Updated on Jul 20, 2026
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Type
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Private vacation home
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Bedrooms
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3
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Bathrooms
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1
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House Rules
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No pets allowed
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Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Smoking is not permitted
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No events allowed
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Max Occupancy
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5
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Property Id
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118097
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The Tailwater House: A Magical Place! 5 Guests Maximum. No exceptions.
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Unlike many rentals, the Tailwater is not a low quality spec home of plywood and formica. It is not on the busy I-93 corridor. It is not located in parched, wind-blown country. It is a quiet, shaded, secluded custom home built of high quality, natural materials. The Tailwater is for those who desire a relaxing experience in a tasteful home, as opposed to a generic mass produced “cabin”. Our price reflects this experience. Please Note: there is no WiFi, and no cable tv. Never will be. This is meant to be an escape from the internet and the airwaves. Wifi is available close by at Darby Library.
Some recent reviews have lamented the small TV screen—if you want to watch a big TV this isn’t the place. Note also, one of the three bedrooms has a separate entrance on the Boulder Creek side of the house. This is the bedroom with the queen size bed. Again— McMansion dwelling wide-screen tv watching travelers: this isn’t your place. The Las Vegas holiday inn with speakers set to “river sounds” may be more suitable.
The Tailwater House offers first class accommodations in an unmatched natural setting. No dwellings are visible from the Tailwater; it is extremely private. The Tailwater offers all modern comforts and displays the hand-chosen accoutrements of a well-planned retreat. The Tailwater sits at the confluence of the West Fork of the Bitterroot River and Boulder Creek outside of Darby, Montana. Both watercourses flow out of the largest contiguous block of federally protected Wilderness in the lower 48 states, and meet one another at this very magical place. The Boulder Creek Trailhead into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is a short walk away.
From the Tailwater’s decks, patios, and picture windows, native westslope cutthroat trout, as well as rainbows, brookies, and browns may be seen plying the blue ribbon waters of the West Fork or returning to the cool waters of Boulder Creek to spawn. Kingfishers, mallards, hummingbirds, owls, ospreys, eagles, and many more avian species inhabit the forest in which the Tailwater House resides. Some of these birds may be fishing along side you! In the forests, meadows, and surrounding peaks, elk, moose, black bear, bighorn sheep, and intact ecological systems flourish in the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests. Instream flows have been preserved on the West Fork for perpetuity. Deep pools abound in the waters surrounding the property. For flatwater enthusiasts, Painted Rocks Reservoir is a few miles away.
The Tailwater House offers pristine trout waters a few steps from the door (literally). It is a fly fishing Mecca, but moreover, it is a magical escape in which Boulder Creek’s gurgling rhythms and the West Fork’s deep songs will serenade your worries away--all day and all night. Writers and artists take note; inspiration is a year-round occupant at the Tailwater.
The Tailwater House is 20-30 minutes by car from Darby, MT; 40-45 minutes from Hamilton, MT; and 1.5 hours from Missoula International Airport and the University of Montana, Missoula. The Tailwater is approximately a one half-day drive to both Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, as well as to Idaho's world-famous Salmon River.
There are several lodges within minutes of the tailwater that offer informal as well as fine dining options. These include the Triple Creek Ranch and the West Fork Lodge--both 5-10 minutes from the Tailwater House. Please google for the websites of these businesses as VRBO limits the websites we can list here.
Tailwater House Amenities
The Tailwater sleeps 5 guests. (5 maximum, no exceptions.) It has 1 bathroom, 1 king size bed, 1 queen bed and 1 twin bunk bed, and 1 sleeper sofa (full). Appliances include telephone, flat screen HD tv/vcr, microwave and conventional ovens, washer/dryer, dishwasher, stereo, gas BBQ grill on porch, and other kitchen appliances. 100% cotton linens provided for use. No smoking. No pets. We don't make exceptions to these rules, as many (including our children) are in need of a smoke-free, or pet-hair free lodging environment due to allergies and other challenges. Please keep these restrictions in mind PRIOR to making any plans. House features large book, guidebook, and DVD/VHS library.
The Tailwater Tale
The Tailwater is a magical place. It will be love at first sight, cast, or swim for you--as it was for us.
We purchased The Tailwater in 2006, and manage it as a family business. Our philosophy is one of sharing this special place for a reasonable price, rather than maximizing occupancy and income. We try hard to be conscientious stewards of The Tailwater and the ecosystem in which it exists. We ask that our guests do the same. It is our pleasure to share this special place and its inimitable moods and sylvan magic with you. We send our warmest thanks for your patronage,
-The Tailwater House
*Minimum Stay is five nights during summer months (June- August). Two night minimum stay otherwise. Additional days will be pro-rated.
Payment is by certified check, personal check (with one month lead time prior to rental), electronic transfer, or credit card. No cash transactions. Payment via paypal may be possible (please call to inquire). Rental rates exclude a refundable $400 Security Deposit, to be returned after stay if property sustains no damage. There is an 8% bed taxed charged by Ravalli County that is due with payment.
The Tailwater House
West Fork Road
Darby, Montana
For more information, call or e-mail.
Keywords: Riverfront House
Located in Darby, this vacation home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Painted Rocks State Park and Bitterroot River, while Darby Pioneer Memorial Museum and Historic Forest Service Museum are cultural highlights. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and sledding.
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