Explore the Area
Whitefish and the surrounding area have a lot to offer. There's tons of beautiful rivers, lakes and mountains to explore, and cute towns throughout the Flathead Valley. Here are some of our favorites.
Glacier National Park
About a 30-minute drive from Whitefish, Glacier is home to incredible mountains, lakes, and wildlife. It’s common to find huckleberries along the trail in September and see mountain goats or bighorn sheep while hiking. Be mindful that all of Northwest Montana is bear country and it’s important to be prepared - carry bear spray and make noise while hiking.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is a must-do if you've never been. It's a beautiful drive that crosses the Continental Divide and offers stunning views of the park.
Backpacking
The park has some incredible backcountry sites and this is the perfect time of year for a trip! Our favorite spot is Helen Lake, but you can't go wrong anywhere.
Hiking
An excellent shorter hike is the Hidden Lake overlook trail on Logan Pass. The Two Medicine and Many Glacier areas on the west side have lots of great hikes to lakes surrounded by mountains.
If you're looking for a shorter hike outside of the park, Cyclone Lookout is an old fire tower with panoramic views.
Whitefish
Whitefish has lots of shops, bars and restaurants, and there's often live music in the evenings. Some of our favorite places are the Montana Taphouse, Bonsai Brewing, Fleur Coffee, and Spotted Bear Spirits. If you're in town on a Tuesday, the don't miss the farmer's market.
Whitefish Lake
One of our favorite things to do is hang out by Whitefish Lake and go for a swim. City Beach has a nice sandy beach right in town, and Les Mason State Park is a bit more secluded.
Whitefish Trail
The Whitefish Trail has a lot of great options for hiking or biking. The Holbrook Overlook Trail is a nice short hike with views of Whitefish Lake and Flathead valley.
Canada, eh?
If you have more time, we're only an hour and a half from Fernie, British Columbia. It's a cute little ski town with lots of great hikes and mountain biking in the summer (not unlike Whitefish). Stop by Fernie Brewing, then loop back through the East side of Glacier National Park, just don't forget your passport.