4 Montana Road Trips to Take This Summer

Montana is characterized by diverse geography and several scenic spots across its 147,000 square miles. Clearly, it has earned its nicknames of “The Treasure State” and “The Big Sky Country.” Kalispell is only one small city in this adventurer’s paradise. There’s no time as good as now to hit the road and explore the rest of this state. Here’s a list of places you can explore on a summer road trip around Montana.

Flathead Valley

Start your trip with a tour around Flathead Valley, in which Kalispell is located. You can begin at Wild Horse Island State Park, which is home to bighorn sheep, deer, eagles, and wild mares. Visit the clear waters of Flathead Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the country. Just like Kalispell, there are more towns located on this lake — Lakeside is one of them. Take a trip over and sample some craft beer, courtesy of Tamarack Brewing Company.

Visit the Miracle of America Museum filled with antiques and oddities collected over the years. Head over to neighboring Bigfork and tour the craft distillery, which makes gin, whiskey, and hibiscus coconut rum.

Glacier National Park

Move on to Glacier National Park, one of Montana’s most popular attractions. Accessible via a 42-minute drive from Kalispell, this park sits on over 1 million acres. The park was established in 1910 and is home to over 700 lakes. Some of these lakes are bright teal or striking blue due to the pure glacial melt and the resulting glacial silt.

Take a boat tour and experience these glacial lakes at close quarters or stay on land and watch the mountain goats do their thing. The park will also take care of your snacking needs, thanks to the huckleberries strewn all over the park. If you want to spend the night, there are lodges and hotels available all over the park.

Hyalite Canyon

Make the 5-hour drive to Hyalite Canyon and you’ll have just enough time to watch the sunset and gaze at the stars. The Canyon is not too far into the wilderness and has three campgrounds, so you can spend the night. If you arrive early enough, you can start your tour with a short hike up the alpine meadows. Fishing is also allowed, so you can catch and cook your dinner.

War Horse National Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife lovers will enjoy a trip to War Horse National Wildlife Refuge, located about 6 hours away from Kalispell by road. Established in 1958, this refuge is home to three different units: Wild Horse Lake, War Horse Lake, and Yellow Water Reservoir. Wild Horse Lake hosts shorebirds and waterfowls; keep an eye out for the rattlesnakes. War House Lake is also similar; both lakes only contain water when the rains peak.

The Yellow Water Reservoir contains rainbow trout. Deer, prairie dogs, and antelopes are also commonly seen in the surrounding area.

Make your summer one to remember with a road trip around this picturesque state. There are many more sights you can explore. If you need a vehicle that can tackle the landscape, Kalispell Ford has many off-roading models you can choose from at affordable prices.