Contact us
Kip Rugg
10697 Southside Rd.
Superior, MT 59872
Home: (406) 822-4915
Cell: (406) 822-2061
kip@ruggsoutfitting.com
For cabin rentals: Teresa Rugg - (406) 382-0012
For horse leasing and boarding: Ray Rugg - (406) 822-2062
Leave a Review
If you have come on an adventure with us, we would love to hear your feedback. Either email us directly at kip@ruggsoutfitting.com or if you are willing, use one of the links below to share your experience with others.
Currently 4.8/5.0 of 73 reviews
Click either yes or no on "Do you recommend Rugg's Outfitting?"
Recent Review (August 2023): We traveled to Montana on a spur of the moment, before school started, last hoorah trip. I found Ruggs and booked a Cabin and trail ride with my two boys. Kip and Teresa were so great!!! The cabin was so cozy and comfortable for the boys and I. We had all the convenience of home but in a cozy cabin with amazing views of mountains, river and Big Sky!!! They are close to St. Regis and Superior for anything you need. Our Trail ride was amazing and my boys, who have never ridden a horse before, loved it! They have the love for Horses now that I have always had and they finally “Get it” when I talk about how amazing horses are!! Thank you so much we had a great time and will definitely come back sometime!!!
17 five star reviews, 1 one star review from a non-client.
Yelp seems insistent on hiding any recent, favorable reviews as 'unhelpful', but highlights the only one negative review from our neighborhood troublemaker who has never been a client of Rugg's Outfitting. Click into the 'reviews not currently recommended' for a more complete picture of our client's opinions. More reviews here would be much appreciated to give anyone looking at Yelp a more realistic picture!
Recent Review (April 2024): If you want a genuine American wild west experience which gives you just enough adrenaline to keep you on the edge but makes you feel safe and well cared for, Rugg's Outfitting is the right place and Kip the right guide! I wanted to give my Scottish cousin who came to visit us in Missoula an unforgettable experience. She's an experienced rider and 15 years younger than me so I was understandably wary of joining the tour thinking that I might keep them back. Kip understood my concerns and assured me he has the perfect horse to match to every type of rider. I can't thank Kip enough for choosing Highway for me! Highways was very careful of me, took to the trail with a sure foot, avoided the tree trunks and NEVER showed any sign that he would get spooked and take off with me (or without me) which was my biggest fear. I learned to trust my horse and my ability to hold on and rely on his instincts and enjoyed an amazing experience that I would have sorely missed had I not trusted Kip and his expertise in dealing with skittish tourists and steady horses on a wild and scenic trail. For 4 hours, which felt much shorter, we climbed a rugged ridge that felt like we were Wild West pioneers discovering a new world. Even my experienced rider cousin couldn't stop saying WOW! Thank you, Kip, for taking such great care of me and my cousin and for giving us an unforgettable adventure! I look forward to our next adventure with you and your amazing horses!
Currently 5.0/5.0 of 16 reviews
Recent Review (June 2023): What great people! I traveled to the area from the eastern part of the state and had a ride planned with another company. Even though I had a confirmation email, they said they were closed that day and never heard of me. At least they recommended I call Rugg's.3Not wanting me to miss out, Kip put together a last-minute ride for me with his nephew, Elijah. He gave me a quick safety and technique lesson, and off we went for a 2.5 hour ride through some beautiful forest. Elijah was friendly and helpful and kept an eye out to make sure my horse and I were close behind. They really saved the day for me - I suspect it was much better than what I had originally planned. The next time I make it to the area, I plan to book another ride with Rugg's. I think they truly care about giving people a good experience.
Currently 5.0/5.0 of 27 reviews
Recent Review (April 2024): Ruggs Outfitting provided an exceptional horseback riding adventure that exceeded all of our group's expectations. Led by the knowledgeable and personable guide, Kip, our experience was nothing short of phenomenal. The horses themselves were well-trained and calm, adding to the overall sense of ease and relaxation, especially for a few who were new to riding. The scenic trails we explored were breathtaking, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Would definitely recommend if you want a REAL Montana experience! Thank you Kip!
Our Family
Kip and Teresa Rugg - Kip runs the water activities and all outfitting. He also takes care of all the horse shoeing for the outfit and many other neighbors. Kip is a proven elk bugler, winning national acclaim and demonstrating his skills in the mountains. In his spare time, he is active in Search and Rescue. Teresa is Kip's better half and even though having a full-time job herself, helps make sure everything runs smoothly with the outfitting and handles all of the cabin rentals.
Ray Rugg - Ray is a native of Western Montana and has spent his life guiding sportsmen into the Great Burn area. He guided his first party in at the age of 12. Ray is very active in local and national organizations, and currently serves on several committees for Mineral County and for Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. Ray started a local chapter of Mule Deer Foundation, went on to State Chair and then on the national Board of Directors. He has timed out on that so is now on Search and Rescue board for Mineral county. Ray has now retired and only chips in to help when needed.
Korey, Ryann, Brock, Hank Rugg - Korey, a partner with a degree in Environmental Engineering, somehow finds time to guide and help some with the ranch work while working full-time at the Waste Water Plant in Missoula. Ryann, his wife, also helps with cooking and shuttling for clients in the summer when needed. We may also have a new Whitewater guide as Ryann has been working on her rowing. Brock and Hank both help out on trail rides when they can in the summer as well.
R. Keith, Ilana, Ayala, Talia Rugg - R. Keith Rugg, a third–generation Raymond Rugg, lives back east in Massachusetts with his family, wife Ilana and daughters Ayala and Talia. A career journalist and salesman, he keeps his hand in the family business on the marketing side of things.
Kevin, Soledad, Isabelle Rugg - Kevin lives in S.F. Bay Area with his wife Soledad and his daughter, Isabelle. Isabelle created and maintains our website. They still get away a couple times a year to come back and enjoy Montana (and fix whatever computer problems have built up since they visited).
History
Rugg's Outfitting is a small, family owned and operated company with its origins starting when Raymond Paul Rugg, Sr. -- Grandpa Rugg -- purchased the Hole-in-the-Wall property in 1947 and build the first lodge in 1948. The Hole-in-the-Wall burned down in 1961, was rebuilt in 1962, and then later sold in 1965.
Raymond Paul Rugg, Jr. -- Ray -- packed his first hunting party into the hills by himself in 1956. The several days late arrival of a party after Grandpa and all of the other guides were in the back country to pack game out from the base camp required the 12 year old Ray to guide the latecomers into camp by himself.
For nearly the next two decades, Ray worked on and off again as a professional guide. When he returned from the military service in 1970, he guided at the Hole-in-the-Wall until it was sold in 1973. By the spring of 1975, Ray had had so many hunters requesting that he guide them that he finally took his outfitter's exam in 1975 and began outfitting and guiding in Montana again. In 1978 he decided to expand his operations and bought an outfitting unit in Idaho's Selway-Bitterroot area. From that time up until 1995, Ray outfitted in both Montana and Idaho.
In 1994 Ray sold his ranch in the Mission Valley of Montana and moved to Superior, on the Clark Fork, in order to be closer to the outfitting areas. In 1995 he sold the Selway outfitting and in 1996 bought an Idaho outfitting area closer to his Montana area.
While all of Ray's four sons have helped out with the outfitting business in various capacities throughout the years, youngest son Kip passed his outfitter exams in 2007 and has taken over the outfitting and river operations, leaving Ray to semi-retire, looking after the horse leasing and cabin rentals and just act as support for the outfitting, while son Korey pitches in whenever he is needed.
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