Whitefish has become a name synonymous with outdoor adventure and wilderness exploration. With visitors flocking to this four-season destination, Whitefish is no longer the sleepy town it once was. While there’s fun to be had year round, winter is a unique time to experience all this pocket of Montana has to offer. On the edge of Glacier National Park, the potential for outdoor exploration is truly endless. From skiing to snowmobiling and everything in between, you won’t regret escaping to Whitefish and crushing the ultimate bucket list of winter activities.
The snow starts rolling in throughout late fall, and Whitefish can expect to receive upwards of 200 inches of snow throughout the winter season. As such, the opening day of ski season is usually late November or early December. While winter can sometimes feel like hibernation season, it’s so much better to get out and enjoy all that winter sports have to offer– and what better place to do it than in Whitefish?
This guide will highlight all of the must-do winter activities in Whitefish and the surrounding area, to make the most of your snowy winter adventure.
SKIING & SNOWBOARDING
Whitefish Mountain Resort is the place to be if you’re ready to shred the gnar. They opened their doors to thrill seeking outdoor enthusiasts in December of 1947, and the good times have only grown since then. Whitefish Mountain Resort can be found on Big Mountain, offering 113 named trails, spanning 3,000 acres. If you’re looking for a little extra excitement, they have four terrain parks as well as a ski cross/boardercross course.
The summit of the mountain stands tall at 6,817 feet elevation, so you’ll find 11 chair lifts, in addition to a t-bar and magic carpet conveyor for newbie skiers not looking to climb too high. Fun fact: the ski resort is partially located on the Flathead National Forest— however this accounts for a very small portion of the forest as this park covers 2.4 million acres.
You can find information about lift tickets here and equipment rentals here. Curious what Big Mountain looks like today? They update their snow report regularly!
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
The Glacier Nordic Club maintains three cross-country skiing areas– two in Whitefish and a third in nearby Columbia Falls. They offer a little something for everyone, to accommodate all ages and skill levels. Unsure what the trail conditions may be? They post regular grooming reports here, so you can always be in the know. If you’re new to cross country (x-c) skiing or perhaps don’t feel like packing all your gear, the Glacier Nordic Shop offers half-day and full day rentals, as well as day ski passes as necessary.
Whitefish Lake Golf Club
Whitefish Lake offers 12 kilometers of beautifully groomed trails for classic and skate skiing. Nothing like putting that golf course to work year-round! A day pass or season membership is required to ski the course, but they are easily purchased at the Glacier Nordic Shop. In order to create the optimal skiing environment, dogs, snowshoes, and fat tire bikes are not invited on these trails.
Big Mountain Trails
Big Mountain Trials boasts 25 kilometers of trails available for exploration. The trail system offers varying levels of difficulty to keep athletes of all experience backgrounds on their toes. This trail system does not have any fees associated with it; however, if you would like to make a donation to trail grooming costs, there are donation boxes at railheads. Dogs and snowshoes are permitted on these trails. Fat tire bikes however are only permitted on some trails as the ruts they leave can become hazardous to x-c skiers.
Meadow Lake Golf Course
Meadow Lake is another golf course that becomes repurposed in the winter months, with 9 kilometers of trails. This is a perfect place to head if you or your adventure buddy are newer to x-c skiing as all the trails are fairly easy in their maneuverability and difficulty level. Similar to the Whitefish Lake Golf Club, a day pass or season membership is required to use the trails, and no dogs, snowshoes, or bikes are permitted.
DOG SLEDDING
If you’ve never been dog sledding, it is guaranteed to be a once-in-a-lifetime memory!! Dog Sled Adventures is home to 113 dogs that share the joy of winter mushing. You can join your wolf-pack on a 12 mile exploration through the foothills of the Whitefish Range, nestled in the Stillwater State Forest. Dog Sled Adventures offers tours every day at 10:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:30pm, from the beginning of December through the end of March, as snow conditions allow.
SNOWMOBILING
Do you ever feel the need for speed?? It might just be time to take a snow machine for a wintery ride with Swan Mountain Snowmobile. If you’ve never ridden a snow machine, think ATV combined with a jet-ski-– your adrenaline rush awaits, but it’s truly an incredible way to experience the gorgeous scenery of the backcountry. A snowmobile can climb, navigate, and maneuver in ways that will give you a whole new perspective. Pack your adventure pants and get ready to fly across the snowy trails!
FAT TIRE BIKING
Are you a cyclist that’s keen to keep pedaling outdoors all winter long? Or perhaps you’re looking to embark on a new winter sport. It might be time to give fat tire biking a try! Not only will your usual road bike or mountain bike have trouble fitting in your luggage, but the tires will be too thin to ride through the snow with. The fat tires create an increased surface area for the weight of the bike and its rider to be distributed across, allowing the pair to stay atop the packed snow.
Looking for a place to snag a bike? Glacier Cyclery and Whitefish Bike Retreat both will have what you’re looking for. As a bonus, Whitefish Bike Retreat has about 6 miles of trails to explore, which connect to the larger The Whitefish Trail system. You could easily spend your whole day cruising around!
written by Salvador
While he isn’t an original member of the Wherry girl squad, he recently married Hannah, and is now fondly considered the-brother-we’ve-never-had by the rest of the sisters. Whenever Salvador travels, assessing the local craft beer scene is a top priority. His favorite foreign beer to date is an unattainable Belgium Brugse Zot he has been unable to find in the States the last few years. Salvador currently speaks two languages, English and Spanish, but every time he goes to Italy, his Italian gets a little better! To pass the time between thrilling excursions, Salvador is a professor of exercise physiology at UWL.
