The Lodge

The lodge is the hub of the ranch, with the kitchen, dining room, a cozy piano bar, a spacious living room, a light-filled lounge, and a porch overlooking the river. Guests gather inside by the fire or on the porch for morning coffee until the bell rings for a hearty ranch breakfast. During the day, the living room is a peaceful spot for settling into a good book, immersing oneself in an art project, diving into a board game, or enjoying a cup of tea. Evenings at the lodge bring a cocktail hour to recount the thrills of the day, followed by family-style dinner, conversation by the fire, and perhaps some music and dancing.

Our People

Our people are what make the Darwin special. From our guests to our staff, by the end of your week, our community feels like family. It keeps guests coming back year after year.

Amenities

The Darwin offers incredible amenities to top off your days of hanging in the backcountry. With a wood-fired hot-tub, wood-fired sauna, and our River Room, we find the right balance between exploration and relaxation.

Farm-To-Table Cuisine

Food is another reason the Darwin is a unique guest experience. Our kitchen is led by Kathy, who spent her career in food both in NYC and San Francisco. The majority of food at Darwin is sourced through local means. The meat and vegetables are mostly provided by Ishoowa Mesa Ranch, Darwin’s sister property. Although we are deep in the backcountry, we do not sacrifice the quality of our food.

Hiking

World class hiking is accessible directly from our porch, whether you desire a simple sojourn across the meadow or a day-long endeavor that takes you to ridgelines with unparalleled views. Trails from the ranch lead to remote peaks, glacial lakes, and alpine meadows, taking you over hidden mountain passes and along roaring rivers. The Gros Ventre Range has remarkably clear hiking routes up nearly all the high peaks that can be undertaken either entirely on foot or in combination with a horseback ride. 

Horseback Riding

We offer guided rides that immerse you in the surrounding wilderness that range from several hour jaunts to entire days. These rides are offered each day of the week except for Saturdays. For beginners, we have a number of placid, easy-going horses, and we will teach you the basics of handling your steed. More advanced riders will have opportunities to move along as they set off for far-flung alpine lakes and peaks. We will help you plan your days so you are as challenged as you wish to be.

Fly Fishing

The ranch provides remote access to the pristine Upper Gros Ventre River, which is protected by Wyoming's Wild & Scenic Designation. One can fish for miles in either direction, and it is a rarity to encounter others. The native Snake River Fine Spotted Cutthroat Trout continue to thrive in a healthy fishery, alongside the native Rocky Mountain Whitefish.  There is fantastic fishing at our doorstep in the river that flows beside the lodge, and we also offer day-trips to high mountain lakes and rivers by foot or by horseback. The rivers and streams are fished by wading, with temperatures that permit wet wading throughout the entirety of the season. Please note that all anglers practice catch and release fishing with barbless hooks, and we may occasionally restrict access to certain stretches of water if water temperatures or fishing pressures are unusually high.

Floating

A leisurely float down the Gros Ventre might include fishing, swimming, or napping in the sunshine. We will pack boats up-river on horseback and let you float your way back to the ranch. We have a number of inflatable tubes and kayaks, whitewater kayaks, and PFDs.

Wilderness Camp/Camping

Immerse yourself in the singular and beautiful solitude of the Gros Ventre Wilderness with our comfortable and fully-supported camp set up at the edge of a large meadow beside a towering waterfall. If you crave an adventurous romantic getaway or want a basecamp for further exploration, our Upper Falls Camp will afford you the opportunity to see practically unexplored sections of the Gros Ventre Range while enjoying great food, high-quality walled tents, and comfortable cots with foam mattresses in our camp that sleeps six.

The Upper Falls Camp is available for booking by Darwin guests and also as an independent experience. If you are a Darwin guest, the Upper Falls Camp is available for booking as a two or three-night add-on before or after your stay, and can be booked Unguided or Guided. Due to limited pasture, we do not provide riding horses at the Upper Falls Camp.

For those starting from the ranch, the hike to Upper Falls takes about two and a half hours at a moderate pace. The trail is easy to follow and mostly flat, with a total elevation gain of only 400 feet.  For hikers coming from Jackson Hole, an alternative is to take the dirt road up the Gros Ventre River to the Cow Creek Trailhead, about an hour and a half from the Jackson Town Square. The hike up to the camp is rigorous, covering more than 8 miles and including a 1,800-foot climb to a pass at 9,400 feet before dropping down to Upper Falls. Please check with us for detailed driving and hiking instructions before setting out. Email oliver@darwinranch.com to inquire about booking Upper Falls.