Things To Do In Kalispell

Kalispell is a picturesque mountainous city in the state of Montana, featuring serene landscapes and breathtaking views.

While the city is primarily known for its proximity to the famous Glacier National Park, there are still numerous other exciting and offbeat things to do in Kalispell ranging from enjoying a challenging hiking trail to fishing in the river or wading your boat across the lake.

But, out of all the exciting things you can try on your trip, here are our pick of the top ten things to do in Kalispell:

Experience the joy of hiking near the rugged terrains of Glacier National Park

While you can visit the park for a relaxing and laid-back afternoon, the forest lands surrounding the park premises can be great for hiking! It is one of the best things to do in Kalispell!

The forest lands that encircle the national park remains secluded, mainly in contrast to the park premises. The rugged terrain and the rustic wilderness of the area make it an excellent place for hiking.

You can find miles of hiking trails that you can explore here! Based on whether you are a beginner or an advanced hiker, you can choose a suitable hiking trail to your liking.

As you enjoy the hike, you can further take in the serene beauty of the natural landscapes surrounding you and learn about the history of the place. And remember, you can take a few snaps to cherish them as a beautiful memory!

Furthermore, you can even visit the Glacier National Park while still here!

Head to the Glacier National Park on your trip to Kalispell and enjoy the hiking session in the forestlands surrounding the park!

Timings: Open 24 hours

Cost: Starts from $35

Location: 64 Grinnell Drive, Glacier National Park Headquarters, West Glacier, MT 59936

Website:  Glacier National Park

Specialty: A national park known for its breathtaking sceneries, diverse wildlife, and pristine lakes.

Best nearby: Flathead Lake.

Must-try: Hiking and Camping.

Race against time at the escape rooms in Kalispell MT

Enjoying an escape room game is one of the amazing things to do in Kalispell, irrespective of whether you are traveling solo or with friends or family!

Escape rooms make way for a fun and immersive adventure with your favorite people, allowing you to spend distraction-free quality time with them. The city offers visitors various uniquely themed escape games to try out.

All the escape rooms in the city feature compelling narratives, realistic set designs, life-like props, and stunning effects to make your experience come alive.

The escape games can also be a great place to host your private parties and events memorably! You can even visit the escape rooms to add a unique turn to your mundane date night!

Ensure you squeeze out some time from your trip itinerary and make way for an adventurous escape room game on your trip to Kalispell, MT!

Website: List of Escape Rooms in Kalispell

Must-try: Doomsday by The Basement Escape Rooms

Experience the thrill of skiing at the Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Kalispell is a great city, filled to the brim with numerous adventurous things to do in Kalispell. Especially in the winter, you can find prolific adventurous activities opening up in the city.

The Whitefish Mountain Resort, or the Big Mountain, is one of the most popular places to visit during the cold season. It is reportedly accredited to be a top-notch skiing resort in Montana.

Every winter season, Whitefish gets wrapped in a 3,000 acres long cloak of snow cover. While skiing during the daytime at this facility is a popular recreational activity, night skiing on weekends has also generated a massive craze!

You can find approximately 100 named routes for skiing in the area to choose from and enjoy. Many meadows in the province often lay hidden underneath the snow cover.

Eleven splendid chairlifts serve the mountains and maintain the vast crowds of tourists and locals that throng the place.

Ensure you drop in at the Whitefish Mountain Resort on your trip to Kalispell and enjoy your immersive skiing session on the mountain tops!

Timings: Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Cost: Starts from $35

Contact: +1 406-862-2900

Location: 1015 Glades Drive, Whitefish, MT 59937

Website: White Fish

Specialty: A renowned skiing resort located in the serene landscapes of the Flathead National Forest.

Best nearby: Glacier National Park.

Must-try: Skiing and Snowboarding.

Revel in the mesmerizing beauty of the Flathead Lake

People who love the tranquility of nature and natural landscapes must add this place to their things to do in the Kalispell checklist.

Flathead Lake is popularly regarded as one of the state's most serene and largest natural freshwater lakes. The lake lies less than 15 minutes from the central city of Kalispell.

The lake spans a considerable distance of about 30 miles in length and sports an exquisite 185 miles long shoreline. There are various ways to spend your time in this place.

While some people enjoy marveling at the breathtaking beauty of the lake, others find solace in enjoying different outdoor activities. Boating, fishing, and swimming are popular recreational opportunities here.

The southern parts of the area lie in lands owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Flathead Reservation. As a visitor, you must purchase a tribal recreation pass to enter this area.

Head to Flathead Lake on your trip to Kalispell, MT, and enjoy the serene beauty of the surrounding landscapes!

Contact: +1 406-837-3041

Location: Montana, US

Website: Flathead Lake

Specialty: One of the largest natural freshwater lakes in the state, featuring serene landscapes and immersive outdoor recreational activities.

Best nearby: Wild Horse Island, a vast island home to diverse species of animals and offering immersive hiking trails.

Must-try: Camping, Fishing, and Swimming.

Explore the hiking trails down Jewel Basin.

For thrill-seekers and adventure lovers, there is almost no end to the immersive and adventurous things to do in Kalispell!

Jewel Basin is popularly accredited as one of the top-rated hiking destinations in the city. It is located at a short distance of about half an hour from the city center.

As you go backpacking down the Jewel Basin, you can explore the area's 15,000 acres stretch of greenery. The place lies within the territory of the Flathead National Forest.

Especially during July and August, the natural trails remain largely free of snow, making it perfect for an adventurous hiking session! You can also expect the least crowds, particularly during this time.

The Camp Misery Trailhead is the most common point for exploring this area. You can kickstart your hiking session from Camp Misery and go down to Birch Lake.

The hiking trail offers a marvelous view of a stunning lake lined by alpine trees.

Enjoy your adventurous hiking session in Jewel Basin on your trip to Kalispell!

Contact: +1 406-387-3800

Location: Jewel Basin, MT 59911

Website: Jewel Basin

Specialty: A popular hiking destination offering immersive hiking trails and breathtaking views.

Best nearby: Logan Pass.

Must-try: Camping and Hiking.

Take a leisurely stroll down the Main Street Kalispell

The thriving downtown area of Kalispell is a mainly happening area in the city, and if you are lucky, you may even catch some of the events hosted here!

Heading to Main Street Kalispell is one of the top-rated things to do in Kalispell, irrespective of whom you are traveling with. Exploring the vibrant and thriving downtown area surrounding Main Street is fun and exciting!

Here you can spot many ancient scenes from the town's bygone days, dating back to the 1890s. Strolling around the place, you can happen upon all the antique architectural designs on the buildings.

Furthermore, you can spot many modern storefronts like boutiques, galleries, and local restaurants. The Desota Grill is a popular restaurant in the area serving delicious treats.

Additionally, there are many exciting and fun events hosted in the area. Both locals and tourists take part in these events and enjoy themselves.

Visit Main Street In Kalispell and experience the vibrant life of the locals!

Location: 338 S Main Street, Kalispell, MT 59901

Website: Downtown Kalispell

Specialty: A vibrant historical area with boutiques, local restaurants, and art galleries.

Best nearby: Conrad Mansion Museum.

Must-try: Dining at the Desota Grill.

Immerse yourself in history at the Conrad Mansion Museum and broaden your horizons

Visiting the Conrad Mansion Museum can be an enriching experience for history geeks and enthusiasts. Remember to add it to your things to do on the Kalispell bucket list!

The Conrad Mansion Museum is near Woodland Park and will take you back in time. It is an ancient building featuring Norman-styled architectural designs.

The museum grounds cover a large area of about 13,000 square feet. The mansion was earlier home to Charles Conrad, the city's founder. It was transformed into a museum that opened to the general public in 1974.

Most of the old furnishings have been kept untouched to resemble the life of the Conrad family. Visitors can traverse through the ancient architecture of the place and learn about the lives of the pioneering families in the state.

In addition to exploring the enriching exhibits and displays inside the museum, visitors can also explore the gardens encircling the mansion.

Head to the Conrad Mansion Museum on your trip to Kalispell and uncover the region's history!

Timings: Sunday - Saturday: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Cost: For Self-Guided tours: Kids (3 years and above) - Starts from $5; Adults (18 years and above) - Starts from $15; Seniors (65 years and above) - Starts from $13

For Docent-Guided tours: Kids (3 years and above) - Starts from $10; Adults (18 years and above) - Starts from $20; Seniors (65 years and above) - Starts from $18

Contact: +1 406-755-2166

Location: 330 Woodland Avenue, Kalispell, MT 59901

Website: Conrad Mansion

Specialty: An enriching historical site preserving and showcasing the history of the ancient days through exhibits and displays.

Best nearby: Heritage Park.

Must-try: Guided tours.

Have fun on your day trip to the Lone Pine State Park

Having explored and uncovered many things to do in Kalispell, you can venture outside the city center to explore the nearby areas.

The Lone Pine State Park, located about five miles from Kalispell, is a great place to visit. It is a top-notch state park stretching to about 270 acres of lush greenery.

It sits on the southwestern edge of the central city and has grown to become a popular tourist destination. The breathtaking beauty of the natural landscapes around you will captivate your senses, leaving you spellbound!

Furthermore, you can find many splendid picnic spots in the area. There are also many hiking trails in the area to experience an adventurous hike!

Starting in May, vibrant wildflowers start sprouting and adorn the hiking trails, transforming the entire park into a stunning display of natural beauty.

A newly constructed visitor's center also features diverse flora and fauna thriving there.

Enjoy a fun-filled day amid nature at the Lone Pine State Park with your best pals!

Timings: Sunday - Saturday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Cost: Starts from $4

Contact: +1 406-755-2706

Location: 300 Lone Pine Road, Kalispell, MT 59901

Website: Lone Pine

Specialty: A state park featuring scenic landscapes and breathtaking views of the surrounding areas and offering various recreational opportunities.

Best nearby: Foy's Lake Park.

Must-try: Hiking and Mountain Biking. 

Explore the historical exhibits housed in the Northwest Montana History Museum.

Of the three top-notch museums in the city, visiting the Northwest Montana History Museum is one of the things to do in Kalispell.

It can be one of the great things to do in Kalispell between other adventurous activities or on a rainy day. The displays and exhibits in the museum narrate the region's cultural history.

The permanent exhibits lined up in the museum seek to pay homage to the early residents who thrived in the Flathead Valley region. Many of them also reveal the extensive logging industry in the area.

The Northwest Montana History Museum also features exquisite exhibits depicting indigenous culture and traditions.

Pay a visit to the Northwest Montana History Museum with your family or friends and learn about the history and culture of the region!

Timings: Monday - Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Cost: Adults - Starts from $20; Seniors/veterans/college students - Starts from $18; Children - Starts from $10; Infants (below four years) - Free

Contact: +1 406-756-8381

Location: 124 2nd Avenue E, Kalispell, MT 59901

Website: NWMT History  

Specialty: A historically-enriching museum featuring numerous cultural and historical artifacts dating back to the ancient days of the region.

Best nearby: Hockaday Museum of Art.

Must-try: Guided tours. 

Take a trip to the Hungry Horse Dam

Have you ever seen a dam up close or know what it feels like? In case you haven't or you have and wish to explore one more, ensure you keep this place on your things to do in the Kalispell checklist!

The Hungry Horse Dam is one of the tallest arch dams ever constructed in the entire country. It lies towards the north of the central city and is an exotic engineering marvel to gawk at!

A 40-mile-long scenic drive will take you to the exquisite dam. The dam overlooks the South Fork of the Flathead River and serves as the northern end of the Hungry Horse Reservoir.

You can drive to the dam and go over it to reach the Hungry Horse Reservoir. There is a visitor center located on the site, and it remains open throughout the summer months.

Visit the Hungry Horse Dam and catch a close view of the engineering marvel right before your eyes!

Timings: Sunday - Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Hungry Horse Dam Visitor Center)

Cost: Free of charges

Contact: +1 406-387-5241

Location: Hungry Horse, MT 59919

Website: Hungry Horse

Specialty: A marvelous concrete arched dam known for its scenic beauty and picturesque views, captivating your senses.

Best nearby: Kalispell City Center.

Must-try: Guided tours.