We opted to take on the wild side of Missoula at the Bar One Ranch. Located in the remote area of Huson, MT, it was easy to see why so many travelers have ventured to this area and return to tell all of their friends about it. This is one log cabin that you will not forget anytime in the near future.

The Bar One Ranch is a lodging experience that will leave you telling many about for years to come. Staying at the ranch is a rewarding experience for a group of 50 or a romantic get-away for two.

Part of the Bar One Ranch experience and one of the reasons why this might be one of the top hidden spots to vacation in Montana starts with the owner, Al Barone and Sheri Huyser, the Ranch General Manager. Al has turned 585 acres into a adult playground with that is sure to leave you wanting to come back time after time.

Once you turn off Nine Mile Road, one will think you have turned off civilization as well. The trip to Bar One is the way to escape the city life and enjoy some of the most pristine wilderness found in the 50 states.

Forget cell phones, taking a car from place to place, all that is required at Bar One is a sense of adventure, a fishing rod and one of the their four wheelers and now a weekend really becomes fun.

Before you venture out on the grounds of the ranch, many will not even want to leave the comforts of the lodge as it offers more amenities than some will even have in their own home.

Part of what intrigued our staff the most about Bar One is what you will see lining the walls of the lodge, all of Al Barone's hunted collections.

Barone's animals mounted to the walls of the Lodge are we more expected to see at a natural history museum and it really helped us learn about what surrounded the ranch as well as the animals of the World all in one weekend.

The Bears, Mountain Lions and Goats, Wolves, Elk, all tell an individual of the inhabitants of Montana without asking. Seeing some of these animals really makes the lodge and gives it a feeling that you will not find in any other lodge. Al has traveled many thousands of miles to capture some of these animals and loves to showcase them with guests. They certainly make for great conversation pieces while sitting next to the fire.

One of the best features of the Bar One Ranch is how Sheri caters to the guests at a level that is just not found at your average Bed and Breakfast. There is not much she will not do for her guests, especially wedding parties. Have a 100 people, need a unique reception? Sheri has it covered better than some who plan weddings for a living.

Most Bed and Breakfast's have small rooms and a tight quarters and not to mention some of them even have food that sometimes is undesirable at times, not at Bar One. Sheri and Al have arranged all four of the rooms, to ensure a more homely feeling. Each room has its own individual flavor depending on how many people are in your party. Whether you have two people or 10, Bar One will include everyone at an equal level.

Our choice to lay our tired heads down for the evening was the Master Suite. This suite certainly would be fit for a Lumber Jack or even someone the size of Paul Bunyan. If you like the chances of seeing wildlife, this is the room to see it from.

The Master Suite is equipped with a king size bed, features a private bath and Jacuzzi. Add a private deck, TV, VCR, and DSS satellite and what else could you miss except going back to your own house. What guests will find they like most about this room is its openness to the wilderness. It's large windows bring in an afternoon of sunshine enough to keep you warm in the dead of winter. You never know what you will wake up to see right from the huge windows of the room.

Inside of the Master Suite you will once again find unique creations such as handcrafted chairs from animals horns that Al has accumulated over the years. Even the hand crafted trout headboard of the bed in the Master Suite relates back the excellent trout fishing found in the pond next to the lodge and within the Clark Fork River, just minutes from the Lodge and several places just miles from downtown Missoula. Bar One caters to hunters and fisherman alike. The bed in the Master Suite was so incredibly comfortable, we wanted to sneak it out the back door when Sheri wasn't looking.

If you happen to arrive with a wedding party or group and somehow do not have the chance to lay stakes on the master suite, then either the Mountain View or the Forest View bedrooms are great selections. The Mountain View bedroom is equipped with a queen size bed, private bath and shower, private deck, TV, VCR, and DSS satellite. The Forest View bedroom is equipped with a queen and twin size bed, and a shared bathroom with full bath and shower.

Just when you thought the Lodge could not get any larger, each guest will have a full basement with a pool table for even more space to relax and not to have that cramped feeling. You could be with a party of 60 people at the Bar One Ranch and never feel like you are running into anyone. Even with a few people watching television on the big screen TV in the living room and others sitting in front of the fireplace, it will still feel like your living room, with plenty of space to spare.

Once you have settled in at the lodge, the best part is still to come... the dining experience.

We certainly were overwhelmed with the commitment that Bar One has towards its guests. As we sat at the hand carved wooden table and sank our forks into the dinner entrees, the Bar One Ranch had just established itself as the premier dining and lodging option in our books.

Not only does the Bar One Ranch have a kitchen that some restaurants wished they had, the end product is well worth waiting for. Sheri certainly makes each one her guests feel like celebrities with individual proportions that would certainly make the Grizzlies happy that can be seen roaming around the property.

If Filet Mignon is you choice entree, then you need to request that Sheri whip up what she put on the table for us the second night at the ranch. Some steakhouses we have reviewed would be ashamed to see their product next to her's. Sheri's presentation along with professionalism is second to none. When she hand made pasta for us the final evening, we almost had to bring her back with us. Even some celebrities do not have this type of treatment. Whether it is fresh salmon of prime rib, each dish is sure to amaze each person at the table.

If you thought the meals were at a level beyond five star, wait until you venture out anywhere on the land owned by Barone. It is a time that you will be explaining for days upon returning home... that is providing you want to return home.

Bar One has an abundance of extra curricular activities to participate in, some of which we included for those guests looking for choices.

For those who like to have a "hot" time in the wilderness, make sure to leave some time for relaxing in the hot tub found on the side of the main lodge. You and your friends can take in the clear Montana skies at night or the amazing sunsets that some city visitors never have the chance to see, while enjoying the hot tub.

Grab your hiking boots, or saddle up in one of their horses or take their four wheelers along the back of the ranch and you will be truly amazed by the wonderful views of nature. Much of the land that surrounds the ranch is National Forest Service property and is protected, so these views will be preserved just as you will see them.

If you venture to the ranch in the winter months, which in Montana can start at the beginning of November, the ranch has snowmobiles that will have you scooting all around seeing some of the winter wildlife.

Whether you are looking for a group get away, or just a romantic weekend away from it all, the Bar One Ranch offers a better than five star experience that will leave you wanting to come back weekend after weekend and next time bringing all of your friends. We will certainly return in the Spring to see more of Montana's finest wildlife that is guaranteed to be just a step away from our room with a view.

For more information about making a reservation at the Bar One Ranch or to inquire about their specials and current rates, contact Sheri Huyser at the ranch at(406)626-4674 or visit Bar One's website at http://www.bar-oneranch.com/

The Bar One Ranch is located at

34500 Cedar Creek Road

Huson, MT 59846