When hiking in the summer please remember to take along a hat, sunscreen, snack or lunch, water, and bear spray.
Here are a few of the Hiking Trails for your hiking pleasure that are close to Bigfork, Montana.
JEWEL BASIN, Bigfork, Montana
As a designated hiking area, the Jewel is a true hiker’s paradise. Thirty-five miles of trail provide many options for hikes of all lengths. While some prefer day hikes, many choose to camp by one of the areas 25 lakes and enjoy a few hours of fishing. Elevations range from 4,240 feet at Graves Creek to 7,542 feet at Big Hawk Mountain. Wildflowers are plentiful and be sure to keep your eyes out for wildlife. For maps and additional information: Flathead National Forest, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901. 406-758-5200
SWAN RIVER NATURE TRAIL, Bigfork, Montana
Starting just outside Bigfork’s town gate at the east end of Grand Avenue, the trail travels along the old River Road beside the Swan River. Sheltered by towering pines and firs, the trail is open to hiking, biking and horseback riding. Four miles round trip. 406-837-5888 http://www.bigfork.org/
FLATHEAD LAKE INTERPERTIVE Trail No. 77, Bigfork, Montana
A great hike!! Directions to the Trail -Turn Right onto Montana Highway 35 from the Mountain Lake Lodge in Woods Bay. Follow Montana Highway 35 for about three miles. Look for the half circle turnoff on the Flathead Lake side of the Highway 35. Keep an eye out for the Beardance Trail and Flathead Lake Trail sign just before the turnoff. The main trailhead marker is at the northern parking area. Pick up a trail guide under the “Flathead Lake Interpretive Trail No. 77” sign. The numbered stations along the trail correspond to the numbers in the guide and discuss everything from fire – causing the “Cat Face” burn at the base of a tree – and mistletoe and insects to the history of the lake formation and the first people to inhabit the area. The hike is not the easiest but not altogether strenuous. It starts out with a quick descent toward the lake. Remember, what you hike down, you must hike up. Once at the bottom, a series of steep steps take you to the edge of the lake you can sit on the bench and look out over the vista. Continuing to hike, you’ll cross a footbridge over Crane Creek and the climb back up begins."
WAYFARERS STATE PARK, Bigfork, Montana
Wayfarer’s is a great place for nature lovers with the expanse of wildflowers in the warmer months along with excellent views of the lake and great hiking opportunities along the craggy shoreline and cliffs. Located .5 miles south of Bigfork on Montana Highway35. (Lat 48.054, Lng -114.081) http://fwp.mt.gov/parks/visit/wayfarers/
LONE PINE STATE PARK, Kalispell, Montana
Lone Pine offers spectacular views of Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Flathead Valley. A half-mile, wheelchair accessible interpretive loop trail leads to the Flathead Valley Overlook. There are also multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 406-752-5501 www.fwp.mt.gov
WOODLAND PARK, Kalispell, Montana
This beautiful 38-acre park in Kalispell is known for its rose gardens, swimming pool, playgrounds and ponds with ducks and geese. A paved trail in the park provides a level walking surface for a quiet one mile stroll. 406-758-7849
RAILS TO TRAILS, Kalispell, Montana
Rails to Trails of Northwest Montana has been converting abandoned rail beds to multi-use paths for over a decade. As part of a county-wide network, the paths now connect Somers to Kalispell and are reaching out to the village of Kila. There are over 6 miles of paved trail heading west out of Kalispell generally following US Highway 2 (it ends at Ashley Creek). On the other side of Ashley Creek, there is an improved gravel trail connecting to Kila. Written By Don Green-born 1911 “As you walk or ride a bicycle on the Rails to Trails going west from Kalispell, you should keep in mind the history connected to it. This was the main line of the Great Northern Railway. All of the east and westbound passengers and freight were hauled over this trail. The engine called the Kalispell Dinky, with all of its shiny brass pulled the baggage car and passenger car which were both bigger than it was. It would go over this route and take passengers to Kila and Marion, and then return with passengers it picked up along the line. You could flag this train down from about any crossing and they would stop and pick you up. If you were going any distance, you could ride it through Kalispell to Columbia Galls and make connections with a passenger train on the main line. It would also make trips to Somers with passengers and back to Kalispell.
There was also the local freight train that came out of Whitefish to handle the local freight for all the stores along the line. They would bring in empty cars to be loaded at the lumber mills, pole yards, stockyards, wood yards, and grain elevators. Later on, it would haul in passenger cars for the local sales.
This train would go the same route and drop off cars to be loaded at the mills and put off the freight for the stores at Kila and Marion. It would pick up the loaded cars of lumber and railroad ties and other things.
Sometimes it would come into Kalispell with several carloads of bawling cattle and pick up a few cars here and take them to Whitefish. They would be put in with a train that hauled nothing but cattle and shipped back east to Chicago or St. Louis.
In later years, about 1930, the Galloping Goose replaced the Little Dinky. It made daily trips over the trail to Kila and Marion. This engine was like putting a motor in a baggage car and coupling it to the front wheels to give it power to pull it on the rails.
At one time, they had a logging train that went way beyond Marion and would take them to the Somers Lumber Company. They would back the cars out on the dock by the mill and dump the logs in Flathead Lake until they were ready for them in the mill. This train would also pick up carloads of railroad ties that were loaded at Kila and Marion and at a few sidings in-between to haul them to the tie treating plant at Somers.” http://www.railstotrailsofnwmt.com/
BLACKTAIL MOUNTAIN, Lakeside, Montana
Towering above the west shore of Flathead Lake, Blacktail Mountain is known for its winter skiingalong with hiking and bike trails that furnish spectacular views of Flathead Lake and the valley. A favorite trail begins at Truman Saddle Road where it loops down to the middle cross-country ski road. Six mile loop. 406-844-0999
WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT, Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish Mountain’s Danny On Memorial Hiking Trail offers routes ranging from 3 to 6 miles in length. Begin in Glacier Village and wind your way to the 7,000 ft. Summit House with dramatic, spell-binding vistas at every turn, or take it easy and ride a gondola or chairlift to the top and walk down! Either way, a panoramic view of Northwest Montana’s Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park reveals itself around you. The United States Forest Service offers daily free guided walks from the Summit Nature Center in Whitefish Mountain’s Summit House. Explore on your own or join them among the huckleberries and wildflowers, above the lakes and fields, alongside peaks called the Crown of the Continent. 406-862-1900. http://www.skiwhitefish.com/
Here are a few of the Hiking Trails for your hiking pleasure that are close to Bigfork, Montana.
JEWEL BASIN, Bigfork, Montana
As a designated hiking area, the Jewel is a true hiker’s paradise. Thirty-five miles of trail provide many options for hikes of all lengths. While some prefer day hikes, many choose to camp by one of the areas 25 lakes and enjoy a few hours of fishing. Elevations range from 4,240 feet at Graves Creek to 7,542 feet at Big Hawk Mountain. Wildflowers are plentiful and be sure to keep your eyes out for wildlife. For maps and additional information: Flathead National Forest, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901. 406-758-5200
SWAN RIVER NATURE TRAIL, Bigfork, Montana
Starting just outside Bigfork’s town gate at the east end of Grand Avenue, the trail travels along the old River Road beside the Swan River. Sheltered by towering pines and firs, the trail is open to hiking, biking and horseback riding. Four miles round trip. 406-837-5888 http://www.bigfork.org/
FLATHEAD LAKE INTERPERTIVE Trail No. 77, Bigfork, Montana
A great hike!! Directions to the Trail -Turn Right onto Montana Highway 35 from the Mountain Lake Lodge in Woods Bay. Follow Montana Highway 35 for about three miles. Look for the half circle turnoff on the Flathead Lake side of the Highway 35. Keep an eye out for the Beardance Trail and Flathead Lake Trail sign just before the turnoff. The main trailhead marker is at the northern parking area. Pick up a trail guide under the “Flathead Lake Interpretive Trail No. 77” sign. The numbered stations along the trail correspond to the numbers in the guide and discuss everything from fire – causing the “Cat Face” burn at the base of a tree – and mistletoe and insects to the history of the lake formation and the first people to inhabit the area. The hike is not the easiest but not altogether strenuous. It starts out with a quick descent toward the lake. Remember, what you hike down, you must hike up. Once at the bottom, a series of steep steps take you to the edge of the lake you can sit on the bench and look out over the vista. Continuing to hike, you’ll cross a footbridge over Crane Creek and the climb back up begins."
WAYFARERS STATE PARK, Bigfork, Montana
Wayfarer’s is a great place for nature lovers with the expanse of wildflowers in the warmer months along with excellent views of the lake and great hiking opportunities along the craggy shoreline and cliffs. Located .5 miles south of Bigfork on Montana Highway35. (Lat 48.054, Lng -114.081) http://fwp.mt.gov/parks/visit/wayfarers/
LONE PINE STATE PARK, Kalispell, Montana
Lone Pine offers spectacular views of Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Flathead Valley. A half-mile, wheelchair accessible interpretive loop trail leads to the Flathead Valley Overlook. There are also multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 406-752-5501 www.fwp.mt.gov
WOODLAND PARK, Kalispell, Montana
This beautiful 38-acre park in Kalispell is known for its rose gardens, swimming pool, playgrounds and ponds with ducks and geese. A paved trail in the park provides a level walking surface for a quiet one mile stroll. 406-758-7849
RAILS TO TRAILS, Kalispell, Montana
Rails to Trails of Northwest Montana has been converting abandoned rail beds to multi-use paths for over a decade. As part of a county-wide network, the paths now connect Somers to Kalispell and are reaching out to the village of Kila. There are over 6 miles of paved trail heading west out of Kalispell generally following US Highway 2 (it ends at Ashley Creek). On the other side of Ashley Creek, there is an improved gravel trail connecting to Kila. Written By Don Green-born 1911 “As you walk or ride a bicycle on the Rails to Trails going west from Kalispell, you should keep in mind the history connected to it. This was the main line of the Great Northern Railway. All of the east and westbound passengers and freight were hauled over this trail. The engine called the Kalispell Dinky, with all of its shiny brass pulled the baggage car and passenger car which were both bigger than it was. It would go over this route and take passengers to Kila and Marion, and then return with passengers it picked up along the line. You could flag this train down from about any crossing and they would stop and pick you up. If you were going any distance, you could ride it through Kalispell to Columbia Galls and make connections with a passenger train on the main line. It would also make trips to Somers with passengers and back to Kalispell.
There was also the local freight train that came out of Whitefish to handle the local freight for all the stores along the line. They would bring in empty cars to be loaded at the lumber mills, pole yards, stockyards, wood yards, and grain elevators. Later on, it would haul in passenger cars for the local sales.
This train would go the same route and drop off cars to be loaded at the mills and put off the freight for the stores at Kila and Marion. It would pick up the loaded cars of lumber and railroad ties and other things.
Sometimes it would come into Kalispell with several carloads of bawling cattle and pick up a few cars here and take them to Whitefish. They would be put in with a train that hauled nothing but cattle and shipped back east to Chicago or St. Louis.
In later years, about 1930, the Galloping Goose replaced the Little Dinky. It made daily trips over the trail to Kila and Marion. This engine was like putting a motor in a baggage car and coupling it to the front wheels to give it power to pull it on the rails.
At one time, they had a logging train that went way beyond Marion and would take them to the Somers Lumber Company. They would back the cars out on the dock by the mill and dump the logs in Flathead Lake until they were ready for them in the mill. This train would also pick up carloads of railroad ties that were loaded at Kila and Marion and at a few sidings in-between to haul them to the tie treating plant at Somers.” http://www.railstotrailsofnwmt.com/
BLACKTAIL MOUNTAIN, Lakeside, Montana
Towering above the west shore of Flathead Lake, Blacktail Mountain is known for its winter skiingalong with hiking and bike trails that furnish spectacular views of Flathead Lake and the valley. A favorite trail begins at Truman Saddle Road where it loops down to the middle cross-country ski road. Six mile loop. 406-844-0999
WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT, Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish Mountain’s Danny On Memorial Hiking Trail offers routes ranging from 3 to 6 miles in length. Begin in Glacier Village and wind your way to the 7,000 ft. Summit House with dramatic, spell-binding vistas at every turn, or take it easy and ride a gondola or chairlift to the top and walk down! Either way, a panoramic view of Northwest Montana’s Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park reveals itself around you. The United States Forest Service offers daily free guided walks from the Summit Nature Center in Whitefish Mountain’s Summit House. Explore on your own or join them among the huckleberries and wildflowers, above the lakes and fields, alongside peaks called the Crown of the Continent. 406-862-1900. http://www.skiwhitefish.com/
