Spend the summer creating an unforgettable guest experience while working with a great team, on the border of Yellowstone National Park.
Founded in 1922, the Elkhorn Ranch is one of the few remaining traditional dude ranches where outdoor activities are the focus each day. We are a family-oriented guest ranch with guests of all ages enjoying time with their friends, new and old, without sacrificing the very special feeling of shared family time.
Just a mile outside of Yellowstone Park and surrounded by the Gallatin National Forest and Wilderness.
About Elkhorn Ranch
Our guest season runs mid-June to mid-September. The ideal applicant would be available from mid-May (June 1st at the latest) to mid-September (wranglers must be able to start work in mid-May). We will have a limited number of positions available for college students who need to return to school in mid to end of August. A small number of crew members will be asked to stay until mid-October. Please include the dates you are available in your application. We are not currently hiring for any year-round positions.
Dates and Details:
Start Date Range: May 18 - May 26, 2025 | Start of Season: June 15, 2025 | End of Season: September 12, 2025
Post Season runs until mid-Oct with limited positions.
We do ask that all crew can stay at least until August 23th.
Our guest weeks are 6-night stays that run from Sunday to Saturday. All crew receives at least one day off per week during the guest season and weekends off in the pre and post-season. When filling out your application, please be sure to be accurate on the dates you would like to come, and when you would have to leave.
*** INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: We are only able to hire international students with a J-1 visa. ***
Please read through the entire job description(s) before applying. We appreciate your interest and patience as we look through applications. We’re a small team of managers so please allow up to 2 weeks for us to review your application. If you need to reach out with any questions, please email work@elkhornranchmontana.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
If you see "POSITION FILLED," that means the role has been filled for the season. However, you are still welcome to submit an application and we will contact you if anything changes.
The Employee Experience
The success of our ranch is a direct result of the cooperation and enthusiasm of our crew. Each week, ranch guests comment on what a wonderful crew we have, and we are very proud of our employees. We work as a team and we expect you to be a team player. You will have specific job responsibilities, and there will be things you are asked to do beyond the realm of your regular duties. There is no such thing as “not my job”. We expect all employees to pitch in wherever needed. At all times, we are taking care of people, livestock, and land. We are committed to the safety of every ranch guest and employee.
Working and living together may be different than any arrangement you have had before. It requires all employees to work hard at getting along. We do our best to respect your privacy, and expect all employees to respect each other’s privacy.
Working on a dude ranch is not your typical 40 hour work week. You will have one day off each week and be able to participate in guest activities when available. You will usually work a half day on Saturday unless we have 2-week guests. Please do not apply if you’re not comfortable working long hours.
Ideal Candidate
Our crew often tells us that working at Elkhorn is one of the best experiences of their lives! Last year, 70% of our crew returned from the previous summer. During your time at Elkhorn, you’ll meet amazing people from all over the world and often leave with lifelong friends. Our 30 person crew is passionate about the outdoors and genuinely enjoys working with people. The ideal candidates for Elkhorn are team-players, self-motivated, hardworking, responsible, teachable, patient, and kind. Working and living with the same people can be difficult, so open communication with crew and managers is key throughout the summer. During your summer at Elkhorn, you’ll work hard but enjoy a fun and rewarding experience that you’ll never forget!
Room and Board
All crew is provided room and board. You are likely to expect shared housing but not a bunk bed situation. The crew gets three meals a day plus any leftovers are available anytime. We serve the same food for crew and guests to make it easier on our kitchen
Laundry facilities are also available on the ranch with detergent provided at no cost.
Employee Perks
The ranch provides room and board in addition to a competitive salary & tips. The crew is encouraged to take advantage of ranch activities when schedules allow. Besides amazing horseback riding, there are unlimited hiking trails and great fly-fishing.
Getting Here and Getting Around
The best airport for getting to the ranch is in Bozeman Montana. The ranch is roughly an hours drive south through the Gallatin Canyon
While we do recommend having a vehicle, it is not a necessity by any means.
For Fun
When not working, the crew is welcome to join rides on their day off. During your time off you can enjoy all the ranch has to offer. A lot of crew like to go camping on their days off, as well as on day trips around the Yellowstone area. This is a beautiful area to take advantage of hiking, fishing, and exploring Yellowstone Park.
Big Sky, Montana is only a 20 minute drive north of the ranch and Bozeman, Montana is a little over and hour away.
How to Apply
Please follow the link provided and fill out our online application on our website!
Contact Info
- Casey & Spencer
- work@elkhornranchmontana.com
- (406) 995-4291
- www.elkhornranchmontana.com
