The incredible landscapes and communities surrounding Glacier National Park offer an equally memorable adventure as the park itself. Western Montana’s vibrant small towns welcome visitors with restaurants, breweries and distilleries, unique shopping, museums, galleries, and, best of all, the warm welcomes Montana is known for. Explore beyond the park—Glacier Country is well worth the visit, and it's the perfect place to discover your next unforgettable adventure (especially when the park is at capacity).
The communities of Essex, West Glacier, Lakeside, Hungry Horse, Coram, Martin City, Columbia Falls, Polebridge, Bigfork, Whitefish and Kalispell are ideal towns from which to base your trip. Along with easy access to the park, each community offers access to incredible outdoor recreation, including in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, expansive trail systems in the Flathead Valley, water recreation on Flathead Lake, on-mountain offerings at Whitefish Mountain Resort and incredible food and drink scenes.
On the east side of Glacier National Park, St. Mary, Babb, Browning, Cut Bank and East Glacier Park provide multiple launching points for exploring Central Montana and the Blackfeet Nation—complete with guided tours and incredible history. It’s important to be aware of when you are on tribal lands: the Blackfeet Reservation, home to the Blackfeet Nation, and the Flathead Reservation, home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
While tribal communities are welcoming to respectful visitors, this is not our land and there are sacred places we must not disturb. It’s also important to be mindful and respectful of a tribe’s unique culture, history and traditions. Make sure you “know before you go” in terms of permits and policies that may be different from Montana law. Learn more here.
Please RECREATE RESPONSIBLY: Know before you go, plan ahead stay safe, explore mindfully and leave no trace. Call or check in advance to make sure the businesses you are interested in are open.
Visit Babb on glaciermt.com.
Babb is located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. If you plan to recreate (camp, fish, hunt, hike, boat) on tribal land, you will need a tribal permit. Visit Blackfeet Nation Fish & Wildlife for more information.
Visit Bigfork on glaciermt.com.
Bigfork Chamber of Commerce | 8155 State Highway 35, Bigfork | 406.837.5888
Visit Browning on glaciermt.com.
Browning is located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. If you plan to recreate (camp, fish, hunt, hike, boat) on tribal land, you will need a tribal permit. Visit Blackfeet Nation Fish & Wildlife for more information.
Visit Columbia Falls on glaciermt.com.
Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce | 233 13th St. E., Columbia Falls | 406.892.2072
Visit Coram on glaciermt.com.
Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce | 233 13th St. E., Columbia Falls | 406.892.2072
Visit Cut Bank on glaciermt.com.
Cut Bank Area Chamber of Commerce | 59 Golf Course Road | 406.873.4041
Visit East Glacier Park on glaciermt.com.
East Glacier Park is located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. If you plan to recreate (camp, fish, hunt, hike, boat) on tribal land, you will need a tribal permit. Visit Blackfeet Nation Fish & Wildlife for more information.
East Glacier Park Chamber of Commerce | 909 State Highway 49 N. | 406.226.4403
Visit Essex on glaciermt.com.
Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce | 233 13th St. E., Columbia Falls | 406.892.2072
Visit Hungry Horse on glaciermt.com.
Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce | 233 13th St. E., Columbia Falls | 406.892.2072
Visit Kalispell on glaciermt.com.
Discover Kalispell Visitor Information Center| 2 S. Main St., Suite 205, Kalispell | 406.758.2811
Visit Lakeside and Somers on glaciermt.com.
Lakeside and Somers Chamber of Commerce | 7191 U.S. Highway 93, Lakeside | 406.844.3715
Visit Martin City on glaciermt.com
Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce | 233 13th St. E., Columbia Falls | 406.892.2072
Visit Polebridge on glaciermt.com.
Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce | 233 13th St. E., Columbia Falls | 406.892.2072
Visit Polson on glaciermt.com.
Polson is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation. If you plan to recreate (camp, fish, hunt, hike, boat) on tribal land, you will need a tribal permit. Visit CSKT Wildland Recreation for more information.
Polson Chamber of Commerce | 402 First St. E., Suite 102, Polson | 406.883.5969
Visit St. Mary on glaciermt.com.
Visit West Glacier on glaciermt.com.
Visitor center at the Historic Belton West Glacier Train Depot | 12544 U.S. Highway 2 E., West Glacier | 406.888.5756
Visit Whitefish on glaciermt.com.
Explore Whitefish/Convention and Visitor Bureau + Whitefish Chamber of Commerce | 505 E. 2nd St., Whitefish | 877.862.3548
Exploration is easy with visitor kiosks throughout town featuring maps, travel guides and activity/event posters. Please remember to recreate responsibly and Be a Friend of The Fish.
Getting Around: SNOW Bus
Catch a ride with daily service from Whitefish to Whitefish Mountain Resort (running whenever the chairlifts are running at the resort).
Bring your wheels on bicycle-friendly buses with racks for up to 16 bikes.
View the current schedule here.
Consider exploring Glacier Country's Northwest Corridor rather than Two Medicine or Many Glacier, which can be intimidating to visitors who are new to the outdoors. It's a beautiful hour and a half drive from Kalispell to the town of Libby. Libby is located on the Kootenay River in the heart of the Kootenai National Forest. Libby Dam, Souse Gulch Recreation Area and Lake Koocanusa are incredibly scenic and easily accessible off Highway 37. Downtown Libby offers a brewery, dining, lodging and shopping.
Monday
Bigfork: Shop local at the Bigfork Monday Market.
Tuesday
Whitefish: Shop local at the Whitefish Downtown Farmers Market.
Kalispell: Picnic in the Park at free outdoor evening concerts in Kalispell.
Wednesday
Kalispell: Picnic in the Park at free outdoor lunchtime concerts in Kalispell.
Bigfork: Shop local at the Bigfork Farmers Market.
Cut Bank: Shop local at the Cut Bank Farmers Market.
Thursday
Columbia Falls: Shop local at the Columbia Falls Community Market.
Friday
Polson: Shop local at the Polson Farmers Market
Saturday
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