Beautiful scenery near Kalispell, Montana. Photo © snehit/123rf.
Start your tour of Montana’s magnificent northwest corner in Missoula, the hometown of A River Runs Through It author Norman Maclean and dozens of the state’s literary heroes. Although the city is surrounded by wilderness, the University of Montana community gives the town something of an urban vibe. Those who want to spend less time on the road could start and finish the journey in Kalispell. Because of the mountain terrain, the driving time is often much longer than the mileage suggests.
Missoula
Arrive in Missoula; check out the shops on Higgins Avenue and the hip Missoula Art Museum, grab a pastry or sandwich from Bernice’s Bakery, and walk along the lovely riverfront trails. Next, head north toward Glacier country. At Ravalli, choose your direction—northwest toward the National Bison Range at Moiese or northeast to the historic mission at St. Ignatius. The forks come together again just south of Ronan, where you’ll continue north along the east shore of Flathead Lake to the waterfront village of Bigfork. Stop along the way to gorge yourself on Flathead cherries or just to stretch your legs and wet your toes in the lake. In Bigfork, settle in at the Mountain Lake Lodge for two restful nights.Try white-water rafting on the Flathead River or sea kayaking on the lake with the Flathead Raft Company, or rent your own craft at Bigfork Water Sports. Take an incredible hike—maybe to Black Lake or Twin Lakes—in the nearby Jewel Basin. Leave some time for browsing the cute shops around town, and reward yourself with a gourmet dinner at the eclectic Mosaic Restaurant.
Start your day at the Echo Lake Café before heading north toward Kalispell, where you can check out the contemporary art scene at the Hockaday Museum of Art. Consider a hike or bike ride at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Consider hiking the Danny On Trail, just 3.8 miles to the summit, and then a gondola ride down. For dinner, try Latitude 48 then wander the art galleries and boutiques. Settle in for the night at the Duck Inn.
Many Glacier
Get a hearty breakfast and a mindblowingly good piece of pie at Loula’s Café before heading into Glacier National Park. Stop at Lake McDonald to soak in the majestic beauty and prepare yourself for the vistas still ahead on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Stop for a hike; the Hidden Lake Overlook from Logan Pass is a stunner. Continue east out of the park through St. Mary and Babb, where you can treat yourself to dinner at Two Sisters Café before heading back into the phenomenal Many Glacier Valley to camp or stay at the historic Many Glacier Hotel.Plan to spend the day adventuring around Many Glacier. Possible activities include an endless number of hiking trails and canoeing, kayaking, or cruising on Swiftcurrent Lake. One option is to combine a scenic cruise with a hike to Grinnell Glacier. Other options include ranger-led hikes and Red Bus Tours. For dinner, try the fondue in the Ptarmigan Dining Room at the Many Glacier Hotel.
East Glacier
After a morning hike, head south toward East Glacier. Stop for recreation in St. Mary or continue farther south into the isolated Two Medicine Valley. Consider combining a 45-minute cruise on Two Medicine Lake, cutting six miles off the hike to Twin Falls. Another option is to cruise and then hike to No Name Lake. Finish the day in East Glacier with a hearty meal at the Glacier Village Café and a room at the historic Glacier Park Lodge.This is the longest day by far in the car, but there is some magnificent scenery and plenty of places to stop along the way. From East Glacier, drive southwest on U.S. Highway 2 over Marias Pass, then north along the west side of Glacier National Park. As you enter Columbia Falls, turn south onto Highway 206 and continue on Highway 35 toward Creston. Take Highway 83, the Swan Highway, south through the scenic Seeley-Swan Valley. You’ll pass Swan and Seeley Lakes, among others. Time it right and you can stop for an incredible lunch and hike at Holland Lake Lodge. At Highway 200, continue west back to Missoula, where you can recall the highlights of your trip over a sustainably grown and inventive meal at Red Bird Restaurant.
