Start Planning Your Unforgettable Adventure
Western Montana’s Glacier Country offers a rare blend of natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and world-class outdoor adventure. Ideal for families, group tours and personal getaways, this region provides endless opportunities to connect with wide-open landscapes and charming small towns. Whether Western Montana is your primary destination or part of a larger itinerary through the Great American West, every experience here is one to remember. Explore Glacier National Park on a group tour, embark on a romantic, adventure-filled honeymoon or take the motorcycle ride of a lifetime.
With its glacier-carved valleys, alpine lakes and towering peaks, Glacier National Park is one of the most well-known attractions in Montana. In the warmer months, travel the renowned Going-to-the-Sun Road, an 80-kilometer scenic route over Logan Pass, with stops for hiking, photography and sightseeing. The best way to experience the Going-to-the-Sun Road is on a guided tour. Reserve your seat on a Sun Tour, told from the Indigenous Blackfeet perspective, or on an iconic red bus tour. Spring and fall bring fewer visitors to the park, allowing for a quieter but equally extraordinary experience.
The largest freshwater lake in the western United States, Flathead Lake is a stunning expanse framed by mountain peaks. Its pristine waters invite boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing, while friendly lakeside communities offer waterfront dining, boutique shopping and rich cultural experiences.
Indigenous peoples have lived on this land for thousands of years, and their history and cultures are essential to the region. Explore the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation and the Blackfeet Nation of the Blackfeet Reservation, where cultural centers, museums and traditional events offer a deeper understanding of their history, traditions and way of life. Attend the North American Indian Days powwow, explore the Museum of the Plains Indian or visit the CSKT Bison Range in Moiese, home to hundreds of bison and other majestic wildlife.
Montana is known for its cowboy traditions and western allure. Stay at historic guest ranches, ride horseback across scenic landscapes and tour museums that tell the story of Glacier Country. TV fans can visit filming locations from the popular series “Yellowstone” in the small towns along Western Montana’s beautiful Bitterroot Valley—a fun addition to any itinerary.
Western Montana’s larger cities—Missoula, Kalispell and Whitefish—serve as ideal starting points or home bases for any adventure. Missoula is a vibrant city with live music, arts and access to outdoor recreation. Kalispell offers a historic downtown with shops, restaurants and proximity to Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake. Whitefish is a quintessential mountain town known for its ski resort (offering year-round adventure), outdoor activities (including Whitefish Lake), and lively downtown. All three destinations feature noteworthy culinary and craft beverage offerings.
Wildlife thrives in Western Montana, from grizzly and black bears to elk, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more. Some of the best places to spot them safely include Glacier National Park, the CSKT Bison Range and various wildlife refuges—many of which are also prime destinations for birding. For the best experience, consider a guided wildlife tour with experts who know where to look and how to observe responsibly.
Western Montana is committed to preservation, conservation and responsible tourism with eco-conscious experiences and sustainability-focused travel.
Kootenai Angler has been part of the river's rhythm for more than 40 years. What started with a raft and a passion for fly-fishing has grown into a gathering place—where days are spent on legendary water and evenings bring people together over good food and even better stories. For founder Dave Blackburn, it's always been about more than the catch.
What began as a humble venture with a van and a raft has grown into a renowned river guiding service on Montana's Alberton Gorge. For 30 years, Montana River Guides has been more than just guiding whitewater rafting trips and scenic floats. They're storytellers, stewards of our public lands, and purveyors of unforgettable experiences on Western Montana's treasured waters.
You only get good cider if you start with good apples, and nobody knows that better than Western Cider. This craft cidery in Missoula, Montana, creates award-winning cider with heirloom apples grown on knobby, 80-year-old trees from the Bitterroot Valley's historic apple era.
Step into a world of artistic wonder at the Montana Museum of Art & Culture in Missoula, Montana. With over 11,000 works spanning centuries, be immersed in an inspiring journey through history and creativity. Discover how art shapes, moves and connects us all.
With a legacy that spans nearly a century, Lookout Pass is a cherished part of Western Montana's winter landscape. Generations have come together here to share the joy of ski season. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere and welcoming vibes, it's more than just a ski hill. With 400 inches of fresh snow each year, a historic lodge that feels like stepping back in time, and a beloved free ski school for kids, Lookout Pass is a mountain treasure.
Born from former ski racer Jay Sandelin's passion for untouched powder, Great Northern Powder Guides is Montana's only backcountry cat-skiing experience. Nestled in the Stillwater State Forest, this family-owned operation spans over 20,000 acres of pristine terrain. After carving through steep lines and powder-packed bowls, guests gather at the Powder House yurt, leaving with memories of epic adventure and a profound connection to the wild heart of Western Montana.
At Indigikitchen, Mariah Gladstone blends ancestral knowledge with modern creativity to reclaim and celebrate Indigenous foodways. Through immersive meals, hands-on experiences and stories rooted in the Blackfeet landscape, each meal becomes an invitation to honor the past while nourishing a more connected future.
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