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The Resort at Paws Up
Greenough, Montana, United States · Independent · Grand Luxury
On 37,000 acres along Montana's Blackfoot River, the Lipson family opened The Resort at Paws Up in June 2005 and mashed glamorous with camping into a word the rest of the industry still uses. Meriwether Lewis climbed Lookout Rock here in 1806; Charles Lindbergh's sons later ran cattle. Twenty-eight houses and 36 safari tents, Michelin Two Keys, and ten miles of the river from A River Runs Through It.
- 64 rooms
- Opened 2005
- Neighborhood: Blackfoot River
About The Resort at Paws Up
- The land lies along Meriwether Lewis's 1806 return route and was homesteaded in the 1880s, including an 1882 gold claim by Henry Martin.
- Sons of aviator Charles Lindbergh ran a cattle operation on the ranch starting in 1965.
- The Lipson family bought the ranch in 1997, named it for the way their dogs greeted them, and opened the resort in June 2005.
- Thirty-six safari-style tents and 28 luxury homes sit on 37,000 acres along ten miles of the Blackfoot River.
History
The land that comprises Paws Up was part of Meriwether Lewis's homeward journey in 1806, when he climbed what is now known as Lookout Rock to identify the best route back from the Pacific Ocean. The Blackfoot River, which flows for ten miles through the property, had served for centuries as a transportation corridor for Nez Perce, Flathead, and Blackfeet peoples; later it drew fur trappers, miners, and loggers following the same water.
Modern ranching on the land began in earnest in the 1880s. In 1882 homesteader Henry Martin staked a gold mining claim on what would become Martin Pasture. By the turn of the twentieth century Benjamin and Ollie Morris had built the Morris Ranch House that still stands on the property. Paul Greenough, who acquired four homesteads and additional acreage beginning in 1915 to assemble the first 3,800-acre consolidated ranch, gave his name to the surrounding area — the town of Greenough, Montana. The Lindbergh family, sons of aviator Charles Lindbergh, operated the Lindbergh Cattle Company on the land for over two decades beginning in 1965.
In 1997 Dave and Nadine Lipson purchased the ranch, which had expanded to 37,000 acres. They named it Paws Up after the enthusiastic greeting of their dogs and set about transforming private ranching into luxury hospitality. After years of improvements to infrastructure and facilities — including the architecturally impressive 7,000-square-foot Cook Shack built of stone and timber, and a full equestrian center — the property opened to guests in 2005. Paws Up is credited by many in the industry with coining the term "glamping," introducing the category of luxury canvas tent accommodations that combined the drama of an outdoor setting with genuine hospitality-grade amenities.
Today the resort spans 37,000 acres with over 100 miles of trails, 10 miles of the Blackfoot River — made world-famous by Norman Maclean's novel A River Runs Through It — and access to 1.5 million acres of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Accommodations range from timber-frame homes to luxury canvas tent camps and intimate two-guest houses. The MICHELIN Guide awarded Paws Up Two Keys in 2025.
The setting
30 miles from Missoula.
Experiences
- Montana Master Chefs weekend — Signature event weekend listed among the property's events.
- Cowgirl Roundups — Event listed on the events page.
- Montana-style holidays — Holiday events listed on the events page, described as in true Western style.
- Horseback rides — Horseback rides on the working cattle ranch.
- Fly-fishing — Fly-fishing on the property.
- Spa escapes — Spa escapes offered at the resort.
Amenities
- Spa
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Tennis
- Horseback riding
- Pet-friendly
- All-inclusive
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
Open The Resort at Paws Up in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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