Kootenai Country + Flathead Valley + Glacier National Park + Cut Bank
Western Montana’s Glacier Country
Several stunningly scenic groomed trails wind through Kootenai Country. Sled the rugged 6-mile marked Keeler-Rattle Trail System, with views of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness and the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness; 70 miles of loop trails in the Purcell Mountains; and the Pete Creek Trail, traveling into mountain bowls and alpine lakes. If you start in Troy you can sled right into the nearby town of Libby for a dose of warm western hospitality. Optional from Libby: drive north to Eureka for more powder play just below the Canadian border, and visit the local saloon in Yaak, Montana, one of the northernmost communities in the state.
Après sled in Libby at the Cabinet Mountain Brewing Co. Overnight at the Venture Inn in Libby, or Eureka's premier resort, Wilderness Club.
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Western Montana’s Glacier Country
Note: From Eureka, head south on U.S. Highway 93 toward Whitefish. From Libby, head west on U.S. Highway 2 toward Kalispell.
The Flathead Valley is a Western Montana recreation wonderland bordering Glacier National Park and featuring 200+ miles of groomed trails and nearly 2,000 miles of Forest Service roads with phenomenal hill climbing and powder play areas, wildlife viewing and ridge-top views of Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies.
Riding the back of Big Mountain, the Canyon Creek Trail System has some of the best riding in the area, with 80 miles of groomed and ungroomed trails. A spur trail will also take you to the top of Big Mountain where you can grab lunch and a cocktail at Whitefish Mountain Resort's Summit House.
Desert Mountain offers a scenic full or half-day ride with 25 miles of marked and groomed trails, and some of the most stunning views in Glacier Country. A second trail in the area loops through pristine wilderness terrain.
Take your pick of warm western hospitality and accommodations in the Flathead Valley:
Kalispell mixes Old West allure with a lively arts and culture scene and a historic downtown district. For a true taste of Montana, head over to Bias Brewing, where you’ll find a handful of mainstay beers, plus brewer’s experiments, rotators and seasonal specialties.
Find plenty of off-sled adventures in the winter resort town of Whitefish. Grab a delicious meal at Piggyback BBQ or pull up a barstool at Spotted Bear Spirits. Overnight options include Pine Lodge and Grouse Mountain Lodge.
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Western Montana’s Glacier Country
Your second day in the Flathead area brings you further south to Bigfork and the Swan Lake area via US-93. Western Montana's quintessential storybook village, Bigfork, is located in the picturesque northeast corner of Flathead Lake. Overnight at Bigfork Mountain Lake Lodge. Stop by Flathead Lake Brewing Co. for a locally crafted microbrew and a noteworthy food menu.
The Crane Mountain trail system is one of the area's best-kept secrets, with 38 miles of groomed trails and 100 miles of ungroomed logging roads. Find plenty of powder playgrounds and open meadows here, too.
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Western Montana’s Glacier Country
From the lower Flathead Valley region, drive State Highway 35 and U.S. 2 back up north toward Columbia Falls, making your way to what the locals call The Canyon, which includes Hungry Horse, Martin City, Coram and West Glacier—all just outside Glacier National Park. While snowmobiling is prohibited inside the park, take in views of it from the Desert Mountain Trail, which is the perfect half-day ride or a fun day ride for the family.
Right outside the park, Columbia Falls offers amazing views plus local beer and cozy lodging. See what's on tap at Backslope Brewing, and overnight at Reclusive Moose Cabins, North Forty Resort or Cedar Creek Lodge.
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Western Montana’s Glacier Country
From West Glacier, drive east on U.S. 2 and test your mettle in Montana's rugged and remote Marias Pass Trail Complex, straddling the Continental Divide in the Lewis and Clark and Flathead national forests south of Glacier National Park. Riding ranges from intermediate to expert on 45 miles of groomed trails and 35 miles of ungroomed trails. Favorite trails include Two Medicine, Skyland and Pike Creek.
End your Glacier Country snowmobile tour with a visit to the Blackfeet Nation and enjoy more small-town hospitality by venturing east toward Browning and then on to Cut Bank, where you can shop local at Marketplace on Main, enjoy craft brews at Cut Bank Creek Brewery, go bowling, or grab a bite to eat at a cozy café.
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Always check road reports and weather conditions when traveling through Montana in the wintertime.
If you're flying in:
Western Montana's Glacier Country Airports
If you're renting a car:
Western Montana's Glacier Country Car Rentals
Plan ahead and be prepared, ensuring safer, more enjoyable travels and less impact.
Pack the right gear, take precautions, know your limits, and engage in activities that match your skill level.
Take care of our trails and waterways by riding responsibly specific to your motorized activity.
Help prevent aquatic invasive species by following Clean.Drain.Dry. principles and watercraft inspections requirements.
Recognize and acknowledge when you enter tribal lands, know tribal guidelines, and secure a tribal conservation permits for recreation.
Help prevent wildland fires. Attend to and extinguish campfires properly, and know current fire restrictions.
View wildlife from a safe distance. Never approach, touch or feed wildlife. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Respect all public lands, waters, tribal lands and local communities. Pack it in, pack it out.
Be thoughtful about and aware of your impact, embrace inclusivity, and respect communities and fellow adventurers.
