What to do in Kalispell, Montana

Kalispell, Montana, is a lovely place to live and a place of beauty. It's a small town, so not everyone is kind and helpful. It is possible to come across people vehemently opposed to change, and they may appear harsh to newcomers.

Located in the heart of Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake, and the Flathead Valley, Kalispell and the Flathead Valley offer a wide range of recreational activities which includes championship golf courses, two ski resorts, endless hiking trails, lakes and streams for fishing, quaint small towns, and warm western hospitality.

There's a lot more to than just hiking, kayaking, and fishing, which is why we've put together a list of things to do here. Glacier National Park has more to offer due to its central location in Montana's Flathead Valley.

Glacier National Park

When you think of Glacier National Park, you think of the countless glaciers that have formed its rocky landscape over the past two million years.

The park has 25 active glaciers, making it one of the few spots in the lower 48 states where you can see glaciers.

Ideally, you can plan to spend at least two or three days at Glacier National Park. Going-to-the-Sun Road, one or two trails, and a visit to the Many Glaciers or Two Medicine locations can all be complete in this amount of time.

Make the most of your time away from work and enjoy every minute. Glacier has something for everyone ranging from hiking to horseback riding to an iconic red bus ride.

Conrad Mansion Museum

The Conrad Mansion Museum location is on a bluff overlooking the valley and the Swan Mountains in Kalispell's east side residential district.

The home is available to the public for tours from May 16th to October 14th. A July 4th Ice Cream Social, an October Ghost Tour, weekend Christmas Tours from late November to late December, Holiday Tea & Tours, and a Children's Christmas Event are just a few of the annual activities.

Tours cost $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $6 for students, and $4 for children.

The gift shop is open in the regular season for holiday tour hours and by appointment in the off-season.

Lone Pine State Park

7.5 miles of trails are accessible for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and horseback riding in Lone Pine State Park. Those who visit Glacier National Park will be sure to find a tranquil spot to rest and admire the area's wildflowers, wildlife, and stunning views of the Flathead Valley.

An $8 vehicle-entry fee is charged for day use. In order to utilize the park throughout the day, visitors who are either on foot, by bicycle, or by bus must pay $4 for the entrance charge. Using a Non-Resident Entrance Pass, you can enter the park for nothing.

Flathead Lake State Park

At the Swan and Mission Mountain ranges is Flathead Lake which is the largest natural freshwater lake in the Western United States. The lake covers an area of roughly 200 square miles and has a depth of 370 feet.

It's a beautiful location between Creston and Bigfork, and that's even before you get to Flathead Lake itself. All of Flathead Lake's best views may be seen along its western shoreline from US Route 93 between Big Arm and Rollins (Big Arm).

Flatland lake is ideal for open water swimming due to its impeccable cleanliness. You won't have to worry about sharks, jellyfish, or lane lanes in this crystal-clear water! Bathing beaches on Flathead Lake are monitored for recreational water quality from 1st July to 1st September.

For those who want to participate in a wide variety of Flathead Lake activities, the state recreation sites are an excellent option: In addition to Elmo and Big Arm, there are several other public access locations in the area that provide a wide range of recreational opportunities, including swimming, camping, and water sports, such as Walstad Memorial Park, Yellow Bay, and Woods Bay.

Wild Horse Island State Park

At 2,164 acres (876 ha), Wild Horse Island is the largest island in Montana's Flathead Lake, the state's largest freshwater lake.

After driving 29 miles from Kalispell on Highway 93 to Dayton Yacht Harbor, paddle 90 minutes to Wild Horse Island. It is going to be a bumpy ride. In addition to Big Arm State Park, there are more than 20 locations where you can launch your motor or sailboat.

There have been reports of the Kootenai Indians keeping their horses on Wild Horse Island to prevent them from being kidnapped by other tribes. Wild Horse Island is not accessible by public transit from the park. Day-use facilities are available, but camping is not permitted.

Today, Montana State Park is home to a herd of wild horses, Big Horn sheep, mule deer, and Bald Eagles. An hour or two of trekking along an easy-to-access trail will offer you countless chances to see and photograph wildlife.

With a vehicle, the day-use entrance cost is $8.

The day-use entrance cost is $4 for walk-ins, bicycles, and buses.

With a Non-Resident Entrance Pass: No charge.

Herron Park

It takes ten minutes to get to downtown Kalispell from this location just down the road from Lone Pine. It’s a 7.6-mile moderately frequented loop route near Somers in Montana classified as moderate.

May through October are the best months for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking along this trail. This trail can be used by dogs and horses, as well.

The views of the Flathead Valley from the summit are stunning. The hiking routes interconnect and allow you to make your unique track. It is ideal for a quick excursion in the afternoon or when you do not have a lot of time.

 Picnic tables make spending the day so much more enjoyable. Bring supplies and carry out whatever you brought in. Ascending takes precedence over descending. The park is open to the public for free, although donations are welcome.

There are several paths and open spaces you may walk while still taking care of your responsibilities. Poop bags are given at the park.

Thompson Chains of Lakes

Northwest Montana has a trio of lakes known as the Thompson Lakes located just off Highway 2 between Kalispell and Libby. Fishing is excellent in all the lakes, and people put forth a lot of effort to catch them.

Here you can go bird watching, go camping, motor boating, swimming, fishing, canoeing, or kayaking with a group. So, bring your boat or a friend's if you want to get out on the water.

White Fish Mountain Resort

Snowboarders and skiers flock to Whitefish Mountain Resort, a mountain resort in northwest Montana. There are four miles (6 kilometers) from Whitefish, 16 miles (26 kilometers) west of Columbia Falls, and 21 miles (34 kilometers) north of Kalispell in the Flathead National Forest.

Glacier National Park is just a short drive away from Whitefish, and the surrounding mountains, lakes, and rivers offer a wide range of outdoor activities. Discover award-winning cuisine and nightlife, as well as an extensive art and cultural scene, after experiencing spectacular natural wonders by day.

In addition to chairlift rides, Whitefish Mountain Resort has a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy: hiking, zip lines, alpine slides, cross-country mountain biking, an aerial adventure park, and more!

Jewel Basin

Jewel Basin is located east of Kalispell and west of the Hungry Horse Reservoir. The Jewel Basin is a good spot for hiking and mountaineering. More than 15,000 acres of land, including 27 lakes and 35 miles of trails, make up the Basin. All motorized vehicles and horses are prohibited in the Jewel Basin intended for hiking exclusively.

Jewel Basin via Switchback Path 725 is a 6.6-mile moderately-trafficked out-and-back trail near Kalispell, Montana that allows seeing wildlife and is classified as strenuous.

In the Jewel Basin Hiking Area, a stunning area filled with high-mountain lakes, hunters can access the alpine trail. It's easier to go further back on the west side, especially from places like Wheeler and Graves Creek. Your hunting strategy may be adjusted based on your wealth.

Biking, camping and cabins, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and camping, hunting, nature viewing, and OHV riding and camping are just some of the activities available.

Kootenai Falls

On the other side of the river, you can swim in the river or on the connecting trail to Kootenai Falls, where there is a natural pool in front of the falls after crossing the swinging bridge. The Kootenai River Historical Marker is located on US Highway 2 near Troy, Montana.

Some rest areas are available, as is a special enclosed pedestrian bridge over the railroad, which leads to an overlooking swing bridge. There are no restrictions on dogs. However, they must be in the custody of their owners at all times.

Camping, picnics, swimming, and lounging are all available at the resort. Boating: Motorboats are permitted to navigate the rivers in Idaho as a whole.

North West Montana History Museum

Kalispell, Montana has a history museum dedicated to the history of the Northwest Montana region and the Flathead Valley. The Northwest Montana History Museum is located in the restored Central School building in Kalispell, Montana.

The Flathead Museum is an excellent site to learn about the region. In addition, it's a great venue to bring together a wide range of people and organizations.

Montana pioneer Frank Bird Linderman, timber industry in northwest Montana, Native American culture in the northwest, Flathead Valley history, Central School, and Demersville's turn-of-the-century community are currently the focus of permanent exhibitions.

The Hockaday Art Museum

The art museum dedicated to preserving art and historical artifacts associated with Glacier National Park is located in Kalispell, Montana.

The museum's permanent collection of Montana art and artisans centered around Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Nation. The museum's permanent collection includes creations by C.M. Russell, Winold Reiss, Leonard Lopp, Bud Helbig, Elizabeth Lochrie, and King Kuka, among others.

Aside from Thomas English, Bob Scriver, and Gary Schildt, the museum also includes works by these and other artists. The Hockaday's gift store features a wide variety of unique ceramics, glassware, jewelry, cards, prints, books, and other original artwork by local and regional artists.

Buffalo Hill Golf Club

Located in Kalispell, Flathead County, Montana, the Buffalo Hill Golf Club is a public, 27-hole parkland course. In 1918, the program was officially established. The Conrad family owned the site before it became a golf course and utilized it as a buffalo pasture.

Numerous prestigious events have been played at Buffalo Hill Golf Club. Most people are familiar with the club because of the Labor Day International Classic, a 54-hole competition that has been held there every year since 1939.

Every year, dozens of Albertan players join a big group of regional and local players in attendance. This year's tournament features a nine-hole course called Cameron that plays to a par of 33, and two rounds on the Championship Course.

Woodland Water Park

The Woodland Water Park is Kalispell's only outdoor waterpark. Regardless of the time of year, this is a great place to visit. Ice skating and hockey are popular on the two ponds, which freeze in December.

It's also possible to skate at the public hickey rink, which organizes games and offers public skating sessions. The city maintains the ponds.

All year-round, the walking trails are easy to follow and ideal for daily jogs or strolls. When the weather gets nicer, there are lots of places to go outside and enjoy the fresh air.

There are pavilions, grills, and picnic tables that make it easy to host a party or spend the day. In addition to numerous chairs, there is a large playground for children to play on and some picnic tables strewn throughout the park. The water park provides another level of excitement throughout the summer months.