What to do in Idaho and western Montana?

[Waterjunky]

The family and i are going to Glacier this summer and taking about two weeks to make the trip. The plan is to hustle up to Hell's Canyon and then take our time from there. We plan on dropping back down and out the bottom of Montana, hitting craters of the moon and then back home.

What should we be doing along the way? What are good places to overnight? What roads are worth the drive?

Help us finalize the plan.....

Thanks

 

[JD D05]

Island Park is a lot of fun for kids etc. Float the river etc.

West Yellowstone is a fun place to visit and the drive down the Gallatin River from Bozeman to West Yellowstone is great.

 

[Tooms22]

Subscribed.

Doing a similar trip July 24 - August 4.

Corona, CA -> Fallon, NV -> Sandpoint, ID -> Kalispell, MT -> Provo/Lehi, Utah (just overnight to rest) -> Home

We're bringing the boat, so our activities relatively set. But definitely interested in the recommendations from the inmates.

 

[HTTP404]

These guys are near Missoula. We had a great trip with them a couple years ago. Conveniently located.

Missoula Rafting - Clark Fork & Blackfoot River - Pangaea

Pangaea River Rafting has been providing white water rafting on the Clark Fork River & Spokane River for over 15 years. Book your trip today!

pangaeariverrafting.com

 

[Baja Pete]

Idaho is closed, nothing to see here...

 

[CLdrinker]

Will be doing same trip next year but with only a week.

 

[2Driver]

If you have kids Silverwood theme park is a blast. I never would have expected such a big park in the middle of nowhere. Super clean great rides a seperate water park, friendly, short lines. A really nice experience. Standpoint and Lake Pend Oreille are great as well, rent a boat. Hike Scotchman’s peak.

 

[River Runnin]

https://snakedancerexcursions.com

 

[WhatExit?]

Make time to visit Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons on the way back. You'll thank me later

 

[LowRiver2]

Kids dig this :

Luxury Railcar Lodging | Luxury Cabins near Glacier National Park for Rent

If you are looking for luxury cabins near Glacier National Park to rent for your vacation to Glacier, look no further than the unique luxury caboose lodging at Izaak Walton Inn! These incredible rail cars have been turned into luxury cabins near Glacier.

izaakwaltoninn.com

Huckleberry ice cream at Betty’s Diner in Polson at Flathead Lake is the bomb

 

[Dettom]

Kids dig this :

Luxury Railcar Lodging | Luxury Cabins near Glacier National Park for Rent

If you are looking for luxury cabins near Glacier National Park to rent for your vacation to Glacier, look no further than the unique luxury caboose lodging at Izaak Walton Inn! These incredible rail cars have been turned into luxury cabins near Glacier.

izaakwaltoninn.com

Huckleberry ice cream at Betty’s Diner in Polson at Flathead Lake is the bomb

I have had that ice cream. You’re exactly right.

 

[LowRiver2]

Of course a ride in a jammer at Glacier Park is a must: they were updated by Ford about 20 years ago. I’ve had cousins over the years drive those for seasonal jobs

Red Jammers - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Dettom]

Went to Glacier last year. Loved it up there and going up this year to ride the Beartooth Highway. Actually, I love the whole area.

 

[LowRiver2]

Flathead Lake

 

[LowRiver2]

I have had that ice cream. You’re exactly right.

22 of my 34 first cousins still live in MT.
Aweome state, 4th largest.....but too cold to live in for me.
I think a visit to Butte and Great Falls is a must if someone has time,
Missoula is the most “Ca.” Like town because of the college.
Sand Point. Lake Pend Oreille is a beautiful town/ area too if driving by there.

 

[ClownRoyal]

View attachment 1003415 View attachment 1003416
Flathead Lake

Too bad Flathead is closed this Summer.

 

[calkid]

Went to Glacier last year. Loved it up there and going up this year to ride the Beartooth Highway. Actually, I love the whole area.

We will be at the KOA in Billings from 8/16 to 8/19 to ride Beartooth and the surrounding area. Getting to Sturgis on 8/8 then headed to Missoula and Glacier after Billings. We're usually gone for a month.

 

[HTTP404]

We will be in Stevi first week of July.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Flathead Lake and Missoula.... I've been to Missoula 4x so far this year. Looking forward to the day we live up that way. Downtown Missoula has had A LOT of money dumped in it the last few years. We stay at the Residence Inn/Marriott Downtown in the former mercantile building..its pretty newly finished and a really good place to stay. Lots of breweries around that way. 1889 steakhouse was good, have tried 3 or 4 things on the menu at this point. Depending on when you go there are several state fairs... we will be going to the one in Billings to see a concert with some family.

Big Sky is a good place to stop as well...there are a ton of really cool small towns along the way that are worth checking out as well.

I'm hoping next year to drag the boat up to flathead lake and a couple other places.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

22 of my 34 first cousins still live in MT.
Aweome state, 4th largest.....but too cold to live in for me.
I think a visit to Butte and Great Falls is a must if someone has time,
Missoula is the most “Ca.” Like town because of the college.
Sand Point. Lake Pend Oreille is a beautiful town/ area too if driving by there.

Jeezus.....sounds like in your family their ain't nothing to do but make babies in that cold ass state. Gotta stay warm somehow.

 

[LowRiver2]

Jeezus.....sounds like in your family their ain't nothing to do but make babies in that cold ass state. Gotta stay warm somehow.

My Mom was youngest of 14
Her Dad homesteaded 160 acres for $160 in 1928 outside Choteau .
My kids have 56 cousins in their generation
Not Mormons lol

 

[Havasu blue label]

Expensive Christmas

 

[WhatExit?]

Make sure you visit Kalispell, one of the nicest towns in Montana

Kalispell, Montana - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[HNL2LHC]

:dunno:......

 

[PlumLoco]

Do not waste your time going to Polebridge. I totally do not understand the hype. Everything else about Glacier NP is pretty awesome. We did Road to the Sun both at early morning and late evening, totally different feel between the two times of day.

 

[Danger Dave]

If you're going to drive through Idaho with CA plates, please stop at the state line and make sure your Biden/Harris and BLM bumper stickers are clean and clearly visible. It really simplifies the bounty collection process for ID residents.

 

[rivermobster]

Make time to visit Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons on the way back. You'll thank me later

Make sure you check out Yellowstone Lake. Its thirty miles long. The view is pretty impressive.

Lake Elgin at St Anthony's sand dunes might be fun for a day trip too.

 

[Waterjunky]

Make sure you visit Kalispell, one of the nicest towns in Montana

Kalispell, Montana - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

We are looking to stay there while visiting glacier. There is no real reservation system inside the park now. I am too long to gamble and be in line at 0 dark 30 to try.
I have a buddy I went to school with (K-12) who lives there. Haven't seen him in 10+ years.

 

[Instigator]

Look for a home and land to buy and move. Duh.

 

[srttruck]

Look for a home and land to buy and move. Duh.

Yes, here's a direct link to search for that new place.

Texas Real Estate Sales | 512-556-9090 | Lampasas TX Homes for Sale

Lampasas Real Estate, Homes for Sale. We specialize in Homes and, Land sales in Central Texas; both Buyers and Sellers.

www.texasrealestatesales.net

 

[Instigator]

Yes, here's a direct link to search for that new place.

Texas Real Estate Sales | 512-556-9090 | Lampasas TX Homes for Sale

Lampasas Real Estate, Homes for Sale. We specialize in Homes and, Land sales in Central Texas; both Buyers and Sellers.

www.texasrealestatesales.net

Tornados and Floods or Wind and Snow. 16 to 18 degrees latitude still sounds better to me.

 

[buck35]

Tornados and Floods or Wind and Snow. 16 to 18 degrees latitude still sounds better to me.

yep it's horrible up north and it's closed by the way the Last Frontier....

 

[Instigator]

yep it's horrible up north and it's closed by the way the Last Frontier....

LOL
Not the Last Frontier by any means. Just a close one.

 

[LowRiver2]

From one of my cousins today:
Why I won’t retire there, I’d be helping family in that stuff....no thanks lol. That’s the family homestead from 1928 ranch outside Choteau.

 

[Javajoe]

Make sure you visit Kalispell, one of the nicest towns in Montana

Kalispell, Montana - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

My bud moved there a couple years ago. Owns a grading and blasting Co. His sister owns the bar in town and just bought the other bar across the street from it lol. Beautiful area.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Following. Planning on going thru there in July sometime depending how i bounce back from the knee surgery.

was told to hit it before Sturgis as the weather starts changing quickly.

 

[Rands Hats]

We vacationed all through Idaho and Montana from California last year, be careful we ended up moving to Billings... stop in and see us we will get you set up with a custom hat.

 

[beerrun]

Go visit buck knives in Idaho what kid wouldn't want a cool pocket knife

 

[Ace in the Hole]

View attachment 1004873 View attachment 1004874
From one of my cousins today:
Why I won’t retire there, I’d be helping family in that stuff....no thanks lol. That’s the family homestead from 1928 ranch outside Choteau.

My RE agent in SW MT texted me this morning “it’s a snowy bitch at the moment” lol

 

[LowRiver2]

Helena yesterday: This cousin came home from Yuma snow bird house to escape the heat: They did, lol