Category: Wildlife

The higher you go the better the view. Channel your inner treehouse-loving child and stay in a lookout tower, one of the most unique rustic getaways in Western Montana. Lookout towers are prime for stellar scenery, plus incredible wildlife watching, sunrises and sunsets, and dark-skies stargazing. Lookout towers are small U.S. Forest Service cabins positioned […]

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. 

Every season stands out in Western Montana, but fall feels a little different. Cooler air settles in, hillsides turn gold and early snow shows up on the high peaks. The pace shifts, with harvest flavors, scenic drives and local festivals marking the season. With lighter traffic and cooler temperatures, fall makes it easier to slow […]

 Winter in Western Montana offers more than high-adrenaline adventures. It also invites quiet exploration—slow, steady movement through snow-covered forests, open meadows and mountain landscapes. Snowshoeing provides an accessible way to experience Glacier Country in winter, opening trails and backcountry spaces that are otherwise unreachable during the colder months. This low-impact activity is well-suited for a […]

Winter in Western Montana offers a quieter, more contemplative way to experience the region’s extraordinary landscapes. Snow-covered valleys, mountain peaks dusted with white and open stretches of highway create a memorable backdrop for cold-season travel. Whether you set out for a half-day drive, a full-day adventure or an overnight getaway, Glacier Country’s winter roads reveal […]

Western Montana’s landscapes—spanning rivers, lakes, forests, mountains and the glacial-carved terrain of Glacier National Park—create a region defined by natural beauty and ecological diversity. This environment is home to an array of wildlife, from grizzly and black bears to elk, mountain goats, moose, bighorn sheep and countless smaller species. Encountering these animals in their natural […]

Some of Western Montana’s most significant places are those we may pass without realizing the depth of their history. The CSKT Bison Range—located off U.S. Highway 93 north of Ravalli—is one of them. Spanning 18,500 acres on the Flathead Reservation, the range is owned and managed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, whose stewardship […]