Alta Ranch home
Forested Bitterroot Mountains under a wide blue sky, seen across the valley from Alta Ranch

An outdoor wedding venue in Montana, on 340 private acres

On the West Fork of the Bitterroot, about two hours south of Missoula. Book a full day or a weekend and the whole ranch is yours.

Book your wedding date Plan a visit to the ranch
  • 340private acres in the Bitterroot Valley
  • 200guests for dinner in the hangar
  • 14sleep in three log cabins
  • West Forkprivate access to fish the river

A historic hangar for your reception, up to 200 guests

The open-air airplane hangar has electricity and string lights already hung, so the party moves easily from dusk into the night. Bring any caterer you like.

Guests gathered in the draped hangar at dusk, with the meadow and soft clouds beyond The same hangar after dark, glowing with string lights against the black pines
A couple sharing their first dance under the hangar roof and string lights
A couple dancing close beneath swags of string lights in the hangar
A bride in a cowboy hat holding her bouquet, with hangar lights glowing behind her

Outdoor ceremony sites: meadow, river and pond

Full-day and weekend packages open up every ceremony site, and The Meadow includes one of your choice, so you decide where to say your vows. Pick a meadow, a riverside clearing, the pond or open ground facing the mountains.

The ranch pond at sunset, with pink clouds and green hills reflected in the still water

The pond

A trout pond with a canoe, a row boat and a paddle boat. It is one of the ceremony sites, and the light here at the end of the day is hard to beat. Guests can take the boats out.

The West Fork of the Bitterroot River running clear under a blue sky and moving clouds

The West Fork of the Bitterroot

The upper West Fork runs right through the property. You get private access to fish it for native Westslope cutthroat, and the riverside clearings make quiet places to say your vows.

White ceremony chairs set out in rows under a lone pine at Alta Ranch, with the Bitterroot Mountains behind

The meadows

Open ground with the mountains for a backdrop. Set chairs out in rows for everyone you know, or keep it to a small circle of family.

A moose trotting through bright green meadow grass at the edge of the forest

Wildlife and trails

Elk, moose, deer, eagles, otters and beavers share the land, and bighorn sheep pass through too. Trails run out to the edge of the national forest.

A Montana mountain wedding setting, in every season

Mist settles into the pines and snow covers the benches. The ranch looks different month to month, so ask us what to expect on the date you have in mind.

Low cloud drifting through a forested slope above a small cabin
A wooden bench in fresh snow looking out over the valley

Things to do at the ranch and nearby

Plenty for guests to fill the hours around the wedding, or for a whole cabin stay.

  • Fly fishing

    Private access to the West Fork of the Bitterroot for native Westslope cutthroat.

  • Out on the pond

    Take the canoe, the row boat or the paddle boat across the trout pond.

  • Trails

    Walk trails that run to the edge of the national forest.

  • Wildlife

    Elk, moose, deer, eagles, otters, beavers and bighorn sheep.

  • Campfires

    Several fire rings around the ranch for long evenings outside.

  • Nearby

    Hiking, horseback riding and white-water rafting are close by in the valley.

Getting here from Missoula

The ranch is near Darby in Montana's Bitterroot Valley, about two hours south of Missoula. We take a limited number of weddings each year, so come and walk the land before you book.

Address
9203 West Fork Road
Darby, MT 59829
Parking
Parking on site, with two parking and camping areas for guests.

Venue questions, answered

The questions couples ask most about our Montana wedding venue. For anything else, call or send a note.

(406) 349-2142

Plan a visit to the ranch
Where is Alta Ranch?

Alta Ranch is at 9203 West Fork Road, Darby, Montana 59829, in the Bitterroot Valley, about two hours south of Missoula.

Is the ranch exclusive use?

For Bitterroot Celebration, Mountain Escape and Montana Legacy, yes. Those packages are exclusive use, so the whole property is yours with no other groups on the land. The Meadow, our 8-hour microwedding, is not exclusive use. The hangar and your ceremony site are yours for the event, and our cabins may be rented to other guests that day.

How many guests does the hangar hold?

The historic open-air hangar hosts receptions for up to 200 guests. It has electricity and string lights, and outside caterers are welcome.

Where can we hold the ceremony?

Choose from meadows, riverside clearings, the pond or open ground facing the mountains. Our Meadow micro wedding includes one ceremony site of your choice, and larger packages include all of them.

What happens if it rains?

The hangar is open-air but covered, so the reception has a roof overhead. Ceremony sites are outdoors, so if weather is a worry, come and walk the land with us and we can talk through your date.

Can guests stay on site?

Yes. Three log cabins sleep 14 in total, and there is on-site camping for extra guests (price on request). Mountain Escape and Montana Legacy packages include all three cabins.

Can we visit before booking?

Yes, we encourage it. We take a limited number of weddings each year, so come and walk the land before you choose a date.

How much does a wedding cost?

Wedding packages start at $2,750 for The Meadow, our micro wedding. Bitterroot Celebration, Mountain Escape and Montana Legacy cost more and add days and lodging. See the wedding packages for the full table.

Walk the land, then pick your date

Tell us when you are thinking, and we will tell you what is open.

Book your wedding date Plan a visit to the ranch