Suggestions for Powder Play in Montana
Everywhere you look there's more untouched snow. Deciding how to play in it can be overwhelming (in a good way) when your options are as abundant as they are in Glacier Country. Winter in Montana offers hundreds of inches of annual snowfall on 11,000+ acres of skiable terrain at seven downhill ski resorts, plus endless miles of epic backcountry. We also specialize in hot springs, hot tubs and hot chocolate.
Round out your itinerary by planning to take full advantage of all the winter activities available outside the park.
To help make trip planning easier, we've rounded up some single and multiday adventure suggestions for inspiration.
Avalanche safety should always be top of mind when you're headed into the deep stuff. Carry avalanche safety gear, know the red flags of an unstable snowpack, check the avalanche forecast, and get educated in avalanche safety.
Western Montana Winter Itineraries
Three Days in the Bitterroot Valley
Three Days in Northwest Montana
Three Days in Missoula + Seeley
Three Days in the Flathead Valley
Three Days in Glacier National Park
Three Days in the Bitterroot Valley
Day One: Downhill Ski at Lost Trail Powder Mountain in Sula
Hit the slopes at Lost Trail Powder Mountain. This family-owned and operated ski area straddling the Montana-Idaho border on the Continental Divide offers consistently good powder.
Dine in downtown Darby and overnight at Darby's Rye Creek Lodge, where private, cozy log cabins feature rustic elegance with lovely views, a chance to spot wildlife and an array of outdoor activities.
Day Two: Snowmobile Skalkaho Pass
Connect with one of the experienced guides or outfitters in Darby for a full-throttle snowmobile ride on Skalkaho Pass, and experience some of the Bitterroot's most beautiful backcountry. Rides are tailored to your ability level and lunch is provided.
Dine in downtown Darby and stay at Darby's Bitterroot River Ranch (adults 12+, two-night minimum stay) or stay at Lost Horse Lodge and dine at their on-site saloon.
Day Three: Nordic Ski Lolo Pass in Lolo
Drive to Lolo Pass for Nordic skiing fun. A $5 day pass is required, which you can purchase at the Lolo Pass Visitor Center. Lolo Pass has some of the most reliable snow in the region, with 13 km of trails groomed for skate and classic skiing, plus multi-use trails and untracked routes for classic skiing. Don't miss the warming hut!
Soak, dine and overnight at Lolo Hot Springs, which holds historical significance as an ancient meeting place for American Indians and a stop along the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
3-Day Luxury Option: Spend your entire three-day getaway in luxury at Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, and enjoy adventures like dog sledding, fat-tire snow biking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing. This award winning, all-inclusive, adult (16+) retreat and Montana hideaway offers rustic elegance, personalized service, gourmet culinary experiences.
Three Days in Northwest Montana
Day One: Nordic Ski in Olney With Dog Creek Lodge
At Dog Creek Lodge and Nordic Ski Center, glide across 27 km of groomed Nordic trails through the winter landscape of the Stillwater State Forest. The lodge offers a full ski shop, coffee bar and restaurant, and their homemade wood-fired pizza made with locally sourced ingredients is the perfect après ski lunch.
Take an afternoon sleigh ride with Cripple Creek Horse Ranch in Trego, gliding through the snow to a warm canvas cabin for a cozy, old-fashioned dinner.
Overnight at Dog Creek Lodge.
Day Two: Snowmobile in Olney
Take a half- or full-day snowmobile tour of the Stillwater State Forest with the experienced guides at Northwest Montana Adventure. Their in-depth knowledge of the region means you'll experience all the best spots and scenic views.
Grab the Eureka Burger or a Montana Huckleberry Burger at Front Porch Dewey Burger & Fish Co. in Eureka, then drive along scenic Lake Koocanusa to Libby and overnight at Venture Inn or Dave Blackburn's Kootenai Angler.
Day Three: Downhill Ski Turner Mountain in Libby
Hit the slopes at Libby's Turner Mountain, where you'll find excellent snow conditions, wide-open slopes, beautiful scenery, affordable lift tickets and no crowds. Combine all that with a vertical drop of 2,110 feet and 25 named runs and you have a successful day on the slopes.
3-Day Luxury Option: Wilderness Club in Eureka
Get cozy at Wilderness Club, a one-of-a-kind Montana resort complete with outdoor hot tubs, Nordic ski and snowshoe trails, sledding and tubing, ice skating and snowmobiling.
Three Days in Missoula + Seeley Lake
Day One: Downhill Ski Montana Snowbowl in Missoula
Hit the slopes at Montana Snowbowl. Located minutes from downtown Missoula, Snowbowl is a local favorite. With deep, powdery bowls and 2,600 feet of continuous vertical drop, it's an extremist's dream, while still offering plenty of runs for all skill levels. At the end of the day, make your way to Snowbowl's Last Run for their famous bloody marys and wood-fired pizza.
Dine at the Top Hat, or one of the many other options in downtown Missoula, and overnight at AC Hotel Missoula Downtown or The Wren.
Day Two: Nordic Ski Lubrecht Forest or Garnet Ghost Town
Grab your Nordic skis and hit the trails at the Lubrecht Experimental Forest or Garnet Ski Trails. Lubrecht offer 20 km of mostly loop trails that wind through pristine meadows and wooded terrain. Trails are groomed weekly, and the inner loops are easy to intermediate. Garnet offers an extensive series of trails (186+ km), including the 51 km Garnet National Winter Recreation Trail through the beautiful and quiet Garnet Mountains. Ski into Garnet Ghost Town and even stay overnight in one of two rental cabins on the property, if you make reservations in advance.
If you're up for Nordic skiing, you can spend your afternoon exploring the Seeley Lake Nordic Trails, or you can mix things up and rent fat bikes from Tamaracks Resort and ride on the trails on and around their property.
Dine in Seeley lake and overnight in a cozy cabin at Tamaracks Resort.
Day Three: Fat Bike or Snowmobile the Seeley Lake Area
Spend the day exploring Seeley Lake on snow. Rent fat bikes or snowmobiles from Tamaracks Resort and set out on trails that weave through snowy forests and open meadows. Pedal across packed-snow paths or sled through fresh powder.
3-Day Luxury Option: Paws Up Montana
Book a stay at Paws Up Montana in Greenough and experience one of Montana's finest luxury resorts. Situated among the extraordinary Western Montana landscape, enjoy winter activities like fat biking, skijoring, snowmobiling and snow tubing.
Three Days in Flathead Valley
Day One: Dog Sledding, Snowshoeing, Nordic Skiing With Base Camp Bigfork
Choose your adventure with the help of Base Camp Bigfork. Base Camp dog sledding provides a “hands on” approach where you can mush your own team of Inuit sled dogs. Or, rent some Nordic skis or snowshoes and head out to Bigfork's impressive network of trails.
Dine and shop in the storybook village of Bigfork, and overnight at Mountain Lake Lodge, complete with fireplace suites and outdoor hot tubs.
Day Two: Scenic Drive to Lakeside + Downhill Ski Blacktail Mountain
Enjoy the scenic landscape on a drive to Lakeside to ski Blacktail Mountain, where you'll find light, dry powder and brilliant views of Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park and the Mission Mountains.
Dine at Harbor Grille or Tamarack Brewing Co. and overnight at The Cabins at Blacktail.
Day Three: Snowshoe Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell
Snowshoe the 7.5 miles of trail at Lone Pine State Park—snowshoe rentals are available on-site. Enjoy breathtaking overlooks of the Flathead Valley where, on a clear day, you can see Flathead Lake, Big Mountain, the Jewel Basin and Glacier National Park.
Then, take a craft beverage tour. Kalispell is home to breweries, cideries, wineries and distilleries. Don't miss the Brash Winter Rodeo series or, check the events calendar for other winter festivities.
Dine at Mercantile Steak in Kalispell and overnight at Sherman Lodge or The Kalispell Grand Hotel.
3-Day Luxury Option: Snow Bear Chalets
Hit the slopes from the front door of an exclusive treehouse chalet on Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort's Hope Slope. Snow Bear Chalets are literally on the slopes, for a true ski-in/ski-out experience. Luxury amenities include private hot tubs and elegant fireplaces, stunning architecture with expansive windows, open main levels with overlooking lofts, outdoor decks with gorgeous treetop views and top-floor turret retreat rooms.
Winter Itineraries Around Glacier National Park
Visit Glacier National Park
While summer is the most popular time to visit Glacier National Park, winter offers a peaceful, almost magical experience.
If you go:
- Pack a snack, water or lunch, as services are limited during the winter.
- Check weather and trail conditions before you go.
- Avoid skiing on frozen lakes.
- Keep in mind that many of the park's roads are closed to vehicles during winter.
Note: Many travelers plan their trips to include both of Montana's national parks: Glacier and Yellowstone. We've put together several road-trip itineraries that offer unforgettable park-to-park experiences. For inspiration, visit Glaciers to Geysers.
Day One: Snowshoe or Nordic Ski the Going-to-the-Sun Road
One of the best ways to explore is to strap on a pair of snowshoes or Nordic skis and head out on the snow-covered Going-to-the-Sun Road. Closed to vehicles beyond Lake McDonald Lodge during the winter months, the road becomes a tranquil route for winter recreation, winding through snowy forests with glimpses of the lake and surrounding peaks. You can also venture along the east shore of Lake McDonald (click here for a complete map), or explore the Marias Pass trail system, another beautiful area for snowshoeing and skiing.
Local outfitters, including National Park Tours and Whitefish Outfitters, offer guided snowshoeing and cross-country excursions into the park.
Overnight at the rustic cabins at North Forty Resort or in Columbia Falls at the Cedar Creek Lodge.
Day Two: Nordic Ski at LOGE Glacier
Spend the day exploring the Nordic trails at LOGE Glacier in Essex, where 30 kilometers of groomed trails wind through forested terrain and open meadows. With a peaceful setting on the park's southeastern border, LOGE Glacier offers an ideal spot for both beginners and experienced skiers to enjoy Western Montana's winter quiet.
After a day on the trails, relax with a hot drink from the cafe and dine on-site before turning in for the night.
Day Three: Scenic Adventures + Learning Experiences
For your final day, choose a guided scenic drive or a hands-on winter learning experience. Join Whitefish Outfitters for a guided scenic drive through Glacier National Park, where knowledgeable guides share insight into the park's winter landscape, wildlife, and history—all from the comfort of a heated vehicle.
Or, deepen your connection to the landscape with a field course through The Glacier Institute, which offers winter programs in wildlife tracking, birding and more. These small-group courses are led by naturalists and designed for travelers who want to explore, learn and experience Glacier in a new way.
