Summer Actitities

Summer Activities & Places to see in the Flathead Valley

Summertime in the Flathead Valley offers limitless possibilities! Come prepared for sun-filled days - 16 hours of daylight which means plenty of time for rafting, fishing, kayaking, hiking, swimming, horseback riding, etc. Visiting Glacier National Park is also a must. There you can hike to Avalanche Lake, stroll the Trail of the Cedars and see the amazing visitor’s center at Logan’s Pass. Logan's Pass is the highest point on the Going-to-the Sun Road at 6,646 feet. Going to the Sun Road is 50 miles from the west to the east entrance. Without stopping it will take you 2 hours to drive this road. The entire road will be open for public vehicle traffic from Friday, June 13 to Monday, September 15, 2008. Along the way you will encounter wildlife and awe inspiring beauty. Bring your camera because there will be many “photogenic moments.” This is one vacation whose memories will last a life-time!

Whitefish Arts Festival / Whitefish: June 30, July 1 & 2. The season kicks off over the Fourth of July weekend in the picturesque town of Whitefish with their 27th annual Whitefish Arts Festival. Held at Parkside Credit Union Park next to the Amtrak station, over 100 artists will be arriving from all over the U.S., with their unique sculptures, paintings, pottery, and more. There’s something for everyone, so make sure not to miss Whitefish’s world famous “noodle guy” as well as sampling some fresh squeezed lemonade. Fireworks light up the skies at night. For more information please call 406-862-5875, fax 406-862-3515, or visit http://www.whitefishartsfestival.org.

Arts in the Park, Hockaday Museum Art/ Kalispell: July 21, 22, & 23 This is Northwest Montana’s largest and longest running art and entertainment fair, an art show perfect for browsing and buying high quality jewelry, clothing, photography, paintings, pottery, glass, and other artwork. In its 38th year Kalispell’s Arts in the Park serves as the main fundraising event for the Hockaday Museum. Held at Depot Park in downtown Kalispell, the festival will also spotlight performers from around the Northwest including folk singer, Stacey Board, from Salt Lake City, Utah, Steve Eckels, a classical guitarist from Kalispell, and the Whitefish Celtic band, Tra Le Gael, to name a few. For more information, phone: 406-755-5268, fax: 406-755-2023, visit http://www.hockadaymuseum.org.

Northwest Polka Festival / Kalispell: July 21, 22 &23
Musicians all their lives, Al and Bonnie Lindberg were two of the originators of the very successful Big Horn Mountain Polka Festival in Sheridan, Wyoming for 14 years. This event is held in the Eagle’s Lodge ballroom. For more information please call 406-883-6151 or e-mail bjl15@centurytel.net.

Bigfork Festival of the Arts / Bigfork: August 5 & 6
120 venders, a great food court, everything from beads to candles to soaps to sculptures, Bigfork pulls out all the stops for its annual Festival of the Arts, now in its 28th year. The city closes down a four block area of downtown and fills it with the juried work of local and out of the area artists. There’s plenty of music too, and you might even see clogging, get caught up in karaoke, or have your face painted. August is cherry season in the Flathead Valley. For more information please call 406-837-5888, fax 406-837-5808 or visit http://wwwbigforkfestivalofhearts.com.

Golfing in the Flathead Valley

With nine public courses offering challenging layouts and unique golfing experiences, it’s no wonder visitors to Montana’s Flathead Valley often bring golf clubs along with fishing poles and camping gear. Named to Golf Digest’s top “50 Golf Destinations” in the world based on courses, service, transportation, setting, quality accommodations, travel to and around the destination, and value, Flathead Valley golf has it all. With one simple phone call to the Flathead Valley Golf Association's central reservation number, you can book advance tee times at any of the nine courses: Eagle Bend, Meadow Lake, Big Mountain, Polson Country Club, Glacier View, Mission Mountain, Buffalo Hill, Village Greens and Whitefish Lake. Just dial 1-800-392-9795 for tee time reservations, further information on golf packages, or accommodations Monday-Friday, 9 am - 5 pm (MST).

Hiking in the Flathead

Glacier National Park is the perfect place to see nature at its finest. There are over 730 miles of hiking trails. The trails vary from one to multi-day hikes and easy walking to more strenuous hiking. There are five self-guided walks that feature signs along the way to tell you about the trail and various fauna and wildlife. They are: The Trail of the Cedars, Huckleberry Mountain, Hidden Lake, Sun Point, and Swiftcurrent Nature Trails. These trails encourage hikers to experience Glacier National Park at their own pace. The Trail of the Cedars is wheelchair accessible. Attendants at the front gate of Glacier Park can help you with maps and any needed information. You can also talk to our staff about their favorite hiking locations!!