in-law grew up with her 10 siblings. A tiny, one-room school house built in 1910 still stands next to the larger home that was added on in 1918. The buildings are rich with history and filled with gems such as an old phonograph record player and one of the first maytag gas engine washing machines.

Later that night we hiked up to the ridge we visited earlier, set up camp, and woke up to the sweet smell of sagebrush and the sound of cattle in the distance.

What an incredible first Hipcamp experience. We can't say enough good things about Kent, who is a wealth of knowledge and life experiences, and his stunning property tucked away in the mountains. We can't wait to go back.

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Cooney Reservoir State Park, Montana

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