Everybody desires to go to Glacier Nationwide Park…like 3 million folks a 12 months. However what many park-goers don’t understand is that almost all of Western Montana was carved by the identical glacial exercise, providing so many different beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers, and forests—with a fraction of the vacationers. To assist extra folks discover the lesser-known gems and preserve them pristine, we took our expertise as off-grid RVers with a inexperienced coronary heart, and partnered with Glacier Nation Tourism for a #RecreateResponsibly highway journey. Over the course of 12 days, we traveled from the Bitterroot Mountains to the far north of Kootenai Nation, by way of three nationwide forests, dynamic Native American territories, charming small cities, the largest freshwater lake within the West, and a ton extra in between. Listed here are a few of our favourite Western Montana highway journey locations and the methods you may depart these locations higher than you discovered them.
Biking the Route of the Hiawatha
Spanning the Idaho and Montana border, the Route of the Hiawatha is among the crown jewels of the US’s rails-to-trails system. When constructing the railroad line from Chicago to Tacoma within the early Twentieth-century, the crew reached the Bitterroot Mountains and it was the hardest terrain they’d encountered. To create this 15-mile stretch, they bore 10 tunnels (some over a mile lengthy) and constructed 7 trestle bridges towering over the forest. And all that onerous work remains to be paying off with this unbelievable bike path. To get equipped, we went to Lookout Move Resort for bike leases and a rack, then drove to the Montana facet to start out the experience. With a delicate downhill pitch and broad filth path, it’s all about having fun with the sweeping mountain views and engineering marvels lining the best way. To make it even simpler for all ages, Lookout Move provides a shuttle with a information to entertain you all the best way again to the parking zone. Name us slackers, however the return shuttle allowed us to take our candy time for numerous photograph stops, studying the handfuls of interpretive indicators, having fun with a picnic, and climbing up a waterfall. Watch this video from our experience.
#RecreateResponsibly Tip: Plan Forward. Convey a raincoat and headlamp to be prepared for the tunnels.
Catching a County Truthful
From summer season to fall, there are gala’s throughout Montana and we had been in simply in time for one of many greatest occasions in Ravalli County. Amusement rides, cornhole tournaments, bake-offs, livestock demonstrations, classic automotive reveals, and a full-blown rodeo…this was a cultural affair decked in cowboy boots. And we could also be metropolis people, however we acquired in with one of the best of them, chowing down on huckleberry pie and cheering on the wagon races. Along with the rodeo clown, who was our favourite character on the truthful? Smokey Bear. He was representing on the Bitterroot Nationwide Forest sales space, providing information on tenting and hearth security for locals and guests alike. Thanks, Smokey!
#RecreateResponsibly Tip: Know Earlier than You Go. Wildfire season is a really actual factor within the West, examine MTFireInfo.org for the newest hearth standing and restrictions.
Kettlehouse Amphitheater
Swinging the cultural pendulum, we went from a county truthful to an indie rock live performance at Montana’s premier music venue. The state-of-the-art Kettlehouse Amphitheater is tucked in a notch of the mountains on the foot of the Blackfoot River (yea, the one Brad Pitt was fishing in A River Runs By way of It), incomes it a spot in as certainly one of High 10 Amphitheaters within the World, in response to Pollstar. Including to the cool issue, it’s adjoining to the Kettlehouse Brewery, and contemporary craft beer is delivered proper to your live performance seat. We noticed Dying Cab for Cutie and so they had been superior, although it barely issues what band is on the town…the venue is so extraordinary, you’re gonna have an amazing evening.
#RecreateResponsibly Tip: At all times Recycle. We love that Kettlehouse Amphitheater was all about minimizing waste with recycling, compost, and cardboard water bottles, although touring in rural areas could make it trickier to maintain up these good habits. In the event you don’t see recycling straight away, stash it in your trunk till you see that service—you’ll discover it will definitely!
Garnet Ghost City
Being the Treasure State, Montana has previous mining cities all all through the mountains, with the best-preserved being Garnet. Taking a flip off the properly paved Route 200 and onto the rugged Garnet Vary Backcountry Byway, we wound by way of the mountains for 11 miles. Following a brief climbing path right into a valley, we acquired a view over this 130-year-old time capsule. Not your common ramshackle mining city, Garnet had 4 accommodations, three livery stables, two barbershops, a union corridor, faculty, sweet store, physician’s workplace, and 13 saloons. Ultimately, a gold shortage and the 1913 hearth drove the city into ghost standing, however when prohibition and the melancholy period hit, their hidden saloons and gold claims acquired a second wind. We beloved wandering by way of the previous buildings, many with their authentic fixtures and relics, and up the hill to the Nineties miners’ cabins. Take a half-hour hike alongside the Sierra Mine Loop Path and also you’ll discover previous gold claims tucked within the pines.
#RecreateResponsibly Tip: Take solely images. Like every historic website, chances are you’ll come throughout little artifacts as you wander about city; depart them behind and assist preserve the story of Garnet in context.
Seeley Lake & The Clearwater Canoe Path
Between the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Mission Mountains lies the Seeley-Swan Valley Chain of Lakes and the ever-popular Clearwater River Canoe Path. We rented SUP boards from Tamaracks Resort and so they dropped us off on the put-in. Paddling this 3.5-mile meandering waterway by way of the willow marsh with mountain views on all sides was wonderful. Once we reached the river’s finish, we had been greeted with a floating backyard of lily pads and a seashore to benefit from the expansive Seeley Lake. Conveniently, there’s a half-hour climbing path to attach again to the put-in spot; should you rented from Tamaracks, simply preserve paddling for 20 minutes to achieve their lakefront property. FYI, this historic resort is a charmer with nice cabins and campsites if you wish to keep awhile and take in the lake life. One other nice lodging and eating choice is Double Arrow Lodge. We went for dinner at their Nineteen Thirties log-cabin restaurant and indulged in truffle root vegetable risotto and Grand Marnier chocolate mousse cake. We earned it with that paddling journey, proper?
Mountain climbing Holland Lake & Falls
On the northside of Seeley-Swan Valley is certainly one of our favourite hikes in Montana: Holland Falls Nature Path. With only a fast stroll by way of the tamarack and alpine forest, you attain the turquoise Holland Lake surrounded by sheer peaks. It was so beautiful we might have referred to as it there, however following the shoreline, the views stored getting higher as we steadily climbed to the 40-foot waterfall. In the event you’re up for a little bit of rock scrambling (not really useful for youths), a steep path will deliver you from the underside of the falls to a panoramic view over the lake.
#RecreateResponsibly Tip: Brush it Off. At first of this trailhead, the forest service gives a boot brush. Wipe off your sneakers earlier than and after the hike to stop the seeds and spores of invasive species from spreading. Whereas not each path provides this, it’s nonetheless an amazing follow to brush off or clap your sneakers collectively when getting into and departing new wilderness areas.
Flathead Lake
Do you know Montana’s Flathead Lake is the biggest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi? The 185 miles of shoreline are dotted with cute cities, orchards, state parks, and homeland. We drove the complete circumference going counterclockwise, ranging from Large Fork. This city was lovely, with an amazing little theater, artwork galleries, ice cream retailers, and bars the place you may hitch up your horse. Driving down the east facet of the lake, the slopes had been coated with fruit bushes. We stopped at Bowman Orchards, a century-old and fifth-generation household farm, with a specialty in Rainier and Lapin cherries. The entire household, from the youngsters to the grandparents, was at work wrapping up an amazing season. In the event you’re an RVer and a Harvest Host Member, each Bowman Orchards and East Shore Smokehouse (a enjoyable restaurant with a giant grassy area) will allow you to keep the evening in alternate for getting a few of their goodies. Win, win!
Flathead’s Wild Horse Island & Camp Kapapa
Cruising up the westside of the lake, we had our eyes set on Flathead’s largest isle, Wild Horse. This 2,160-acre mountainous expanse is the place the Kootenai folks traditionally hid their horses from warring tribes and the place their equine ancestors nonetheless roam free. Solely accessible by boat, this state park referred to as for a kayak and climbing journey! We set off from the city of Dayton and after a scenic hour paddle, we reached Skeeko Bay and its intensive community of trails. We hiked up the mountain, conserving an eye fixed out for his or her resident wild horses, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and relics from the early Twentieth-century settlers. We reached the height for panoramic views of the encompassing islands, mountains, and lake, then meandered our means right down to Eagle Cove to complete out this implausible climbing loop. After a giant day of outside journey, we needed to deal with ourselves to an evening at Camp Kapapa, a model new glamping camp on the Flathead Reservation. This property has been in Keya Birdsbill’s household for generations and it was at all times her grandmother’s dream to share the land in its pure state and with its Kootenai traditions. This summer season Keya and her husband Louie opened Camp Kapapa (which implies “grandparent” within the Kootenai language) in her honor. Proper alongside the shore, they’ve teepees, a wall tent, deluxe tent websites, and a one-of-kind teepee cabin, every adorned with tribal motifs and views to the lake. We completely fell in love with this glamping camp; to see and browse extra about it, try our Camp Kapapa Instagram gallery.
#RecreateResponsibly Tip: Respect Wildlife. Whether or not on Wild Horse Island or in Glacier Nationwide Park, Montana is chock filled with wildlife. As tempting as it’s to get shut for an excellent photograph, preserve your distance and don’t disturb them. Be notably aware of bears and observe these security suggestions.
The Northwest Hall: Eureka
Heading into the Northwest Hall in the direction of the Canadian border, the wilderness will get wilder and the small cities get smaller. Steamboats and railways had been the one technique to get into the glacial and gold-rich hills of Tobacco River Valley till the early 1900s and it nonetheless feels simply as distant. For a glance into the previous, we went to Eureka’s Tobacco Valley Historic Village to discover its assortment of hand-hewn buildings, from previous cabins to church buildings to schoolhouses. Although exploring the principle road of modern-day Eureka was an entire lot extra up to date than we might have imagined, with cool boutiques, espresso retailers, movie show, and even a world-fusion, vegan-friendly cafe. Including to the sudden, Montana’s #1 golf course, The Wilderness Membership, is on this city!
Tobacco River & Campground Cleanup
Simply six miles west of Eureka within the Kootenai Nationwide Forest, there’s the unbelievable (and free!) Tobacco River Campground. We noticed a fire-ring proper alongside the water and shortly arrange camp to benefit from the final moments of sundown, watch the ospreys fish, and prepare dinner dinner over the hearth. (Watch our hearth security TikTok). Within the morning, the wildlife watching continued like an episode out of the Discovery Channel. Gliding herons, dive-bombing eagles, wave-riding geese, and spawning Kokanee salmon had been all placing on a tremendous present. As we had been breaking down camp, we noticed two Forest Service volunteers making the rounds with their trash luggage so requested if we might be part of their clean-up. They had been so grateful for the assistance, that they turned it right into a nature stroll, educating us in regards to the native edible berries, medicinal vegetation, invasive species, and animal tracks…then gifted us a home made jar of huckleberry jam!
#RecreateResponsibly Tip: Depart it Higher Than You Discovered It. Everytime you’re at a campsite or on the path, do your half to maintain it clear. We prefer to hike with a trash bag and pinchers so we by no means need to suppose twice about choosing issues up.
Libby & The Chainsaw Carving Championships
Taking the Koocanusa Scenic Byway alongside its namesake lake and into the Cupboard Mountains, we reached the spunky little metropolis of Libby. As a former asbestos mining city, it had a nasty wrap for some time, however Libby is reinventing itself as an journey and cultural capital of the Northwest Hall. It usually hosts occasions just like the Riverfront Blues Pageant, Libby Logger Days, The Irish Truthful, and the unbelievable Kootenai Nation Worldwide Chainsaw Carving Championship. We had the good fortune of seeing the “Conflict of the Carvers” and watch twenty of the world’s greatest, from Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Russia, Canada, USA, and extra, face-off. They get an eight-foot log and 4 days to show it right into a masterpiece, plus the added problem of day by day 90-minute fast carves for the continued public sale. Even in in the future of strolling across the open-air workshops, we had been amazed at how a lot the art work developed. From sawing to chiseling, sanding, torching, and marking, these works had been shortly refined to perfection. The evening earlier than the finals, the city went wild and we went with them. Alongside our new Montana buddy and former carver, Gary, we bar hopped from the Cupboard Mountain Brewery (aka The Residing Room of Libby) to the Mint, the place beers are nonetheless stored chilly in wood ice chests. The subsequent day all of the masterworks had been lined up and auctioned off in a storm of bidders, driving costs upwards of $10,000. Watch the video above to see the sawdust fly and the great instances rip.
Kootenai Falls & Swinging Bridge
Seven miles west of Libby, when the cliffs alongside the freeway flip right into a rainbow of colours and the river rages, you’ve reached Kootenai Falls. This cascade is among the largest free-flowing waterfalls within the northwest, nevertheless it’s not the peak or width that makes your jaw drop, it’s every part else. 1.5 billion-year-old rocks create a staircase for these falls to swiftly and gracefully step down the Kootenai River, then swoop round islands and down a craggy slender canyon. We walked the quick nature path to the water and thought the primary lookout was the view of views, however new waterfalls and islands stored showing all the best way to the principle cascade. No crowding onto a viewing platform, you may stroll proper as much as the falls, sit on the edge and really feel the complete rush. Head downstream and also you’ll attain the swinging bridge for one final have a look at arguably one of many prettiest waterfalls within the States.
Ross Creek Cedars & Giving Again
On our final day in Western Montana, we acquired up early to discover Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Space. Apparently, we acquired there even earlier than the rangers, as a result of there was an enormous fallen tree blocking the highway. Did we flip round? Heck no, Buddy comes packing with 102 horsepower, a hatchet, and twine! We knew you wouldn’t imagine our 1985 camper might haul 4,000+ kilos of timber, so Anne shot this video of Buddy’s glory second. We cleared the highway for all and pressed on to the traditional grove of 1,000-year-old bushes. Strolling the mile-long loop, we craned our necks to lookup on the lush cover 175 toes above us. On our means out we observed a field that mentioned that this grove is maintained by the Three Rivers Ranger District, with the assistance of customer donations. Having simply hiked, paddled, and camped in so many unbelievable public lands round Montana, we had been moved to slide in a $100 invoice.
#RecreateResponsibly Tip: Pitch In. It takes greater than authorities staff to maintain public lands thriving. Donate, volunteer, and advocate for the outside each time you may.
The rugged great thing about Western Montana is what attracts tens of millions of individuals right here. We hope you go to, take an epic highway journey, and develop into a steward for its wild locations.
A giant thanks to Glacier Nation Montana for inviting us to share the #RecreateResponsibly message with vacationers and for sponsoring our Western Montana highway journey. As a thanks to the area and to maintain up our “Bloggers Give Again” dedication, we’re donating $325 of our earnings to the next non-profits: Clark Fork Coalition, The Ross Creek Cedars, and RecreateResponsibly.org.
