Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by
If you find the crowds are beginning to weigh on you, or the thought of your 5th, 6th, 7th consecutive day of 4 AM wakeups is just a bit too much, the west glacier area (West Glacier, Hungry Horse, Columbia Falls) has plenty for you to do.
Of course, you can always venture into the pinky toe of the park and reserve a kayak to drop into McDonald Lake. If you bring your own, remember you MUST get it inspected for invasive water species prior to dropping it in, and this includes inflatables (something we have not been asked to do at any other park for our inflatable). The lines can be VERY long, and the inspection, as of this writing, must be conducted on the day you plan to drop in – not sooner. There are also boat tours departing regularly from Apgar Village – reservations a must.
Our recommendation if you want a down day, is to really take a down day and avoid the park altogether. If watersports hold any appeal for you, the Hungry Horse Dam, just a short drive from West Glacier is a perfect location and still sits within site of the mountain range for a gorgeous day of paddling, swimming or boating. Hiking opportunities also abound around the dam area, along with picnicking and boat launch areas.
Once you’ve had your fill of the water, head back to Hungry Horse or Columbia Falls and patronize one of several art galleries and antique shops, or better yet pick almost any spot to sample a delicious huckleberry concoction of nearly any food group. We particularly enjoyed the Huckleberry Patch. While it may one of the more commercial stops, it also had one of the best selections of all things huckleberry all in one place.
Finally, round out your day in Columbia Falls for dinner.
Hungry Horse Dam
We were looking for an alternative to making the drive into Glacier to drop the kayak for a day. Unfortunately, we got caught up in the history and general sightseeing of the dam itself and lost track of time, and did not put into the water. Really a shame too because the water was smooth as glass and crystal clear. Here is yet another spot that, were it not for the National Park, would be a vacation destination in its own right. It’s a huge dam, not quite Hoover, but close, sitting almost 10 miles off the beaten path and a lifetime away from the tourist mobs. The creation of the dam caused miles of lakeshore along with trails galore, and it is just as serene as anywhere we visited in Glacier. You may sacrifice views of the glaciers themselves, but the reservoir sits right in the base of the mountain range with no sign of development anywhere within eyesight. If you are a fisherman, this looks to be a little slice of paradise.
We had to go see the damn dam while we were here. Sitting on the south fork of the Flathead River, the Hungry Horse Dam (see pic below for explanation on the name) creates a 34 acre reservoir. You just have to visit all the funky little places out there. We’d be missing out on half of the fun if we only did the National Parks. So there we were, at the fifth largest dam in the US, where there were signs to keep off the dam road. You have to love it. There was a huge crane that sits in the middle of the dam road and slides back and forth on rails whenever needed. (125 ton gantry crane). Pretty cool from this engineering-ly impaired person. A feature unique to only a handful of dams in the US, the HH Dam has a glory hole. You can’t make this stuff up. (I know, I know, there is a reason for it. But, I couldn’t help giggling like a teenage boy for all the signs and names at this place). President Truman threw the switch to start the first power production at this dam in October of 1952. Part of the dam is dedicated to him. Out there doing it – Learning history. I can see why people with children decide to RV the US and home school their kids. There’s so much out here in our great country.
Columbia Falls
If you were clever enough to schedule your down day on a Thursday, do not miss the Columbia Falls community market. Live music, food trucks, whimsical little outdoor bar, local artisans, and local farm fresh produce, meat and cheese. It’s a perfect spot to sit outside, enjoy some delicious fresh and local fare, and maybe have a little musical accompaniment. What better day to wind down a perfect day in the crown of the continent?
If it is not a Thursday, try Mudman Burgers instead. I guarantee you will not be disappointed with any of their big, juicy, perfectly seasoned burgers on a homemade bun. Throw in a delicious shake to wash it down and you’ve probably had your calorie allotment for the day in this one meal – but you earned it out on the water today, right?