Upper Canyon Outfitters, Alder MT

I can't say enough good things about UCO! I just got back from a week long hunting trip and it was truly the experience of a lifetime. The location was beyond beautiful, accommodations were perfect, and the staff beyond friendly. I went out guided with Alex, who made my trip what it was. He is a master of finding and calling elk, and although I was not able to harvest an elk this trip, we were up close and personal with several of these incredible animals. I read a lot of reviews before I chose to do business with UCO and all of the repeat clients are right, I will definitely be back in a few years. Thanks Donna and team!

My wife and I wanted to take a memorable trip for our 10 year anniversary and we certainty hit the jackpot with UCO. I'm not entirely sure how to begin the review because every facet of our trip was ideal.

While we are fairly outdoorsy people, we did not have experience in Montana, so went in pretty green. We created a package of a variety of activities, including guided fishing, horseback riding, onsite massages, and some free time for sightseeing (day trip to Yellowstone).

The fishing day was by far the best fishing I've ever experienced. We went out with Fredy and we started with the basics. Throughout the day we each caught 10+ trout, the biggest around 20 inches. Not to mention it was in the most gorgeous scenery imaginable. Fredy was so helpful and easy going, we couldn't have had a better time.

The next day we took the 4-hour horseback ride up into the mountains with Cassie. They matched us with awesome horses - both me (relatively novice rider) and my wife, who grew up with horses. It was a beautiful ride.

More about the ranch itself - the intimate size and inclusive nature of everyone makes you feel like your home with family immediately. The mealtimes were a treat, with delicious home cooking that left nobody hungry.

If I were to change anything about our trip, I would've skipped the day to Yellowstone to spend more time at the ranch (probably another fishing trip!).

I couldn't possibly recommend UCO any more, and have already shared with friends and family. I would truly love to make the trip again, and would definitely repeat this experience.

I can’t say enough about how wonderful this place is! We took our three adult daughters on a family vacation to Upper Canyon Outfitters. We were greeted warmly by Jose who showed us to our cabin and then offered to give us a tour of the ranch once we got settled. When we went back for our tour we met one of the owners, Donna. She made sure that we knew the history of the ranch and had an understanding of all they offered. We felt very welcome. Throughout our stay we met all of the four generations that live on the ranch. Every one of their employees were amazing and greeted us and knew of our plans for the day. They couldn’t have been more helpful or friendly. They ranch itself is fantastic, but you can tell that they train their staff well and that makes the entire experience top notch. Thank you so much Donna, Jake, Bill, Bernice, Freddy, Cassie, Eli, and Olli for sharing your home with us! Also a huge shoutout to Izzak, Frank, Timber, Hannah, Cathy, Van, Mike, Karla, Page, Jett, Courtney, and Jose for making our family vacation unforgettable. (I’m sorry, I know I did not catch everyone’s names, but you were all awesome!) You will never regret a trip to Tate’s Upper Canyon.

Quite possibly my hunting trip was a dream come true to include an opportunity to harvest a bull. The accommodations, the food, everyone was friendly and helpful it was a week that I’ll never forget or possibly recreate but I’ll try soon enough. Elk hunting out west is a calling, a drive and Donna, Jake, Fredy and Cassie know how that is and try to make it as pleasant as possible. They are very passionate about the land, the animals and how to take care of it. Thank you for the memory.

What a great trip for my son and I. Came in week 2 of rifle season and had the best time. Accommodations were fabulous, food was fantastic and the hunting was awesome. Great people taking pride in what they do, and to top it off, my son tagged out. Thanks UCO for an awesome experience and some wonderful hospitality!

If you ever go there you will know! I am so fortunate to have been there in August with my husband and our good friends. The owners are fabulous, the totally professional, kind and fun to be around people at the ranch are all amazing and everyone works very hard every day. We went fly fishing, horseback riding, (beautiful horses), hiking, ATV riding in the mountains. Thank you all for a trip of a lifetime I'll never forget!

It was an absolute privilege to spend time on the property and with the owners/employees. Everyone was respectful, kind, and knowledgeable. Every meal was delicious and well-balanced and the dining area is lovely. The cabins were clean and cozy and the animals hanging around -to include chickens, pigs, ranch dogs and barn kittens, made the experience all the better. Especially for the kids who were allowed to collect eggs for breakfast! I can't wait to head back.

By far the best place I’ve ever been in my life. The owners are wonderful and treat you like family. The best place to get away, explore, learn about wildlife, fishing, horses, hunting, find yourself, relax, unplug and connect with real people.

Had our family reunion here this summer. All I can say is wow! The staff was amazing, the food was amazing and the hospitality was top notch! These guys really do it all and then some. They even happily shipped me back some clothes that I left there, such generous folks! Highly recommend

Awesome hosts and excellent fly fishing. Horse back riding was very adventurous! Had a great time!

My time at the Upper Canyon Outfitter's Discover It week was absolutely incredible. From the moment you arrive you feel as if you are part of the UCO family and you leave knowing you are part of their family. The number of adventures you are able to experience is like no other place. I learned so much about myself through their Discover It week and I can't wait to go back and introduce my family and friends to UCO.

The location and staff there combined to make our trip excellent and memorable. A beautiful place, wedged at the intersection of three mountain ranges, a river running through the property, offering stare-worthy scenery from first light til beyond sundown. Venturing further out, the hiking is spectacular and can be as basic or as rugged as you desire. We also toured in their 4x4 buggies, high in the mountains.
Our group, including children, all of us novices on horses and at fishing, greatly appreciated the very patient, seasoned staff. And the food was good to great, all week long. We'll be back.

UCO is outstanding in all respects, and the Ruby River is, as it's name suggests, a gem. Accommodations and food are excellent, and the staff couldn't be more welcoming and helpful. The fishing? (which is why I was there) was excellent, although the weather this year (2021) has been somewhat cantankerous. I've been here 15 years in a row; thinking I'll make it 16 in '22.

Within minutes of arriving, we were made to feel just like family. It was my first visit to the ranch, and I had never fly fished. My guided fishing days, with JD and Frank, were fun AND helpful. There were able to teach me concepts about fishing that made my experience exceptional. I was able to fish the same rivers as my experienced husband. It was so nice to feel welcomed as a first-time visitor and angler.
We also took a 4-hour horseback ride, and loved every minute of it. Cassie and Jasmine were welcoming, helpful and respectful to the guests and horses.
We found our cabin (#2) to be absolutely perfect and clean. The meals in the lodge exceeded our expectations and visiting with the other guests and owners (all family) of the ranch was a great way to end each day.
Highly recommended - we can’t wait to go back!

We LOVED our time at UCO, meeting Donna and her family, enjoying the amenities on the ranch, and the hearty ranch family-style meals. This ranch is perfect for those who enjoy an off-the-beaten path vacation. We saw so much wildlife, and the staff worked hard to accommodate our schedules for what we preferred to do (fly fishing, ATV, and horses). You can tell the McDonald family (and extended family) loves this part of Montana, and they certainly impart a love of Montana to their guests. We hope to be back one day soon!

Donna and Jake and all of the family and staff always treat us like family! The accommodations are always clean, the food is fantastic, the staff is friendly and courteous and the Upper Ruby River area including the Gravelly Range and Snowcrest Mountain Range offer beautiful and rugged terrain for outdoor adventures with family and friends! We saw elk, deer, antelope and bison on this most recent trip and the fishing for those who were on the River was excellent! This is a World Class operation in southwestern Montana!

After hunting in California, I was pretty excited to take it up a notch and hunt elk in Montana. I booked my first elk hunt with UCO for November 2020. The staff were great to work with throughout the trip. They were helpful with all the preparation leading up to hunt, from putting in for tags, to advising me on gear. During the trip, my guide was hard-working, knowledgeable, and fun to spend the week with. We put in a ton of miles, and I successfully went home with a bull and also a mule buck.

I couldn’t be more grateful to the team at UCO. Making it back for another hunt is #1 on my priority list.