We’re just going to say it: there’s no place quite like Montana. With wide-open spaces, glacial-carved landscapes, miles of trails, long daylight hours and plenty of room to roam, it’s no surprise that locals and visitors spend as much time outside as possible during the summer. And to be honest, we don’t blame them. When it comes to finding a destination that combines Montana’s outdoors with recreational opportunities, western hospitality and a downtown that makes you want to stop and stay awhile, look no further than Kalispell, Montana. This is a place you want to go to, not just through.

To help with your summer adventures, here are six tips for creating a weekend, vacation or trip to Montana full of incredible memories.

1. Visit Glacier National Park. Summer was literally made for playing and no trip to Kalispell is complete without visiting Glacier National Park. We’re located 32 miles from the park’s west entrance, meaning it’s easy to pop over just about any time of day. If you’re planning a trip to Kalispell, it’s well worth it to add Glacier National Park to your itinerary. Ideas to consider: hop on a red bus tour and drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road, bike the road in May and June before it opens to vehicular traffic, raft the Middle Fork of the Flathead River (you’ll hug the boundary of the park along part of your float), take a guided hike, cowboy up on a guided horseback trail ride or catch the sunset at Lake McDonald.

One note: Glacier National Park is continuing its pilot vehicle reservation system, which includes timed entry, in summer 2025 for various areas of the park, including the west entrance of the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor and the North Fork. Get the full rundown of things to know when planning a visit to the park.

2. Don’t be afraid to venture beyond Glacier National Park. It’s no secret the Crown of the Continent is high on the list of many visitors and believe us, we get it. But a word to the wise: don’t let Glacier National Park be the only reason you visit Montana. From the Flathead National Forest to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and Kalispell’s downtown corridor to Flathead Lake, there are so many things to see and do in our neck of the woods.

3. Keep Montana wild. One of the reasons people love Montana so much is that it’s still wild. Our open spaces and public lands are home to wildlife like grizzly bears, mountain goats, mountain lions, moose and more. Sooner or later, you’ll see wildlife when you’re soaking up our great outdoors. Give wildlife their space – do not approach them and never feed them. If you plan to hike, be sure to go with a friend, make noise on the trail and carry bear spray. Prior to heading into the outdoors, get the rundown on what you need to know here.

4. Make plans, but don’t be afraid to change them. We’re just going to say it – summer in northwest Montana and Glacier National Park is busy. When you’re here, you’re gonna cross paths with all sorts of people in all sorts of moods. Let’s say you plan to hike a specific trail, you arrive at the trailhead and it’s overcrowded. The best plan of action: keep it moving and hike another trail. Or heck, forget the trail altogether and take a dip in one of our rivers, swim in Flathead Lake or go sip on a made-right-here craft beverage. We also recommend adjusting the time of day you plan to hike and explore. With long daylight hours in the summer, it’s easy to hit the trails before many people are even up for the day, which means you’ll also have all sorts of routes to yourself. 

Reminder: if you plan to recreate on state lands and are over the age of 12, you need to purchase a Conservation License from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

5. Try something new. If there’s one thing we know about our Montana, she is always ready to push you out of your comfort zone. If you’re all about the outdoors, there are a variety of experiences – from easy to exhilarating – waiting for you. Take a guided boat cruise on Flathead Lake, go on a hike with llamas, cruise the forest on an ATV adventure, hike Jewel Basin or zipline at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Want to dine like the locals? Try elk at DeSoto Grill, dig into bison at Mercantile Steak or go make friends at one of our local breweries or cideries.

6. Be prepared. In Montana, both weather and terrain can change quickly. And while it may seem silly to stock up before hitting the outdoors, it’s anything but that. Be sure to have water, food/snacks, bug spray and a first aid kit. The weather can be a real mood around here; pack layers to ensure you are as prepared as possible. For more information, check out our packing list.

Before we send you on your way to have the best summer ever, we’ll leave you with a few other tools, tips and advice. We like to invite Montana-visiting folks to “Treat it Like Grandma’s House.” This means picking up after yourself, being kind, minding your manners and treating our best girl Montana like the gem she is.

And while we’re on the topic, be sure to fully put out any fires you have – don’t be the reason a human-caused fire starts. If you have a campfire, never leave it unattended and make sure it’s completely out before leaving. Always dispose of matches and cigarette butts in a closed container, don’t park a vehicle in dry grass and if you’re hauling a trailer, make sure your chains aren’t dragging.

Additional resources: Leave No Trace, the U.S. Forest Service, Smokey the Bear, the National Park Service and Be Outdoor Safe.

Have questions for us? Stop into the Discover Kalispell Visitor Information Center at 2 S. Main Street, Suite 205 in downtown Kalispell. We have travel guides, maps and all sorts of recommendations on things to do and places to go.