Whitefish

A mountain town just outside Glacier National Park's west entrance, with Whitefish Mountain ski resort, Whitefish Lake and Flathead Lake — great in both winter and summer.

Whitefish sits at the northern end of the Flathead Valley in northwestern Montana, about 40 km from the west entrance of Glacier National Park. It grew up as a mountain town on the Great Northern Railway and is now known for skiing, lakes and outdoor recreation. The town itself is small: the historic Central Avenue downtown is lined with restaurants, bars and galleries, and at its northern end stands the 1927 Tudor-style depot, where Amtrak's Empire Builder stops daily. North of town, Whitefish Lake has a City Beach and a state park, and across the lake on Big Mountain is Whitefish Mountain Resort, with skiing in winter and gondola rides in summer. Several routes fan out from here: about 25 km south is Kalispell, with the Conrad Mansion and views from Lone Pine State Park; farther south is Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi — drive around it via the east shore and the village of Bigfork, buy cherries at roadside stands in July–August, and take a boat to Wild Horse Island to see bighorn sheep. To the east are Hungry Horse Dam and the alpine lakes of Jewel Basin in the Swan Range; to the west is Tally Lake, the deepest in Montana. Glacier National Park (Going-to-the-Sun Road, Lake McDonald and more) is usually treated as a separate destination, though day trips from Whitefish are common. The best seasons are July–September (lakes, hiking and Glacier) and December–March (skiing); spring and fall are the off-season, when some facilities close. The nearest airport is Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), between Whitefish and Kalispell. A car is the main way to get around; watch for snow and ice on mountain roads in winter. Black bears and grizzlies live in the area, so carry bear spray. Plan on 3–4 days, including Glacier National Park.

Top sights

• Whitefish Mountain Resort – A ski resort on the top of Big Mountain with more than 1,200 hectares of runs. Winter brings “snow ghost” trees, and summer gondola rides o…
• Downtown Whitefish – A western-style old street of brick and timber along Central Avenue, lined with restaurants, bars, galleries and outdoor gear shops. It is…
• Flathead Lake – The largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, with crystal-clear water and opportunities for driving, boating and cherry pic…
• Whitefish Depot – A Tudor Revival depot built by the Great Northern Railway in 1927, served by Amtrak's Empire Builder, and home to the Stumptown Historical…
• Whitefish City Beach – An urban sandy beach on the south shore of Whitefish Lake, popular for summer swimming and stand-up paddleboard rentals, with views across…
• Whitefish Lake State Park – A small state park on the southwest shore of Whitefish Lake, with forest campsites, lakeside beaches, and a dock, serving as a base for boa…
• Whitefish Trail – A multi-use trail network around Whitefish Lake and the outskirts of town, about 70 km in total, suitable for hiking, running, and mountain…
• Bigfork – A village of artists on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake, lined with galleries and restaurants along Electric Avenue, and famous for it…
• Wayfarers State Park – A lakeside state park just south of Bigfork, where rocky shoreline makes it a popular spot for locals to dive and watch the sunset over Fla…
• Wild Horse Island – The largest island in Flathead Lake, a day-use state park where wild horses, bighorn sheep, and deer roam freely and which can only be reac…
• Conrad Mansion Museum – A Norman-style mansion built in 1895 by the founder of Kalispell, with its original furnishings preserved, and one of the finest Victorian…
• Lone Pine State Park – A state park on a hillside southwest of Kalispell, with an overlook above the Flathead Valley and, on clear days, views of Glacier National…
• Jewel Basin Hiking Area – A high-country lake area in the northern Swan Range that is open only to hikers, with 27 alpine lakes scattered among the peaks and valleys.
• Hungry Horse Dam – A concrete arch dam about 172 meters high on the South Fork of the Flathead River, with a road across the crest and a huge bell-shaped spil…
• Tally Lake – The deepest natural lake in Montana, at about 150 meters, surrounded by mountains and pine forests, with clear water and few visitors, idea…

Where to eat

• Tupelo Grille – A downtown Southern and Cajun restaurant opened in 1995 with a mountain-town flavor. Its shrimp and grits are the signa…
• Buffalo Cafe – A breakfast institution open since 1979, known for its 'Buffalo Pie' hash brown dish and ranked No. 1 in Whitefish on T…
• Whitefish Lake Restaurant – A longtime restaurant in a 1937 log clubhouse at the Whitefish Lake golf course, best known for its slow-roasted ribeye.

Itineraries

• Grand Teton, Yellowstone & Glacier: 12-Day Three-Park Traverse – Fly into Jackson and out of Kalispell, linking three iconic national parks from south to north.
• Glacier National Park & Flathead Lake – In and out of Kalispell: cross the Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike the east side, and return to the lake area via the south…