Take a Journey to Paws Up with Two New Short Films

Point your lens in any direction the next time you visit The Resort at Paws Up, and you’re likely to capture a stunning scene. It’s just that beautiful. But when seen through the eyes of an exceptional filmmaker, the majesty of Montana truly comes to life. Two new short films will take you on a journey you won’t soon forget: Ranch. Island. Resort. by Dan Goldberg and Across the Blackfoot by Stuart Thurlkill.

Ranch. Island. Resort. 

From fog-draped hillsides and a single canoeist plying calm waters to the gentle swirl of whiskey and nightfall setting on a quiet sliver of land, Goldberg’s contemplative video reveals the raw beauty of The Resort in all its glory. “We wanted to capture that serene, kind of ethereal, relaxing feeling Paws Up generates. Whenever I visit, as we land in Missoula, I feel my blood pressure dropping. I wanted this to come across in the video,” Goldberg said.

One scene stands out and demands your attention. “I knew I had to capture the bison as they were running at sunset. It’s a brief moment, but with the dust and the light filtering through, it’s pretty spectacular,” he said. And there’s stunning fly-fishing footage as well that takes the viewer underwater to catch a glimpse of a rainbow trout wiggling away after a catch-and-release. Yet as a former sous chef, Goldberg is a food photographer at heart: “We shot this epic dinner party at the Island Lodge with Executive Chef Sunny Jin. He did a full-on surf and turf thing with seafood paella, tomahawk steaks and desserts—it was chuck wagon dinner meets massive seafood spread.” In all, it’s only two minutes long, but this mini epic film manages to capture the total Paws Up experience.  Watch Ranch. Island. Resort. 

Across the Blackfoot

Allow yourself to be transported back in time to 150 years ago in Thurlkill’s latest opus for Paws Up, Across the Blackfoot. This minute-and-a-half-long film captures the heart and soul of what makes Paws Up a cherished slice of Montana. The vision of steely-eyed wranglers running a herd of horses down to the Blackfoot River and across its churning rapids feels so real because it simply is.

“We shot everything in 4K with all kinds of angles—we had two drones working and a body cam on a wrangler, an underwater camera, some super slo-mo stuff—we even put our iPhones to use,” Thurlkill said.

Because they were filming animals, there was an element of serendipity to it all. “We knew where the horses should cross, and then jump up to the other bank,” Thurlkill said. But editor/assistant Annie Lambiasse, shooting from the water’s edge, got a surprise when the thundering herd unexpectedly broke her way. The result was a very startled camerawoman, but also another great shot that added a moment rarely, if ever, seen on film.

Watch Across the Blackfoot.

3 Most Requested Activities at Paws Up

Horseback Riding The Resort at Paws Up

Take a wild guess at the three most requested activities at The Resort at Paws Up. If you picked fly-fishing, horseback riding, and ATV trail rides, then you are correct—and you should reward yourself with one of the above! These three activities in particular are extremely popular due to the multiple offerings, times, and uniqueness that come from the setting of the resort. Activities Director Mark Houseman says, “Their popularity stems from the fact that these three activities offer a great representation of the Montana way of life. From the world-class fishing to the wide-open exploration of our state, they allow our guests a way to escape busy city life and marvel at the beauty of the Montana landscape. Personally, my favorite is the three-hour ATV tour, as you get to drive deep into the back part of the property, enjoy the thrill of two hill climbs, snap a photo at the best picture spot at Lookout Rock and experience the ever-changing landscape that you experience along the route.”

atv paws up

For our ATV trail rides, guests can choose from a one and a half-, three-, or five-hour excursion. For the first two options, guests explore the woods, tackle hill climbs, take in the picturesque scenery from Lookout Rock and view the beautiful Blackfoot river. On the five-hour ride, guests will explore the woods, and then take the ATVs off-property to Elevation Peak (about 7,000 feet). Once they have completed this climb on the ATVs, guests will hop off for a hike to the top. From there, views are breathtaking, and guests will experience the grandeur that earned Montana its Big Sky State nickname. Post-hike, adventurers head to Garnet, an abandoned-but-intact ghost town where guests will travel back to the 1800s as they check out the saloon, hotel, general store and so much more. Lunch is provided before driving back to the resort.

Paws Up horseback riding

Horses are iconic to Montana, and riding is probably the first activity that crosses the mind when thinking of Montana. The Resort at Paw Up houses 40 horses on-property for all of our equestrian activities. Whether you are have never been in a saddle before or are a riding expert, Paws Up has something for every ability with one-, two- or three-hour trail rides, cattle drives, lessons and more. The Resort’s wrangler will pair guests with a four-legged friend that will be the perfect match for exploring more than 100 miles of wilderness trails. You will pass towering ponderosa pines, whose size and beauty are surpassed only by the views of the distant mountain ranges of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

horseback riding at Paws Up

This year, there are several additions to the equestrian program, including a new evening ride that takes you past our quaint line shack (where you will enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer) to the top of Scout’s Point to take in a signature Montana sunset. Or enjoy a lunch ride to a gorgeous spot in the shade where guests indulge in a Paws Up-style picnic. Kids can participate in lessons at the Saddle Club arena, complete with games, obstacle courses and more, and adult beginners can join instructional group trail rides. For advanced riders, the all-new, three-hour trail ride allows equine enthusiasts to cover terrain that no Paws Up guests have ever traversed. For an authentic taste of Western ranch life, participate in a cattle drive where novice and advanced riders alike saddle up with seasoned ranch hands and drive a herd of cattle across the majestic rolling pastures of the Resort property.

fly fishing Resort at Paws Up

Montana is known for fly-fishing, and Paws Up hosts 10 miles of the Blackfoot River—arguably one of the most famous rivers in which to fly-fish, thanks to the movie “A River Runs Through It.” This gorgeous river flows right through our property, where all of our guided excursions are strictly for fly-fishing. Our guides have fished the surrounding rivers for years and will help you find the best trout fishing holes. At Paws Up, we offer spin rods for guests who are more comfortable with these rods, but only for independent fishing.

fly fishing Paws Up

Also near the resort is the Missouri River—one of the best hot spots for fly-fishing and a treasure trove for trout. This massive river travels approximately 700 miles along the entire state of Montana.

Other options include Bitterroot River—a dry-fly paradise that is famous for 95 percent dry flies and great hatches, which start in mid-March and extend well into October—and the Clark Fork River, the largest river by volume in the state and also one of the longest. The Clark Fork is approximately 310 miles long and is close to the resort. The best fishing on the Clark Fork is found between its origin and the confluence with the Flathead River near Paradise.

Where You Can Learn to Paint with Water and Wine

We love summer workshops, and last month our brand new Wilderness Workshop, Brushes with Greatness, offered participants a chance to paint alongside a true American master in a breathtaking Montana landscape. Artist George Van Hook is renowned for his impressionistic paintings. His five-day “plein air” watercolor workshop was hosted in a variety of inspiring outdoor settings throughout The Resort. Van Hook has exhibited his award-winning works on three continents and has been teaching art and presenting workshops for more than 30 years. Beginning painting at an early age, Van Hook also spent his formative years traveling overseas to study art and copy other artists’ master works at Europe’s legendary museums, including the Louvre.

Mark your calendars for Bottle & Bottega with Stephanie King-Myers and Nick Myers from June 21—26, 2016. One day in March 2009, Bottle & Bottega founder Stephanie King-Myers and her artist husband, Nick Myers successfully convinced a friend with no artistic skills that she could in fact paint, with the right inspiration. So with a glass of wine in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, the friend successfully created her first masterpiece, and the Bottle & Bottega concept was born! In their workshops, King-Myers and Myers offer a variety of art and media experiences, including canvas painting, mosaics, glass painting, live models and more. Now with three young children of their own, they love introducing families to painting so that together they can create lasting memories! Whether you’re the family Rembrandt or struggle drawing stick figures, Bottle & Bottega will bring out your inner artist. No matter what your skill level is, you’ll produce a painting to be proud of. Also, there’s plenty of wine to help get your creative juices flowing. Enjoy painting at inspiring locations on the ranch, some sunset sessions and some alfresco evening sessions at individual luxury camps. There will also be some vino-free sessions at the Kids Corps of Discovery, so family members of all ages will have a chance to express themselves.

National Trail Day: The Best Trails at Paws Up

“Going to the woods is going home.”—John Muir

June 4, 2016, is the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, the country’s largest celebration of trails. The Resort at Paws Up offers more than 30 miles of marked trails for hiking on your own or with a naturalist guide. Choose from a variety of excursions through our 37,000 acres that will allow you to seek quiet, peace, solitude and inspiration. Our guides can offer information about native plants, wildlife and the history of the Blackfoot Valley.

“The top two favorite trails on our property would be the Sunset Trail and Jones Pond Trail through Lubrecht Experimental Forest,” says Justyne Palermo, Resort Reservations Manager at The Resort at Paws Up. “The Sunset Trail follows the Blackfoot River, and then you hike up to Lookout Rock, which provides grand views of the Blackfoot River and Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. The Jones Pond Trail is the perfect hike for wildlife viewing with many visible tracks of elk, deer and bears near the pond. The hike through Lubrecht Experimental Forest is also interesting as it’s a track of land owned by the university, which provides a location for forestry research, resource management and ecosystem science,” says Palermo.

All trails are accessible to all ranch guests and free-of-charge to visit, so don’t miss a chance to explore our rolling hills and expansive meadows.

Six Paws Up Trails Not to Miss

For a quick, easy hike, choose Sacagawea Trail, an easy one-mile hike that is nearest to the Paws Up Village. Another option is the Grizzlyman Fitness Trail—a one-mile course near Spa Town that includes 12 fitness stations. Each station features equipment made from surrounding timber as well as unique challenges, including climbing, balancing, swinging and more. It’s a great way to relish in nature and burn calories at the same time.

Ponderosa Trail is The Resort’s 2.5-mile hike with a slight elevation through Lowland Forest (considered a moderate hike).

Anaconda Trail is four miles long with elevation changes, forest areas and a historic mining area.

Sunset Trail is filled with beauty for three miles as it follows Elk Creek and spans from the Camp to Village.

Jones Pond Trail is 2.5 miles uphill into Lubrecht, and it is considered a moderate to difficult path, more suitable for the avid hiker.

Paws Up: The True American Theme Park

Part of the fun of a vacation for most people is the opportunity to relax and unwind.  Day-to-day life for many people is stressful, and a vacation is the perfect opportunity to “get away.”  Yet year after year, families continue to go to Disneyland and other theme parks and return from their vacation more depleted and stressed than when they left. While vacations at Disneyland may be fun, they are certainly not relaxing.  There is nothing relaxing about waiting in line for up to 2 hours to enjoy a ride that lasts for only ten to twenty minutes.  Adults barely have the patience for that kind of wait, let alone children. Where is the fun in having to meticulously prepare for a vacation so as to avoid the crowds and lines?  Why should you have to read and adhere to an in-depth guide and constant strategic planning to enjoy your vacation?  For that matter, why do many Disneyland guides actually recommend taking a break from your vacation?  Your vacation is supposed to be the break!

At The Resort at Paws Up, a true Montana Ranch all of the planning is taken care of for you. Simply let us know what you want to do and we make it happen. If you would like to spend an afternoon being pampered in Spa Town, we’ll arrange it for you.  And don’t worry, your kids will have a blast, too! Send them on a day of adventure with our Kids Corps of Discovery.  The Kids Corps of Discovery will provide children with plenty of entertainment and wilderness education (your kids will be having so much fun, they won’t even realize they are learning!)  Activities include a petting zoo, a scavenger hunt, swimming, kayak excursions, lessons on the basics of building a fire, and much, much more, all under the watchful eye of our trained and caring staff. You and the kids can convene at the end of the day for a gourmet meal. For memorable days together, the whole family can enjoy activities such as learning how to ride a horse, hot air ballooning over the breathtaking Blackfoot Valley, or canoeing.

Where a Disneyland vacation offers corn dogs, nachos, and frozen hamburgers, or two-star food at a five-star price, at The Resort at Paws Up you can expect fresh, locally sourced ingredients, carefully prepared to showcase the freshness and quality of the cuisine.  In fact, the person preparing your meal can tell you exactly where each vegetable and cut of meat came from. Try posing this question to the Disneyland employee schlepping corn dogs. On second thought, don’t – do you REALLY want to know where that corn dog came from?

Where a Disneyland vacation offers crowds of people crammed into small spaces, The Resort at Paws Up offers guests 37,000 acres of wide-open spaces and big, blue Montana skies.  Step outside of your glamping tent or private home at Paws Up, and take a deep breath of the fresh air, lightly scented by the towering Ponderosa pines, and hear the quiet murmur of the Blackfoot River.  Try to do the same at Disneyland.  And the best part is you won’t need to spend the entire day telling your children not to run off, lest they be lost in the throngs of people.

At the end of the day, when you and your family are exhausted – not from the stress and frustration of a day spent fighting crowds, but from a day chock full of exhilarating activities, you can retire to your luxury accommodations and The Last Best Bed®.  Now how’s that for a vacation?

The Ultimate Picture Book

We’ve brought The Resort at Paws Up to life with our new digital photo book.  For those who like books with a lot of pictures, this is definitely for you.  It’s the next best thing to actually setting foot on our 37,000 acres of pristine Montana wilderness.

Click here to check it out.