While many people visit Glacier National Park in the Summer, the off-season offers fun, unique looks at the local scenery, as well as outdoor activities within the park and in the surrounding areas. As the snow accumulates in Glacier, snowshoeing and skiing are a favorite recreational activity in Glacier National Park. There are also great scenic fall drives, fishing and other activities available between October and May.
Outside of Glacier National Park, there are also places for downhill skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing throughout the area.
You can finish each night at The Great Bear Inn cozying up next to our fireplace.
Snow sports
Two of the favorite activities in Glacier National Park during the off-season are cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There are skiing and snowshoe trails throughout the park that work for all ability levels. On winter weekends, you can also join in ranger-guided snowshoe walks in the Apgar area.
If downhill skiing is more to your liking, The Great Bear Inn is a quick 45 minute drive from the Whitefish Mountain Resort and 90 minutes from the Blacktail Mountain Ski Area.
Fishing
Lake fishing in Glacier National Park is open year-round, including ice fishing. The park offers great fishing areas for ice fishing, as does some of the surrounding area. Many of the bays in Flathead Lake offer great ice fishing in the winter. Additionally, Smith Lake and Bitterroot Lake are often used for ice fishing.
Snowmobiling
Though not allowed in Glacier National Park itself, one popular winter activity in the area is snowmobiling. There are local companies that offer guided snowmobiling tours, or you can bring your own snowmobiles to explore the many trails available through the winter months. There are fees for snowmobiling in the area, and you can plan your trip with the MT Snowmobile Recreation Planner website.