subject: Northwest Montana - The Crown Of The Continent [print this page] Tucked away in the Northwest corner of Montana is a true wonderland. With Glacier National Park on the east side, Flathead Lake on the south, the Whitefish Mountain Range on the west, and the Canadian border on the north, this area is a magnificent place to visit and learn to love. It can be exciting and calm, stormy and peaceful all at the same time. It is a big country, and its reputation as the Crown of the Continent is well deserved.
The north end of the northern Rockies is comprised of Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. This a rugged area of huge jagged glacier-cut mountains, rushing rivers with miles of whitewater, and mountain lakes that will take your breath away. Back-country chalets that can only be reached on horseback or hiking on foot are scattered through the park, and grizzly bears are inhabitants of the area along with mountain lions, elk, moose, and deer. A little south of Glacier Park and the city of Kalispell is Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Some 30 miles long and up to 15 miles wide, the lake is 370 feet at its deepest part. A remnant of ancient glacial Lake Missoula, it has its own islands and weather, with windy conditions being common. Bigfork is a town perched on the northern end of the lake, a charming little Montana community. The Whitefish range sits to the north of Flathead Lake, and of the Flathead Valley. At the edge of the northern end of the valley is the small resort town of Whitefish, gateway to Whitefish Resort (formerly known as Big Mountain). And to the north, about 60 miles from Kalispell, is the Canadian border.
Winter activities in this part of the world are what you would expect: world-class snow and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, hunting, and hiking. Whitefish Resort boasts a very popular village sitting on the side of a mountain covered with ski-runs and chair lifts. What used to be called Big Mountain is the home of some of the finest skiing and snowboarding in the country, and the charm and small-town flavor make it even more appealing. The entire area is known for hunting opportunities, and there are seasons for deer, black bear, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. Wolves have recently been removed from the endangered species list and are hunted as well. Fishing in the winter through the ice is a popular pastime.
Summer activities, in addition to the aforementioned hunting, include fly fishing and lake fishing (the salmon and trout fishing are world-renowned), whitewater rafting, water skiing, canoeing and hiking. If you are the adventurous type you can go for a hot-air balloon or a helicopter ride and see the sights from above. There are boat tours available as well on the Flathead Lake and on Lake McDonald in Glacier Park.
Nightlife in the area features fine dining and several nightclubs that cater to the ski community. Whitefish is the ski town, with lots of roadhouse-type eateries and quaint little bistros, many with their own wood-stoves and fireplaces in the winter. Bigfork is an art town, with galleries and high-end restaurants vying for space on the small main street, Electric Avenue (maned after the power pl;ant on the river). Kalispell is the big city of the areas, with a growing population of around 11,000. Home to many restaurants, bars, roadhouses and nightclubs, it's easy to find somehting to do there, even when the winter nights begin at 4 pm.
The area around Glacier National Park has an attraction for everyone: the tourist, the thrill-seeker, the outdoors-man, the winter sports expert, and the scenery-lover. It is truly the Crown of the Continent.
