Vacation Rentals by Owner

At least as good as promised

Guest: April L. (Lancaster, PA)
Date of Stay: 07/03/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

The photos, while accurate, do not do justice to the house, setting and environment. The combination of the three are wonderful. We were very comfortable and found the kitchen well equipped for home cooked meals. The house is remote and we liked it that way. Unfortunately we found the river to be quite high (early July) due to extraordinary runoff making it unsafe to wade. Worked with a great guide (Kurt Rausch 406 369-2873) to float the West Fork and caught some beautiful trout. Beyond fishing there are a number of great hikes in the area. We did Trapper Peak and Little Rock Creek Lake. No hesitations in recommending The Riverhouse!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

River Side Relaxing

Guest: Str8 Casting (Bellevue, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/07/11 Review Submitted: 04/12/11

Great home on the east fork! House was very clean and had lots of books and games for entertainment. BBQ on the deck while spotting big game across the river or wade right in and catch a cutty. Keith (owner) was very helpful and the three of us enjoyed the house very much. Everything you need from towels, washer/dryer to cook wear. Spring weather was somewhat unpredictable but the house made our stay pleasant.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Stay!

Guest: Rich (Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/09/10

This was our 2nd stay at the Riverhouse. As with the first time, we really enjoyed our stay. The house is great and deck is even better. The fishing near the house is good in both directions by walking or driving just a few minutes. We fished the East Fork 10 miles up from Sula as well as the East Fork at the house and just up the road past the campground. Also fished the West Fork near the dam and fished the main Bitterroot near Darby. In my opinion both the East and West Forks offer better fishing and more solitude than the main Bitterrroot. The biggest fish caught during our trip was just downstream from the house. We also took a day trip over to Rock Creek and had a great time catching fish and watching moose. Each night was topped off by sitting on the deck, discussing the ones that got away, watching for falling stars and wishing the trip wasn't going to end.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

WV river bum

Guest: Dave (Parkersburg)
Date of Stay: 07/23/10 Review Submitted: 08/12/10

Everything was just like was presented in the add. Very nicely decorated, spacious, comfortable and we slept to the sound of the babbling East Fork. Fly fishing was very good near the house and upstream and the House is a convenient base for numerous float trips on the Bitterroot.. Darby was closeby and had a great fly shop and pizza shop. We would not hesitate to recommend the River House and would love to have a return trip.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

good/bad

Guest: wd (eugene,or)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/23/10

GOOD.. wonderful home, great layout/furnishings, bird watching paradise, satellite TV for sports junkies, NOT SO GOOD.. nowhere to walk ( except in the water) river bank overgrown, private property, neighbor close on one side, tractor,gravel storage on the other...

Owner response:The highlights of the Riverhouse are the closeness to the river, relaxing or dining on the deck with the magnificent river and mountain views, the cathedral windows facing the river and mountains in the great room, the views from the master bedroom and 2nd bedroom, the layout of the house, the furnishings, the quality of all of the kitchen supplies, bedding etc; the fishing, and the proximity to everything else in the Bitterroot Valley. By definition a healthy river in the Bitterroot has to be "overgrown". A river without growth on the riverbank would be a very sterile river. Four of the pictures on this site show the riverbank and depict exactly what the East Fork is – a healthy river environment. The neighbors are close by wide open Montana standards. With that said, they are retired with no kids and it is doubtful you will ever hear or see them. There is a six foot tall fence between our property and the neighbors. Like most Montana rivers, the river downstream from us is private property. Starting at our property line, upstream from the house, it is public land for 5 miles. Of course when you stay in Montana the entire river under the high river mark is public and the East Fork is not a big deep river. That means that, in other than high water times, you can wade up and down the East Fork at the Riverhouse all you want. I can understand someone saying there is no place to walk. This is not the place to stay if you want to stroll along a sidewalk or country road or a river in the city with a paved path in the evening. It is the place to stay if you want to have a relaxing dinner (maybe a BBQ), riverside - on the deck - with a glass of wine or a beer while listening to the river and looking for wildlife across the river and on the mountainside. Or maybe, like others reviewing the Riverhouse you want to hop in the car for a leisurely drive to spot the abundant wildlife. Or maybe you just want to throw a line in the river as the sun goes down. With that said, if you are at all adventurous there are incredible hiking opportunities. Go upstream either along the river or on the road. Take your time. Wander around. Follow the same paths the wildlife uses. There is a wonderful hiking trail about 1/2 mile away up Warm Springs road and many other hiking trails close by. In addition, if you walk, or drive, up Hwy 93 about a ¼ mile there is a bridge over the river.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Majestic

Guest: fly guy (Medical Lake, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/24/10 Review Submitted: 07/23/10

the home was definitely a home away from home, very inviting and comfortable. We had six adults and two small children at the home, yet the home was so spacious we were able to have more than enough elbow room. The view and solitude were unmatched anywhere we have vacationed before. Within a few miles of the home we saw so many amazing animals of the bitterroot valley. Among the creatures we observed making their home in this valley: elk, antelope, sand hill cranes, big horn sheep, a mink, deer, prairie dogs, rabbits, Lewis woodpeckers, cedar waxwings, and even a skunk. The river was only a few feet from the deck and cast such a calming nature on the experience. We highly recommend a visit to this little paradise. We plan a return trip ourselves.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

amazing get away

Guest: fly guy (Medical Lake, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/24/10 Review Submitted: 07/23/10

We stayed at the riverhouse for four very relaxing, adventurous days. The fishing was slow due to heavy rains and spring runoff, June is always a gamble, but that didn't seem to matter to anyone. The home was spacious enough four the three couples and two small children that went, a beautiful home and setting. It is so nice to just bring food and everything else is supplied. One day while relaxing on the deck we witnessed a mink across the river searching for food, and less than a mile away we spotted a herd of mountain sheep, cedar wax wings practically ate out of our hands and Lewis woodpeckers were abundant. Thank you for sharing your home, it was truly a home away from home, we will be back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, sightseeing.

Riverhouse visit

Guest: Mike (Spokane, WA)
Date of Stay: 07/24/09 Review Submitted: 07/26/10

What a wonderful retreat!!! Great fishing right off the deck and a great location for day trips to the surrounding historic sites. We hope to make a Riverhouse trip an annual event.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

April at the Riverhouse was AMAZING!!!!

Guest: Patrick (Camarillo, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/18/09 Review Submitted: 08/13/10

My family and I visited in April. The weather was fantastic - cool, crisp and clear mornings followed by 70 degree sunny days. We spent most of our time on the deck! At one point, we watched 40+ animals on the hillsides across from us (you look over the river). There were bighorn sheep and deer everywhere, it was amazing. At night, we were awestruck by the stars; you can actually SEE the milky way. The fishing, as you would guess, bordered on unbelievable. Great fish eating dry flies. Can't be beat! Bottom line, any spring that we don't make it out here will be a major regret for us! We will be back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Pat Daly (-)
Date of Stay: 04/03/06 Review Submitted: 04/03/06

Dear Keith and Patty, Thanks for sharing this piece of heaven. It really is dry fly heaven. What a wonderfully easy to fish river... and then just walk back to that incredible deck and the views of the mountains, wildlife and river. It just doesn't get any better. Thanks again. Pat Daly, Tacoma WA

Recommended for:

Guest: Steve and Lori Cantrell (Ravensdale, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/28/06 Review Submitted: 03/28/06

This place is Awesome! We couldn't figure out what do to first. We hiked in the Bitterroot National Park the first day, went antiquing in Darby the second, and fished off the deck the third. The fourth day we just sat around the house and relaxed with coffee in the morning and a fire in the evening. It was incredible!

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