The following is just one feature from our 2009 Summer Guide, which is inserted in Wednesday’s newspaper and available all summer on stands located throughout valley.
A visitor to the Flathead Valley interested in hiking, biking, horseback riding and camping confronts a wealth of options so vast the effect can be paralyzing – like entering the Library of Congress and trying to pick out a book. Even the majority of locals here barely scratch the surface of all the climbs, descents, sweeping vistas and pristine alpine lakes that await those willing to leave the highway for the trails.
So a word to the newcomer: Relax. Since you have no hope of doing it all, focus on the few specific trips into the backcountry you may have heard about, prepare thoroughly, and enjoy them to the fullest.
What follows are brief suggestions for some of the more popular and easy outings. Be sure to know your abilities and experience, as well as the planned route. Use guidebooks and the expertise of rangers, as well as the staff at local cycling and outdoor stores for suggestions. Pack water, food and extra layers, and check in with the appropriate agency to be sure you’ve got the right permits. Also, be sure to carry bear spray and familiarize yourself with the precautions of traveling in bear country. When surprised, those grizzlies can occasionally be more hostile than the average Flathead local.
HIKING
Glacier Park: Go big, and walk the one you’ve read about, the Highline Trail, which follows the Garden Wall from the Logan Pass parking lot. It’s 7.6 miles from here to Granite Park Chalet, and another nearly four miles back down to the Going-to-the-Sun Road, a trip only for fit hikers. For an easier option, just hike out the Highline until you feel like turning around. Take advantage of the park’s shuttle service.
Talk to the rangers in Apgar Village for other mellow, nearby hikes, like along the west side of Lake McDonald, or from West Glacier into Apgar. The Trail of the Cedars, across the road from Avalanche campground is handicap-accessible, and the 2-mile Avalanche Lake Trail is a blast too.
Jewel Basin: For hikers only, Jewel Basin’s many alpine lakes offer some of the best scenery around. The area usually keeps its snow until well into summer, so check for conditions. The 6-mile roundtrip hike to the summit of Mount Aeneas (7,528 feet) is tough, but the views are worth it. If summits aren’t a priority, take a similar route into the Picnic Lakes.
Other: Bigfork’s Swan River Nature Trail follows the water for an easy walk in a serene setting, while the Danny-On Trail up Big Mountain, leaving out of Whitefish Mountain Resort, allows you to ride the chairlift down. Lone Pine State Park, west of Kalispell, has sweeping views of the valley, and you can drive to the top!
CAMPING
When it comes to camping, waterfront property is key, so here are four suggestions for lakeside accommodations. The long, winding, bumpy dirt road to Glacier Park’s Bowman Lake Campground, 30 miles south of the Canadian border on the park’s west side, keeps out RVs and big trailers. The reward is a remote lake surrounded by towering peaks, perfect for canoeing, camping and quiet contemplation – but pack well and get there early; the 48 campsites go quickly.
Closer to town, the Tally Lake Campground, offers campsites on Montana’s deepest freshwater lake. From Farm-to-Market Road, head 9 miles down Tally Lake Road to the campgrounds, which also fill up quickly.
Myriad campsites surround the Hungry Horse Reservoir, with varying amenities and distances from the U.S. Highway 2 turnoff in Hungry Horse, but all offer excellent fishing, boating and scenery. Call the Hungry Horse Ranger District for reservation info (406-387-3800).
Wayfarer’s campground, just outside Bigfork Bay offers showers and dock access on Flathead Lake, first come, first serve (406-752-5501).
BIKING
For the recreational cyclist looking for the flat and fast, try the Rails-to-Trails system which heads west from Meridian Road for several miles, and turns to gravel on the way to Kila. The Swan River Nature Trail (see above) is also a mellow, easy ride.
But for the more serious mountain biker, get some advice from local bike shops in Whitefish and Kalispell for trail conditions. Check out the Pig Farm, off of Farm-to-Market Road, 6.5 miles north of the intersection with West Reserve Drive, and look for the pulloff and bike racks on cars. There are no signs, but the terrain is rolling and offers good trails for beginners. If you like climbing, try the Overlook Trail in Herron Park, west of Kalispell, Lone Pine State Park, Spencer Mountain in Whitefish and the Summit Trail at Whitefish Resort.
If these are too easy, talk to a local about Tally Lake area rides and where they like to go – the amazing trails are there, if you can find them.