The most remote guest ranch in the lower 48

Located on a remote inholding in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, The Darwin Ranch provides easy access to the Forest lands and the adjoining Gros Ventre Wilderness. Drawing inspiration from safari lodges of East Africa, they offer unparalleled experiences and hospitality at their secluded oasis.

Here, you will find a herd of horses dotting a spectacular green river valley amid a collection of 100-year-old cabins. You can spend the day riding and hiking across mountain ridges without a soul for miles in any direction. You might wet a line or settle into an afternoon with a book. Savor extraordinary meals prepared by their farm-to-table kitchen that sources directly from their family farm. Gather for cocktails on the porch of the main lodge overlooking the twists and turns of the Gros Ventre River, or watch the sunset while soaking in their wood-fired hot tub. 

The Darwin offers you the freedom to make the adventure your own; the best food that the West can present: fresh, local, organic, homemade, and delicious; and dedicated service that quietly assures that your experience is unforgettable. 

The lodge is the hub of the ranch, with the kitchen, dining room, a cozy piano bar, a spacious living room, a light-filled lounge, and a porch overlooking the river. Guests gather inside by the fire or on the porch for morning coffee until the bell rings for a hearty ranch breakfast. During the day, the living room is a peaceful spot for settling into a good book, immersing oneself in an art project, diving into a board game, or enjoying a cup of tea. Outside the lodge is a beautiful wood-fired sauna and hot top, perfect for relaxing after a quiet afternoon or a long ride. Evenings at the lodge bring a cocktail hour to recount the day's thrills, followed by family-style dinner, conversation by the fire, and perhaps some music and dancing.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Enjoy the wild on your own terms from the comfort of their welcoming and intimate accommodation. Settle into their hand-built log cabins whose modern style blends gracefully into the bones of 100-year-old structures. Enjoy the timeless comforts of their cozy beds with crisp sheets & down pillows, wood-burning stoves for chilly nights, private baths, and ranch-generated electricity.

The Cabins

Their three free-standing cabins are outfitted with wood-burning stoves, a queen bed and a twin daybed, a screened porch, and a newly renovated bathroom with a shower. They are spacious enough for a family and can accommodate an additional cot.

Spruce - their most secluded cabin: perched on a wooded hill, it offers spectacular views of the valley. With a stunning porch, you can enjoy your morning cup of coffee or stargaze at night in solitude. The interior is bright and cozy—the embodiment of rustic comfort. 

Moose - stands at the southern edge of the cluster with a spectacular view up the valley. It offers a spectacular view of Sportsman’s Ridge and the Gros Ventre River, and the front porch lets you keep an eye on the main meadow.

Deer - set on the banks of Kinky Creek and feels a world away. Its porch looks out over the babbling creek to the east, with a perfect view of the grazing horses, and offers solitude.

The Lodge Loft

The Lodge Loft sleeps four and is above the dining room, bar, and kitchen. With new soundproofing on the floor and walls, you can be close to the action while enjoying peace and quiet. Skylights bathe the room in sunshine and allow you to stargaze from bed. The main room has one queen bed and one twin daybed, and there is a twin bed in a small adjacent room. The back hallway leads to the bathroom, with a newly added shower, and a balcony overlooking the main meadow. 

The Rooms

The Elk Cabin has four individual rooms under one roof. The two rooms that face north, toward the Lodge, are Elk Creek and Elk Meadow, which share a large screen porch. The two rooms that face south are Pronghorn Creek and Pronghorn Meadow; each has a wood stove, a bath with a shower, and a small private corner porch. Each room sleeps two, and we give priority booking of Elk Creek & Meadow to groups of four.

Elk Creek & Elk Meadow - two rooms booked together

Pronghorn Creek & Pronghorn Meadow - two rooms booked separately

The Willow Room - opens onto the main meadow, and has a queen bed, a sunny front deck, and a bath with a shower.

FOOD

As guests explore their isolated oasis, they create dishes that wander the natural flavors of the landscape and offer a lasting sensory experience. Their menus are healthy, made from scratch, vegetable-forward, varied, and casual—and they reflect the bounty of the summer season. Their cooks are experienced, imaginative, and inspired by chefs and traditions from around the world. 

EXPERIENCES

Hiking - World-class hiking is accessible directly from their porch, whether you desire a simple sojourn across the meadow or a day-long endeavor. Trails from the ranch lead to remote peaks, glacial lakes, and alpine meadows, taking you over hidden mountain passes and roaring rivers. The Gros Ventre Range has clear hiking routes up nearly all the high peaks that can be undertaken either entirely on foot or in combination with a horseback ride. 

Horseback Riding - They offer guided rides that immerse you in the surrounding wilderness that range from several-hour jaunts to entire days. For beginners, they have a number of placid, easy-going horses, and they will teach you the basics of handling your steed. More advanced riders will have opportunities to move along as they set off for far-flung alpine lakes and peaks. They will help you plan your days so you are as challenged as you wish to be.

Fly Fishing -  There is fantastic fishing at their doorstep in the river that flows beside the lodge, and they also offer day trips to high mountain lakes and rivers by foot or by horseback. One can fish for miles in either direction, and it is a rarity to encounter others. The rivers and streams are fished by wading, with temperatures that permit wet wading throughout the entirety of the season.

Floating - A leisurely float down the Gros Ventre might include fishing, swimming, or napping in the sunshine. They will pack boats upriver on horseback and let you float your way back to the ranch. They have a number of inflatable tubes and kayaks, whitewater kayaks, and PFDs.

Wilderness Camp/Camping - Immerse yourself in the singular and beautiful solitude of the Gros Ventre Wilderness with their comfortable and fully-supported camp set up at the edge of a large meadow beside a towering waterfall. If you crave an adventurous romantic getaway or want a basecamp for further exploration, their Upper Falls Camp will afford you the opportunity to see practically unexplored sections of the Gros Ventre Range while enjoying great food, high-quality walled tents, and comfortable cots with foam mattresses.

At a Glance: