Flathead Lake
125 miles
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. It was created at the end of the last Ice age when a large glacial moraine was left on the south end of the lake, effectively damming the valley. In later years, a small dam was erected across the river south of Polson making the lake even larger. Today it is 28 miles long and up to 15 miles wide. A wonderful day can be spent driving around the lake. In the early spring, the east shore cherry trees blanket the hillside with a field of color. At the end of July, the area is home to many stands selling fresh cherries and in the fall, apples are in plentiful supply. The south half of the lake lies inside the boundaries of the Confederate Salish and Kootenai Indian Reservation, known as the Flathead Reservation. Anyone wanting to fish or recreate in this portion of the lake needs a tribal permit in addition to a Montana State fishing permit. The drive, however is spectacular.
From the Whitefish KOA Kampground, head south on US Highway 93 and follow it to the junction with Montana Highway 35 on the south side of Polson, about 63 miles. Head east towards the Mission Mountains on Montana 35 and follow it around the lake and then north until it connects with US Highway 2 on the east side of Kalispell. Go north on US Highway 2 to the stop light junction with Montana Highway 40. Turn west 5 miles to the junction with US Highway 93 and then turn south for 2 miles to the Whitefish KOA Kampground. Take your time and stop to enjoy the views along the way. A few of the highlights you may want to see are:
Watch for the M & S Meats and Sausage shop on the west side of Highway 93 at Rollins. Stop and check out their buffalo, elk or beef jerky. They also make a wide variety of sausages out of a variety of meats.
At Dayton, on US 93, look for Montana's only winery. Stop at the tasting room and pick up a bottle of Montana's finest.
The "Port of Polson" on the south end of the lake has many interesting shops to explore while you stretch your legs.
The Miracle of America Museum is located about two miles south of the junction of US Highway 93 and Montana Highway 35. This slight detour will take you to a museum with a little of everything. They have a very unusual motorcycle display as well as many objects from the area's historical past. After your visit, return north on US Highway 93 to the junction with Montana Highway 35.
As you travel north on the east shore, watch for the fruit stands in season. There are also many fireworks stands and Indian tobacco shops along the way. Because you are on the reservation, they are able to sell items you can't buy elsewhere at very low prices.
Be sure to stop in the town of Bigfork to check out all of the art galleries and other area attractions. You will have to turn off of Montana Highway 35 at the traffic light.
Return to the Whitefish KOA, your home base, and enjoy the hot tub, the swimming pool and a pizza as you rest from the journey.
The Great Circle Tour
Glacier Park
Going to the Sun Highway
Waterton Lakes National Park
Park Crowsnest Pass
306 miles 2 days
This great circle tour is a great two-day drive. Spend the first day on the Going to the Sun Highway. Take your time and enjoy the sites, then spend the night at the St. Mary KOA. The next day, take off for Canada, visit Waterton National Park, see the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, go over Crows Nest Pass, visit Fernie B.C. and return to the Whitefish KOA Kampground. When traveling into Canada, you will need two forms of identification or a passport in order to return to the U.S. If you don't have a passport, the best identification is a drivers license and a certified copy of your birth certificate.
DAY 1
26 miles
From the Whitefish KOA Kampground go north 2 miles on US Highway 93. At the flashing light turn east on Montana Highway 40, which merges into US Highway 2. Travel through Columbia Falls and on to West Glacier where you enter Glacier Park. There you get a park pass or pay a small entrance fee.
50 miles
Drive the Going to the Sun Highway.
OPTION 1
39 miles
At St. Mary, turn north on US Highway 89 to Babb, Montana and the go west back into the park to visit the Many Glacier Hotel. Take the time to go in and marvel at the log construction.
Return to St. Mary
Check into the St. Mary KOA and spend the night in either a kamping kabin or your own tent.
DAY 2
230 miles
From the St. Mary KOA head north on Highway 89. Four miles north of Babb take Montana Highway 17 to the Chief Mountain border crossing. Once across the border, you will be on Alberta Highway 6. Take a side trip to Waterton National Park and enjoy the wildlife and the views.
Continue north on Alberta Highway 6 through Pincher Creek and on to Alberta Highway 3, also called the Crowsnest Highway. If you are a fan of early american history, you might want to take the gravel roads to the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump just North of Highway 3. This attraction is managed by the Blackfoot Indian Nation and showcases their history.
Stay on Crowsnest Highway (3) into British Columbia. Make a short stop at Fernie, a great ski run and winter sport center.
Continue on to Provincial Highway 93 and head south on it. This highway becomes US Highway 93 at the BC - Montana border.
Cross the border and return to the Whitefish KOA to enjoy the swimming pool, hot tub and have a pizza.
Glacier Park
Going to the Sun Highway
156 to 240 miles
Glacier Park is the fourth largest National Park in the U.S., excluding Alaska. The park contains over 1.4 million acres of some of the most breathtaking scenery in the United States. Glacier has been called the "Crown Jewel of the Continent" and "Switzerland of North America". The Going to the Sun Highway, which is often called the most spectacular highway in the United States, bisects the Park. You won't find a better trip then over the Continental Divide in Glacier Park on this National Historic Landmark. Because of the steep winding roads, motorhome, trailers and other vehicles over 21 feet long or 8 feet wide are prohibited. The largest vehicles on the road are the park tour buses which are all painted a bright red and have open canvas tops. The road itself is 50 miles long. The commercial tours take about three hours to travel over the road, including stops along the way to admire the scenery. A visitor can either go both ways over the highway (it really does look different both ways) or make a loop trip using US highway 2 for one direction.
26 miles
From the Whitefish KOA Kampground go north 2 miles on US Highway 93. At the flashing light, turn east on Montana Highway 40, which merges into US Highway 2. Travel through Columbia Falls and on to West Glacier and turn West off US Highway 2 to enter Glacier National Park. You will need a park pass or pay a small entrance fee.
50 miles
Drive the Going to the Sun Highway.
OPTION 1
39 miles
At St. Mary, turn north on US Highway 89 to Babb, Montana and the go west back into the park to visit the Many Glacier Hotel. Take the time to go in and marvel at the log construction.
Return to St. Mary
ALTERNATIVE 1
76 miles
Return to the Whitefish KOA Kampground by taking the Going to the Sun Highway. You can do this either after visiting Many Glacier or without going to Many Glacier.
ALTERNATIVE 2
112 miles
Take US Highway 89 south to Kiowa. From there, take Montana Highway 49 to East Glacier and US Highway 2. Alternatively stay on 89 to Browning and join Highway 2 there. This is an additional 13 miles, but it provides the opportunity to visit the Museum of the Plains Indians in Browning, a worthwhile stop, operated by the Blackfeet Indian Tribe.
Follow US Highway 2 back to Montana Highway 40. Take that road for 5 miles to US Highway 93 and go south for 2 miles to the KOA Kampground.
Lake Koocanusa
224 to 235 miles
The US Corps of Engineers formed Lake Koocanusa with the completion of the Libby dam in 1975. The name for the new lake was the result of a contest and came from the first three letters of the Kootenai River that formed the lake and the addition of can for Canada and usa for the United States. The lake is ninety miles long with forty-two miles in Canada and forty-eight miles in the US. The Kootenai National Forest surrounds the lake with virtually no commercial development along its shores. There are very good paved highways winding along both sides of the lake. In 1989 the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks named the Libby Dam area as an official watchable wildlife area. In this area a person might see deer coyote, river otters, moose, raccoons, bald eagles, great blue heron, geese, ducks, trumpeter swans, osprey, hawks, songbirds, and sea gulls. The lake is home to a variety of fish including rainbow trout, westslope cutthroat trout, brook trout, kokanee salmon (blue back), ling (burbot), whitefish and kamaloops (a strain of rainbow trout).
For unsurpassed mountain beauty with great two lane roads and virtually no traffic, this area can't be beat. There are three routes available through this area. The first circles the lake, the second travels down the west shore and then cuts through the mountains, while the third returns via US Highway 2. All three routes begin at the Whitefish KOA Kampground. Don't forget to start the day with your free continental breakfast on weekdays or an inexpensive pancake breakfast on weekends and purchase a lunch to take with you into the wilderness.
57 miles
Drive north on US Highway 93 through the towns of Whitefish, Olney, Stryker, Fortine and Eureka to Montana Highway 37.
67 miles
Drive south along the shore of Lake Koocanusa. Watch for wildlife along the road. Stop along the way and cool your feet in the lake. Spend some time at the Visitor's Center on the south end.
OPTION 1
43 miles
Drive North along the west shore of Lake Koocanusa on an even less traveled road.
57 miles
Return to the Whitefish KOA and home base. You can jump into the hot tub or the swimming pool and maybe enjoy a pizza for dinner.
OPTION 2
59 miles
Continue south along the Fisher River for about twelve miles and then head northeast through the forest following the original route of the old Great Northern Railroad. The tracks now belong to the Burlington Northern Rail Road and are their Northern route. You may see an occasional train along this drive, but nothing else except Mother Nature at its finest.
39 miles
Return to the Whitefish KOA and home base. Jump into the hot tub or the swimming pool or enjoy a pizza for dinner.
OPTION 3
111 miles
The longest route home but with the best roads goes about fifteen miles west to the town of Libby, Montana. Turn east on US Highway 2 and ride to Kalispell. Turn north on US Highway 93 in downtown Kalispell.
Return to the Whitefish KOA, your home base. Jump into the hot tub or the swimming pool or maybe enjoy a pizza for dinner.
