Lake McDonald
Formed by Ice Age glaciers millions of years ago---at 10 miles long and over 470 feet deep--Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park. Only 14 miles from the Continental divide, mountains surround the lake to the north, south and east. Protected by the National Parks Service activities allowed around the lake are limited to those that are environmentally friendly. The lake provides a dramatic backdrop for hiking, bird watching and picnicking. The wildlife calling the park home includes Big Horn Sheep, Elk and Black Beer.
Glacier National Park
P.O. Box 128
West Glacier, MT 59936
406-888-7800
Nps.gov/glac/home.htm
Flathead Lake
Located in the Flathead Valley---Flathead Lake is the largest fresh-water lake west of the Mississippi. Close to 30 miles long and 300 feet deep---the shoreline is more than 160 miles long. The position of its mountain ranges coupled with the thermal effect of the lake create a milder than normal climate in the region year round. The temperature stays in 70s to low 90s in the summer and in the 20s to 30s in the winter. Fishing and boating are the two main attractions here. Brown trout, Kokanee salmon, small and large-mouth bass are all native to the lake. In the winter it gets cold enough in spots for ice fishing. Non-fishing types can explore the nearby Big Mountain ski resort.
Flathead Convention and Visitor Bureau
15 Depot Park
Kalispell, MT 59901
406-758-2800
Kalispellchamber.com
Big Mountain Ski Resort
Big Mountain has more than 3,000 ski-able acres for those who want to ski or snowboard in with varied terrain and no crowds. Located in Whitefish, Montana, Big Mountain is wide open with lots of room and no lift lines. Approximately 15 percent of the runs at Big Mountain are beginner, 35 percent intermediate and the other 50 percent are advanced and expert.
Snowboarders have the Fishbowl Terrain Park, which is divided into three areas of varying difficulty---there is something for the beginner and the expert. The mountain offers night skiing January through March at the base of the mountain.
In summer zip lines replace ski lifts. Traveling at speeds of up to 50 mph, zip tours offer breathtaking views of the Flathead Valley and Rocky Mountains. For the less adventurous a ski lift up the mountain offers a similar vantage point. The alpine slide, mountain biking and organized nature hikes round out some of the summer activities at the resort.
Big Mountain Ski Resort
P.O. Box 1400
Whitefish, MT 59937
877-754-3474
Skiwhitefish.com
Big Sky Ski Resort
Ranked No. 6 in North America for "varied terrain" and No. 9 for "challenge" by "Ski Magazine" in 2009--Big Sky "is unbelievably huge." More than 5,500 ski-able acres across three mountains with 220 named runs makes it one of the largest ski resorts in North America. The resort is located in Big Sky, Montana, on the Lone Peak Pass close to Yellowstone National Park. Its isolation is its only drawback according to the magazine. Amenities like restaurants and lodging are limited but the skiing and no lift lines more than make up for it. This resort, according to "Ski Magazine", is "for the skiing plain and simple."
Big Sky Ski Resort
1 Lone Mountain Trail
Big Sky, Montana 59716
800-548-4486
Bigskyresort.com
