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  • Flathead National Forest
  • Flathead National Forest, Montana

    Top Spots in and near Flathead National Forest

    • Bigfork, Montana

      Hike to Bond Lake

      5.0
      11.6 mi / 2300 ft gain
      From Kalispell, head south towards Swan Lake along Highway 83 until a sign for Bond Creek Trailhead is located on the east side oft the road near mile marker 71. Turning onto Forest Service Road #680 and after 1.5 miles, turning on FS Road #9507, the trailhead will be 2.3 miles after the intersec...
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    • Bigfork, Montana

      Swim in Graves Bay Swimming Hole

      To get to this swimming hole you drive south from Hungry Horse on the West Side Road (Forest Road 895) 33.6 miles to the Graves Creek Campground. Park in the small parking lot with the bear box and outhouse, opposite the campground closer to the lake. Follow the path as it leads you past the casc...
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    • Bigfork, Montana

      Explore Graves Creek Falls

      Graves Creek Falls are a series of pleasant waterfalls viewable without much effort. To get here From Hungry Horse drive south on the West Side Road (Forest Road 895) 33.6 miles to the Graves Creek Campground. From here turn right into the campground, park and take a short walk of a couple hundre...
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    • Kalispell, Montana

      Backpack to Black Lake

      7 mi / 1500 ft gain
      Begin at Camp Misery (elev. 5,717 ft). This is a total misname by the way! It should be titled Camp On The Way To Awesomeness! Anyway, head .6 miles on Trail 8 to the intersection of trail. From here turn right on Trail 68 and hike .7 miles until the intersection where you turn right on Trail 7 f...
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    • Kalispell, Montana

      Backpack to Clayton Lake

      9 mi / 1500 ft gain
      From the Camp Misery Trailhead (elev. 5,717 ft) take the left Trail 8 for .6 miles. At the junction continue left for a 1.3 mile gently ascent into Jewel Basin. Nearing Twin Lakes continue left on Trail 7 for .6 miles until you reach Trail 55. Continue right, and make sure that after a short .3 m...
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    • Kalispell, Montana

      Hike to Summit of Mount Aeneas

      4.9
      6 mi / 1700 ft gain
      This hike can easily be overlooked since it is in such a geographically rich area, with Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness so close, but it is absolutely a hidden gem that doesn't get enough attention. Mount Aeneas sits at just over 7,500 feet and from the summit it gives amazi...
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    • Kalispell, Montana

      Flathead Lookout

      5.0
      2.4 mi / 666 ft gain
      Flathead Lookout is an out-and-back trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Kalispell, Montana.
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    • Flathead National Forest, Montana

      Hike Montana's Swan Crest Trail

      47 mi
      Getting There: Coming from Seeley Lake, take the road towards Bigfork. Continue until you get to mile marker 27 and turn right into the Morrell/Clearwater turn off. Stay on the road most traveled until you dead end at the trail head roughly 7 miles up the road. Park here. The Trail: The trail ...
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    • Bigfork, Montana

      Aneas Loop

      3.0
      2.77 mi / 207 ft gain
      Aneas Loop is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Bigfork, Montana.
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    • Hungry Horse, Montana

      Relax at Spotted Bear Beach

      Spotted Bear Beach is a secluded white sand beach in the middle of Montana. To get here from the town of Hungry Horse, drive east on Highway 2 for ½ mile to the East Side Reservoir Road #38. Turn right (south) onto Road #38 and drive on through the town of Martin City. After two miles the pavemen...
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    • Essex, Montana

      Hike to Dickey Lake

      5.2 mi / 1463 ft gain
      *Parking for this hike is very limited, as the parking area can hold one, maybe two, vehicles.  This 5.2 mile roundtrip hike begins near Essex, Montana, at 4,620 feet of elevation, and leads to a small, hidden lake nestled in the Great Bear Wilderness. Immediately after leaving the parking area, ...
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    • Somers, Montana

      Paddle North Flathead Lake

      5.0
      Flathead Lake is huge, and gorgeous. It's the biggest lake in Montana and certainly one worth spending some time on. The water is surprisingly warm, and the views are amazing. If you are passing through the area, find a place to rent some paddleboards and hit the water around golden hour in the e...
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    • Essex, Montana

      Cross Country Ski at Izaak Walton Inn

      The Izaak Walton Inn was established in 1939 to accommodate workers and visitors from the rapid expansion of the Great Northern Railway. Conveniently built near Highway two, it is a short drive from both the West Glacier and East Glacier Entrances. If driving from West Glacier, continue on Highwa...
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    • Somers, Montana

      Kayak to Pig Island

      Drive to the North Flathead Launch in Somers, MT (15 miles south of Kalispell). Launch the kayaks and head south towards the yacht club. Once past the yacht club, paddle eastward, you should come upon a wooden shack, a number of wooden poles, and an island. Continue eastward past these various fe...
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    • Flathead County, Montana

      Hike to Blaine Mountain

      7.3 mi / 2350 ft gain
      To reach the trailhead for this hike, it is about an hour's drive from nearby Kalispell. You will drive around Hungry Horse Reservoir on the West Side Road, and turn off onto Doris Creek Road. Be sure NOT to get this mistaken with the nearby Doris Ridge Road. Once turning onto Doris Creek Road, i...
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    • Bigfork, Montana

      Summit Swan Peak

      18.49 mi / 6180 ft gain
      This hike is about an hour drive south from Kalispell. Follow MT-83 S for about 47 mi. towards and past Swan Lake. Take a left on NF-554 and follow the road for 1.6 mi. and take a right on Squeezer Creek Rd. and follow the road for 4 mi. to a gated road and park near the gate. Follow the gated ro...
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    Camping and Lodging in Flathead National Forest

    Swan Lake Campground
    Bigfork, Montana

    Swan Lake Campground

    Swan Guard Station
    Bigfork, Montana

    Swan Guard Station

    Anna Creek Cabin
    Bigfork, Montana

    Anna Creek Cabin

    Mission Lookout
    Bigfork, Montana

    Mission Lookout

    Riverside Campground (Mt)
    Hungry Horse, Montana

    Riverside Campground (Mt)

    Murray Bay Campground (Mt)
    Essex, Montana

    Murray Bay Campground (Mt)

    Guides, Insights and Stories from Flathead National Forest

    10 Must-Do Adventures In Glacier National Park

    10 Must-Do Adventures In Glacier National Park

    The Outbound Collective

    Jumbo Glacier: Where Do We Go From Here?

    Jumbo Glacier: Where Do We Go From Here?

    Chloe Donlan

    A Walk into the Past: Returning Three Decades Later to Glacier NP

    A Walk into the Past: Returning Three Decades Later to Glacier NP

    Matt Johnson

    15 Amazing Hikes in Glacier National Park

    15 Amazing Hikes in Glacier National Park

    The Outbound Collective

    Watch This Video and Witness the Glory That Is Glacier National Park

    Watch This Video and Witness the Glory That Is Glacier National Park

    Rob Feakins

    From the Glaciers to the Tundra: 15 Photos from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

    From the Glaciers to the Tundra: 15 Photos from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

    Sonja Saxe