It’s no secret that the Flathead Valley in northwest Montana is a beautiful place to visit in the summertime. You’ll find endless hiking trails to explore, hundreds of lakes, streams and rivers for fishing, whitewater rafting, water skiing and more. Of course there is also Glacier National Park, which is perhaps the biggest drawing card to the area. Its true, Montana’s Flathead Valley is certainly one of the best places to enjoy your vacation in the summer time, but what you may not know is that the Flathead Valley also makes a fantastic wintertime destination.
Many people don’t realize that Glacier National Park is open year round, and offers incredible opportunities for snowshoeing, cross country skiing and wildlife viewing during the winter time. Going-to the sun road is closed to through traffic during the winter months due to an abundance of snow, but you can still enter the park from both the western and eastern gateways and travel several miles into the park by automobile. From there you can set out on skis or snowshoes to explore the parks beautiful scenery in its winter dress.
Outside the park there are hundreds of miles of trails, both groomed and un-groomed where you can ride snowmobiles and explore some of Montana’s incredible backcountry beauty.
You’ll also find hundreds of miles of Nordic ski trails outside the park many of which are groomed and maintained.
Ice fishing is another popular pastime in the winter. Many of the smaller lakes freeze over during the winter and some of the larger ones as well. These frozen lakes provide great opportunities for dropping your line and pulling out a trophy fish…or at least dinner for the evening.
Probably the biggest draw to the area in the winter is the world renown Whitefish Mountain ski resort. With nearly 3000 acres of skiable terrain available and more than 300 feet of snowfall each year on average, the Whitefish ski resort is a premier winter destination for those looking for some downhill adventure.
The resort town of Whitefish is a popular destination in its own right during both the winter and summer months. You will find plenty of après ski activities to keep you busy after day full of skiing on the mountain. Whitefish provides a nice mix of old west feel with new west convenience and opportunities. You will find a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, bars, boutiques and more to shop and enjoy in downtown Whitefish.
If you are looking for a great lodging option that is ideally located central to both Whitefish and Glacier Park, you can’t do better than the cabins at Glacier Peaks RV Park and Resort. Glacier Peaks is located just outside the town of Columbia Falls which is just minutes away from both Glacier Park and Whitefish.
The kitchen area provides plenty of cabinet space, and appliances for making your own meals.
The cabins at Glacier Peaks RV Park and Resort include either standard cabins or smaller sleeper cabins. The sleeper cabins are small and unheated and are not available to rent throughout the winter, but the standard cabins make for an excellent economical lodging option for your winter lodging needs. These cabins offer a studio-like living space with a comfortable sleeping area a small kitchen and a dining area. There is also a large private bathroom with shower.
The great thing about the cabins at Glacier Peaks RV Park is their central location to the major attractions of northwest Montana. The western gate to Glacier Park is just 20 miles to the east and Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort is only about 12 miles to the west. Flathead Lake is only about a half hour to the south, and you can find easy access to thousands of miles of both cross country skiing and snowmobiling trails just minutes away.
You can learn more about the accommodations at Glacier Peaks RV Park and Resort by visiting www.glacierpeaksrvpark.com. There you will also be able to learn more about the recreational and entertainment opportunities that are available to you in Montana’s legendary Flathead Valley.
