Overview

Cheff's fishing lodge and ranch is located in Montana's beautiful Mission Valley and is nestled at the base of the majestic Mission Mountains. The Cheff Family owns and leases over 10,000 acres at the lodge and in the valley. The view from the lodge is spectacular, you can see ”forever” into the valley and Ninepipes and Kicking Horse reservoirs are in full view. Nothing beats relaxing on the deck of the lodge, watching the sun go down after a day of fishing, canoeing, swimming or horseback riding.

Cheff's fishing lodge also offers guest ranch vacations as well as scenic horse pack trips into Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Mission Mountain Wilderness beginning at the end of June and lasting through the beginning of September. Travel by horseback through some of the most beautiful and rugged country in the United States. Whether you are fly fishing or just enjoying the scenery, these trips are a once in a lifetime experience for the entire family.

Packing season begins in early July, the best time of year for fishing and enjoying the Montana Rocky Mountain wilderness. Several trails lead from Cheff's Ranch to the Mission Range Wilderness, some of the most beautiful and rugged country in the United States, accessible only on foot or horseback. For their packing trips, Cheff’s Ranch uses gentle saddle horses with comfortable saddles fitted to each guest before leaving the ranch.

On the Holland Lake Trail, for example, you’ll be taken up and in about 15 miles and can go several directions either to high alpine camps or by beautiful mountain lakes. When you reach the campsite, you'll want to toss your line into these lakes where rainbow and native cutthroat trout challenge you. The lakes also beckon invitingly to swimmers. Photographers will delight in the memorable pictures that surround them in this natural paradise. From there, travel on to the scenic and excellent fishing of the South Fork of the Flathead River, where several camp locations are available. Here you can layover a day or two, take side trips to Charlette Peak, Pilot Peak, Big Salmon Lake, or just fish the great South Fork of the Flathead River. Another day trip or overnight trip to the world renown Chinese Wall, is one of the favorites, as it is the ultimate in awesome beauty.

Along the trails you are likely to encounter many species of wildlife including mountain goat, bear, deer, elk, martin, rock chuck, badger, chipmunk and many ruffle and blue grouse. Look through the clear mountain air and you may see a majestic eagle in flight.

These trips are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the whole family, yet many people take these trips repeatedly because there is so much to see and do. They are not hurried, and even little ones have much difficulty with the ranch’s gentle horses. Cheff’s camps are spacious, sturdy tents pitched in areas with enough room for privacy from others. Delicious, satisfying meals are served family style.

Cheff's professional staff at the fishing lodge have a common goal: for you to feel comfortable and easy as you enjoy your stay and make your vacation one you won’t soon forget. With over 68 years in the outfitting business and three, going on four, generations of Cheffs working at the ranch, the Cheff Guest Ranch looks forward to providing you with an authentic fishing and ranch vacation that you won’t soon forget.