Fill your family’s schedule with tons of summer activities on your vacation to Glacier. Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana offer many adventures for everyone.

Summer Kid Friendly Activities

• Biking
  Biking adventures abound in the Glacier area. Within the park is a two-mile paved trail from Apgar to West Glacier. Kids love to bike through the woods, getting great views of the mountains and wildlife.
• Fishing
  Be sure to bring your camera so you can get a shot of your child’s first catch. From Hungry Horse Reservoir to Kootenai River, you can give your kids some challenging fishing adventures throughout the Glacier region.
• Hiking
  With a number of interpretive trails within Glacier National Park, you will find plenty of information about the area by following these short treks. To find one right for you, check out Sun Point, Swiftcurrent Lake or Huckleberry Mountain. One of the favorites is Trail of the Cedars in the Avalanche Picnic Area. A little over half a mile long, it’s great for even the smallest child.
• Horseback Riding
  Flathead Valley is a marvelous area to get in some horseback riding, with the views making a fitting backdrop to your adventures. Gentle horses are provided, making it an uneventful trip for a small one.
• Whitewater Rafting
  Kids love whitewater rafting and the excitement generated by braving the rapids of a wild river. Try Flathead River or the Kootenai River at Jennings Canyon. Guides will ensure your children stay safe on a ride that they can easily handle.
• Canoeing, Kayaking and Boating
  All lakes in Glacier National Park permit canoes and kayaks, and there are a number of rivers in the valleys and forests surrounding where you can travel at your own speed through marvelous landscapes. Guide services will be happy to take you on adventures around Glacier, while providing all supplies needed. Boat tours are great for the kids, too, where they can enjoy the lake and sun while viewing the wildlife on the shores.

Summer Fun Attractions for the Family

• Glacier National Park
  Breathtaking views await the family as you drive through the park. Take Going-to-the-Sun Road for the most comprehensive visit in an incredible 50-mile drive. You can stop for hiking, horseback riding or boat tours.
• Apgar Visitor Center
  Kids will learn a lot about Glacier Park, including its geology and glaciers, at an exhibit made just for children at the Apgar Visitor Center.
• Waterton National Park
  Many visitors to Glacier travel to Waterton to enjoy the scenic drives. Kids love to peer out the window of the car to catch a glimpse of wildlife on the forest edge or climbing mountain cliffs. You can take the little ones on a boat tour on Upper Waterton Lake as well.
• Flathead Lake
  Flathead Lake offers many activities that will fill your days, such as hiking, boating and fishing. You can rent a sailboat and move silently over the water, only the sound of the gentle breezes in your ears.
• Bob Marshall Wilderness
  Hiking, fishing and rafting are all fun activities for kids within this wilderness area south of Glacier. They can also watch the wildlife in their natural environment.
• Great Bear Wilderness
  The Middle Fork River provides some exciting whitewater rafting, with calm sections fit for the younger ones. And you’ll see grizzly bears, mountain goats and bighorn sheep, thrilling for the kids when these fascinating creatures are spotted!
• Koocanusa Lake
  Swimming beaches on this lake offer plenty of water fun for the kids, while Dad fishes for Kookanee salmon and rainbow trout. Launch a boat from any one of the many launching areas or marinas. Have a picnic on the lakeshore.
• Whitefish Lake
  Whitefish Lake has great fishing and the kids can throw in a line and get the reward of a sizable mountain whitefish or rainbow trout. Hiking is also wonderful nearby.
• Marias Pass
  Within Glacier National Park, you can’t miss Marias Pass. If your kids love trains, this is the place to come to watch as they make their way across the Continental Divide.
• Lolo National Forest
  Here you will find the historic Nez Perce Trail, and your children will experience the forest as Lewis and Clark did on their famous expedition. Within the forest is the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area where the family will marvel at the wildlife, such as mountain lions and hawks soaring high overhead.
• National Bison Range
  The National Bison Range contains large herds of American Bison, not far from St. Ignatius, Montana. See these animals for yourself, and watch the kids’ eyes light up as they spot them grazing the grasslands.
• Hungry Horse Reservoir
  It doesn’t matter whether you are boating on the reservoir or hiking through the surrounding forests, the whole family has a great time visiting this wonderful spot. Fishing is a popular activity and you can be assured your kids will catch some fish.
• Kootenai River
  Some outdoor fun is in store for you and your family at the Kootenai River, with fishing and rafting the favorite pastimes. You can use float tubes to get out on the water, or just throw in a line from the shore. The kids won’t care; they’ll just have the time of their lives around this river.
• Flathead River
  All along the river, you can access hiking trails that take you into the backcountry. You can also ride horses through the wilderness for a unique adventure for your children. The North Fork is great for whitewater rafting, with gentle Class I and II waters.
• Flathead National Forest
  There are 15,000 acres here for your hiking and camping pleasure. Try the Jewel Basin Hiking Area for ideal trails for all levels of hikers. Spot lots of moose, elk and Rocky Mountain goats as well as beavers and porcupines.
• Lewis and Clark National Forest
  The Lewis and Clark National Forest is the perfect place to do some scenic driving. Taking the Kings Hill National Scenic Byway is the best to get from Glacier to Yellowstone National Park, if you are planning to stop there too.
• Mission Mountains
  Wildlife and bird watching are at their best here in the Mission Mountains. Kids love to see wildlife in their native habitat, doing what they do naturally. They have the chance to see mountain goats and mountain lions, and also grizzly and black bears. There are 50 species of birds living in these forests.
• Milk River
  Wildlife is abundant along the Milk River, and it is perfect for a quiet float trip. The entire river is a Class I, making it wonderful for family rafting.
• Conrad Mansion Museum
  In Kalispell Montana, this museum shows some wonderful examples of pioneer living. The kids will get a real education about the early days of America. There are beautiful views of the Swan Mountain Range, too.
• Museum of The Plains Indian
  Just west of Browning, the western gateway to Glacier National Park, you’ll find the Plains Indian Museum, with its displays of arts from the Northern Plains tribes.
• Flathead Indian Museum
  Check out this Indian museum on the Flathead Indian Reservation, displaying a large collection of Native American crafts. A wildlife exhibit is always a fascinating thing for the kids to see. You can even buy some gorgeous silver jewelry or other items for gifts or souvenirs.
• Miracle of America Museum
  Let the kids wander through an authentic pioneer village, seeing the school and shops from the late 19th to mid-20th century. This museum is in Polson, Montana and contains around 160,000 items from early America up to when man walked on the moon.
• Whitefish 4th of July Celebration
  If you are in the Glacier region in July, spend your Fourth of July in Whitefish, Montana. On the lake there will be festivities in the evening, including lots of good food, live music and fireworks.

Winter Attractions for Kids

• Glacier National Park
  Kids can participate in educational and volunteer activities to earn service club badges and become a “Junior Ranger” by completing particular Junior Ranger activities during a ranger-led program.
• Waterton National Park
  Known for its many gorgeous lakes, Waterton National Park offers spectacular sightseeing.
• Bob Marshall Wilderness
  As the 2nd largest wilderness area in the lower 48 US states, Bob Marshall hosts a variety of wildlife and sightseeing opportunities.
• Lolo National Forest
  Tour this forest where Lewis and Clark and the Nez Perce once trekked.

• National Bison Range
  See where nearly 500 buffalo roam on protected grasslands and stop at the Visitor Center for videos and other related information.

Winter Activities for Kids

• Nature and Wildlife Viewing
  Introduce your kids to taking pictures in one of the most beautiful places on earth! Keep your distance as you watch for wildlife like bears, mountain goats, bison, moose, elk and coyotes either on a scenic drive or nature trail.
• Skiing and Snowboarding
  Kids mature enough to be on their own or those traveling with family and friends can enjoy skiing (kids under a certain age ski FREE), cross country skiing, and snowboarding at Glacier National Park area ski resorts and nordic centers including:
  Whitefish Mountain Resort, featuring the Fishbowl Terrain Park
  Fernie Ski Resort, featuring Fernie Alpine Resort Rail Park
  Blacktail Mountain Resort, featuring Independence Terrain Park
  Castle Mountain Resort, featuring 3 terrain parks (Progression, Rawhide, and Big Hit)
  Glacier Nordic Club on Whitefish Lake Golf Course
  Bigfork Community Nordic Center
  Glacier Outdoor Center
  Stillwater Nordic Center
• Icefishing
  Flathead Lake is a great place to introduce kids to icefishing for lake trout, whitefish, northern pike and rainbows.
• Snowshoeing
  The whole family can get some great exercise and access extraordinary terrain on snowshoes. Consider employing a guide knowledgeable in winter survival as well as area history, ecology, and geology of the northwestern corner of Montana.
• Snowmobiling
  Snowmobiling is not permitted inside Glacier Park boundaries, so consider a snowmobile tour and guide service from those listed on this page, and you’ll be climbing hills and zipping through 200-plus miles of groomed trails in the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park area.
• Sleigh Ride Dinners
  Enjoy a spin in a sleigh ride and hear your guide’s stories and learn about the Glacier National Park region before enjoying a great Montana, country-style dinner.