Outdoor Recreation Archives | Kalispell

Outdoor Recreation

Things to Do

With jaw-dropping views, Kalispell is a hub for outdoor recreation, with abundant trails for hiking and rivers for adventuring.

Montana’s outdoors have been summoning adventurers, explorers and travelers for years. With wide-open spaces that practically beg to be explored, it’s easy to get into the heart of the outdoors from Kalispell. Anchoring the region is Glacier National Park. Within its 1 million acres you’ll find hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, not to mention stunning views of glacial-carved terrain, snow-capped mountains and wildlife. And while the park tends to get much of the spotlight when it comes to playing outside, rest assured that it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Bikers, hikers and horseback riders can explore to their heart’s content at Herron Park on the Foy’s to Blacktail Trail or in the Flathead National Forest.

Cyclists will love the Parkline Trail – which runs through downtown Kalispell – and the Great Northern Trail. On the water activities include fishing, kayaking, boating, sailing and more, with abundant opportunities on nearby lakes and rivers, including the various forks of the Flathead River, Flathead Lake, Hungry Horse Reservoir and Foy’s Lake. Winter adventurers will find endless terrain for a range of snow-fueled activities, from heart-pumping cross-country skiing to adrenaline-rushing snowmobiling tours. Combine that with downhill skiing and snowboarding at two area resorts and you’ve got a real-life winter wonderland serenely set in the wilds of Montana.

WINTER BEYOND THE SLOPES

Around here, the cure for cabin fever is stepping into northwest Montana’s winter wonderland and exploring it to the fullest. In Kalispell, that means skiing at Blacktail Mountain Ski Area and Whitefish Mountain Resort, which is ranked as the #3 ski area in North America according to the SKI Magazine readers’ poll. Winter around Kalispell […]

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Winter in Kalispell, Montana: Vacation Ski Package at Blacktail Mountain Ski Area

Book a two-night stay at a Kalispell hotel and receive two adult lift tickets to Blacktail Mountain Ski Area. Don’t wait, plan your winter vacation today!

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Northwest Montana’s Trails & Routes: Discover Year-Round Adventures

Surrounded by mountains and set in a lush valley, Kalispell is a trail-lover’s dream destination. Many of northwest Montana’s trails are multi-use, which means they can be used for hiking, trail running, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, depending on the season. In and around Kalispell you’ll find thousands of miles of trails […]

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Meet the Waters of Northwest Montana, Where You Can Fish, Raft and Sail

When it comes to sailing, playing and fishing in Montana, there is no better place than Kalispell. The heart of Montana, Kalispell is surrounded by incredible lakes, rivers and streams. South of Kalispell, you’ll find Flathead Lake and the Swan River. To the northeast, you’ll quickly come upon the Middle, North and South Forks of […]

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Discovery Starts Here

Kootenai Falls

Hiking

Kootenai Falls is a waterfall on the Kootenai River located just off U.S. Route 2. It is the largest undammed waterfall in the state and one of the largest waterfalls in the United States by flow rate. The falls are accessed by a hiking trail from the parking area next to the highway. ...
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The Bar W Guest Ranch

Horseback Riding, Outdoor Recreation, Outfitters and Guides, Scenic Drives & Rides, Tours & Sightseeing

The Bar W Guest Ranch in Whitefish, Montana is open year-round and is ready to show you what Western hospitality is all about! As a small Montana dude ranch that can host up to 60 guests per week, we pride ourselves on remaining flexible and attending to each guests’ expectations. While there are many activities offered at the Bar W, horses are the center of attention and riding is our core focu...
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Dream Haven Guest Ranch

Horseback Riding, Outdoor Recreation, Outfitters and Guides, Scenic Drives & Rides, Tours & Sightseeing

We are a small horse getaway in Northwest Montana. Join us for year round horseback adventures, trail rides, arena lessons, and home cooked meals. Where Small Dreams Become Big Memories. ...
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Foy’s to Blacktail Trails

Biking, Hiking, Horseback Riding, MT State Parks, Outdoor Recreation, Places to Go, Snowshoeing

Less than 10 minutes from Kalispell, Herron Park is a mountain bikers’ / hikers’ / cross-country skiers’ gateway to a vast trail system, Foy’s to Blacktail Trails, through timberlands extending south toward Blacktail Mountain. ...
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Western Larch and Cliff Trail Loop

Biking, Hiking, Horseback Riding, MT State Parks, Outdoor Recreation, Places to Go

The Western Larch and Cliff Trail at Lone Pine State Park is a family and dog friendly 2.8-mile loop through a forest with an overlook of beautiful mountain vistas. ...
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Swan River Nature Trail

Biking

Bigfork’s 2-mile long gravel trail looks down upon the Wild Mile of the Swan River. Take Montana 35 in to Bigfork, turn on Grand Drive and go past Electric Avenue and the Bigfork Inn. The trailhead’s at the top of the short hill. ...
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Woodland Park

Biking, Parks & Gardens, Water Sports

Woodland Park is a year-round local favorite with paved trails, play equipment, skate park, water park and a top-notch ice-rink equipped with stadium lights, comfortable locker rooms and benches for hockey games. The facility is open for public skating on most Saturdays and Sundays in the winter. ...
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Lake Koocanusa

Fishing, Water Sports

Lake Koocanusa is resides in Montana and British Columbia, Canada stretching over 90 miles long. The name ‘Koocanusa’ is made up of the first three letters of Kootenai, Canada, and USA. ...
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Wild Trout Adventures

Fishing, Flathead National Forest, Outdoor Recreation, Outfitters and Guides, Places to Go, Tours & Sightseeing

Wild Trout Adventures is your source for fly fishing around Glacier National Park. We’re located in the middle of some of North America’s finest fly fishing rivers with the famous Flathead River and Swan River just minutes away. Wild Trout Adventures offers guiding fly fishing services on these incredible rivers along with numerous permit-only mountain lakes. ...
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Rails to Trails of Northwest Montana

Biking, Cross-country skiing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Outdoor Recreation

With 22 miles of paved trails, the Rails to Trails of Northwest Montana extends from the town of Somers on the north shore of Flathead Lake, through downtown Kalispell then west to Kila. Soak in epic views – including the Swan, Mission, Salish and Whitefish mountains – along the way, while taking time to enjoy the five murals painted on tunnels along the trail system. All, or part of t...
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