It happens every day, yet it never gets old. We’re talking about the nightly wrangle. It’s a big hit at the ranch as the herd races from the corral, pass the lodge, across the bridge and into Turpin Meadow.

Guests and visitors love watching this, often calling out to their favorite horse. It starts off with soft hoof beats that build into thunderous rumble as the ground trembles beneath your feet. Enjoy these photos captured by Emily Bulla, who works at the lodge. Even to our ranch staff, the evening wrangle is a must-see event. Come experience and feel the excitement for yourself!

Twenty-eight rugged miles north of the ranch you enter the Thorofare. This is one of the most remote areas of the lower 48 and the beginning of the Upper Yellowstone River watershed. Here, the mountains explode skyward on either side of the river as it flows toward Yellowstone Lake.

This land was once known as the best cutthroat trout fishery in the world. Today, it is the epicenter of an epic battle that will ultimately determine the fate of one of the purest strains of trout.

“Words cannot describe the beauty of this place and what it takes to get there,” said Jay Allen, a renowned fishing guide who has returned to the ranch. “But to make the journey and soak in the history and import of what is happening with this fishery is like no experience you’ve ever had.”

What Once Was

The Thorofare is the cutthroat trout’s highway as the fish travel from Yellowstone Lake upriver to spawn. Forty years ago, the Thorofare teemed with anglers who made the journey to see for themselves what it was like to cast their fly rods into the river and do battle with a native cutthroat trout.

Sometime in the mid-1980s lake trout were introduced to Yellowstone Lake. These ravenous fish, which can grow up to 40 pounds, decimated the cutthroat trout population with its insatiable appetite. The population of lake trout swelled from 130,000 in 1998 to 800,000 by 2012.

How the Wildfires of 1988 Affected Fish Populations

It wasn’t long after the introduction of the lake trout that Yellowstone National Park experienced a summer of wildfires that grew to historic proportions. The first fire began on June 14 with subsequent fires sparking into September.

The fires consumed 500,000 acres outside the park and another 740,000 inside the park. The debris left behind in the Thorofare washed into the Yellowstone River creating silt that badly disrupted the spawning ground of the cutthroat.

The growing population of trout lake and aftermath of the wildfires devasted the spawning rates of the cutthroat. Biologists counted more than 70,000 fish passing through Clear Creek on the way to spawn in 1978, which was the peak. That number was reduced to less than 600 by the mid-2000s.

Bringing Cutthroat Trout Back

For more than a decade now, biologists and fishing enthusiasts have been working to bring back the cutthroat. For years, commercial fisherman from the Great Lakes area have been hired to spend the summer catching and killing more than 300,000 lake trout each year.

The effort is starting to show results as the cutthroat are returning to the native spawning grounds.

See for Yourself

The healthier runs of the native have also meant a return of the fishery for anglers willing to make the trek to this hallowed ground. It’s not uncommon for many who are fly fishing to catch and release the natives to help the recovery effort.

We are lucky enough to be one of the few outfitters that have a permit to fish in the Thorofare. This is our most exclusive offering due to the rugged journey. Our third and final trip to the area has a few slots open. Allen, who oversees the fly-fishing program at the ranch, will be the lead guide for this rare adventure. If this is something you’d be interested in, we strongly encourage you to call as soon as possible to reserve your spot on this historic trip.

The Return – Trailer
KGB Productions
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We’re in our annual transition at the ranch from winter to summer as we put away the cold-weather gear and ramp up for the warmer activities our guests love. But we’re not the only ones making changes based on the season.

Each spring marks the start of the summer migration for elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bison and other members of the ungulate species in Wyoming. These creatures are leaving their winter feeding grounds for the more lush habitat found at higher elevations.

The journey can be up to 150 miles, traversing public and private lands across steep mountain passes.

The Wyoming Migration Initiative overseen by the University of Wyoming has undertaken multiple research projects to learn more about migration patterns to enhance conservation of travel corridors.

Red Desert Herd

Wildlife biologist Hall Sawyer discovered the longest recorded mule deer migration when his research tracked a herd from the Red Desert to the high mountain slopes of the Hoback Basin, which is about two hours southeast of the ranch.

This 150-mile trek requires the deer to cross several highways, swim across lake and river crossings and get over, under or around more than 100 fences.

Elk of Yellowstone

The elk you see during a summer visit to Yellowstone National Park are not year-round residents. Instead, they are members of six to eight populations that come to the park each summer from winter locales in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

They are part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and their abundance help sustain a varied group of carnivores, scavengers and pump tens of millions of dollars into gateway communities.

Migration Patterns

Years of research by the Wyoming Migration Initiative has amassed reams of data. But that information didn’t do much to tell a complete story of the travels.

That changed when the University of Wyoming and cartographers from the University of Oregon collaborated to use that data to recreate rich tales of the miles traveled.

“Wildlife Migrations: Atlas of Wyoming’s Ungulates” is a collection of maps, charts photos and other visual data to tell the story of the seasonal movements of mule and whitetail deer, pronghorn, elk, bison moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

Know the Story

Whether your fly-fishing, horseback riding, hiking or just hanging out at the ranch, there’s a good chance you’re going to see ungulates in the wild. You’ll have a better understanding of what it took for these animals to reach their summer destination and how they survive. It’s another reason why a visit to the ranch is special.

Spring is all about new beginnings and we are embracing that symbolism as we get ready for summer by completely revamping several of our adventures, including fly-fishing.

You can still meander outside your cabin to the banks of the Buffalo Fork River and cast away, but we’ve got so much more for anglers this year. Overnight trips in the Teton Wilderness and horseback rides to secluded fishing holes are just a few of the new options to consider when you’re booking your summer visit.

Plus, our guided fishing offerings are all-inclusive. Your fishing gear, including quality Orvis equipment, waders, and flies, snacks and beverages are included in our Walk & Wade packages. A pre-trip, one-hour casting lesson is also available for an additional cost for newcomers to the sport and those who want to knock off the rust and get a few expert pointers.

We’ve also expanded the fisheries you’ll visit beyond the Buffalo Fork River to include Pacific Creek, Spread Creek and Blackrock Creek, areas that were recently were named as Top 10 fly-fishing destinations in Wyoming.

“We really wanted to expand the breadth of fishing offerings for our guests this year to really highlight the beauty of the area and the fisheries,” said Ron Stiffler, the ranch’s general manager. “We think we’ve put together a program that truly offers something for everyone.”

Walk & Wade

The full and half-day, Walk and Wade options are what we consider classic fishing at the ranch. These packages are designed for two anglers with the option to add a third. This small group private setting ensures our experienced guide can give each guest the personalized service that is our trademark.

Each trip is different because our guides will determine the fishing spot based on that day’s conditions.

Horseback Walk & Wade

It doesn’t get more western than strapping your fishing gear onto your saddle and heading out for a day of fishing on the Buffalo Fork or Snake Rivers. You’ll cast into blue-ribbon waters teeming with native cutthroat trout. Then, take a break from fishing to enjoy lunch along the shore trading secrets and stories with your companions.

Yellowstone Walk & Wade

Follow our guide into the iconic park where you’ll explore the rivers and creeks where the alkaline levels are higher due to the geothermal activity. These conditions nurture a healthy habitat for seven species of game fish, including brown and rainbow trout, as well as mountain whitefish and grayling.

Teton Wilderness Overnight

We are especially excited to be offering new overnight fishing trips into the Teton Wilderness. You’ll be chaperoned by our guides and wranglers as you traverse the land by horseback to isolated fishing spots where camp will be set up.

Each day during your two- to five-day trip, you will ride your sure-footed steed through rugged scenery to the banks of a wild river where you will trade your cowboy boots for waders. After a full day of adventure, come back to camp where your authentic mountain man of a guide will prepare a full meal over a fire. As the sun sets and stars come out, rest your head on a pillow in a well-appointed spring-bar tent. Repeat as many times as necessary to relax, restore and put your senses back in order.

Ranch Overnight

Think of this as the ultimate all-inclusive fishing package. Your room, activities, meals and other amenities are included. The ranch will serve as home base where each day you’ll venture out to that day’s best location for fishing. It might Pacific Creek, Blackrock Creek or one of the multiple locations inside Yellowstone.

You’ll return each day to your cabin or chalet, get cleaned up and enjoy a three-course Chef’s dinner in the lodge.