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Kalispell
Location: Highways 93 and 2; 33 miles from
Glacier National Park, 53 miles from Polson,
15 miles from Whitefish, 7 miles from Flathead
Lake. Greater Kalispell Population: 34,000.
Visitor Information: Kalispell Convention and
Visitor Bureau, 15 Depot Park, on Highway
93 in downtown Kalispell; Phone: (406) 758-
2800 or (888) 888-2308; Website: www.
discoverkalispell.com; Email: visitkalispell@
kalispellchamber.com.
Kalispell is located in the beautiful Flathead
Valley, an area noted for its spectacular scenery
and magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains.
Clark Fork River, Paradise Recreation opportunities abound in this picturesque
photo by: valley surrounded by thousands of acres of National
Jerry Huddleston
Forest and wilderness with hundreds of miles of
hiking trails, extensive fishing access, and abundant
St. Regis lake is different every day. wildlife. Seven miles south of Kalispell on US 93,
Flathead Lake provides excellent fishing, swimming,
Located in the northwestern corner of the State, The six state parks located around the lake provide sailing, camping, cruises, charter guide services,
exit 33 off I-90. Montana Information Center, public access, with camping facilities available rentals, and resorts. Nearby Glacier National Park,
PO Box 200, St. Regis, MT 59866; Phone: at five. West Shore, Big Arm, Wild Horse Island, Hungry Horse Dam, Whitefish Mountain Resort, and
(406) 649-2290; E-mail: mtinfo@bigsky. Finley Point, Yellow Bay, and Wayfarers State Parks Whitefish Lake makes Kalispell the first choice for
net; Website: www.stregis.bigsky.net/mtinfo are among Montana’s most visited. RV parks and outdoor enthusiasts.
motels are located nearby in Kalispell and on the Tourism plays an important part in the area’s
Missoula lake in Somers, Lakeside, Polson, and Bigfork. Visit economy as does the art business, which is a
stateparks.mt.gov for information on these state parks.
Location: Near the junctions of US Highways flourishing multi-million dollar enterprise. The valley
93, I-90, 200 and 12; 116 miles to Helena, 150 boasts over 2,000 artists and craftsmen in residence.
miles to Glacier National Park, 120 miles to Lakeside Glacier Art Museum (formally Hockaday Art) and its
Butte, 279 miles to West Yellowstone, 360 Location: Hwy 93; 14 miles south of Kalispell 3-day major fundraiser “Arts in the Park” contribute
miles to Billings. Population: 67,000. Visitor on the west shore of Flathead Lake. Population: to the success of this industry. Glacier Art Museum,
Information: Missoula Convention and Visitors 2,669. Visitor Information: Lakeside-Somers located in the old Carnegie Library at the corner of
Bureau, 101 E Main; Phone: (800) 526-3465; Chamber of Commerce, located in the West Shore Second Avenue East and Third Street in downtown
Website: www.missoulacvb.org. Community Library at 100 Bierney Creek Road Kalispell, has several exhibition galleries that include
in Lakeside; Phone: (406) 844-3715; Website: permanent as well as traveling exhibits.
Conrad Mansion is perhaps the most authentic
St. Ignatius www.lakesidesomerschamber.org. example of the luxurious turn-of-the-century
Location: On Highway 93; 42 miles north architecture and living style in the Pacific Northwest.
of Missoula, near National Bison Range. From its completion in 1895 until it was given to
Population: 780. Bigfork the City of Kalispell in 1975, the ownership of this
Location: Hwy 35; 17 miles southeast of beautiful Norman style mansion had remained in the
Polson Kalispell, 37 miles from Glacier National Park. Conrad Family. During the life of the mansion, there
Location: Hwy 35 and 93; 55 miles south of Population: 4270. Visitor Information: Bigfork have been no architectural changes in the building and
both the interior and exterior have been completely
Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 237,
Kalispell; 68 miles north of Missoula. Population: Bigfork, MT 59911; Phone: (406) 837-5888. restored to their original beauty. Located on Woodland
4,000. Area Population: 15,000. Visitor
Information Center: Hwy 93, downtown Polson;
Chamber of Commerce: Polson Chamber, 418
Main Street, Polson, MT 59860; Phone: (406)
883-5969.
Flathead Lake
The largest natural freshwater lake west of the
Mississippi, Flathead Lake dominates the entire
beautiful valley, carved from the backbone of the
continent by receding glaciers 10,000 years ago. At
28 miles long, 15 miles wide, and almost 400 feet
deep, it is renowned for sailing and fishing. Two
scenic highways wind along the lake; Hwy 93 on the
west side and Hwy 35 on the east offer majestic views
of the lake, mountains, and rolling hill scenery that
make Montana famous. The upper end of the lake
lies about 30 miles from Glacier National Park and
Whitefish Mountain ski resort to the north.
Fed by the Flathead and Swan Rivers, Flathead
Lake covers nearly 200 square miles with 180 miles
of shoreline, offering fabulous fishing for 50-pound
lake trout (mackinaw), native bull and cutthroat trout,
perch, and whitefish. From whitewater races and the
dragon boat festival in Bigfork, to fishing charters,
sail boat adventures, dinner cruises, cherry picking,
performing and visual arts, exquisite dining, fun bars,
and every manner of water sports, experiencing the

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