Location: Polebridge, Glacier Country, Montana, USA (50 miles from Kalispell airport (FCA) inside Glacier Park) View Map
Accommodations: Cabin, 3 Bedrooms + Detached Unit, 2 Baths (Sleeps 10)
Keywords: Cabin Homestead
Located in the northwest corner of Glacier National Park and 10 miles from the Canadian border, the Ranch is a private residence that sits at the edge of Big Prairie on the banks of the North Fork River, a designated wild and scenic river. Enjoy the comfort and convenience of your own cabin with spectacular mountain views in all directions and abundant wildlife. This section of Glacier is rustic and unspoiled as it is relatively undeveloped, meaning there are no paved roads or power lines for 35 miles. Due to our solar energy system, you can enjoy modern conveniences while getting far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. At the Ranch you can experience the true beauty and meaning of Big Sky country!
The North Fork is a designated Wild and Scenic River and from the cabin you can fish, wade, swim, hike and skip stones in the river. Hammocks are located in the trees overlooking the river, making it perfect for book reading and napping, and there is a fire pit and picnic table as well. Two horse-shoe pits invite evening competition.
The Ranch House, which is 1,500 square feet, has two bedrooms and one bath. One bedroom has a queen bed, while the bunk room has two bunk beds and sleeps four. The loft has an inflatable queen air bed which can be used if desired. The bathroom has two sinks, toilet, tub/shower and washer/dryer. The family room contains the kitchen, dining and living areas, which are open to the loft area above. Through the double french doors lies the covered deck, which is 1,000 square feet, with great views of Rainbow Mountain and the Livingston Range of the Continental Divide. The kitchen has a refrigerator, stove, microwave, double sink and pantry.
In addition to the Ranch House, we have a guest cabin which can be added to the Ranch House to accommodate larger groups. The guest cabin is 600 square feet, has a bathroom with shower/tub, a wood burning stove (WBS), couch, table and chairs and sleeps 4 in beds with a queen log bed downstairs and two twin beds in the loft. The covered porch offers sweeping views of the Livingston Range, looking north into Canada.
There are many activities to choose from while at the Ranch. In the summer, enjoy hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing, swimming and sightseeing. In the winter time, you can cross country ski or snow-shoe in any direction or enjoy the local pastime such as burning firewood and reading books!
Two beautiful high mountain lakes are a short distance from the Ranch, they are Kintla Lake to the north and Bowman Lake to the south. No boat motors are allowed on Kintla, so it is the preferred choice for people wanting to canoe or kayak.
The Ranch caretaker has extensive knowledge of the river, lakes, Glacier Park and the Flathead Forest to the West and can help you plan excursions from the Ranch.
Three miles from the Ranch is the Polebridge Ranger Station and the western entrance to Glacier Park. Outside the Park, two miles further is the historic Polebridge Mercantile, which is listed in the register of National Historic Places. The Merc offers fresh baked bread and pastries, as well as coffee and sandwiches. You can purchase basic supplies you might have forgotten in town, as well as gas for the car. Next door, the Northern Lights Café offers great home cooked dinners and brunch on Sundays. Friday nights are pizza nights. Enjoy a micro-brewed beer, wine and cocktails and watch the sun set over the Whitefish Divide.
Of course, there is all of Glacier Park to enjoy including Going-To-The-Sun Road, Logan Pass, West Glacier, Many Glacier, St. Mary and Waterton Lake. There is whitewater rafting in West Glacier, along with horse stables and some shopping.
The Ranch is located approximately 50 miles (1.5 hours) from the Glacier Park Airport in Kalispell (FCA). Delta, Northwest and Horizon provide air service. Car rental service is available at the airport. A unique way to get to the cabin is by train. Amtrak offers the Empire Builder service from Portland, Seattle and Chicago to Whitefish. Please note that the gravel road that leads to Polebridge can be bouncy and dusty at certain times of the year.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer : Stacking WD in bathroom of Ranch House.
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Wood Stove : Wood is provided
- Beds
- Queen Bed : One queen bed in Ranch house bedroom and one queen bed in guest cabin.
- Twin/Single Bed : There are two twin beds in the loft of the guest cabin
- Bunk Bed : Two bunk beds (sleeps 4) in second bedroom of Ranch house.
- Entertainment
- TV (No Cable/Satellite)
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library : We have a small library of movies on VCR.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Foosball
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill : A gas BBQ is available on the deck of the Ranch house.
- Deck/Patio : The Ranch house has a covered wrap around porch; the guest cabin has a large covered front porch.
- View/Location
- Waterfront, not Lake/Oceanfront. Ask for details : The ranch sits on the banks of the North Fork of the Flathead River which is a designated "Wild & Scenic River". Access is directly behind the ranch. A fire pit and hammocks are nearby over looking the river.
- Mountain View : The ranch looks out to the East at the Continental Divide including Rainbow Mountain and the Livingston Range.
- Communications
- Telephone : There is a basic telephone available for guest use.
- Broadband Internet : Wireless internet is available for an additional fee. Service is provided via satellite service which is much faster than dail-up but not as fast as a cable or DSL service. May only be used for email and browsing, not suitable for file downloads such as movies or music.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters : Minimum age is 25
- Smoking Not Allowed : Please, no smoking inside any of the buildings.
- Activities
- Rafting
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Swimming
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Horseshoes
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Ranch House .... $1,900/week Peak ($1,600 non-peak) (Sleeps 6)
Guest Cabin .... $ 400/week (Sleeps 4) may only be added to Ranch House rental
Cleaning fees are additional: Ranch House-$150, Guest Cabin-$75
7% Montana Bed Tax applies to all rental fee, Park entrance fee must be purchased.
50% Deposit holds reservation, balance due 90 days prior to arrival.
Rentals are weekly (Sat to Sat) with Check-in at 4pm and Check-out at 10 am.
Discount available for shoulder season (May & October)
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 1936
Why the Owner Chose Polebridge
Jack's grandparents spent their honeymoon in 1932 in a rustic homestead cabin in Big Prairie near where our cabin is today. They later moved to Whitefish where they started a veterinarian practice and their family. They purchased a number of the homesteads in Big Prairie and started a dude ranch in the 1950's known as the McFarland "Quarter Circle MC" Ranch. After Jack's grandfather died his grandmother sold the dude ranch and other property to the NPS and built a small cabin nearby on the banks of the North Fork river. Jack spent his summers with his grandmother at the ranch. Several years ago we decided to share this wonderful place with others looking for a special connection with Glacier and the North Fork valley.
The Unique Benefits at this Cabin
While there are endless activities and adventures to be had just by stepping off the front porch it is entirely possible that your favorite activity will be relaxing on the porch and taking in the view of the mountains. They are majestic, rugged, and breathtaking; extending to the north and the south as far as you can see. They change throughout the day and at night when the stars are out they stand silently and cast shadows. Sometimes the northern lights dance behind them.
But don't forget to get out and go hiking, fishing, canoeing, rafting, exploring, biking or whatever form of outdoor activity you enjoy - there is so much to see and enjoy. Just remember that when it is all over you can come back to the comfortable and cozy cabin by the river and relax with all the amenities you need to recover and plan the next day's adventure.
There is a small primative campground here. No motors are allowed on Kintla so it is great for canoe and kayaks. Hike the trail along the lake as far as you want and enjoy the views. The water can
Rainbow Mountain dominates the skyline at Bowman Lake. There is a larger, more developed campground here. From the foot of Bowman Lake there are hikes along the lake, over the ridge to Quartz Lakes,
This is the old homestead of Judge Miller. This is where the trail to Akakola Lake, Teepee Flats and Bowman lake takes off. You can hike from here to Bowman Lake if you want a back country adventure
This is where Kintla Creek flows into the North Fork river. The fishing can be good at this spot and the views along the river are nice.
Best home made bread, cookies and pastries west of the Mississippi... Dan is the baker and they are fresh everyday first thing in the morning. You can get your basic supplies if you forgot any as wel
Cold beer and drinks, decent basic food and rustic cabin atmosphere. Friday nights they serve home made pizza. Get there early or expect a long wait.
You can hike from here to Quartz Lakes and then over to Bowman Lake. Always nice if someone can drop you off early and pick you up later at Bowman. A wonderful hike if you are ready and looking for
Enter the park here and follow the signs towards Kintla Lake. It is three miles to the McFarland Ranch. From the ranger station you can take the "inside" North Fork road south towards Apgar and We
There is a trail from here to Logging Lake. The hike is relatively flat and the fishing at Logging can be good. A nice round trip day hike.
Owner's Map of Polebridge
We live in Portland, Oregon and travel extensively for work and pleasure. However, we sneak away to our cabin on the river whenever we can. It is a very special place and we look forward to sharing with you. Our guests tell us our descriptions of the cabin and the setting don't do it justice but they agree that words and even pictures can't convey the serenity, tranquility and beauty of the area. So we hope you will be able to come and experience it for yourself.
Jack and Sue McFarland
Property Photos
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- Rainbow Mountain from front deck of Ranch House - Polebridge Cabin Rental in Glacier National Park
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- McFarland Ranch and Livingston Range - Polebridge Cabin Rental in Glacier National Park
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- Relax on the front deck and enjoy the view of the Livingston Range - Polebridge Cabin Rental in Glacier National Park
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- Kitchen in the ranch house
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- Master bedroom in ranch house
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- Front porch of guest cabin with view to the Continental Divide
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- Guest cabin has queen bed downstairs and twin beds in the loft
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- Fire pit by river
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- Bowman Lake and Rainbow Mountain
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- Kintla Lake is a beautiful lake to canoe and Kayak
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- Mountain Goats on the Garden Wall trail
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- The Polebridge Mercantile General Store
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- Wildflowers on the Garden Wall trail
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- There are lots of hiking trails near the ranch in Glacier National Park
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- Kids love to fish near the ranch on the North Fork river
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- The old ranch wagon is a great place for family pictures
Traveler Reviews (7)
Guest: Tonya and John
(-)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10
Review Submitted: 01/16/11
Boy, words can't describe how beautiful and tranquil the ranch was. Everything was perfect. George (the caretaker) was fantastic, I loved talking to him about photography. I was in heaven looking at all the photos in the ranch house and guest cabin. Pretty much everything exceded our expectations. The kitchen had everything and then some. The library had everything I was looking for. The master bed was extremely comfortable. The views were beyond words. The front porch was my favorite place. I could hear the river and sometimes the breeze. We also did see the Polbridge 4th of July which was a hoot!! I most certainly would recommend the McFarland ranch to friends and family. Everything about the ranch was great. Again let George know how much we enjoyed him, he really enhanced our experience at the McFarland Ranch. Thanks for sharing your ranch with us, we will be back. Take care, Tonya and John
Recommended for:
Guest: Karen and Ben
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10
Review Submitted: 01/16/11
"All four of us thoroughly enjoyed our stay at your ranch. None of us wanted to leave, as we had the perfect week of majestic sights, hikes, weather, and relaxation! In all honesty, I can't recall the last time I felt so relaxed and calm - it must have been the tranquility provided by the mountains and surrounding prairie grass." Was the ranch properly advertised to meet your expectations? "Actually, it was so much more in person. The surrounding beauty just settles into your soul - which is impossible to ascertain from pictures or description" Were you pleasantly surprised by something at the ranch? "Again, the feeling that passes over you when you are in the presence of the grandeur of the surrounding mountains and prairie." Would you return or recommend to a friend? "Absolutely - just said tonight when I came home from work, that I wish I could go back to the ranch in Montana" How would you rate your visit overall from a 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest score. "5"
Recommended for:
Guest: Jim and Nancy
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10
Review Submitted: 01/16/11
We had high expectations. The ranch EXCEEDED them! The view from the front porch is spectacular! We were mesmerized by the changing complexions of the Livingston Range with each new weather pattern that passed through. The cabin was very neat and clean, above and beyond what we expected re: kitchen sundries, recreational supplies, wood and kindling supplies, etc. We rate our visit a 5+ (on a scale of 1-5) and would absolutely return or recommend to a friend.
Recommended for:
Glacier Natl Park Gem
Guest: Sandy-Steve
(Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 09/29/10
Review Submitted: 10/03/10
Incredible, panoramic views of the majestic Livingston range beyond the expansive natural prarie, The guest house is located within Glacier National Park in the midst of wildlife including deer, elk and moose (we heard wolves howl in the distance at nigh!) The North Fork River (a wild and scenic designated river) flows right behind the cabin....we floated down the river and were left breathless at every bend. The house has a huge covered porch which is perfect for morning coffe (or evening wine) while watching the sun rise over the mountains and sunsets that set the range ablaze in red hues. The stars at night were incredible. My husband was up at 6AM every morning to capture the.abundant photography opportunities; while I slept in enjoying the restful morning leisure. Hammocks provide a restful respite for reading books and afternoon siestas; and an amazingly genuine Montana pioneer and authentic caretaker (aka park historian and resident artist named George) is the host for your visit. Truly an amazing location that we will never forget; We can't wait for next year!!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
It was awesome
Guest: Bones
(South Carolina )
Date of Stay: 07/10/10
Review Submitted: 08/02/10
It was the best place I have ever been. We had our family reunion there the second week in July. My dad and I road bikes up to kentla lake. We wish we had the money to buy it from them but it would ruin your chances of seeing something extraordinary. It was perfect for my uncle. He calnt walk so he had to lay there the hole time and he said it was cool because more animals come out at nite. That's why it's good for the handicap
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.
Loved it
Guest: Matilda
(Missouri)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10
Review Submitted: 06/24/10
June, 2010. My family had a great time at the ranch. We loved the privacy and mountains and river and wildlife. If you want quiet and wonderful scenery this is the place to go. George (the caretaker) is a great guy. We really enjoyed our chats with George, he really knows the area and Glacier Park.
Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with teenagers.
Guest: Kathy and Sean Kozak
(Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/03/08
Review Submitted: 09/03/08
Thank you to the McFarland's for an amazing vacation! We cannot say enough good things about the ranch, the accomodations and the delightful caretaker, George McFarland. Everything about the ranch is wonderful. The location is remote but breathtaking and the house is gorgeous, comfortable and has everything you can want for an amazing stay in this beautiful part of the world. George is a treat, a very knowlegable and entertaining man who is filled with smiles and fascinating stories. Him (and his dog Maya) were a fun suprise addition to our trip, we truly enjoyed the time we spent at the ranch and were sad to leave. We hope to return next year with kids and their grandparents in tow! We highly recommend staying at this incredible place.
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #98146
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