With more than 22,000 square miles, there’s a lot of ground—and water—to cover in Western Montana’s Glacier Country. Our advice? Go with a guide. A guided tour ensures a more memorable adventure, regardless of your experience level. That’s why we recommend leaving everything to the experts—the professional, friendly guides in Glacier Country are ready to lead the way and let you enjoy the experience, be it a backcountry tour, a rock-climbing excursion, a river float or rafting adventure, or a day of world-class fly-fishing. Get a glimpse of some Western Montana guides in action on our upcoming “Guiding Glacier: A Day in the Life” video series.

WHITEWATER RAFTING

Western Montana is the perfect place for a wild whitewater adventure, and the Alberton Gorge outside Missoula is a prime whitewater destination. There are also plenty of flat-water stretches to float, fish and soak up the scenery. For an epic whitewater trip on the Alberton Gorge with a seasoned guide, try Montana River Guides, Adventure Missoula or Zoo Town Surfers.

Raft the class III rapids of the Alberton Gorge near Missoula. Photo: Andy Austin

LLAMA TREKKING 

Llama trekking is a wildly fun and totally unique way to hike Western Montana, and having a llama carry your gear makes the trip logistically more enjoyable. Plus, it’s fun for the whole family to spend time with these fascinating animals. Swan Mountain Llama Trekking can get you out to “Take a trek with the ‘Camels of the Clouds.’”

Swan Mountain Llama Trekking leads trips that range from a half day to five days. Photo: Andy Austin

HORSEBACK RIDING

A trail ride is an essential part of the Montana experience. Let our guides take you out for a few hours on a flat creekside trail or a day-long journey into the mountains. A guided horseback adventure allows you to experience Glacier Country’s gorgeous landscape from a traditionally western vantage point. Go with a guide from Montana Horse Works in Kalispell or Hood’s Western Adventures in Alberton.

One of the best ways to experience Glacier Country is on horseback. Photo: Glacier Country

BLACKFEET CULTURAL TOURS

Experience the history, culture and way of life of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana on a Tribal Traditional Stories Workshop Hike with Iron Shield Creative. Hike the public lands around Montana and hear the cultural historic stories of the landscape told by tribal members. Choose from a variety of day-hike workshops, all based around indigenous stories.

Visit stunning places and listen to fascinating stories while on a Blackfeet cultural tour. Photo: Andy Austin

BIRDING

More than 250 species of birds call Glacier Country home. Make the most of this birder’s paradise on a guided birding adventure, and spot some of our smallest and most elusive inhabitants. Glacier Birding Adventures is ready to take you to any of the best locations and bird refuges in the region.

Seeing a bald eagle adds a special touch to a landscape that’s already jaw-dropping.

BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS TRIPS

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex is the third-largest wilderness area in the lower 48 and on the traditional lands of the Blackfeet, Salish and Kootenai tribes. A guided backcountry pack trip in “the Bob” can last from just a few days to over a week. A string of pack mules carries your gear and your guides set up camp at high-mountain campsites and prepare meals while you enjoy the incredible wilderness scenery. For an unforgettable backcountry experience, go with a guide from Dropstone Outfitting out of Choteau, Mills Wilderness Adventures out of Augusta or Rich Ranch out of Seeley Lake.

Add a trip to the Chinese Wall to your bucket list. Photo: Tommy Meyer

HIKING/BACKPACKING

Lace up your hiking boots for some good, old-fashioned hiking—one of the easiest ways to explore Western Montana. A local guide can take you to an off-the-beaten-path hiking spot on a daylong or multi-day hike. Bitterroot Backpacking can show you the way around the Bitterroot National Forest and Whitefish Outfitters can guide you through the Flathead National Forest.

Watch the sunset from Blodgett Canyon in the Bitterroot Valley. Photo: Visit Montana

ROCK CLIMBING 

With dramatic rock faces, rugged crags, crack climbing and bouldering playgrounds, Western Montana offers some of the best single- and multi-pitch destinations in the country. So “climb on” and conquer the crux with the help of an experienced guide. These climbing-obsessed experts have all the right gear and knowhow, no matter your experience level. Both Glacier Adventure Guides and The Mountain Guides Montana can help you get on the rocks in northwest Montana.

Scaling the cliffs near Kila. Photo: Glacier Country

FLY-FISHING

Famous for fly-fishing, Western Montana has some of the most pristine, undisturbed waters nature has to offer. Our rivers, lakes and blue-ribbon trout streams make for the angling experience of a lifetime. Plus, we have some of the most experienced, professional and friendly fishing guides and outfitters around. Fish the Kootenai River with Kootenai Angler, the Bitterroot River with Bitterroot Fly Company, the Clark Fork River with Missoulian Angler and the Blackfoot River with Blackfoot River Outfitters.

Western Montana summer afternoons are made for floating and fishing. Photo: Noah Couser

CITY/CULTURAL TOURS

A city tour is one of the best ways to quickly get the “lay of the land” in Western Montana, and our larger communities include a variety of city tour options. These are a fun, and informative, addition to any getaway. Unseen Missoula offers guided educational tours of downtown Missoula, featuring legends and lore of Montana’s “Garden City.” Also in Missoula, the Montana Museum of Art and Culture offers daily docent tours as well as special-topic docent tours. In Kalispell, take a Downtown Kalispell Walking Tour for the story of Kalispell’s history and people. Both Hamilton and Kalispell also offer a glimpse of the life of Montana’s Copper Kings on tours of the Daly Mansion and the Conrad Mansion.

The Montana Museum of Art and Culture in Missoula opened in 2023. Photo: Andy Austin

AGRITOURISM

Agritourism combines Montana’s top two industries and allows visitors the opportunity to experience agricultural life firsthand at local farms and ranches, wineries or any number of agricultural businesses. Witness 1,500 lavender plants overlooking Flathead Lake on a tour of Purple Mountain Lavender, take a tour of the flower gardens at Meridian Farm and Forge or Bibler Gardens, or tour the working permaculture preserve and farm stay, ABC Acres, in Western Montana’s Bitterroot Valley.  

Bibler Gardens in Kalispell includes waterfalls, sculptures and an arboretum. Photo: Noah Couser

Please note: We ask that all our visitors and residents Recreate Responsibly by being mindful of the following: know before you go; plan ahead; play it safe; leave no trace; tread lightly; and help build an inclusive outdoors.

May 20, 2024

Related: American Indian, Birding, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Blackfeet Nation, Boating, Fishing, Hamilton, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Kalispell, Missoula, Montana, Outdoor Fun, Rock Climbing, Summer Fun, Vacation, Water Fun, Wildlife

Comments