MONTANA. Home of the huckleberry.

You know how sometimes you just travel somewhere that seems to hold your heart in a way nowhere else can? Montana is that place for me. I’ve had such incredibly life-giving experiences there, and I hope that Montana treats you just the same. I specifically love the area around east Glacier National Park, in the northern part of the state. I’ve visited the park a few different times, and it’s one of those places I feel like I’ll always be pulled back to.

In this post, I want to share some of my experiences so that you can spend a perfect week near Glacier National Park.

Where to Stay

There are a few different towns surrounding Glacier that you can stay in: Whitefish, Big Fork, and Columbia Falls.

Whitefish:

I highly recommend staying in Whitefish! This is where I stayed the first time I went to Glacier, and it was the perfect vibe for a girl’s trip. Whitefish is a super tiny town, but is fairly modern and hip for being in the middle of the wilderness. The Airbnb I stayed in was right downtown, which was super convenient for bar hopping and finding yummy post-hike dinner spots. If you’re visiting Glacier in the fall or winter, you’ll definitely want to stay in the Whitefish area. The town is known for their ski resort, so you can pick up a board or some skis while you’re there.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Every night, Whitefish rings a curfew bell throughout the city. Don’t worry, there’s no real curfew—just a tradition leftover from older times. But it’s pretty dang terrifying to hear if you don’t know what it is.

Big Fork:

If you’re looking for an area with a lot of summer sports during the warmer months, Big Fork is the place for you. Big Fork is another small town right along Flathead Lake—the largest lake west of the Mississippi! It’s a little bit further from Glacier (about a 40-minute drive) but is a nice spot if you’re trying to stay away from the touristy areas and immerse yourself with the locals.

Columbia Falls

I haven’t stayed in Columbia Falls, but it is usually popular for tourists because it is the closest town to the park entrance (20 minutes). If you’re looking for proximity to Glacier, this is the town to choose; however, if you’re looking for a more immersive Montana experience, I would choose one of the other towns for your stay.

Accessing Glacier National Park

For the high-traffic months (usually May-September), reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road (Glacier’s main road) are required. You can purchase passes for peak season from Recreation.gov. You’ll need to plan this purchase in advance, as there are only two open windows for you to grab a pass ahead of time (either 60 days in advance or 2 days beforehand). You must choose the first date you’ll be visiting the park, and from that date it is good for another six days. You’ll be required to show this pass at two different checkpoints before accessing Going-to-the-Sun Road.

This reservation pass does not include the $35 national park pass you buy at the gate.

Hiking in Glacier

I have a whole post that goes in-depth on my four favorite hikes in the park, but here is a quick rundown of the hikes you MUST do while visiting Glacier National Park.

The Highline Trail:

If you’re up for getting A LOT of steps in, challenge yourself with this 15.3-mile hike. This hike was an absolute DREAM—it was insanely gorgeous the entire trail and was the most rewarding hike I’ve ever done. You’ll traverse through meadows, pine forests, rock ledges, and up to an overlook of Grinnell Glacier.

I suggest doing this hike at the beginning of your week so that your body has a few recovery days for easier hikes.

Mt. Brown:

Alright, we’re just gonna get all the hard ones out of the way. This is another big boy hike, clocking in at 10 miles. Even though the Highline Trail is five miles longer, this hike is harder because seven miles—so the majority of the trail—is a steep uphill climb. But you know as they say, the hardest climbs have the prettiest views at the top. The summit overlooks the entire eastern part of the park and you have an incredible view of the entire stretch of Lake McDonald.

Avalanche Lake:

If you’re looking for a minimally exhausting hike that still has incredible views, this is your hike. The trail leads to the gorgeous Avalanche Lake and the Little Matterhorn Mountain. This hike is perfect if you get a day with weather because it’s close to the park entrance and it’s fairly flat-ground terrain.

Hidden Lake:

This trail is another easy trail that is further in the park. The trail is just off the visitor center at Logan’s Pass and is a great hike for visitors who can’t do strenuous climbing. You’ll get to hike through a meadow that looks like it’s straight out of the Sound of Music and to the hidden lake overview. If you want a more strenuous hike, continue the hike down to the base of the lake.

Free Day Activities

Whitefish Mountain Resort: No matter what time of year it is, definitely head up the mountain to the resort! The resort has tons of slope trails that overlook Whitefish Lake and the town of Whitefish as you make your way down. In the summer, you can still purchase a lift ticket for $21 (way cheaper!). You can grab a beer at the mountaintop bar and look over the Canadian Rockies—yes, you can see Canada from the top of the mountain! You can take the lift back down or you can take one of the hiking/mountain bike trails back to the village. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to pick some huckleberries on your way down!

The Blue Moon Rodeo: Put on your boots and grab your cowgirl hate because you can’t leave Montana without experiencing a true redneck rodeo. The Blue Moon (you’ll spot it on your way from the airport) is a true-blue Montana bar that hosts the rodeo every week during the summer. You might even find a cowboy to line-dance with!

Base Camp Rentals: If you’re looking for outdoor rentals, I definitely recommend driving down to Bigfork to Base Camp. In the summer, they offer rentals for kayaks, mountain bikes, and paddleboards. In the winter, you can even book a dog sledding excursion!

Post-Hike Yummies

MacKenzie Pizza Co.: After your fifteen miler, you’re gonna need A LOT of carbs to fill you back up. These pizzas from MacKenzie’s are yummy, filling, and fairly cheap for how much pizza you get. They also have vegan cheese options. (Whitefish)

Folklore Coffee: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this coffeeshop! We spent a lot of time here, making friends with the shop owner and trying all the drinks. When I tell y’all that Folklore has THE BEST chai latte I’ve ever had (Whitefish)

Sweet Peaks Ice Cream: They have unique flavors like pumpkin cheesecake and huckleberry—and they even have vegan sorbet options. (Whitefish)

Mountain Berry Bowls: You CANNOT miss this refreshing and yummy acai bowl after your hike. All the best food always comes out of a food truck, and this bowl is no different! You’ll find it seasonally located right in downtown Whitefish.

Bonfire: This is the restaurant that you’ll want to check out if you’re feeling like a classy date night by the lake. It’s a farm-to-table bistro that offers locally crafted food that is just incredible. It’s a bit of a drive from town, so once you’re done eating, head over to The Raven for a cocktail, which is a lakeside bar owned by the same family.  (Big Fork)

Garden Bar: This place is right in the middle of downtown Bigfork and is perfect for a sunny afternoon.

Pop that champagne because you are officially ready to giddy-on-up to Montana! Before I first went, Montana was never even on my radar. Now Montana will never leave my heart!

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