Ghost town and National Historic Landmark preserving Old West period buildings that have been added to the National Register of Historic Places
General Information
From Bozeman (66 miles): Head west on W Olive St toward S 5th Ave. Turn right onto S 8th Ave. Turn left onto US-191 S/W Main St. Continue onto MT-84 W/Norris Rd. Turn left onto US-287 S. Turn right onto MT-287 N/W Main St. Turn right onto Van Buren St.
The town is located on the western side of the continental divide, near Glacier National Park. Whitefish Lake is a 5.2 square miles (13 km2) natural lake with maximum length 5.8 miles (9.3 km). The Whitefish River bisects the town of Whitefish as it courses south by southeast to briefly join the Stillwater River before its flows enter the Flathead River. It has been ranked one of the top places for skiing in the United States.
The Great Northern Railway was built through what is now Whitefish in 1904, which sparked the development of the town. In 2006, over 68,000 passengers embarked and disembarked through the historic Whitefish Depot, a stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder line, with some percentage of those headed to the ski resort on Big Mountain. Skiing has been part of the Whitefish area for more than 50 years. In 1937, the Whitefish Lake Ski Club obtained a special permit from the U.S. Forest Service enabling them to build cabins and trails in the Hell Roaring Creek region.
Things to Do
Experience Montana's Premier Mountain Town
Whitefish is one of Montana's most popular outdoor destinations, located in the Flathead Valley near Glacier National Park. Surrounded by mountains, forests, lakes, and rivers, the town offers year-round recreation, scenic beauty, and a vibrant downtown filled with shops, restaurants, galleries, and local events.
Explore Whitefish Mountain Resort
Whitefish Mountain Resort offers recreation throughout the year, including skiing and snowboarding in winter and hiking, mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, and festivals during the summer months. Visitors can enjoy sweeping views of Glacier National Park, Whitefish Lake, and the Flathead Valley.
Visit Whitefish Lake
Whitefish Lake is a favorite destination for boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, and relaxing along the shoreline. The lake's crystal-clear waters and mountain backdrop make it one of the most scenic attractions in northwest Montana.
Explore the Whitefish Trail System
The Whitefish Trail is a community-supported trail network featuring more than 40 miles of non-motorized trails. The system connects forests, lakes, wildlife habitat, scenic overlooks, and recreation areas throughout the Whitefish area, offering excellent opportunities for hiking, biking, trail running, and wildlife viewing.
Discover Glacier National Park
Located less than an hour from Whitefish, Glacier National Park offers spectacular mountain scenery, alpine lakes, wildlife viewing, scenic drives, and some of the most famous hiking trails in North America. Whitefish serves as a popular base camp for park visitors.
Enjoy Downtown Whitefish
The walkable downtown district features historic buildings, local boutiques, art galleries, coffee shops, breweries, and restaurants. Visitors can enjoy a lively mountain-town atmosphere while exploring locally owned businesses and cultural attractions.
Experience Outdoor Recreation Year-Round
In addition to hiking and skiing, Whitefish offers mountain biking, fly fishing, rafting, golf, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The area is known as one of the outdoor recreation capitals of the Northern Rockies.
Top Trails
Danny On Trail
Length: Approximately 3.8 miles one way
Elevation Gain: Significant
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
This signature Whitefish Mountain hike climbs to the summit of Big Mountain and offers panoramic views of Glacier National Park, Whitefish Lake, and the Flathead Valley. It is one of the area's most popular hiking experiences.
Lion Mountain Loop
Length: Approximately 2.5 to 4 miles depending on route
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Located within the Whitefish Trail system, Lion Mountain features scenic forest trails, wildlife habitat, and beautiful overlooks of Whitefish Lake and the surrounding landscape.
Beaver Lakes Trail
Length: Approximately 4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
This popular route explores a network of lakes surrounded by protected forest lands. Hikers enjoy peaceful scenery, wildlife viewing opportunities, and access to one of the most scenic sections of the Whitefish Trail system.
Whitefish River Trail
Length: Approximately 2 to 3 miles
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
A family-friendly trail that follows the Whitefish River through natural areas and open spaces. The route is ideal for walking, jogging, birdwatching, and enjoying a relaxing outdoor experience close to downtown.
Lupfer Lookout Trail
Length: Approximately 4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
This trail climbs through forested terrain to a scenic overlook with expansive views of the Stillwater Valley, Whitefish area, and surrounding mountain ranges.
Sources: Official Whitefish Trail information covering trail systems, recreation opportunities, trailheads, scenic overlooks, and conservation areas.
Whitefish Trail System
Additional hiking information covering Whitefish Mountain Resort trails, Danny On Trail, local trail networks, and regional outdoor recreation opportunities.
Hiking Near Whitefish, Montana
Supplemental visitor information regarding hiking, Whitefish Lake recreation, Glacier National Park access, and outdoor activities throughout the Whitefish area.
https://www.explorewhitefish.com/Explore Whitefish Montana
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Whitefish, Montana", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
