Category: Flathead Indian Reservation

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples. In Western Montana’s Glacier Country, the Blackfeet Nation and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have deep ancestral connections to the land, with traditions and cultural practices that continue to shape the region today. Visitors […]

Western Montana’s history lives not only in well-known landmarks, but also in small museums tucked into quiet valleys and rural communities. Through local artifacts, exhibits and stories, these cultural sites offer a closer look at American Indian heritage, homesteading life, early industry, community traditions and regional art. BITTERROOT CORRIDOR Hamilton’s Ravalli County Museum & Historical […]

Summer in Western Montana comes with long daylight hours and a steady calendar of events across the region. Our communities host everything from pow wows and rodeos to concerts, fairs and small-town festivals. Some events draw large crowds. Others are more local, rooted in the traditions and rhythms of the communities that host them. Together, […]

Less than 20 minutes south of Flathead Lake—the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi—Ronan is quietly situated against the backdrop of the majestic Mission Mountains. This picturesque community off U.S. Highway 93 is more than a small-town agriculture community. The views alone are worth the visit to Ronan, but there’s more to this Mission Valley gem. Year-round recreation abounds here, like fishing, hiking in the Mission Mountain Wilderness Area (by permit), birding, camping and golf.

Western Montana’s pristine landscape makes for prime bird habitat. Our skies are graced with soaring raptors, our lakes and rivers are flush with waterfowl and shorebirds, and our grasslands and woodlands are visited by beautiful songbirds. Whether you’re an avid birder checking birds off a life list, or someone who just wants a look at something wild and free, there’s plenty of opportunity to catch some good glimpses of Glacier Country’s feathered residents.

One of the things that makes Montana so special is that we share the land with an abundance of beautiful, wild creatures. Western Montana is comprised of millions of acres of public land that is home to 83 species of mammals and 393 species of birds—and seeing them is easier than you think. There are plenty of undesignated places to watch wildlife in Glacier Country, but some amazing spots have been set aside specifically for Montana’s mammals, birds and reptiles. Explore our year-round wildlife refuges and viewing areas that offer a diversity of habitat and a look at some of the region’s most majestic inhabitants.

The American bison has long been one of the most important animals in American Indian cultures. Tribes have relied on the majestic bison for thousands of years, using every part of the animal for survival and welfare, including meat for food, bones and horns for tools, and hide for clothing and shelter, as well as […]

The wonderful thing about Western Montana’s Glacier Country is that traveling from one place to the next is always scenic and there’s an adventure around every bend. With the region divided into nine travel routes, you’ll find unique Montana experiences no matter where you roam. Here’s a list of fun and noteworthy facts about each […]

For our latest Western Montana Spotlight, we had the opportunity to speak with the director of the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee, Montana. The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is set in one of Montana’s most tranquil settings—the Jocko Valley. Visitors can stroll through the public park, botanical garden and Buddhist center evoking enlightenment […]

Western Montana’s Glacier Country sits on the traditional, ancestral territory of the Amskapi Piikani, Ksanka, Séliš, and Qlis̓pé people. The tribes have a rich oral history and a spiritual tradition of respect for the natural environment. Within Glacier Country, you’ll find the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation and the Blackfeet Tribe […]