Escaping to Western Montana
Recently, a client asked us where in the United States they could escape city life without a passport, get lost in large wide-open spaces, visit rivers, swim in lakes, breathe clean air, hike to natural hot springs, venture through a National Park or two and meet with spiritual healers. One destination came to mind, Montana.
Fast Facts
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Did you know Montana is the fourth largest state by land area in the United States? And while it may be landlocked, there are plenty of water-related activities to enjoy, including fishing, kayaking and surfing. It borders Canada to the north, North and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south and Idaho to the west and south. Montana’s landscape includes forests, prairies, highlands and valleys. There are six major regions in Montana: Western Montana’s Glacier Country, Central Montana, Missouri River Country, Southwest Montana, Yellowstone Country and Southeast Montana. This is in addition to the seven Indian reservations home to 12 different tribes spread around the state.
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Getting to Montana
Depending on the terrain and experience you seek, you can fly into one of the seven major airports. Keep in mind that Montana is full of wide-open space.
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The drive from the airport to your final destination may be as long as three hours; however, you will be focused on the stunning scenery surrounding you. While it is part of the experience and a nice way to embrace nature, take this into account when planning your trip, especially if you are not used to long beautiful drives.
While we assist our clients in curating their ideal trip, we will take a deeper dive into Western Montana and Glacier Country. Western Montana is home to two international airports, Missoula (MSO) and Glacier Park in Kalispell (FCA/GPI). Due to the tremendous growth in this part of the state, these airports have expansion plans to accommodate the increase in visitors. Both offer a variety of flight options year-round. Our friends on the West Coast can fly all year round from Los Angeles International Airport on Alaska Airlines into Missoula without any stopovers. And starting in June 2020, East Coasters can fly non-stop from New York’s LaGuardia International Airport to Glacier Park on American Airlines. |
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Hot off the Press
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Did you hear? This summer American Airlines will be testing a non-stop flight from Philadelphia to Bozeman, Montana, once a week! The flight will depart PHL Saturday mornings and return the same day around lunch time.
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Some other international airports in the great state of Montana include Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), Billings Logan International Airport (BHL), Great Falls International Airport (GTF) and Helena Regional Airport (HLN). Flying private? There are a handful of community and municipal airports around this large state. We can always assist in recommending one depending on preferences and which national park you’d like to visit.
Where to Stay in Western Montana
Image courtesy of Resort at Paws Up
Depending on your budget and preferred level of service, you can enjoy everything from rustic cabins to all-inclusive luxury dude ranches and everything in between. For wellness retreats we are a fan of Spirit Dancing Ranch, and for the luxury traveler we suggest the adults-only Triple Creek Ranch for couples or The Resort at Paws Up for families. And for those venturing outside of Western Montana closer to Yellowstone, we love the high-end Lone Mountain Ranch, which is actually a National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World and ideal for families.
Activities
Image courtesy of Resort at Paws Up
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Beyond being home to two national parks, Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park, and lots of open land for scenic drives, there is no shortage of outdoor activities to indulge in when seeking an unplugged retreat in Montana. World-class winter ski slopes double as destinations for zip lining in the summer. Wellness seekers can enjoy natural mineral-filled hot springs, engage their senses with a forest bath, enjoy yoga in outdoor spaces overlooking expansive woodlands, experience energy healing or even learn about the lands of one of the local native tribes.
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For the more adventurous explorer, there is plenty of hiking, archery, horseback riding and fly fishing. Along with the seasonal dog sledding, snowmobiling and white-water rafting.
When to Go
The peak season to visit is from around the 4th of July through Labor Day weekend in September, with many families taking their annual vacations to their favorite spot. June and into late September allow visitors to take advantage of nice weather and value pricing. Last minute bookers will see increased availability during the months of May and October. And our cross-country skiing and snowshoeing fans will find that winter is the ideal season. If coming in the spring before June, keep in mind air travel may be more limited, and you may have some rain. When it comes to visiting after September, plan for potential snow.
Length of Stay
Image courtesy of Dancing Spirit Ranch
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If flying non-stop from the West Coast to Missoula International Airport, you will be in the sky for roughly 2.5 hours, whereas from the East Coast to Glacier Park International Airport you’ll be in the air for less than six hours, or if including a layover, up to about nine hours. Considering traveling times from the coasts, we suggest staying for four or five nights to enjoy a slice of Montana.
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Final Thoughts
Montana is a fantastic place to connect with nature, relax, participate in outdoor activities, embrace the fresh mountain air and truly disconnect. Plus, rustic accommodations in Western Montana are a great way to enjoy the Rocky Mountains without paying the premium of going to more heavily visited spots in other parts of the country such as Colorado.
Image courtesy of Dancing Spirit Ranch
