Glacier National Park is a 1,583-sq.-mi. wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and

valleys running to the Canadian border. It's crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Among more than 700

miles of hiking trails, it has a route to photogenic Hidden Lake. Other activities include backpacking, cycling and camping. Diverse wildlife ranges from mountain goats to grizzly bears.

There are two "sides" in Glacier, the West Side and the East Side. Both have equally as many great views, hikes, and activities! They are connected by the famous "Going to the Sun Road". We recommend spending at least one day exploring each side! Glacier National Park is a vast park and the best length of stay to explore all Glacier has to offer is 2-4 days.

NEW: 2024 GNP regulations require a vehicle registration pass that needs to be purchased per vehicle for Going to the Sun Road (main road), The North Fork, and Many Glacier. Passes can be purchased on the NPS website and are open 120 days prior to your trip date. A limited amount of passes will also be released the night before your trip date at 7:00pm MST. If you are unable to get a pass, you are not out of luck- anyone can enter Glacier National Park without a registration pass before 6:00am or after 3pm! For more information, please check-out the NPS website.

Lodging in/near Glacier:

East Side (Browning)- Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier Park Lodge, St. Mary Village

West Side (Whitefish)- Lake McDonald Lodge, Glacier Guides Lodge, Flathead Lake Lodge, Great Northern Resort, Belton Chalet, The Great Bear Inn

Hiking in Glacier:

*Please make sure to have bear spray when hiking anywhere in bear country! Bear spray can be bought at local grocery stores, fly-shops, and outdoors stores. As always, make noise while hiking and keep a safe distance from ANY wildlife to protect them and yourselves!*

Download the AllTrails app for the best trail information and downloadable trail maps!

Hidden Lake Hike - Moderate - 5.1 mi RT- 1,338ft. - 3hrs

Avalanche Lake - Moderate - 5.9mi RT- 757ft. - 2.5hrs

Trail of the Cedars - Easy - 1mi RT - 49ft. - 20min

*Highline Trail - Hard - 14mi PTP - 2,621ft. - 7hrs (Start at Logan's pass, go to Granite Park Chalet, and end at The Loop (take free park shuttle back to LP)

*Cracker Lake - Hard - 12.8mi RT - 1,712ft. - 5.5hrs

Ptarmigan Tunnel - Hard - 10.6mi RT - 2,362ft. - 5.5hrs

Grinnell Glacier - Hard - 10mi RT - 2,047ft. - 5hrs

Swiftcurrent Nature Trail - Easy - 2.6mi RT - 127ft. - 1hr

Siyeh Pass Trail - Hard - 9.8mi RT - 2,244ft. - 5.5hrs

St. Mary and Virginia Falls - Moderate - 3.1mi RT - 454ft. - 1.5hrs

Iceberg Lake - Moderate - 9.6mi RT - 1,459ft. - 4hrs

Redrock Falls - Easy - 3.7mi RT - 242ft. - 1hr

Rocky Point - Easy - 2mi RT - 229ft. - 1hr

*= In Christian and Danielle's top 5 favorite hikes ever!! But all listed are amazing hikes!

Things to do in Glacier:

Lake McDonald Boat Tour | Glacier Park Boat Company

Experience tranquil views of Glacier National Park’s west side on this scenic hour-long boat tour. Climb aboard the historic

vessel, DeSmet, the flagship vessel in our historic fleet. The DeSmet is one of four vessels in our fleet that holds a spot on

the National Register for Historic Vessels! Built in 1930, she will take you along the emerald-hued Lake McDonald while

enjoying the majestic view of the Continental Divide.

The Lake McDonald ticket office is located near the dock behind Lake McDonald Lodge. Customers may either walk

through or around the Lodge and take the stairs or walking path to the lake shore. The ticket office is located at the end of

the stairs. The nearest restroom facilities are located in Lake McDonald Lodge or there are pit toilets at the west end of the

parking lot.

White-Water Rafting | Glacier Raft Company

Our half-day Glacier National Park white water rafting trip offers the perfect opportunity to get a taste of adrenaline while

sampling phenomenal views into Glacier National Park without having to commit your whole day. The 2 1⁄2 hour trip takes

place on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and begins amongst the eye-popping vistas of Nyack Flats before flowing

through the exhilarating whitewater of John Stevens Canyon.

Swim at Lake McDonald

Take a dip in the iconic "rainbow pebble" lake! With multiple beach areas at Lake McDonald lodge and Fish Creek Campground, this lake is great for a post-hike swim or fun family outing!

The Town of Whitefish:

A stroll through the covered sidewalks of Central Avenue or through the historic Railway District reveals a broad variety of

locally-owned shops and galleries. Discover fine artisan jewelry made with Montana-native gems or a new pair of hiking

boots for the next adventure. Locally-roasted coffee beans, homemade skin care, hand-dyed yarn and huckleberry

products make great gifts for those back home.

Dining in Whitefish/Kalispell/Colombia Falls:

Breakfast:

Loula's Cafe is family-run restaurant located in a Historic Masonic temple in downtown Whitefish. Amazing Crepes has

been serving quality food utilizing local fresh ingredients since 2005.

Other Breakfast: Brooklyn Bagel and Bakery, Swiftcreek Cafe, Buffalo Cafe, Fleur Bake Shop

Lunch:

Enjoy the patio or fireplace in the dining room at Logan's Bar and Grill. Serving all your favorite meals, there's never a bad time to head to the Grouse Mountain Lodge where you'll find Logan's. The Wich Haus features fresh ingredients, this farm-to-table sandwich shop offers seasonal specials and salads, pickles and an assortment of other deli items.

Other Lunch: Swiftcreek Cafe, Buffalo Cafe, Flathead Harbor Grill

Drinks:

Bonsai Brewing Project is a kid-friendly brewery serving great grub. Their beer goes well with a sandwich made with house-

smoked meats. Craggy Range Sports Bar and Grill has a full service patio for outdoor dining and 16 craft beer taps, so you're sure to find a reviving libation!

Dinner:

The Whitefish Lake Restaurant offers amazing seafood and steak, plus an unbeatable ambiance. MacKenzie River Pizza

has been serving up pizza and cold beer, across Montana for over 25 years. Though known for their series of pies, don't

overlook the rest of the menu. For a great takeout option, check out Piggyback BBQ. Serving brisket, sausage, pulled pork,

bacon and all the fixings.

Other dining: Abruzzo Italian Kitchen, Boat Club Bar (at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake), Three Forks Grill, Belton Chalet, Tupelo Grill, Herb & Omni, Big Mountain Ciderworks (best cider!)

Dessert

Sweet Peaks Ice Cream , the first ice cream shop, located in

Whitefish, Montana, opened on a rainy day in April with 12 artisan ice cream flavors. Our stores now offer between 16 - 18

delicious flavors that are carefully crafted using Montana dairy and a selection of quality ingredients from the mountains

West and beyond. Flavors range from the classic (Lafaza Madagascar Vanilla) to the creative (Montana Christmas: Pine

Soaked Cream and Huckleberries) and rotate with each season.

Head to Norm's Soda Shop in Kalispell for the best old-fashioned milkshakes, ice cream, and burger baskets!

*Make sure to stop by one of the many Flathead Cherry stands near Glacier to get the best cherries in the U.S!*

Whitefish Activities:

Whitefish City Beach

Whitefish Lake is a 7-mile-long glacial lake located in Whitefish, Montana. One of the most popular public accesses is City

Beach located near the lake's outflow. The park has a sandy beach, shaded grass area, designated swimming area, docks,

gazebos, and picnic tables. During the summer, Whitefish Outfitters & Tours and Sea Me Paddle offer paddle boat, kayak

and paddleboard rentals. Burley’s at Whitefish City Beach provides a refreshment stand as well. A public boat dock is

available with a launching fee.

Horseback Riding at Bar W Guest Ranch

At the Bar W Guest Ranch, horses are central to the ranch experience and our riding program is the ranch’s main

attraction. Our knowledgeable wranglers, the assorted terrain, and our large herd of good mountain horses make riding at

the Bar W exceptional. From our home at the base of Spencer Mountain, we offer outstanding horseback riding in the mountainous Montana terrain surrounding the ranch, not to mention the thousands of acres the ranch has access to at other locations. You’ll ride in places with names like Sunday Creek, Lake Koocanusa, and the Kootenai National Forest. If you find yourself on the cattle drive in the wide-open prairie of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, you’ll feel like you

stepped back in time. There may be no other place quite like it; you’ll find there really are ‘purple mountains majesty’

waiting for you. The Bar W truly is an equestrian’s dream, where time will run a little slower, things will seem a little simpler,

and every day will feel like Saturday.

Whitefish Farmers Market

Enjoy the bounty of summer every Tuesday from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m., from late May through September at the Whitefish

Downtown Farmers Market where local farmers and craftsmen showcase their products at the North end of Central

Avenue. Live music, prepared food, and the season's freshest products are featured.

Les Meson State Park

Les Mason State Park is a peaceful day use park located on the east shore of Whitefish Lake. With 585 feet of sand and

gravel lakeshore, this park provides excellent swimming opportunities. Nearby tables provide a beautiful setting for a picnic. Great launching point for canoes and kayaks.

Boat Fishing | Howe's Fishing

We love to chase Lake Trout (Mackinaw) in Flathead Lake, but we also know and understand that the areas variety of

fishing is worth sharing! There are so many varieties of native fish and non-native fish in the valley. On Swan Lake we can fish for the federally protected native Bull Trout. Montana’s state fish, the native West slope Cutthroat Trout is available in almost every lake we can fish. In addition, Howe's Fishing has the boats and equipment to help you fish for and catch many different species.

We might troll, with downriggers or planer boards, cast with spinning or casting gear, or jig depending on the lake, the

species and the weather!

Lakestream Fly-Fishing

Looking for that Montana experience? As a fly shop and guide service, we offer full and half day guided fly fishing trips.

Since 1984 we have cultivated a group of hard working guides that care about your day of fishing. Never touched a fly rod?

No worries! We'll get you catching fishing in no time!

From our home waters of the Flathead River System all the way east to the Missouri River. Let’s get you out for a fun day

on the water.

Hiking in Whitefish:

Swift Creek Loop - Easy - 1.4 miles RT - 104ft - 35min

Other Nearby Activities:

The Huckleberry Patch

Located nine miles from the west entrance of Glacier National Park, Hungry Horse, Montana claims fame as the wild

huckleberry capital of the West. This sweet tart wild berry grows only in moist mountain areas and cannot be commercially

grown. Wild berries are not sprayed with chemicals or fertilizers. Berries are hand picked when ripe and processed without

artificial colors, flavorings or corn syrup. "Vaccinium" huckleberries are blue-black or blue-reddish, depending upon soil and habitat and grows on a slender shrub 2 - 6 feet high.

Berry pickers hike into wilderness areas to secure berries for our cannery. We take great pride in presenting our delicious

assortment of wild huckleberry jams, jellies preserves, topping, syrups and pie fillings. All huckleberry products are made in

the USA.

Explore Flathead Lake

Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states, with over 200 square

miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. The southern half of Flathead Lake is within the boundary of the Confederated

Salish and Kootenai Tribes Flathead Reservation.

Explore Downtown Big Fork

Bigfork is an artist’s paradise. Our community is surrounded by beauty and supportive of local artists from all walks of life. It

might surprise you to see how many art galleries, museums and independent visual artists we have in our small town. Not

to mention music venues and festivals that bring world-class musicians to the Bigfork stage.

Explore Kalispell Museums

The Northwest Montana History Museum tells the comprehensive cultural history of the Flathead Valley region. Permanent exhibits at the museum range from honoring early residents to the booming logging industry. The museum also displays information about the indigenous culture that has and continues to call the region home.

A block to the south, the Hockaday Museum of Art encourages other cultural exploration. This family-friendly museum displays a rotating collection of local, national, and international artists. The museum also features a permanent Crown of the Continent Glacier National Park Gallery with works capturing the park's natural beauty.

Four blocks to the east, the Conrad Mansion Museum offers a walk-through of Kalispell's early pioneer days. All three museums offer a full day of exploring or a fun impromptu way to spend the afternoon.

Explore Mainstreet Kalispell

Sometimes you need the chance to spend some time in civilization. Downtown Kalispell has a unique historic downtown with all sorts of local shops and restaurants.

Throughout the summer, there are farmers’ markets, small festivals, and a variety of other family-friendly activities that can fill a morning or afternoon.

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