CATTLE DRIVE VACATIONS

Hello, and welcome to the Dryhead Ranch’s new website. We are a working cattle and guest ranch located in Montana. If you are looking for the genuine artifact, then you-my friend, have found it. This is a vacation you will do over and over. 2026 Dates and Rates will be posted sometime in February.

Mailing Address

1023 Road 17
Lovell, WY 82431

307-548-6688
dryheadranch1898@gmail.com

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CATTLE DRIVES

Our cattle drives trail 50 miles down the old Sioux Trail and assure a real old west experience of moving cattle down a dusty, full of adventure western trail. Riding between the mountains is rugged enough that your riding skills will amaze you and challenging enough that the memory of it will stay with you forever.

307-548-6688

CATTLE DRIVE VACATIONS IN MONTANA

Don’t miss the thrill of a cattle drive. Our week long guest ranch vacation includes: home cooked meals, family atmosphere where kids are welcome, bunkhouse rooms or a private cabin with bathroom, trained cow horses that will make you part of the team, riding instructions, bring a great camera as the scenery is breath taking. Daily riding 5-6 hours a day.

SPRING CATTLE DRIVES

April 27 – May 3rd, 2025
Cattle Drive from Wyoming to Dryhead ranch in Montana.

May 4 – 10, 2025
Cattle Drive from Wyoming to Dryhead ranch in Montana.

May 11 – 17, 2025
Cattle Drive from Wyoming to Dryhead ranch in Montana.

FALL WEANING WEEKS

September 14 – 20, 2025
Gathering cows and calves to vaccinate calves.

September 21 – 27, 2025
Gathering cows and calves to vaccinate calves.

September 28 – October 4, 2025
Gathering cows and calves to vaccinate calves.

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ACCOMMODATIONS DINING FAMILY FUN LEARN MORE

$2,500 per person, plus tax*
$1000 Deposit Due Upon Reservation

BOOK NOW! 307-548-6688

OUR DATES & RATES

CATTLE DRIVES

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SPRING CATTLE DRIVE DATES

May 12 – May 18, 2024
May 19 – May 25, 2024
Cattle Drive from Wyoming to Dryhead ranch in Montana.

FALL CATTLE DRIVE DATES

September 15 – 21, 2024
September 22 – 28, 2024
September 29 – October 5, 2024
Gathering cows and calves to wean calves. Long days big circles.

$2,500 per person
plus tax*
$1000 Deposit Due Upon Reservation

BOOK NOW! 307-548-6688

VACATION AT DRYHEAD RANCH

Dryhead Ranch lays in the middle of the Dryhead canyon at the foot of the Pryor Mountains in southeast Montana. The Bassett family has owned and operated the ranch since 1989 striving to continue the ranching legacy for the past four generations. Iris Bassett and Jennifer operate the working ranch part of the business with the help of Jennifer’s daughter Jessica, and her husband Jake Hahn, and their four children: Maddy, Cassidy, Howdy, and James. Kristen, a second daughter, is the voice who answers the phone in our office and helps you with your reservations and picking which week would work for you the best.

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HORSE DRIVES

Horse drives are the next exciting challenge for a good rider as we move horses from winter pastures in Wyoming to summer pastures in Montana. We also have mare band making, adding a stallion, colt registration, and our fall horse roundup.

307-548-6688

JOIN US ON OUR HORSE DRIVES

Horse drives are a great challenge for a more experienced rider. These vacations at our guest ranch include: one week stay, all meals, accommodations in either our private cabins with an attached bathroom or our bunkhouse rooms, riding instructions, family atmosphere where kids are welcome, and we encourage our guests to bring a great camera on this once in a lifetime vacation. Daily riding 5-6 hours a day.

SPRING HORSE DRIVES

April 13 – 19, 2025
Horse Drive from Wyoming to Dryhead Ranch in Montana.

May 25 – 31, 2025
Adding stallions to mare bands for breeding season.

FALL HORSE DRIVES

October 12 – 18, 2025
Making registration papers and weaning colts from mares.

October 19 – 25, 2025
Horse Drive from Dryhead ranch to Wyoming for winter.

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ACCOMMODATIONS DINING FAMILY FUN LEARN MORE

$2,500 per person, plus tax*
$1000 Deposit Due Upon Reservation

BOOK NOW! 307-548-6688

OUR DATES & RATES

HORSE DRIVES

Select An Option Below For More Information

SPRING HORSE DRIVE DATES

April 14 – 20, 2024
Horse Drive from Wyoming to Dryhead Ranch in Montana.

May 26 – June 1, 2024
Adding stallions to mare bands for breeding season.

FALL HORSE DRIVE DATES

October 13 – 19, 2024
Making registration papers and weaning colts from mares.

October 20 – 26, 2024
Horse Drive from Dryhead ranch to Wyoming for winter.

$2,500 per person,
plus tax*
$1000 Deposit Due Upon Reservation

BOOK NOW! 307-548-6688

RANCH WEEKS

But ranch weeks are the heart and soul of a ranch when all the animals settle on grass for the summer. Roping and branding come first, then rotating cows on pastures, doctoring sick animals, working with young horses and keeping the fencing and strays cattle where they belong gives our cowboys great riding adventures everyday.

307-548-6688

JOIN US ON OUR RANCH WEEKS

What makes our working ranch the best in the working ranch business is the fact that we are real and authentic. We do all of our cow work on horseback and different tasks are mixed into each week. Our days are full of honest work that is not made up or set up for guests to watch. Branding weeks are necessary to prove ownership of our calves born that year. Moving cattle to spring pastures and rotating pastures during the summer months keep our calves growing and our grass well managed.

Bringing colts to the ranch headquarters for riding and training. Weaning colts in the fall and making registration papers. Fall gathering of all the cows and calves to wean the calves and pregnancy test the cows. Each month of the spring, summer and fall have important work to be done. We are a family owned ranch and the family works together to take care of our guests and cattle.

$2,500 per person, plus tax*
$1000 Deposit Due Upon Reservation

BOOK NOW! 307-548-6688

Select An Option Below For More Information

ACCOMMODATIONS DINING FAMILY FUN LEARN MORE

LATE SPRING

May 18 – 24, 2025
Gather cows and calves, sort pairs, brand calves.

May 25 – 31, 2025
Gather cows and calves, sort pairs, brand calves.

June 1 – 7, 2025 • June 8 – 14, 2025
Gather cows and calves, sort pairs, brand calves.

June 15 – 21, 2025
Finish branding, gather and move cows to mountain pasture.

June 22 – 28, 2025
Riding fence, doctoring for sickness, rotating pastures.

SUMMER

July 20 – 26, 2025
Rotating pastures, doctoring for sickness, riding fence.

July 27 – August 2, 2025
Doctoring for sickness, rotating pastures, riding fence.

August 24 – 30, 2025
Doctoring for sickness, checking water sources, fencing.

August 31 – September 6, 2025
Begin outside riding. Bringing back cattle, putting out strays.

FALL

September 7 – 13, 2025
Gathering cows to ranch for weaning. Putting out strays.

October 5 – 11, 2025
Putting cows on fall pasture, looking for unweaned calves.

OUR DATES & RATES

RANCH WEEKS

Ranch weeks are the heart and soul of a ranch when all the animals settle on grass for the summer. Roping and branding come first, then rotating cows on pastures, doctoring sick animals, working with young horses and keeping the fencing and strays cattle where they belong gives our cowboys great riding adventures everyday.

Select An Option Below For More Information

LATE SPRING DATES

June 2 – 8, 2024
Gather cows and calves, sort pairs, brand calves.

June 9 – 15, 2024
Gather cows and calves, sort pairs, brand calves.

June 16 – 22, 2024
Finish branding, gather and move cows to mountain pasture.

June 23– 29, 2024
Riding fence, doctoring for sickness, rotating pastures.

SUMMER RANCH WEEK DATES

July 21 – 27, 2024
Rotating pastures, doctoring for sickness, riding fence.

July 28 – August 3 ,2024
Doctoring for sickness, rotating pastures, riding fence.

August 25 – 31,2024
Doctoring for sickness, checking water sources, fencing.

FALL RANCH WEEK DATES

September 1 – 7, 2024
Begin outside riding. Bringing back cattle, putting out strays.

September 8 – 14, 2024
Gathering cows to ranch for weaning. Putting out strays.

October 6 – 12, 2024
Putting cows on fall pasture, looking for unweaned calves.

$2,500 per person
plus tax*
$1000 Deposit Due Upon Reservation

BOOK NOW! 307-548-6688

ACCOMMODATIONS

We have lots different options to choose from when booking your vacation with us including private cabins, private rooms with queen beds, and a large room that can sleep families or groups. We also provide 3 home cooked meals a day.

307-548-6688

ACCOMMODATIONS ON OUR RANCH

Our vacations are all inclusive with meals and housing provided. Enjoy your rest after a full day of being a cowboy in one of our 5 private cabins or 7 private rooms all decorated with a western theme. We also provide our guests with 3 home cooked meals a day with snacks and drinks available throughout the day in the cook house.

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FAQ'S WHAT TO BRING ACCOMMODATIONS

BOOK NOW! 307-548-6688

RANCH HORSES

Dryhead Ranch has been raising foundation bred American Quarter Horses for over 40 years. Joe Bassett loved a good cow horse and his dream was to produce colts that loved working cattle. That same love and passion of horses still lives today in his grand daughter and son in law, Jessica and Jake Hahn. Our mares run in open grassland meadows and raise their colts here on the ranch.

Our most popular weeks are the weeks we bring in the mares and colts and either add the stallion for the summer or wean the colts in the fall when it is time to go back to Wyoming. Come watch them break and train these beautiful horses or just come ride one and feel the spirit of this beautiful Dryhead land and its amazing horses.

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SEE WHAT OUR GUESTS HAD TO SAY ABOUT US!

One of my favorite images from MT last summer at the Dryhead Ranch was chosen as the Opening Shot in this month’s February 2020 issue of Western Horseman magazine! Watching James ride Yeller and rope his calf was truly one of the highlights of my trip. The determination and seriousness on his face is priceless! Lol Good thing two grown cowboys were nearby to help out.

-Pam Gabriel Photography

The future belongs to the few that are still willing to get their hands dirty. Thanks to all the farmers and ranchers for keeping us well fed.

-PhyllisBurchettPhoto

So excited to open the May edition of Western Horseman magazine April 2020. It be honest, during all of the craziness that is currently happening, it’s been very hard for me to stay positive about my small business. The opening shot couldn’t have come at a better time for me! Stay healthy and happy, my friends! I hope to photograph you all in the coming months.

-Hilary Bishop

Well, its back to reality and back to work for me today! I’m still dreaming of the aroma of sage in the pastures in Montana and the thundering hooves.

-Roam Photos

I got to photograph some colt starting while out in Montana. It was amazing to watch the way they communicated with their young horses and Jake and Matthew were kind enough to share stories and technique with us while calmly working with each horse! I’m sharing a couple of the most exciting moments here, but all in all it was a pretty calm affair.

-Fast Horse Photography

14 years ago and still thinking about my experience everyday. Unforgettable.

-Camille Brit

A place to meet old and new friends. Every year I learn a little more about the work of the cowboys, a little more about how to handle horses. It’s a place that decelerates. All work is done in cow time. After the holiday is before the holiday. So I look forward to next year

-Andreas Will, Germany

Such incredible memories of my week on the ranch. A long time dream of mine and I just don’t have words for the “wow” moments I had on that trip. Hearing the cowboys bring in the horses that first morning, galloping to catch up to and turn the strays, the stars at night, to name a few! Thank you for the memories I will forever cherish

-Maureen Knibloe

Solitude. Peace. Adventure. Friendship. Great food. As close to the real West as could be. Treat that childhood cowboy wanna-be to something special.

-Jimmy Addis

I had a great time at the Dryhead Ranch. I loved my time in the saddle experiencing Montana and getting to know the family. It left me the best kind of tired, ready for a good nights sleep after a delicious dinner. I’d like to think that stay gave me the clarity of mind to make the best decision of my life…to move out to Montana and enjoy riding my horse surrounded by it’s beauty every day.

-Maggie Collister

There is no place better to see beautiful scenery and enjoy the cowboy lifestyle. Every time I go, I learn and grow thanks to the outstanding team at Dryhead. Thank you all so very much!

-Ken Fisher

For me it was the most beautiful travel I’ve never done!!! It was a dream since I am 10 years, and I really hope I could come and see all of us one more time…

-Isabelle Isa

Still my favorite place on earth! I dream about it every night.. My feet itch to get back only I will probably never leave again.. From the feeling of family epic horses and a once in a lifetime experience.. Nothing could ever top the Dryhead. It healed my soul in so many ways I couldn’t begin to explain..All I can say is thank you and hopefully see you all real soon.

-Caty Greve

I can honestly say that this was one of the best vacations I’ve ever been on. Great food, great staff and some of the best scenery you could ask for. I’ll be back, and it won’t be fast enough. Jen was great in getting us started and getting us anything we needed during my stay. Jake was great with me while working with the cattle and horses as a novice rider, and the food was the best. Loved being Tony’s right hand man when paired up while searching and pushing the cattle. Jake and Jess have the nicest kids and they love to show you how to be a better cowboy. And a special thanks to Howdy for giving me a great lesson on how to rope, much appreciated. Thanks to you all for a very special stay at your ranch. See you all soon!

-Kyle Gottschalk

Sore muscles and a dirty face has never felt so magnificent! Having the privilege of joining the ranch family, building relationships, working hard, and experiencing the majesty all around, was truly an unforgettable experience.

-Monique Gilbert

Friendly welcoming and had a fabulous time on this true cowboy hands on experience with fabulous horses. Good homemade food set to your dietary requirements. Clean and homey accommodations. We felt like family and have returned for a second time. Hopefully we get to go again.

-Michelle Robinson

This is a great place with great people—and the real deal, nothing fancy, which greatly contributes to why I keep coming back. It doesn’t matter whether you are with a big group of people, or the only guest, which, by some strange coincidence, I have practically been the only guest most of the times I have been to Dryhead. The scenery is amazing. And you can be sure of a lot of riding on good horses. Unfortunately, this year’s trip had to be postponed—it would have marked ten years since the first time I came to Dryhead. And every time it has been like coming home!

-Ebba Weigelt, Netherlands

Once in a lifetime experience never to be forgotten. You really do become a part of the family.

-Pat Hofmann

I just came home from a week at the Dryhead Ranch and wanted to thank Iris, Jennifer, Jackie, and Jake for the greatest vacation I have ever had! I have always wanted to see Montana and this
experience was more than I ever hoped for. The bunkhouse, food, horses, scenery and hospitality shown by this wonderful family is something I will always fondly remember. I came home with answers and this really did change my life in a positive way. Thanks so much to everyone!

– Jenny Sewell, November 15, 2010

Third time and keeps getting better! A big thanks to Jake, Sky, Jennifer, Jackie, Cannon, Suzie, and everyone else at the Dryhead for making my third trip to the ranch so much fun. We really got to experience a little bit of everything last week! The other guests and I really got along and seemed like had I had known them for years instead of just a few days. The warm family atmosphere at the ranch goes a long way towards making that happen. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to make our cowboy dreams come true!

– Pat Hofmann, June 30, 2011