THE ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Experience three days in Glacier Country, starting in the Bitterroot Valley. See Montana through the eyes of missionary settlers Lewis and Clark. Spend the night in Montana’s arts and culture hub— Missoula. Travel north to explore the Bison Range or take a scenic cruise along Flathead Lake. Top off your trip at the Crown of the Continent—Glacier National Park.
Travelers Rest State Park . Courtesy of Glacier Country Tourism
Enjoy These Great Western Montana Attractions and More:
- Historic St. Mary’s Mission
- Travelers’ Rest State Park
- Smokejumper Visitor Center
- Explore the Bison Range
- Drive to Flathead Lake
- Glacier National Park
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Swift Current Lake, Glacier National Park. Credit Jason Savage
WESTERN MONTANA DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1: IN WESTERN MONTANA
Arrive in Stevensville, the first permanent pioneer settlement in Montana. View well-preserved artifacts, learn about the founding of Historic St. Mary’s Mission and then stroll through Main Street’s locally owned shops in this Bitterroot Valley community. Continue your trip through Montana’s past with an interpretive tour of the only archeologically verified site of Lewis and Clark at Travelers’ Rest State Park in Lolo. From there, stop by the Missoula Smokejumper Visitor Center for a guided tour of the largest smokejumper base in the country. Learn about the jump gear and fire-fighting tactics these parachuting, wildland firefighters use to protect the West. Check in at a group-friendly Missoula hotel. This vibrant mountain town is home to gourmet restaurants, popular breweries and its very own cidery, all offering plenty of local flavor.
St. Marys Mission Stevensville. Credit Jason Savage
DAY 2: IN MISSOULA, MT
Wake up in Missoula and enjoy breakfast at your hotel or check out a local hot spot. Then head north to explore the Bison Range—an 18,500-acre national wildlife refuge offering views of the Mission Mountains and ample chances to see bison, elk, pronghorn, deer and bear. Continue your scenic drive to Flathead Lake—the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Grab lunch in the picturesque community of Bigfork and spend the afternoon shopping at world- class art galleries and numerous shops. If time permits, take in a Broadway-caliber performance at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. Check into your hotel in nearby Kalispell or Columbia Falls before enjoying an evening sunset cruise with spectacular views on Flathead Lake aboard a Far West Boat Tour.
Glacier National Park Glacier Red Bus. Credit Glacier County Tourism
DAY 3: AT GLACIER PARK AND MORE
Wake up in Kalispell or Columbia Falls and enjoy breakfast in one of these two charming towns before heading to Glacier National Park for an interpretive tour with Sun Tours or a red bus tour of the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road. The park boasts 1 million acres of stunning peaks, vast valleys, hidden alpine lakes and more than 200 waterfalls. On the east side of the park, include a stop at St. Mary Lake. Take a historic boat ride for incredible views from the second largest lake in Glacier National Park and see iconic Wild Goose Island, often featured on magazine covers and post cards. Stay in East Glacier Park— where Great Northern Railway history comes alive and you can learn more about the Blackfeet Nation. Enjoy a laid-back dinner and evening at historic Glacier Park Lodge—a timbered lodge built in 1913 that offers a great setting to recap your day’s adventures and plan your next Glacier Country getaway.Western Montana still has plenty more for travel groups to experience, so be sure to Subscribe to Leisure Group Travel for FREE and get even more travel ideas and tips
