Cally Jo (5) - Grandaughter of Larry and Kathy Jones, Owners
The Virgelle Valley Ranch, where the Hitch’n Rail trail rides originate, has been in our family for over 60 years. We run cattle and sheep and raise various crops on over 10,000 acres of land that is situated along the north bank of the Missouri River in the heart of big sky country. We have five miles of riverfront property with the views of the Bears Paw and Highwood Mountain ranges to the east and west of us. The beauty of the scenery is surpassed only by the rich history associated with this part of Montana.
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In the early days, Native Americans used this land for hunting buffalo during the late spring and summer months. There is evidence of teepee encampments at several locations along the bluffs that overlook the river. One area in particular seems to have been a favorite killing or processing site, as evidenced by the numerous arrowhead points that have been found there. During the early part of the 19th century, the famed Corps of Discovery with Lewis and Clark passed this place and noted the timber along the bottoms. During the latter part of the 19th century, steamboats plied the river past our place on their way to Fort Benton, and the world’s innermost port. During the time of early European settlement to the area, the U.S. military built Fort Assiniboine to the north and east of our place, just outside of Havre, MT. Most, if not all, of the construction materials and furnishing for the fort were off-loaded at Coal Banks Landing, located along the riverbank on our place. The old post office building that was used at this landing is located on our ranch. And the famous western artist Charlie Russell sat along the bluffs on our ranch and painted at least one of his popular scenes of buffalo crossing the river as they came down and out of a coulee on the other side.
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We are proud to call this place home and work to keep it the way it has always been. In today’s faster paced world, everyone in our family considers it a refuge for the soul, and we want to share it with others. We invite guests to ride along the riverbanks and across the native prairies and experience first-hand the beauty and openness of this country.
We offer custom horseback riding along the Missouri River in Montana, within the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.
Hourly, daily, and multi-day rates include guided horseback rides, canoe trips, and lodging opportunities on some of the last remaining native prairie lands in the U.S..
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