Category: Haugan

Good company, good times and good drinks are part of the Montana experience, and that’s why you’ll find a bar not far from wherever you are in Glacier Country. If you’re looking for some post-adventure libations, live music, local vibes and great food, it’s all here in our swanky bars serving up craft cocktails, our […]

By TravelingMitch When I lived in Norway, I learned an expression that has always stuck with me: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” That motto, in practice, is a reminder that while there may be some small part of us that wants to cozy up beside the fire for the entirety […]

Western Montana is a sledder’s paradise. Powering through winter here is easy, with miles of steep climbs and flat trails, and acres of backcountry playgrounds, as well as logging and seasonal forest service roads. A handy way to recreate responsibly is with the onX Offroad app. The Offroad app provides real-time GPS positioning even in […]

Western Montana is home to more than 75 charming communities, all worth exploring. We often boast about the vibrant downtowns in the hearts of these communities, but you’ll find a treasure trove of quirky, unique and delightful shops tucked into little spots off the beaten path all over the region. Find Montana-made items, one-of-a-kind goods, and […]

Let’s be real, Western Montana is a paradise for sledders. With plenty of room to roam, powdering through sweeping mountain-meadow playgrounds, deep untouched backcountry, rugged ridgelines, frozen alpine lakes, logging and Forest Service roads, and ghost towns is easy. With so much winter terrain to explore—4,000+ miles of groomed trails in Montana—we’re sharing eight trail […]

The crown jewel of America’s Rails to Trails is right here in Glacier Country—just one more reason why Western Montana is the perfect place for an adventure on two wheels. The Route of the Hiawatha bike trail is part of the Olympian Hiawatha route and is noted as one of the most breathtaking scenic stretches of railroad in the country. USA Today called it a Rails to Trails “Top Ten Pick.” Biking this beauty is one way to experience an authentic, family-friendly adventure in Western Montana’s Glacier Country.

There are 154 national forests in the United States, and Montana is home to 12 of them. Five of those cover ground in Glacier Country—Lolo, Bitterroot, Flathead, Kootenai and part of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests—and claim more than 8 million acres of national forestland comprised of some of the most pristine terrain in America. Dramatic mountain peaks and soft rolling foothills; lush and diverse woodlands; sparkling lakes and rivers; and remote wilderness areas make up these beloved forestlands, all a vital part of Montana’s prized landscape. And thanks to the help of the U.S. Forest Service, and their efforts and partnerships with local organizations to conserve the land, we plan to keep it that way.

Every summer, thousands of travelers drive I-90 as they cruise across Montana. Many of these folks will take a detour south near Bozeman to head to Yellowstone, and others may take the detour north of Missoula to Glacier National Park. But Montana has so many hidden gems tucked just off the interstate, from endless mountain views to quaint small towns with big personalities. My name is Andy Austin. I am a Montana-based photographer and lover of the lesser-visited places in my beautiful state. When Glacier Country Tourism reached out to do a shoot in the I-90 corridor west of Missoula, I was quick to say yes to exploring one of the few areas I have only driven through. 

It’s no secret that Montana is a pretty big place with plenty of room to roam. We like to take advantage of all that gorgeous open space and cover as much ground as we can, especially in winter when we can power up our sleds and snowmobile miles and miles of bragworthy winter-wonderland terrain.