Mills Wilderness Adventures of Mt, Inc. was established in 1977 by Ron Mills. Ron was born and raised on ranches around Augusta, Montana and worked for different outfitters from 1959 to 1976.
Tucker Mills went on his first pack trip with his father when he was five years old, started taking summer trips with his father at sixteen, and is now an owner and manager for the operation.
Tucker’s wife Amy, who was also born and raised in Augusta, guides and cooks during summer and some hunting trips, and handles the correspondence and office duties. Tucker and Amy’s two sons, Bryar and Turk, are packers, guides, and wranglers on most summer trips. Together, this family has made Mills Wilderness adventures one of the largest operators in the Bob Marshall.
They have well-trained and gentle horses that work well with people of all ages and riding experience. Their headquarters is in Augusta, Montana, and they guide pack trips from Benchmark trailhead, through the Sun River Game Preserve, over the Continental Divide, and into the White River, Danaher and South Fork of the Flathead River drainages.
Their base camp, just four miles from the Continental Divide, is near many well-known landmarks including the Chinese Wall, Needle Falls, Flathead Alps, Big Salmon Lake, Gladiator Mountain, Haystack Mountain, Turtle Head, Flat Iron and Cliff Creek. This camp is located 24 miles away from the nearest trail head and only accessible by backpackers or horseback riders. It is rebuilt every summer and taken down every fall, making it one of the only permanent camps in the wilderness. Its location in the Bob offers great day rides to scenic vistas atop the surrounding mountain peaks.
In January 2023, they partnered with Blacktail Ranch, starting year-round operations. Blacktail Ranch, which became known as Blacktail Ranch and Lodge, is a short drive from Augusta, Montana, and has been in operation for more than 50 years. Blacktail Ranch even has a cave and on-site museum which houses artifacts from the cave and early pioneering days. Kathy Robinson has agreed to be the manager of the Blacktail Ranch bringing a lifetime of Guest Ranch hospitality with her. Kathy was raised hosting guests at a family guest ranch.
Plan your vacation with Mills enjoy the several archeological sites of Blacktail Ranch, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and more. The Blacktail Ranch has an upcoming Yoga Retreat June 17 with spots still available. Check out www.blacktailranch.com for more information on retreat and day tours. For more information on how you can experience this amazing adventure, call Blacktail Ranch at 406-235-4330, or Mills Wilderness Adventures of MT 406-562-3576 and mention you found them in The Augusta Breeze.