RECREATION & THINGS TO DO in Kalispell, Montana

MAKE THE MOST OF THE SEASONS

Whether it’s a passion for recreating on a freshly powdered winter morning or sun-drenched summer afternoon, the challenge for Kalispell, Montana residents isn’t finding something to do, it’s making enough time to do it all.

Encompassed by 2.3 million acres of federally protected land, thousands of miles of hiking, biking, show-shoeing and sledding trails, and four unique seasons for outdoor exploration, our town is the ultimate outdoor adventure mecca.

Hiking

There are literally hundreds of hiking opportunities stemming from the Flathead Valley. If you’re the type who could envision yourself unwinding after a day at work with epic views and clean mountain air, there are several trails within minutes of Kalispell that will put you far above the bustling city. However, on your day off you can get lost in Glacier National Park or the Jewel Basin, adventure up Columbia Mountain or treat yourself to breakfast at one of the many delicious restaurants in town before exploring.

Golf

One of the most unspoiled and relaxing places to play golf anywhere in the country, each of our areas nine world-class courses are within 45 minutes of downtown Kalispell. Golf Digest listed the Flathead among its top 50 golf destinations and one of the 10 best golf retirement destinations while Golf Magazine wrote, “There’s perhaps no better place in the nation for home-on-the-range hospitality, exceptional value and genuine mountain splendor than Montana’s Flathead Valley.”

Winter Activities

When the snow starts to fly, the Flathead Valley turns into one big ski town thanks to the acclaimed Whitefish Mountain Resort, 25 miles north of Kalispell, and Blacktail Mountain 28 miles south. Both destinations boast some of the best snowfall in the Pacific Northwest, each with roughly 300 inches annually.

Snowshoeing and snowmobiling across various terrains allow for an intimate look at Glacier National park and the surrounding mountain ranges in a way most will never experience. Frozen lakes provide havens for ice fisherman, cross country skiing, and pond hockey.

If you need a change in pace from getting lost in the towering mountains of the Crown of the Continent, or adventuring on the crystal clear waters of our 500 local lakes – including the largest freshwater lake in the West – there are dozens of museums, galleries, art festivals, music performances, and shopping opportunities to explore every week.

Museums

The Conrad Mansion
The 13,000 square foot manor is the original home of Kalispell’s founder, Charles Conrad, and is one of the most outstanding examples of Kalispell’s railroad-glory-days architecture and features several different special events and exhibits throughout the year.

The Northwest Montana History Museum
A prime example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, the 1894 building is home to exhibits on regional Native American history, the early timber industry, the valley’s earliest European settlers, and its lawn houses one of Kalispell’s most popular summer activities, Thursday!Fest, each Thursday during the summer, which features great local food and even better local musicians.

Hockaday Museum of Art
The museum showcases rotating exhibits by nationally renowned and emerging artists and has assembled a permanent exhibit, Crown of the Continent, which features some of Montana’s best-known Western artists. The Hockaday Museum is housed in a turn-of-the-century Carnegie Library Building which is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

Podcast

The Venture Boldly Podcast

Launched in November 2022, the Venture Boldly podcast showcases Kalispell and the Flathead Valley’s business community, featuring interesting and little-known stories about local employers and leaders, highlighting community and chamber initiatives, and casting a spotlight on areas of opportunity and action in the Flathead Valley.