Poplar, Montana.

You’ll find Poplar, Montana at the confluence of the Poplar and Missouri rivers in northeastern Montana. It’s a great place for fishing, viewing the unusual landscape of this region of Montana, and for cultural tours of Montana’s Native American heritage.

Poplar is located on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, home to the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes. The Poplar Museum and Tribal Museum feature artifacts and information on their interesting history.

You’ll find are many tribal celebrations held here throughout the year.

Poplar is also part of Montana’s history with early explorers Lewis and Clark, who on May 3, 1805 camped on the Poplar River about 3.5 miles upstream from here it joins the Missouri.

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View of Fort Peck Lake, a great Montana vacation spot.

The town of Fort Peck, Montana offers great entertainment, recreation opportunities and cultural tourism, as well as a chance to see one of the world’s largest dams.

A scenic overlook east of the dam on Montana Highway 24 offers views of Fort Peck Lake and historic information on Lewis and Clark’s journey through northeast Montana.

Fort Peck Lake is a Montana must-see for its size and vacation recreation opportunities. The Lake is surrounded by the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, where you can camp freely. There are six recreation areas just a few miles from the dam, providing access for water sports, fishing and hunting. One, the Beaver Creek Nature Trail, starts at the campground downstream from the dam and leads through wildlife habitat. There’s also Pines Recreation Area, about 20 miles southwest of the dam, a great place for photos.

To learn more about local biology, check out the Leo B. Coleman Wildlife Exhibit, near the Fort Peck Theater. The Fort Peck Theater, by the way, is another local must-see. It was built back in the 1930s as a movie house, but now hosts the local theatre company during the summer. For cultural tours, visit the Fort Peck Museum to view its collection of Native American  artifacts and fossils uncovered during the construction of the dam.

The town of Fort Peck has an interesting history, as it was planned and build by federal workers to be the headquarters for the building of the dam in 1933.

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Downtown Livingston, Montana.

Livingston, Montana is surrounded by the multiple mountain ranges, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area and sits next to the Yellowstone River.

It sits just 30 minutes east on 191 from Bozeman, and 2 hours east of Billings.

Livingston’s beautiful backdrop is part of the reason Livingston has been used for scenery in several movies, including A River Runs Through It.

Livingston’s natural features also make for great Montana activities, such as mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, skiing, whitewater rafting and perhaps most famously, fly fishing.

Being located on the blue ribbon fishing waters of the Yellowstone River, has made Livingston a fly fisherman’s mecca. Livingston is also home to the International Federation of Fly Fishers. If you stop by their Discovery Centery you’ll get a chance to get great Montana fly fishing information.

Livingston isn’t only known for its outdoor attractions though. Downtown buildings from the late-1800s give Livingston old west town, even as it has become a playground for the rich and famous.

The Paradise Valley near Livingston.

In recent yeras, Livingston has attracted a flock of writers and artists from all over the country. Downtown Livingston has more than 15 art galleries, and you’ll find more than 200 artisans throughout Park County. If you like your art in heavy doses, check out the Livingston Gallery Association Downtown Art Walk every fourth Friday of the month from June through September. You can also find live theatre Livingston’s Blue Slipper Theatre and Firehouse 5 Playhouse.

There are also great Montana vacation ranches and dude ranches in the area that are great for anyone wanting to experience a taste of the old west.

In addition to all these attractions in and near town, it’s only a short drive to places like Yellowstone National Park, Bridger Bowl Ski Resort and Big Sky ski resort. You’ll also find great Montana hotels and lodging in and all around Livingston.

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Scenic view of Hungry Horse, Montana.

Hungry Horse, Montana is a small town located close to some of the state’s largest outdoor adventure areas, including Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. It’s also just a short drive from Whitefish Mountain Resort, Blacktail Ski Resort and Flathead Lake.

All this offers plenty of great Montana hiking, skiing, fly fishing and backpacking. It’s enough that you probably could live a life time in the area and never ski, hike or fish all the local spots.

With all these great recreation options, Hungry Horse may be a great place to set up Montana hotel or lodging. As the town’s name suggests, the town is named after a pair of horses that wandered off in 1900, and game back hungry.

You’ll find Hungry Horse on Montana Highway 2, part way between Columbia Falls and the West Glacier entrance to Glacier National Park. Nearby is the Hungry Horse Dam, an enormous, 565 foot tall dam that holds back 34 miles of water in the Hungry Horse Reservoir.

In town, you’ll find lots of great campgrounds, as well as hotels and other lodging options. Below you can see some of our lodging and hotel choices for this area.

Blue Sky Montana Vacation Rental: This 2+ bedroom, 1-bath cabin comfortably accommodates 6, and has a woodstove to keep you toasty. It’s an excellent vacation rental with all the amenities provided in a forested, a classic spot for a Montana vacation. Call (406) 261-6173.

Glacier Bed & Breakfast: This classic Montana log vacation home is a great base camp for exploring the many activities nearby. Includes King and Queen-sized beds and private baths. There are also 3 one-bedroom cabins, queen size beds, living room, kitchen and dining room. Call (406) 387-4153.

Glacier Park Inn B&B: This octagonal house sits on the shores of the wild and scenic Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Offers great views of the river and the peaks of Glacier National Park. Take in the view from 2 large decks. Each bedroom has a private bath and two of them include a private entrance. Call (406) 387-5099.

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You can see the Larch trees changing colors near Eureka.

Eureka is set on the Tobacco River and is known as the banana belt of Montana, for the mild climate and great growing season. Eureka has a small downtown area and although it is not in any way upscale it is charming. There is an old historic building district that is lovely to see in the fall when the larch trees are turning colors.

There are plenty of lakes for fishing, and plenty of campgrounds in the area as well. There is the Ten Lakes scenic area which is just North of Eureka and has several hiking trails. Paradise and Bluebird Lakes are the closest to hike to and offer amazing lake and mountain views with some good trout fishing.

Eureka is about an hour north of Whitefish, Montana, where you’ll find great skiing and snowboarding at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

In the winter you might want to try some of the cross country trails for skiing or hop on a snowmobile in the Birch Creek Recreation Area.

Lodging and Hotels in the Eureka area:

• Ksanka Inn is on the North edge of town.
• Riverstone Family Lodge offers cabins and has a beautiful setting.
• You might also check out our camping sections.

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White Sulphur Springs has 984 people, one hot springs, and one castle. It’s also close to the Smith River, a great spot for Montana fishing and rafting. The little town, north of Bozeman and southwest of Lewistown, is certainly an interesting stop for a Montana vacation.

The castle in White Sulphur Springs.

The hot springs reach temperatures of 115 degrees, and, despite the name of the town, don’t smell too badly of sulphur. The springs were well known to the Crow Indian tribe, and regarded as sacred medicinal baths. European settlers began developing the springs in 1866.

White Sulphur Springs’ castle was build int 1892, using granite quarried in the area. It is now home to the Meagher County Historical Museum, where you’ll find some interesting collections that show Montana’s early settler history.

Rafting on the Smith River is very popular, so much so that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks has begun to limit the amount of permits it gives out for floats. Call (406) 454-3441 to get more permit info.

There are several fly fishing outfitters in the area that can help you get out and the best spots on the Smith, which is known for its awesome rainbow and brown trout.

You’ll find lodging here at the All Seasons Inn and Suites, which has a pool and breakfast. Call (877) 314-0241. Or check out the Spa Hot Springs Motel, which has two pools fed by the local hot springs. This hotel has been recently remodeled. Call (800) 898-3303.

You can also find great camping here at the Springs Campground at Hwy. 89. Call (406) 547-3921. At the Surtherlin Reservoir campground, about 11 miles east of town on Hwy. 12. Or check out the Newlan Creek Reservoir campground 10 mile north of town.

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Vacation in Columbia Falls and be at Glacier National Park’s door

Columbia Falls, Montana, is a town blessed by it’s location. In just a few minutes from anywhere downtown, you can be at the West Entrance to Glacier National Park. Forks of the Flathead River come together near the town, Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Ski Area are close by, and so is Flathead Lake.

Columbia Falls is where the rivers and mountains come together.

In Columbia Falls, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to go fishing, hiking, rafting, skiing, horseback riding, or to do any other Montana outdoors activity. You’ll find a wide range of guide services for all for these adventures based in and around Columbia Falls, as well as cozy Montana hotels and lodging to get rest in.

Not only is Columbia Falls close to the West Glacier entrance, but it also accesses a scenic alternative route into Glacier National Park at the Camas Creek Park Entrance. Heading north, you’ll find County Road 486, better known locally as the North Fork Road, which follows the North Fork of the Flathead River up to Polebridge, and the northeast side of Glacier National Park.

Columbia Falls is a quaint little town of less than 4,000. In and around Columbia Falls, you’ll find places to shop, great coffee shops and restaurants, and comfortable hotels. Columbia Falls is also just a short drive from Whitefish and Kalispell.

When you’re ready for a break from the trails, camping, rafting or fishing, you’ll still find plenty to do here. Golfers will love Meadow Lake Golf Resort, and families will flock to the Big Sky Waterslide Park during the summer. You’ll find shopping in Columbia Falls, as well as in the nearby towns of Whitefish and Kalispell.

Columbia Falls is really terrific base for any Montana vacation, if you want to experience the wide range of activities Montana offers.

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Stay in Lakeside on your Montana vacation

If you want to enjoy all the amenities of being close to Flathead Lake on your Montana vacation, the incredible views, the great fishing, boating, tours and nearby skiing at Blacktail, hiking and horseback riding, Lakeside is a great town to base your stay.

Here you’ll find comfortable Montana hotels and lodging, as well as great restaurants, all in a friendly little community.

Lakeside got it’s name for pretty obvious reasons. It sits comfortably right on the northwest shore of Flathead Lake. Before the 1900s, the town bore the now humorous name “Stoner” thanks to John Stoner, who constructed and ran a hotel here, and served as the town’s first postmaster. Citizens were apparently indecisive for a time, changing the name again and again, before finally, in 1920, taking the very literal name the town still bears.

This area has long been famous for entertaining visitors to Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park. This community, along with Somers, Montana lines the shore of Flathead Lake for about 15 miles on the west side of the lake, along U.S. Highway 93.

Lakeside Vacation Ideas

Where to stay: Lakeside Lodging

Flathead Lake Beach Homes

View from Flathead Lake Beach Homes.

are hidden in an evergreen forest on a beautiful Flathead Lake beach with a nice dock. Here you’ll get great views of Glacier National Park and the Swan Mountains and the Mission Mountains. They rent private, fully-appointed beach homes and beach-front rooms. For larger parties they have a 5 bed, 4 bath with two kitchens. Call 805-455-6225.

Flathead Lake Suites is nicely placed at the tip of a peninsula on Flathead Lake. Here you can take in the beauty of the mountains, including Glacier National Parks amazing peaks, and the colorful sunrises and sunsets on the lake. Flathead Lake Suites is quiet, away from the hectic world, with 322 feet of private shoreline for you to enjoy. Each suite has a king size bed, living and dining areas, kitchen, two-room bath, and more. Call 406-844-2204.

What to do:

A Able Fishing Charters & Tours

A Able charter boat.

provides fishing and touring charters on a custom crafted double-deck, 18-person boat. Great tours to Wild Horse Island, fishing and family fun. Smaller parties can rent the 24′ Weldcraft Ocean King boat that holds 6 passengers. Boats are outfitted with shaded areas, heated cabins and restrooms. Call 406-844-0888.

West Shore State Park: is located in a beautiful forest on Flathead Lake. The park’s glacier-cut rock outcrops offer amazing views of Flathead Lake and the Mission and Swan Mountains. The shoreline is rocky, and it’s a great place for fishing and boating. The park has firewood, picnic tables, a bear-resistant storage locker, vault toilets, grills/fire rings, trash cans, drinking water and interpretive displays. Campers can stay 14 days per 30-day period. There are 31 sites; 7 tent only, at this park with an RV/trailer size limit of 40 feet. Cost is $5.00 for a non-resident vehicle and $15.00 for overnight camping, per night. Call 406-844-3044.

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Bigfork, Montana.

Bigfork offers terrific Montana vacations, lodging and activites

Bigfork is one of the most scenic little vacation towns in western Montana. It sits right on the northeastern edge of Flathead Lake, with a harbor that actually comes right into the center of town. Here you’ll find terrific hotels and lodging, restaurants, and access to fishing, mountain biking, boating and many other Montana activities.

The town is also close to Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Resort, as well as numerous other Montana attractions.

Bigfork was founded in 1901 and is named after the nearby fork in the Swan River. For being such a small town, it has received an amazing number of accolades, including The Great Towns of America, and National Geographic Guide to Small Towns Escapes, The 50 Great Towns in the West, 100 Best Small Art Towns.

The town contains numerous art galleries, The Bigfork Summer Playhouse, a small harbor with a public dock, and a great walking trail right along the Swan River. In town you’ll also find the inspiring and challenging Eagle Bend Golf Course right where the Flathead River pours into the lake.

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Whitefish, Montana has to be one of the best towns in the United States for outdoor activities, and is a terrific base for Montana vacations. The town, located in northwestern Montana, sits in a beautiful valley, surrounded on three sides by mountains, one of which is home to Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Whitefish Lake at sunset.

A short walk from the downtown along the city’s bike path will bring you to the foot of Whitefish Lake, which sits right below the resort. Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake are each only 45 minutes away. Here, you’ll find plenty of things to do.

The town has terrific lodging and hotel options, great restaurants, and a brewery. From here it’s just a short drive to some of the best rafting, skiing, hiking, golfing, fly fishing and horseback riding vacations Montana has to offer.

While it’s full of all the modern amenities you’d expect in a vacation town, it has managed to maintain the rustic feel of it railroad days, when it was known as “Stump Town.”

Here you can kick back and relax with the locals over a cup of locally-roasted coffee at Montana Coffee Traders, known by some locals as “Whitefish’s living room” for its friendly, chatty atmosphere. You can grab a burger, fries and a locally brewed beer at The Bulldog, and you can stay right on the edge of the lake and the entrance to Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain resort) in place like the Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

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