Whitefish, Montana: Activities for All in a Beautiful Setting

Summer Activities

Hiking in Whitefish: Lion Mountain is an all-around favorite hike. It's not too long and not too hard, so it can be enjoyed by all ages. You will see lots of dogs on this trail. It's a pup fave!

Smith Lake via Smith Creek Loop: This hike is a little longer and a little more challenging. It's about 4.5 miles. The first part of the hike is shaded, but then you don't have much coverage for the second half of the hike. You get beautiful views of the area.

Visit Whitefish Mountain Resort: Visit the resort and take part in all the summer resort activities, such as a scenic chair lift (the restaurant is open for a snack or cocktail), alpine slide, zip line, mountain bike trails, ropes course and more. Reservations are highly recommended for the zip-lining and ropes course. I suggest making them at least a week in advance.

Whitefish Lake: City Beach on Whitefish Lake is a great place to spend a hot summer day. Pack a towel and/or chair and relax by the water. The beach area and lake are rocky so I would suggest water shoes. There is a snack shack that serves hot dogs and ice cream. They also have public restrooms available. You can rent paddleboards and kayaks at the beach. Insider tip: If you have a large group and want to reserve a cabana, you can do so online for roughly $50.

Horseback Riding

Bar W Guest Ranch: Bar W Guest Ranch is just about 10-15 minutes outside of Whitefish. It is a great dude ranch for families. They offer two-hour trail rides that are great for all ages.

Whitewater rafting: Glacier Guides is a great tour company in the valley. They are located right near the west entrance of the park and offer floats and white-water rafting excursions. They also offer guided hikes and e-bike rentals.

Golf: Whitefish Lake Golf Course offers two public courses. They also have a great restaurant. Have your family meet you at the restaurant for dinner after a day of golf. Reservations strongly encouraged.

Winter Activities

Skiing and snowboarding: Visit Whitefish Mountain Resort for a fabulous day of skiing and snowboarding. The mountain is not nearly as crowded and on sunny days offers amazing views. They offer night skiing certain days of the week.

Snowmobiling: Contact Snowmobiling Whitefish to arrange for a guided tour of the area.

Snowshoeing: Snowshoeing is a popular winter activity and can be done at Glacier National Park.

Cross-country skiing: You can cross-country ski at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.

Sleigh rides: Clydesdale Outpost offers sleigh rides during the winter. They also host seasonal activities during Christmas that are fun for the family.

Day Trips

Glacier National Park should not be missed! Be sure and go to recreation.gov to buy a park pass as well as vehicle registration needed to access the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The Glacier Highland cafe is just past the west entrance on the right-hand side of the road (if coming from Whitefish). The food is delicious and an excellent reward after exploring the park. They also have delicious homemade pie. Try the huckleberry flavor.

Avalanche Lake is a great hike and if you are coming with anyone with mobility issues there is a path called Trail of the Cedars that you take to access the trailhead for Avalanche Lake. It is beautiful and has wide paths suitable for strollers and wheelchairs, as well as several benches for anyone needing a rest.

Boat tours and Red Bus tours are a great way to see some of the park and hear interesting facts about it from the operators. The Red Bus tours take you through the park and across the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It's nice to sit and relax while someone else does the driving. There are four different lake tours in the park and some can be combined with guided hikes. The boat tours typically last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half.

Breakfast

• Loula's Cafe: Great diner that serves breakfast and lunch. Don't pass on the homemade pie — you can get it to go if you need to.

• Buffalo Cafe: A great restaurant that is open breakfast, lunch and dinner. I could eat all three meals there in one day and be happy. Very full, but happy. My kids love to come eat dinner here after a long day of skiing.

• Swift Creek Cafe: Chef-driven cafe serving breakfast and lunch daily.

Lunch

• Craggy Range: Relaxed pub with patio seating and lots of TVs. They often have a singer performing on the patio in the evenings.

• Wrap and Roll: A local cafe offering wraps, gyros, burritos and bowls.

• Blackstar: A local brewery that serves craft beer with a great rooftop bar. They have great bar food (burgers, chicken sandwiches and queso).

Dinner

• Jalisco Cantina: Cute Mexican restaurant with a nice bar area. The service here is usually quick and the chips and salsa can't be beat.

• Wasabi Sushi: Our favorite sushi place. Reservations basically required during summer season and never a bad idea any time of year. I love the rolls, but my kids can't go there without ordering the mussels for an appetizer. They love the sauce they are cooked in and order extra for dipping!

• The Last Chair: Locally sourced American food with an upscale twist.

• Tupelo Grille: New Orleans-style dishes served in a warm environment with a full bar.

• Abruzzo: Cozy Italian restaurant serving wood-fired pizzas and traditional fare.

Dessert

• Sweet Peaks Ice Cream: Not to be missed. Locally made ice cream with seasonal flavors (as well as a few classics). My favorite flavor is honey cinnamon. Yum!