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Northwest Montana
Whitefish

Whitefish Montana photo by Go Northwest!
Looking north on Main Street with the Big Mountain in the background.

Whitefish, like other towns in the Flathead Valley, offers close proximity to year-round outdoor recreation. (See the full range on our ACTIVITIES page.)   In summer the outdoors is alive with events such as the "Lake-to-Lake Canoe Race" down the Whitefish and Flathead Rivers, and the Olympic-style "Summer Games" with sports ranging from rugby to mountain biking. Winter celebrations include the "Christmas Stroll" with carol singing, and the "Torchlight Parade" on the Big Mountain. Fall and spring are quieter times.

Location

Whitefish lies at the north end of the Flathead Valley in Northwest Montana along the shores of Whitefish Lake. It is just minutes from one of Montana's largest ski resorts, Whitefish Mountain Resort, and about 25 miles west of Glacier National Park.

Getting to Whitefish

Whitefish HighwaysRoad

Main routes in are US 93, US 2, MT 40. Closest Interstate is I-90 to the south.

Air

Glacier Park International Airport is about 11 miles south, near Kalispell. Services include Big Sky Airlines, Delta Airlines, Horizon Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Holman Aviation (private charters).

Rail

The daily Amtrak passenger service the Empire Builder runs between Seattle/Portland and Chicago.  A depot is located in Whitefish, toll free phone: 800-862-7245

History

Whitefish began as a fur trading center in the late 1800's. It later flourished with the logging industry and the Great Northern Railway. In 1919 the "Ding-Dong Ordinance" was made law. This 9:00 p.m. curfew for children is still in effect today, although updated to 10:00 p.m. Listen for the siren located in the tower of the City Hall!

Downtown offers many historic buildings with interesting facades. Casey's, built in 1903, is the oldest building. The Home at 328 Central, which was built in 1907, was the first brick building in Whitefish. The Bulldog Saloon was once more genteelly named the Pastime Bar. "Pastimes" included boxing matches that took place in the hall above. Make a rest-stop in the Great Northern Bar and take in its collection of historic Whitefish business signs, or, check out an old apothecary display in the rear of the Chalet City Pharmacy. On the corner of 4th and Central, Whitefish boasts one of the few buildings in Montana designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Also of general epicurean interest is the Great Northern microbrewery building where Black Star beer is made.

Whitefish Mountain Resort

A ski and summer resort offering winter (skiing, snowboarding, tubing) and summer (mountain biking, hiking on the Danny On trail system) vacation packages. Live cam view.

See also the Go Northwest! guide to the Flathead Valley

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