Flathead: Lakes, River and Nature

When choosing accommodation in Flathead, the focus of your trip is the first factor to consider: lakes and water, access to Glacier National Park, wildlife viewing or trail options. The region combines several different bases. West Glacier is located in eastern Flathead County and at the west entrance to Glacier National Park, while Kalispell, Whitefish and the areas along the shores of Flathead Lake each offer their own recreational opportunities.

Quick facts on the subject

• Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the contiguous 48 states of the United States and has a surface area of more than 200 square miles.
• Whitewater rafting is possible on the Flathead River by canoe, kayak or raft.
• West Glacier is accessible year-round on Amtrak’s historic Empire Builder train; the train stops there in Belton.
• Wild Horse Island offers opportunities for wildlife viewing and is a day-use park. Camping is not permitted there.
• In the Lake McDonald Valley, waterfalls can be reached via numerous hiking trails.
• Cross-country skiing is possible at Herron Park, while Rails to Trails in Kalispell is used as a multi-use trail.
• Whitefish Lake State Park is part of Whitefish’s hiking and cycling trail network; boating is possible on Whitefish Lake.

Lakes, River and Wildlife Viewing

Flathead Lake shapes the landscape through its unusual size and is also an important location for wildlife viewing. Tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl stop to rest and feed in the Important Bird Area at the lake. Wild Horse Island complements this lakeside focus with a day-trip destination offering opportunities for wildlife viewing. Since the park does not allow overnight stays, the island is not suitable as an accommodation location, but rather as an excursion destination during a stay in Flathead.

There are also different options along the water. Lazy Bay Park provides boat access as well as opportunities for water sports and other activities on the water. On the Flathead River, by contrast, the focus is on the experience of whitewater rafting. This allows calm lakeshores, migratory bird observation and fast-moving river water to be incorporated into trip planning as clearly distinct priorities.

West Glacier and Access to the National Park

If access to the western side of Glacier National Park is important to you, West Glacier provides a clearly defined point of reference. From the west, access to the Lake McDonald area, Park Headquarters, the Apgar Visitor Center and the Going-to-the-Sun Road is via Highway 2 eastbound to West Glacier. Its location at the west entrance and its year-round rail connection on the Empire Builder make West Glacier a distinct location to consider when searching for accommodation in Flathead.

A Glacier National Park visitor center also serves as a starting point for the Highline and Hidden Lake Trails. This information describes access to the named hiking trails, but says nothing about the distance from any individual accommodation to this visitor center. When making your selection, you should therefore first determine whether access to the park or another landscape focus is the priority.

Trails, Cross-Country Skiing and Other Location References

Several different trail options are available for active days away from the lake and river. The Fish Creek Bike Path runs from Grist Road to Fish Creek. Whitefish Lake State Park is integrated into Whitefish’s hiking and cycling trail network and complements it with the opportunity to go boating on the lake. Rails to Trails in Kalispell is designed as a multi-use trail. Cross-country skiing is possible at Herron Park.

Flathead County also maintains parks, open spaces, sports facilities, trails, boat launches, fishing access points and community recreation areas throughout the county. This does not identify a single accommodation location, but it demonstrates the range of public recreational areas. In addition to Flathead, Whitefish can also be included in your search as a distinct location. What remains decisive is which of the landscapes and activities mentioned you would like to reach without changing locations again.

For the broader travel overview: Montana.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Carbon County.