Join the Elkhorn Ranch Crew!

Summer Jobs at Elkhorn Ranch Montana

Our crew often tells us that working at Elkhorn is one of the best experiences of their lives!

During your time at Elkhorn, you’ll meet amazing people from all over the world and often leave with lifelong friends. Our 30 person crew is passionate about the outdoors and genuinely enjoys working with people. The ideal candidates for Elkhorn are team-players, self-motivated, hardworking, responsible, teachable, patient, and kind. Working and living with the same people can be difficult, so open communication with crew and managers is key throughout the summer. During your summer at Elkhorn, you’ll work hard but enjoy a fun and rewarding experience that you’ll never forget!

Our guest season runs mid-June to mid-September. The ideal applicant would be available from mid-May (June 1st at the latest) to mid-September (wranglers must be able to start work in mid-May). We will have a limited number of positions available for college students who need to return to school in mid to end of August. A small number of crew members will be asked to stay until mid-October. Please include the dates you are available in your application. We are not currently hiring for any year-round positions.

Working on a dude ranch is not your typical 40 hour work week. You will have one day off each week and be able to participate in guest activities when available. You will usually work a half day on Saturday unless we have 2-week guests. Please do not apply if you’re not comfortable working long hours.

Your room and board will be provided at no cost to you. You will most likely live in shared housing with 1 or more roommates. There will be wifi in your cabin and in the crew room. However, there is no wifi or cell service anywhere else on the ranch.

Please read through the entire job description(s) before applying. We appreciate your interest and patience as we look through applications. We’re a small team of managers so please allow up to 2 weeks for us to review your application.

We kindly ask that you do not call us regarding employment. If you have questions, please email [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Wrangler

Our wrangler's primary responsibility is to lead our guests safely into the backcountry. Responsibilities include but are not limited to guiding and tailing trail rides, caring for over 100 horses, teaching guests basic horsemanship skills, maintaining tack and equipment, fencing, trail clearing, general ranch maintenance, cleaning the barn, bringing along young and green horses, basic doctoring and wrangling in the morning and evening. You must be hardworking and a team-player; this role will require you to work long and hard hours, including very early mornings.

Wranglers must have a teachable attitude and take direction from our Head Wrangler as Elkhorn’s operation will be unique from any other barn. Wranglers must have extensive horseback and horsemanship experience to be considered. The ideal candidate is a team-player, self-starter, calm under pressure, responsible, and professional. While this is a horseback riding role, this is primarily a customer service position! You must be patient and kind to guests while ensuring their safety. You will help guests build horsemanship skills throughout the week. Many of our guests are returners, while others have never been on a horse before. Please submit a riding video in order to be considered for this position. We will need to see you catch, halter, groom, saddle, bridle and ride (walk/trot/lope). If you have little to no horse experience, please do not apply. Applicants must be able to start the week of May 18th and stay until at least August 22nd. Most openings will be for applicants who can stay through at least our entire guest season (September 12th) or longer.

Kids Wrangler/Peanut Butter Parent (PBP)

At Elkhorn, our kids program is truly a one of a kind, life changing experience thanks to our PBPs. The ideal candidate is responsible, hardworking, patient, kind and calm under pressure. This position will require you to work long and hard hours. Responsibilities include leading or tailing kid’s rides, coordinating games and supervising play on ranch, and, most importantly, ensuring the safety of the Peanuts (ages 6-12) at all times.

Horseback riding experience is required for this role. Kids Wranglers must be patient and help the Peanuts build horsemanship skills throughout the week, while keeping a close eye on them at all times to ensure their safety while riding. Previous experience with kids ages 6-12 is preferred but is not required. That being said, you must enjoy spending time with kids! Please submit a riding video in order to be considered for this position. We will need to see you catch, halter, groom, saddle, bridle and ride (walk/trot/lope). If you have little to no horse experience, please do not apply for this role and please consider applying for our babysitter/PBP position. Please familiarize yourself with our kid’s program page on our website before applying. Must be able to stay through our family season (August 23rd). Please submit a riding video in order to be considered for this position. We will need to see you catch, halter, groom, saddle, bridle and ride (walk/trot/lope). If you have little to no horse experience, please do not apply for this role and please consider applying for our babysitter/PBP position. Please familiarize yourself with our kids program page on our website before applying.

Applicants must be able to start by June 1st and stay until August 22nd.

Babysitter/Peanut Butter Parent (PBP)

If you’re interested in working with our kids program but you don’t have any riding experience, this role is for you! This is a 2-part position so please read the entire job description. When we don’t have children under 6 on ranch, you’ll be expected to work as a team with our Kid’s Wranglers/ PBPs to help coordinate games and activities for our Peanuts (ages 6-12), supervise meals and play times, and most importantly ensure the safety of our peanuts at all times.

You might occasionally be asked to help our Kid’s Wrangler/PBPs on a trail ride when they need help supervising multiple peanuts. However, this would not require you to have any experience with horses. When we have children under 6 on the ranch, you would be a dedicated caretaker for no more than 1-2 children under 6 at a time. During those weeks, you would not be expected to help with the Peanuts (6-12). Previous babysitting experience with references is required. Please familiarize yourself with our kids program page on our website before applying for this role.

Applicants must be able to start by June 1st and stay until August 22nd.

Breakfast Cook/Baker

Seeking a team-player, with cooking and baking experience to be our Breakfast Cook and Baker and cook upscale ranch-style cuisine. Our Breakfast Cook/Baker reports directly to our Head Chef for meal-planning, inventory, scheduling etc.

Responsibilities include making breakfast for up to 40 guests and 30 crew members throughout the week, accommodating dietary restrictions when needed (gluten free, vegan, nut allergies etc), baking cookies and desserts, maintaining a clean and sanitary kitchen, and working with our servers and Head Chef to ensure smooth service.

Breakfast is always served as a buffet with a different breakfast special each day. You can be creative with breakfast specials, cookies and desserts. You may be asked to make lunch or dinner if our Head Chef is sick. While working in a kitchen can be stressful and fast paced at times, it is incredibly important to keep calm under pressure and treat the kitchen crew with respect at all times.

Applicants must be able to start by June 1st and stay through mid-September, ideally longer.

Kitchen Server

Looking for team-players who are passionate about customer service to join our kitchen crew of 5 servers. Responsibilities include setting up buffet-style meals in our dining room and cookouts on the trail, some basic food preparation, dishwashing, serving beer and wine, and maintaining a clean kitchen and dining room.

While most of your time will be spent serving meals in the dining room, we also head outside 3 times a week to cook over a fire and share a meal on the trail. This position includes a lot of interaction with guests and servers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and friendly manner at all times. Previous serving experience is not necessary but would be helpful.

Applicants must be able to start by June 1st and stay until at least August 22nd. Most openings will be for applicants who can stay at least through September 12th, ideally longer.

Cabin Crew/Housekeeping

Seeking detail-oriented, organized, self starters to join our cabin crew. Responsibilities include daily cleaning of our 14 historic guest cabins and common areas, laundry, and weekly flip of all cabins on Saturdays. Cabin crew is also expected to help in other departments when needed including outdoor chores, dishwashing, office help etc.

Hours for cabin crew are often the most flexible hours of any ranch jobs allowing you time to relax and enjoy ranch life. The ideal candidate can stay through our entire guest season (mid-September).

Hiking Guide/ Office Flex

If you have a passion for the great outdoors and sharing it with others this is the position for you. Responsibilities include leading daily hikes based on our guests’ experience and comfort levels. Ranging from a loop around the property to an all day adventure. While not guiding hikes this person will help in the office; answering the phone, helping with guest questions, and assisting the office manager with administrative duties.

This position will require being flexible, a team-player, and self-starter. Must be comfortable working alone and being responsible for others while guiding, in addition to working as a team.

Applicants must be able to start by June 1st and stay until at least September 12th. Must be 21 or older for this position.

Babysitter (week-long position)

If you’re dreaming of working on a dude ranch but you can’t spend the entire summer away, you can join our crew for 1-2 weeks during the summer as a sitter! You would be a dedicated caretaker for 1 child between the age of 1-5 for the entire week. Responsibilities include working with the family to coordinate your hours, playing games with the little one outside and in our Rec Hall, and most importantly ensuring their safety throughout the week.

You must be willing to work long hours and be flexible throughout the week. Previous babysitter experience and references are required. We will provide you with housing, meals, and airport transportation at no charge for the week. Hourly pay rate is based on experience.

Maintenance

Our maintenance crew is responsible for the upkeep of our historic buildings and facilities on the ranch. This role includes a wide range of tasks, from small fixes such as changing light bulbs to addressing plumbing and electrical issues. Additional responsibilities include taking out trash, stocking firewood for cabins, and lighting fires in the morning for guests. We are willing to train the right candidate, though general maintenance knowledge is preferred.

All Elkhorn Ranch crew members will be expected to help out in any department when necessary.

Summer 2026 Job Application

Please fill out the entire application and click SUBMIT when complete. Thank you!

"*" indicates required fields

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Legal Name:*

Full name please, and feel free to add a 'nickname'

Are you over 18? or 21?*

All employees must be 18 by May of 2026 - no exceptions.

Phone*

Email:*

Are you authorized to work lawfully in the United States?*

Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor any kind of visa.

Current Address:*

What is your height in feet?*

We need to know this because of horse/weight restrictions.

What is your weight in lbs?*

We need to know this because of horse/weight restrictions.

First Job Preference:*

Please be sure to read through the entire job description(s) listed above.

Second Job Preference:*

Please be sure to read through the entire job description(s) listed above.

Are you interested in any other jobs listed if your first and second job preference are not available?*

Start Date:*

All crew must be able to start between May 18 - June 1, 2026.

End Date:*

Please list the last possible day you are able to work. All crew must be able to stay until at least August 22nd, 2026. Ideal candidates are able to stay until mid-September.

Any comments regarding your dates? Any dates you need to leave during the summer?*

What are your expectations for a monthly salary? Your food and housing will be provided at no cost to you.*

Education Background:*

School, Years Attended, Area of Focus

For Example:
Montana State University, 2017-2021, BS of Equine Science Senior High School, graduated 2017

Referred by:

How did you hear about the Elkhorn?

What drew you to dude ranching and Elkhorn Ranch specifically?*

Summarize the skills you'll bring to Elkhorn.*

If you are applying to be a wrangler, do you have experience working with horses? Please go into detail.

If you are applying to be a PBP or sitter, do you have experience working with children? Please go into detail.

Do you play a musical instrument?

It's optional, but guests do love to listen to crew play around the campfire and on square dance night!

Do you have any impairment that would interfere with your ability to perform the job for which you have applied?*

You will be working an active job for long hours, spending most of the day on your feet, and carrying at least 30 pounds.

Do you have any allergies (food or other)?*

Resume:

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Most Recent Employment History or "See Resume":

Please list the following for you most recent employment:
1. Employer
2. Location
3. Dates of Employment
4. Reason for Leaving
5. Position & Duties
6. Supervisor & Contact Info

If you've not held a job yet, just write 'No previous work experience'.

Previous Employment History or "See Resume":

First Reference:*

Please list a professional or personal reference for us to contact. At least 2 references must be former employers.
Name, Phone Number, Email, and Relationship.

Second Reference:*

Please list a professional or personal reference for us to contact. At least 2 references must be former employers.
Name, Phone Number, Email, and Relationship.

Third Reference:*

Please list a professional or personal reference for us to contact. At least 2 references must be former employers.
Name, Phone Number, Email, and Relationship.

Photo:*

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Please share a recent photo of yourself. We ask for this as we are often unable to do personal interviews.

Riding Video Link:

Please submit a riding video in order to be considered for Kid's Wrangler or Wrangler. We will need to see you catch, halter, groom, saddle, bridle and ride (walk/trot/lope). YouTube links tend to work best.

Do you have a driver's license?*

Some positions do require a driver's license.

CPR/First Aid*

If you are not certified, we do host a training for the entire staff during our preseason.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? All crew members will be required to complete a background check.*

If YES, please explain:

Agreement:*

I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application. I understand that misrepresentation or omission of facts asked for is cause for dismissal. I also understand and agree that my employment is for no definite period and may be terminated at any time without previous notice.

Signature:*

By typing out your legal name, you agree to the above statement.

Date:*

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