K Bar L Ranch and Medicine Springs

What to expect

K Bar L Ranch is a small guest ranch at the point where the North Fork and South Fork of the Sun River meet, on the Rocky Mountain Front west of Augusta. It sits on private land surrounded by national forest, right against the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, and no road reaches it. That isolation is the whole idea.

The hot spring here is called Medicine Springs. Warm water flows out of a hillside on the ranch and feeds a swimming pool that holds about 86°F30°C all year. That is cool by hot spring standards, closer to a heated swimming pool than a soak, but it feels very good after a day in the saddle. The ranch says the warmth and humidity create a small microclimate around the pool, and fireflies show up there in summer. The springs are mildly sulfurous, and they also power part of the ranch’s small hydro electric system.

You cannot drop in for a swim. The pool is on private property and open only to guests staying at the ranch, who can use it day or night.

The rest of the stay is classic backcountry ranch life: rustic cabins heated with wood stoves, shared bathhouses with robes, towels and toiletries supplied, home-cooked meals, horseback rides, fly fishing, hiking and evenings around the fire. The ranch takes only 16 guests at a time.

Getting there

Getting to K Bar L is part of the trip, and the ranch gives very specific directions. Its first instruction is not to trust GPS, which sends people the wrong way.

1. Fly or drive to Great Falls. Great Falls International Airport is about 85 miles from the ranch area, roughly two hours.
2. Drive to Augusta. At the four-way stop in town, turn toward Gibson Reservoir and Willow Creek.
3. Head for Gibson Reservoir. Pass the Forest Service building, the cemetery and the dump site. Stay west on the gravel road and do not turn onto Benchmark Road. About 5 miles on, turn right at the cluster of signs that includes the ranch sign. Continue about 25 miles into the Lewis and Clark National Forest, where the road becomes paved, and cross the concrete bridge toward Gibson Dam. Allow about 45 minutes from Augusta.
4. Meet the ranch at 11am on your arrival day, at the boat landing or the Mortimer Gulch Trailhead. The ranch confirms which one depending on the time of year.

From there it depends on the water. In June and July, when Gibson Reservoir is full, a jet boat usually carries guests up the lake. Once irrigation drawdowns lower the reservoir, usually by August, the boats stop and guests ride horses or hike about 6-7 miles in on the Sun River trail, which crosses national forest land. Pack mules carry the luggage. The ranch also has a helicopter landing site for anyone who needs it.

When to go

The summer guest season is the main event. The ranch says June and July days are usually in the 70s to low 80s, with evenings in the 40s and 50s, and August is the warmest month. If you want the boat ride rather than the trail, aim for late June or July.

In fall the ranch runs rifle and archery hunts. Medicine Springs keeps flowing all year, so the pool stays warm even when the weather turns.

Mountain weather changes fast here. Pack warm layers and rain gear even in July, since evenings drop into the 40s.

Prices and booking

The ranch publishes three main packages:

• Summer stay: six days, all inclusive, $4,000. Guests arrive at 11am and leave around the same time on the sixth day. The first evening includes an orientation.
• Rifle hunt: seven days, $8,000, all meals and activities included.
• Archery hunt: seven days, $8,000.

The rates page does not say whether the summer price is per person, so confirm that. Tax and gratuity are extra. Tipping is optional, and the ranch suggests 20%.

To book, fill in the reservation request form on the ranch website with your dates and the number and ages of everyone in your group, or call Emily Wallis at 314-803-9367 or Adam Wallis at 314-709-5533. With only 16 guest spots, summer weeks fill early.

Children: Families are welcome, but the ranch asks that kids be over seven and comfortable hiking, riding and fishing. Infants and very young children are not encouraged. Pets are not allowed.

Where to stay nearby

The ranch is the stay. Because you need to be at the meeting point by 11am, many guests spend the night before in Augusta or Great Falls. Augusta is a small ranch town with basic services, and Great Falls has the airport and full services. The Forest Service runs campgrounds around Gibson Reservoir on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest; check current conditions with the Rocky Mountain Ranger District.

Camping on Montana national forests is limited to 16 days in a row at one site and 32 days a year (Northern Region order R1-2025-01).

Safety notes

• Remoteness: The nearest hospital is in Great Falls, and the ranch describes access as challenging. Bring every medication you need and talk to your doctor before the trip if you have health concerns.
• No signal: There is no cell service or internet. The ranch keeps Wi-Fi and calling for crew emergencies only. Tell people at home how to reach the ranch office before you go.
• Grizzly country: The Sun River lies in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. On national forest land along the trail and at Gibson Reservoir, order R1-2023-02 requires food, garbage and other attractants to be stored bear-resistant from March 1 to December 31 each year (in effect through 2028). Carry bear spray on the trail.
• Horses and trail: The ride in is long for beginners. Wear sturdy boots and long pants, and tell the wranglers honestly about your riding experience.
• Power: Electricity comes from the ranch hydro system, so hair dryers and other heavy appliances are discouraged.

History

The springs were used by Native peoples for centuries, and later by trappers, hunters and loggers. After the Civil War, veteran Thomas Valentine, owed back pay, took land instead, and in 1872 Congress granted him a 40-acre tract around the hot springs at the forks of the Sun River. In 1927 the Klick family took over Medicine Springs, and over three generations they built the lodge, cabins, corrals and the hot springs pool, hauling materials in by boat and mule train. The ranch is now run by Adam and Emily Wallis and their family, who continue the Klicks’ work. The ranch operates under Montana outfitter license #30491.