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Life is Good Lodge Montana on Gary Cooper Ranch at Dearborn River

Photo gallery for Life is Good Lodge Montana on Gary Cooper Ranch at Dearborn River

Exterior
Outdoor dining
Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 7204 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot Tub
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Life is Good Lodge Montana on Gary Cooper Ranch at Dearborn River

Wade or enjoy a private take out/put in on the Dearborn River in the back yard. Fly fishing guides come to fish here n their days off when we are at the house!

Custom house on 10 acres. Don’t be surprised to see deer, ducks and geese nudging their way near the deck, or a bear eating huckleberries along the river in the early morning. If you are especially quiet and observant, the hundred thousand acres of ranch across the river have antelope, bear, goats and even a rare bobcat or mountain lion.

Help yourself to the library, watch satellite television or DVD movies, or read from the house’s library. Full size pool table ...

Only few miles from the Missouri Inn over the bridge where the Untouchables was filmed, enjoy the canyon or visit the Lewis and Clark’s Tower Rock and surrounding park. From your base, drive south to Yellowstone, northwest to Glacier Park, or to the continent’s largest dinosaur digs. Float the Lewis and Clark Trail by pontoon boat and lunch at the island where one of the nation's most famous fire occurred, or "ride the rails" with Europeans. there is gambling, but it isn't in your face if you want to avoid it.

Hike with tremendous rock views, or enjoy the new, custom kitchen and fisherman’s décor. In the evening, BBQ, use the fire pit, hang on the deck and watch the sunset, then take your pick of three spacious bedrooms where extra long beds await.

Property manager

Donna

Languages

English

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Spa tub

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car required

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Toaster
  • Kitchen island
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Ice maker

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Pool or billiards table
  • DVD player
  • Music library
  • Video library
  • Stereo
  • Games
  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 2 total (up to 50 lbs per pet)
  • Welcoming dogs only

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: smoke on the deck with closed windows, not inside

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • On the river
  • On the waterfront
  • In the mountains
  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo

Things to do

  • Golfing on site
  • Kayak on site
  • Boat on site
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 2200 sq ft (204 sq m)

Similar properties

Property grounds

6+ bedrooms, 3 bath, Sauna, Hot tub! excellent flyfishing all on the Mighty Mo!

Hot Tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
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6+ bedrooms, 3 bath, Sauna, Hot tub! excellent flyfishing all on the Mighty Mo!

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total (up to 50 lbs per pet)
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: A kennel with advance notice; no dogs in house.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Perfect place for children to feel free!

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 20
Note from host: Prior notice please!
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Life is Good Lodge Montana Dearborn River Cascade
Life is Good Lodge Montana Dearborn River Cascade
Life is Good Lodge Montana Dearborn River
Life is Good Montana Dearborn River Cascade
Life is Good Montana Dearborn River
Life is Good Lodge Montana, Dearborn River Cascade
Life is Good Lodge Montana, Dearborn River Private vacation home
Private vacation home Life is Good Lodge Montana, Dearborn River
Life is Good Lodge Montana, Dearborn River Cascade

About the neighborhood

Map
Cascade, MT

What's nearby

  • Dearborn River - 4 min walk
  • Tower Rock Trailhead - 17 min drive
  • Holter Lake - 32 min drive
  • Holter Dam - 32 min drive
  • Gates of the Mountains Marina - 43 min drive

Getting around

  • Great Falls, MT (GTF-Great Falls Intl.) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Missouri Inn - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Uncle Joes - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Izaak's - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Craig Bar - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Papa's Burgers & Burritos - ‬15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Life is Good Lodge Montana on Gary Cooper Ranch at Dearborn River pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 50 lbs per pet.

What time is check-in at Life is Good Lodge Montana on Gary Cooper Ranch at Dearborn River?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Life is Good Lodge Montana on Gary Cooper Ranch at Dearborn River?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Life is Good Lodge Montana on Gary Cooper Ranch at Dearborn River located?

Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is within a 5-minute walk of Missouri River and Dearborn River. Tower Rock Trailhead and Tower Rock State Park are also within 12 mi (20 km).

Life is Good Lodge Montana on Gary Cooper Ranch at Dearborn River Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 39 out of 51 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 51 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 51 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 51 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 51 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

William H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great remote location for family!
We loved our stay-great home with nice kitchen; close to fabulous MT fishing.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gary W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful location
The property was everything we were looking for. This was a guy's fishing vacation with two sons and grandson. The best part was sitting out on deck under the night sky talking, laughing and sipping Montana wiskey. The house propvided the perfect setting for this to happen.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

JD R.

Liked: Cleanliness
fishing trip
everything was great,as advertized, yard work was not quite done but adequate, only complaint..the road, made for a pretty rough time in and out. enjoyed our time, would do it again !!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot !
Remote and perfect spot for our annual fly trip to Craig. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sefton I.

Liked: Cleanliness
True Montana Cabin
My brother and I took our father to Montana on a fishing trip as a gift for his 80th birthday. This place was remote and spacious with a pool table and satellite internet to boot! The owners provided lots of great information on how to get there and where to find groceries, etc. They even gave me some tips on what flies to use for our time there! The place was clean and was the best stocked VRBO house I’ve ever rented. Be sure you follow the advice to get a 4wd vehicle to get there. The airport rental agencies couldn’t promise us that we would get 4wd so we used the Turo app to find a private owner to rent a car from. The trout are in the pool right in front of this place. Magical.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matthew S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Rugged riverside cabin
What a wonderful stay! The cabin was extremely accommodating and clean. It had all the amenities that one would figure they would have at their own home. As they warn numerous of times, the road and drive way to the cabin is rugged and I would say a 4x4 vehicle of some type is REQUIRED to get to, but fortunately we were prepared. It took around 10-15 minutes to reach the cabin from the highway as you have to go SLOW as you traverse the mountains to get to the cabin. Some parts of the road have some steep, but breath taking views! Just be aware of this and you will have no problem. Donna was extremely responsive when we had questions regarding river access and making sure we weren't trespassing on nearby properties. (It wasn't an issue and we had full access to the Dearborn River and additional access in different locations of the Dearborn with a permission slip from the owners, incredible!) Be sure to read their letter they send when you book thoroughly, it covers all of your questions. The only thing to be aware is that in the photos, you don't see (or its hard to see) additional houses near the cabin. Just be advised that there are 4 additional cabins/ residences "nearby" but definitely not in close proximity. If you're looking for a cabin in extreme isolation, this is ALMOST that, but with some neighbors no closer than 100 yards or further, just to be mindful of. Overall it was a great stay for myself and family for a guys fishing trip!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wow!
This was our second time staying at this property, and again, we were blown away by how beautiful it was! We loved to spend time each day fishing and swimming in the river! Each evening we had deer to watch as we sat outside on the deck and enjoyed the landscape! Can't wait to return again! Thank you!!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

tyler s.

Liked: Cleanliness
Hidden Gem
This place is was great. The property is absolutely incredible. Its truly a unique experience. We had zero issues with anything, and Donna was great to work with. We will definitely be back in the future.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

David D., Chester Springs

Liked: Cleanliness
Privacy and Wilderness
Tremendous views and peaceful setting.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tanner M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fishing trip
House was great,close to fishing!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

2/10 Terrible

Dave s.

Disliked: Cleanliness
50-Year Veterans Fishing Reunion Ruined!
I would give this property and the owners a ZERO if I could. In my opinion, Donna the owner who lives back East and her husband Dave remind me of used car salesmen. They will tell you anything to get your money! They knew how important that this fishing reunion was to me and my Veterans, but they over promised and under delivered - Big Time! The owner Dave made numerous statements how good the fishing is in the river behind his cabin. His VRBO listing has a video that shows a lot of good size fish being caught but according to his wife, Donna the video was made by a production company and the owners are not responsible for the content. However, it sure made us feel that we could expect the same quality of fish. After four highly skilled fishermen fished up and down the river right behind their cabin for 11 miles, a total of four fish were caught. All of the fish were less than five inches long except for the "big one" which was eight-inches. As for the main cabin, well the bedrooms in the loft area are not private. They open to living & dining rooms. The DVD player did not work. The owners told us that using their wifi would work for our cell phones. Nope! Only for T-Mobile. As for the condition of the main cabin when we opened the pantry closet in the kitchen it was clear that that have had or have mice as there was a chewed bag of mice bait poison on the shelf next to cooking pans. We have pictures. A large frying pan in the cabinets were covered in old grease. We have pictures. The smaller cabin was littered in both live and dead insects. It looked like it had not been cleaned in weeks. There were two spiderwebs with live spiders - one of which had the marking of a black-widow. I have pictures. When I contacted Donna she sent the house cleaner back out to I thought clean the entire small cabin of bugs but no! She only cleaned a few areas of dead bugs.. Back to the main cabin,,, on Saturday while cooking dinner a mouse came out of an opening under the kitchen cabinets. He ran around and ran back into the cabinet. I have pictures. I contacted Donna she said that she does not have mice and that it must have been our fault. Because of the mouse and its potential for carrying disease, and the fact that one of my Veterans has a medical condition, we left one full day early. I asked for a one day refund because we did not want to leave but the mice situation made us leave to be safe. Donna refused & said not to contact her again. Wow!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

MelodyR R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Life is good
The property was great, a short walk to the water for fishing, swimming or kayaking. Water was a little low but we still got out there and enjoyed it. The only problem was the road to get there is a little rough even in our truck, prior to our arrival the area had a few downpours which eroded some of the road, Everything else was a class act. We are already hoping to come back in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dylan C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Dearborn River MT Vacation
Our family had a great time during our stay at the Life is Good Lodge. The location is remote / private and the river canyon is very scenic. Donna and Dave were helpful in communication with things to do and check in instructions.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steven K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely Evenings
The cabin had lots of space to hang out in. The pool table was a real plus. The evenings on the back deck was a spectacular place to hang out and watch for wildlife. The communication with the owners was very easy. This property is well worth giving a try.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeromy N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Mountain Getaway
Fantastic cabin, amazing amenities in beautiful, peaceful scenic countryside. A great place to disconnect (though it has wifi, but no cell service). An amazing place to just relax, fish and visit with friends and family. The property managers/owners couldn't be more friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this property and we would stay there again if the opportunity presents itself.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Douglas H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location but needs some TLC
The property is in a very nice location right on the Dearborn river. Unfortunately for us it was a drought year and the river was very low and water temps very warm. It did make for great swimming. The cabin is very nice but could use some regulars maintenance. Just little things like cabinet handles, Toilet flush handle, fresh set of non stick pans etc.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sarah L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Week in July get away
Remote location was great for an unplugged week. House has everything needed. Although there was a mix up with the cleaner, Host was very quick to respond. Just take all your groceries and enjoy the peace.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2021

2/10 Terrible

Randall M.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Listing description vs. reality - Two different things
The listing description and photos do not match this property. We photographed and told the owner all the problems we found (see just a few below). The owner, Donna, had excuses for everything that was wrong and claimed she was "unaware" of obvious long standing problems. Look at previous reviews, she apologizes and claims "it's just Montana" or "the housekeeper is no longer with us", she portrays the property one way and the reality is very different. We have provided descriptions and photos of each problem, but the VRBO review system wouldn't handle the length of the review as it was over four pages long. The owners do not live in Montana and apparently have no local property manager. The property was not ready when we arrived at 3pm, as promised, but 5pm. We strongly recommend you do not stay at this VRBO and we are seeking to get our money back. Problems: It lists "3 spacious bedrooms" when it is only one, with two upstairs lofts, no privacy open to main house. None of the photos in the VRBO listing clearly show the open lofts. The listing notes a "private take out/put in on the Dearborn River." However, the house is not on the river and access is via an easement through the neighbor's property. You cannot drive to the river and a boat would have to be carried several hundred yards. According to locals, the river has not fished well since a flood several years ago. The yard was unmowed and unusable. Inside we found: Mouse droppings and urine all over the cutlery, drawers and cabinets, dirty dishes in the dish washer, microwave was greasy and covered with dirt and bugs, the stove and oven was very greasy and dirty. The right front gas burner on the stove ignites with an explosive blast and is a burn hazard, the living room sofa had mouse droppings and urine smell, additional mouse droppings were in the bedroom closet and throughout the house. Kitchen faucet did not work properly, upstairs toilet did not flush correctly. The cell phone booster only works for T-Mobile. Note that some corrections were made. The housekeeper came back to clean the kitchen shelves and drawers. (No other problem areas in cabin were cleaned). Some poison baits were put outside BUT we could not let the dog out due to the poison placement. Donna's husband came by to bring laundry soap, garbage bags and change the door lock code (which he did not do). He also sprayed mouse deterrent spray outside the house. Do yourself a favor and stay somewhere else.
Stayed 12 nights in Jul 2021

6/10 Okay

Tess T.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Would rate higher except for housekeeping issues.
Would rate higher except for housekeeping issues (reported to owner) and the challenging drive in, as posted here by earlier guests. My husband and two friends stayed here a week on a fishing trip. The air conditioner wasn’t working when they arrived during the recent heat wave, but was fixed the next day. The upstairs toilet wasn’t flushing. (They fixed it, but a plumber should look at it.) They chose not to use the dishwasher due to heavy buildup of lime deposits and old, stuck food particles. The trash bins were overflowing upon arrival. And something has died under the porch (very aromatically, given the heat wave.) Beautiful location and, as advised in the check-in notes, there are rattlesnakes! This is Montana.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Brett B.

Great private property in Montana.
We had a great trip. The house was quite and nice and in a very unique location. The only thing we did not enjoy about the property was the 4 wheel drive road to the property itself. Thanks.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Steve F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Heaven is on the Dearborn!
Your beautiful Dearborn River Retreat was perfect for our mini family reunion! What a great view from the dining, main and pool table room as well as the patio and the bedrooms. We particularly enjoyed the native wildlife: deer, an eagle, and owls! The river Is running fast in muddy right now but still nonetheless and a beautiful experience to walk down along the river.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

David B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Missouri Fish Camp 2020
My son and I, plus a friend and his son, booked Donna and David's Dearborn River cabin as base for our 2020 Missouri fishing trip. The cabin proved to be exactly what we were looking for, mountain remote yet within 20 minutes of Craig. That included dragging our drift boats over the winding mountain road! The cabin was very clean, the beds were comfortable and the view looking over the Dearborn spectacular. We will definitely book this property again, assuming someone doesn't beat us to it!

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Nice location
Super nice area to spend a couple days in. Cabin was nice but place could have been cleaner. Bathrooms needed a good deep clean and the dishes were dirty. Really disappointed in the kennel, interior was filthy and there was no way it was suitable for a dog.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2020

8/10 Good

William C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fisherman’s Get Away
The house was nice but there were a couple of issues. You could tell an effort was made to control the earwigs in the kitchen but we had to spray the kitchen with raid as they were pretty invasive. The only other issue was the drive from the pavement to the property. We were informed an SUV is required and fortunately we had one but it wasn’t known until we had paid everything. Throat should be in the listing. The rest of the experience was great. Beautiful sunsets and stars at night. Easy access to the Dearborn river with great fishing!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Beau R., Great Falls mt

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful weekend
My Brothers and I had a great trip! The accommodations and weather were pleasant. The road to the property is very slow and bumpy but once you get back there.... it was so quiet. We enjoyed grilling on the back deck and watching the deer and even seen to owls. We had a great weekend. Thanks Donna and Monica
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020