Conrad Mansion
STOPS:
- 1Glacier Park International Airport
- 2Conrad Mansion
Fly into Glacier Park International Airport. Depending on your group arrival time, arrange a reception and tour of Conrad Mansion in Kalispell. Kalispell is a bustling community with notable Old West charm. Visit the Conrad Mansion Museum to see what luxury living was like in the late 19th century. Open year-round, learn about the Conrad family's contributions to the region with a docent-led tour or on your own self-guided tour. View all 26 rooms, unchanged since 1895.
Overnight in Kalispell.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
STOPS:
- 3Lake McDonald Lodge
- 4Going-to-the-Sun Road
- 5Glacier Park Boat Company
Kalispell is located just 45 minutes from the West Entrance to Glacier National Park. A wilderness of lakes, towering peaks and remnants of glaciers is readily accessible. Stop in West Glacier and get your provisions for the day. Include snacks and water, as those are scarce once you head into the park. Stop into Eddie's for some delicious ice cream and a souvenir before heading over to the Apgar Visitor Center.
You'd be hard pressed to find a more scenic drive in the lower continental United States than the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Travel to the grand, hand-hewn Lake McDonald Lodge (20 minutes from West Glacier) where you can hop aboard a red bus for a tour of the 50-mile-long Going-to-the-Sun Road (various tour lengths available). These historic canvas-top tour buses were introduced in the 1930s and have since been restored and outfitted with propane engines—a gift from the Ford Motor Company. Additionally, Sun Tours provides an authentic glimpse of Blackfeet Nation culture and heritage via interpretive tours throughout Blackfeet Country, including the Going-to-the-Sun Road. If traveling the Going-to-the-Sun Road by car between May and September, a vehicle reservation is required. Read more here.
Narrated boat tours on historic wooden boats with Glacier Park Boat Company are offered several times a day on Lake McDonald, Two Medicine Lake, St. Mary Lake, Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. The St. Mary Visitor Center is also definitely worth a stop while you're in Glacier National Park. Take a rest after an active day and stay a second night at the Belton Chalet.
Flathead River | Wanderlust for Visit Montana
STOPS:
- 6Middle Fork of the Flathead River
- 7Raft Glacier National Park
- 8Hike Glacier National Park
- 9Highline Trail
Stop for a grab-and-go lunch on your way to the park. Our waters make up some of the wildest and serene parts of the region, and there's no shortage of ways to play in almost any of these sparkling rivers, lakes and streams. Near the park, the Middle Fork of the Flathead River has options for a wild whitewater excursion or a scenic leisurely float (or fly-fishing) trip.
If your group would rather explore by foot, hike the Highline Trail. Glacier National Park offers more than 700 miles of trails, including short hikes to waterfalls, extended backcountry hikes to unnamed lakes, and everything in between with something for every skill level. Grab dinner at the historic Lake McDonald Lodge, Russell's Fireside Dining Room or Jammer Joe's Grill and Pizzeria, before returning to the Belton Chalet for a second night.
Northwest Montana History Museum | Visit Montana
STOPS:
- 10Hockaday Museum of Art
- 11Northwest Montana History Museum
Make your way around Kalispell and climb aboard a historic trolley for a customized tour—your group is in for a treat. The guide will help lay out the history of downtown Kalispell and its historic homes and tell the story of the famous people who resided in them. Tour the Hockaday Museum of Art—an original Carnegie Library turned beautiful gallery housing one of the largest collections of art and culture on the Blackfeet Indians and Glacier National Park. Originally built as a schoolhouse, the Northwest Montana History Museum is now the home of NW Montana exhibitions and delves into the railroad and logging history of the area. Add in shopping downtown Kalispell.
Afterward, Lonesome Dove Guest Ranch is available for fun afternoon of horseback rides followed by a group dinner.
Overnight in Kalispell.
Flathead Lake | Andy Austin
STOPS:
- 12Far West Boat Tours
- 13Bigfork Summer Playhouse
Tour the aromatic grounds of Longview Lavender Farm in Somers on the north end of Flathead Lake, featuring thousands of lavender plants of different varieties and views of the Rocky Mountains as far as the eye can see. Learn about all the different uses for lavender—from oil distillation and cooking, to drying for arrangements. Visit the farm store and browse all things lavender—from salt soaks to lotions—and enjoy the spacious grounds, complete with a teepee.
Plan a cruise on the largest freshwater lake in the West on Far West Boat Tours. Take an excursion around Wild Horse Island State Park and look for bighorn sheep, wild mustangs and other native wildlife. Plan to hop aboard for a dinner or sunset cruise. The ship has a fully licensed bar, and multiple catering options are available for up to 150 passengers.
Continue around the shore of Flathead Lake to the charming community of Bigfork. Check into your hotel, then walk Electric Avenue, stopping at the shops, art galleries and boutiques along the way. If you're lucky, you can time the itinerary to catch a play at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse.
Overnight in Bigfork.
Holland Lake | Journal of Lost Time
STOPS:
- 14Bob Marshall Wilderness
- 15Holland Lake Falls
- 16Clearwater Canoe Trail
This scenic corridor on State Highway 83 is dotted with lakes and runs through the Mission and Swan Mountain ranges. The lushly forested landscape offers hundreds of miles of trails to hike and bike and runs between the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Mission Mountains. "The Bob" is the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states. Stop to explore The Bob with Swan Mountain Outfitters, located in Swan Lake. Go for an easy hike and picnic lunch with a llama. These adorable creatures carry your lunch and gear while you trek to a beautiful waterfall for a picnic.
Midway between Swan and Seeley lakes, stop at Holland Lake and hike to Holland Lake Falls. The views here are jaw-dropping. Or opt for a float on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard; rentals are available at Tamarack Resort. Beginning just outside Seeley Lake, the Clearwater Canoe Trail offers a lazy float through a dense willow marsh, entering the north end of the lake. Grab a classic Montana steak at Lindey's before continuing on to Missoula to overnight at the Holiday Inn Downtown.
Holt Heritage Museum
STOPS:
- 17Smokejumper Visitor Center
- 18Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center
- 19Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
- 20Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History
- 21Travelers’ Rest State Park
- 22Holt Heritage Museum
- 23Montana River Guides Rafting Tour
Missoula is Montana's cultural hub and sits at the confluence of three rivers—the Bitterroot, Clark Fork and Blackfoot. The city features nine historic districts plus funky boutiques, live theater and music, a symphony and delicious dining.
Begin with a visit to the Smokejumper Visitor Center, the largest active smokejumper base in the nation. The Smokejumper Visitor Center is a unique opportunity to learn about this unusual, demanding and dramatic occupation. As you walk through the center you will visit the National Smokejumper Memorial, go inside a replica of a 1930s lookout tower and tour the smokejumper loft where the smokejumpers work when they are not fighting fires.
Consider a stop at The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center. The center celebrates the conservation of public wildlands, working ranches and forests where elk herds can thrive. If local history is what you are looking for, visit the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. Built in 1877, the fort sits on 32 acres and features 13 historical structures. It also provides a rich history lesson about the search for gold in the area and the impact the railroad had on western expansion. The Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History, also located at Fort Missoula, tells the story of the United States Army, from frontier times to present day.
Grab lunch at Lolo Peak Brewery. Travel south on U.S. Highway 93 to Travelers' Rest State Park in Lolo. This National Historic Landmark marks the location of a centuries-old American Indian campsite that the Lewis and Clark Expedition used in 1805 and 1806. This exciting addition to this timeless place gives visitors a glimpse of the time before and immediately after the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled through the Bitterroot Valley. Then, head across the street to the Holt Heritage Museum (reservations required) and walk through interpretive collections of cowboy, American Indian and Lewis and Clark memorabilia. The museum is open by appointment only so your group will have the place to yourselves.
The microbrew industry is more than alive and well in Montana, with more than 35 breweries in Western Montana's Glacier Country alone. Tour Missoula's finest breweries with a downtown self-guided foot tour.
For a tour of the river instead, book a rafting adventure with Montana River Guides. MRG is one of the most reputable outfitters on the Clark Fork’s Alberton Gorge, and these friendly rafting experts are ready to show you a fun and scenic day on the water.
Overnight in Missoula.
Missoula Montana Airport | Andy Austin
STOPS:
- 24Missoula Montana Airport
Depart from the new Missoula Montana Airport terminal. This itinerary can be enjoyed in reverse as well.
