If you’ve been thinking of planning a trip to Montana, it’s time to get started. No matter when you want to visit, we’re here to help make the most of your time in Big Sky Country. A true four-season destination, Kalispell is a place for summer lovers, winter snow bunnies and folks looking to slow down and find space to breathe during Montana’s shoulder seasons of spring and fall.
When it comes to planning a trip to Kalispell, Montana, here are five things you should know, see, do and experience.
1. Glacier National Park is great, but there’s so much outside the park’s boundaries.
Let’s get one thing out of the way – we’re always going to be the first ones to tell you that Glacier National Park is an amazing must-visit destination. But with that in mind, we also need to share that while the Crown of the Continent is always worth a visit, there are so many hidden gems outside of the park. And while we can’t tell you everything today (we’ve got to keep some things mysterious), there are a few places we want to put on your radar: Hungry Horse Reservoir (and the Hungry Horse Dam Visitor Center), Somers Bay on Flathead Lake (and its chain of Juniper Islands), Longview Lavender Farm and the Conrad Mansion Museum.
In and around Kalispell you’ll also find abundant lakes, rivers and streams. During summer, their snow-fed waters are the perfect locations to cool off or play in, with several state parks around Flathead Lake that lend themselves to day-use visits. For much of the year, northwest Montana’s lakes and rivers are best experienced on guided adventures, including kayaking, fly-fishing, boat cruises and rafting. Want to learn more? Start here.
2. Kalispell is an unexpected surprise.
The heart of the Flathead Valley, Kalispell has a well-balanced mix of city amenities and small-town Montana vibes. It’s a place that feels historic, while not being afraid to embrace the present and look forward to the future. There’s no better place to see that come to life than downtown Kalispell. Here you’ll find historic buildings, mature trees, wide streets and avenues coupled with craft beverage outposts, locally owned stores and tasty restaurants.
If you like finding unexpected offerings, here are a few to put on your list: the BBQ at DeSoto Grill, concerts and live performances at the Wachholz College Center, the salads at Moose’s Saloon (yes, we KNOW pizza is what they’re known for, but their salads have been overlooked for far too long), the Parkline Trail, Great Northern Rail Trail, the rock climbing wall at Logan Health and llama trekking. Want even more? Sign up for the Huckleberry Treat Trail and see (and taste) for yourself how creative locals can be when it comes to our favorite purple berry.
3. Our best advice – plan ahead, but be adaptable.
This mantra applies to a few things, both activity-related and weather-related. First off, depending on the time of year, things can get pretty busy around here. If you notice that trails, parking areas and more are busy and look overwhelmed, either be patient (and wait it out) or move on to another location or activity. Also, consider adjusting your timing. Many folks feel they need to hustle out of Glacier National Park mid-afternoon to make it back to grab dinner in Kalispell. This provides a great opportunity to have much of the park to yourself. Instead of trying to head in early, grab a late lunch at Brannigan’s Irish Pub, Casa Mexico or Mackenzie River Pizza before heading into the park and driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road in the late afternoon. In the summer, it stays light out late, so you’ll still have plenty of time to soak up the park.
When it comes to weather, it’s always good to be prepared, while still being open to adjusting your plans. Let’s say you plan to hike near Logan Pass but a storm moves in, making the trail less welcoming. Adjust your plans and move your hike to Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell (with 7+ miles of trails) or consider a hike you can do in the lower elevations – like Trail of the Cedars – no matter the conditions.
4. Get out of your comfort zone.
Kalispell is a place that lends itself to trying new things. If you’ve ever wanted to hike with llamas, this is a great place to do it. For a different view of our mountain landscapes, book a flight with Red Eagle Aviation. Looking to try a new craft beverage that’s not beer? Head to Big Mountain Ciderworks and sip on their made-right-here hard cider. Or if you’ve always wanted to paddle to an island in the middle of a lake to look for wild horses, book a guided trip to Wild Horse Island with Sea Me Paddle. In Montana, the possibilities are endless.
5. There’s a reason Montana is called the “Last Best Place.”
We’re not sure if it’s the allure of the TV show Yellowstone, our laid-back way of life, the economy or the scenery, but people love Montana. And, just in case there is any misunderstanding, we love and appreciate our visitors. But there’s one thing we need to talk to you about. If you want to get along with the locals, we need you to keep a few things in mind. Around here, we pick up after ourselves, we respect wildlife (and other humans) and we leave things better than we found them. You could say we treat Montana like grandma’s house. Because if there’s one thing we know, it’s that grandma doesn’t like a messy house. When you’re here, we ask that you do the same. Learn how to recreate responsibly and treat this place like the gem she is here.
Start planning your trip to Kalispell and Montana at discoverkalispell.com. You can also swing by the Discover Kalispell Visitor Information Center at 2 S. Main Street, Suite 205. Not here yet? Order a free travel guide.