Outbound Collective logo

Kalispell, Montana

Located in northwest Montana between Whitefish, Glacier National Park, and Flathead Lake; Kalispell is the perfect basecamp for your next adventure.

Top Spots in and near Kalispell

  • Flathead National Forest, Montana

    Hike Montana's Swan Crest Trail

    47 mi
    Getting There: Coming from Seeley Lake, take the road towards Bigfork. Continue until you get to mile marker 27 and turn right into the Morrell/Clearwater turn off. Stay on the road most traveled until you dead end at the trail head roughly 7 miles up the road. Park here. The Trail: The trail ...
    Read more
  • West Glacier, Montana

    Explore Avalanche Creek

    5.0
    0.7 mi
    Avalanche Creek is one of Glacier National Park's easiest features to access and also one of its most unique. The old-growth cedar forest is home to towering trees, moss-covered boulders, and a rushing stream of glacial water. A small loop trail winds through the lower forest and leads to a bri...
    Read more
  • West Glacier, Montana

    Trail of the Cedars

    5.0
    0.88 mi / 121 ft gain
    Trail of the Cedars Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Lake Mc Donald, Montana.
    Read more
  • West Glacier, Montana

    Avalanche Lake via Trail of Cedars

    4.9
    5.91 mi / 730 ft gain
    This very scenic Glacier National Park hike off of Going-to-the-Sun road is 4.5 miles with a total elevation gain of 730 feet. The hike to Avalanche Lake begins from the Trail of the Cedars trailhead. Be prepared for a lot of incline. Approximately one half mile from the trailhead you’ll reach...
    Read more
  • Flathead County, Montana

    Backpack to Link Lake

    1.3 mi / 600 ft gain
    To reach the trailhead, travel west on US Hwy 93 for 17.9 mi. and then turn right onto Olney Crossover Rd. This road will continue for 8.8 mi. and then keep left onto NF-115 for 9.7 mi. and the destination will be on the right hand side. There is a parking area where the trailhead begins. From th...
    Read more
  • Kalispell, Montana

    Summit Lake Mountain and Nasukoin Mountain

    5.0
    12 mi / 3500 ft gain
    To reach the trailhead, travel west on US Hwy 93 for 17.9 mi. and then turn right onto Olney Crossover Rd. This road will continue for 8.8 mi. and then keep left onto NF-115 for 9.7 mi. and the destination will be on the right hand side. There is a parking area where the trailhead begins. From th...
    Read more
  • Hungry Horse, Montana

    Relax at Spotted Bear Beach

    Spotted Bear Beach is a secluded white sand beach in the middle of Montana. To get here from the town of Hungry Horse, drive east on Highway 2 for ½ mile to the East Side Reservoir Road #38. Turn right (south) onto Road #38 and drive on through the town of Martin City. After two miles the pavemen...
    Read more
  • Bigfork, Montana

    Summit Swan Peak

    18.49 mi / 6180 ft gain
    This hike is about an hour drive south from Kalispell. Follow MT-83 S for about 47 mi. towards and past Swan Lake. Take a left on NF-554 and follow the road for 1.6 mi. and take a right on Squeezer Creek Rd. and follow the road for 4 mi. to a gated road and park near the gate. Follow the gated ro...
    Read more
  • West Glacier, Montana

    Camp at Bowman Lake

    5.0
    26.85 mi / 3005 ft gain
    Bowman lake is the 3rd largest lake in Glacier National Park and one of the most remote areas accessible by car. The drive out on a dirt road is slow and bumpy but the reward is an area without crowds and lots of adventure potential. The first-come-first-served campground offers 48 sites near t...
    Read more
  • West Glacier, Montana

    Waterton Lake via Bowman Lake

    49.5 mi / 6365 ft gain
    Our trip started on Thursday evening, spending the night at the Bowman Lake campground. You can park your car here and it's where the hike will start and end. I recommend staying here the night before because day 1 is a doozy, so you'll want an early start. Day 1 is the hardest day of the hike, ...
    Read more
  • West Glacier, Montana

    Bowman Lake to Quartz Lake Loop

    5.0
    13.3 mi / 2618 ft gain
    The trail to Quartz lake begins on southend of the Bowman Lake beach. I recommend going in a clockwise direction and getting the steep bit out of the way, but the ~13 mile loop can be done either way. Follow the Bowman Lake shore on the West Lakes Trail for about half a mile and then you will fi...
    Read more
  • West Glacier, Montana

    Kayak Bowman Lake, Glacier NP

    5.0
    The lake is located in the northwestern portion of Glacier National Park, about 32.5 miles from the west entrance and 30 miles from the Canadian Border. From the little town of Polebridge, it is 6 miles north along an unpaved road. The lake is 7 miles long and approx .5 miles wide. Access to the ...
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Photography on Logan Pass

    5.0
    Disclaimer: Glacier National Park has closed any off-trail activity in this area. The majority of the photos can be taken on-trail. Please be sure to adhere to the park's policy.With a short window of opportunity for visiting, Logan Pass offers a wealth of photographic options. As the winter sno...
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Hidden Lake Overlook

    5.0
    2.83 mi
    The trail starts at the Logan Pass Visitor Center, which is right in the middle of Going-To-The-Sun Road. It can be very busy during the middle of the day, but early morning and early evening will have less of a crowd. It's a pretty short hike in a beautiful wide open alpine meadow. We were gree...
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Hike Dragon's Tail Ridge

    3.5
    3 mi / 1800 ft gain
    Starting from Logan's Pass, make your way along the boardwalk that leads to the Hidden Lake Overlook. Depending on the previous winter, there may be quite a bit of snow covering large portions of the boardwalk and trail that leads to Dragon's Tail, so it is suggested that you take any necessary p...
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Reynolds Mountain

    4.5
    11 mi / 2500 ft gain
    Reynolds Mountain stands high above the Logan Pass Visitors Center. Because of it's easy location, be prepared to get caught in the heavy rush of tourists on the way up. Though most will not be going to Reynolds Mountain, you will still need to "wade" through heavy tourism to reach the trail he...
    Read more