Mount Forge Montana

08/09/2023

The monsters of Mt. Forge - here’s some flicks of our favorite guests of the summer 🦌

15/05/2021

Best Things To Do In Montana & Our Airbnb - www.mountforgemontana.com

Since I started learning how to play golf this summer it has become one of my favorite activities to do, especially on vacation in Montana. It just so happens that there is an incredible golf course just ten minutes from Mount Forge. Between the crisp mountain air and the incredible views of Flathead Lake, golfing here is a wonderful experience.

The course is extremely well maintained and fairly priced for the quality of the course. There is 27 holes you can play, the main 18 course as well as the Olde Course which is a 9 hole course. They also have golf simulators for year round golf practice and fun. Golfing at the Polson Bay Golf Course is a great way to relax on your trip to Mount Forge.

Stay at our Montana Airbnb - www.mountforgemontana.com

Follow Mount Forge on Instagram - instagram.com/mtforge

== About Mount Forge ==
We are Matt and Nicole. We came to Montana for the first time in 2017 and fell in love with everything about this special place. In January of 2019 we purchased 63 acres near Flathead Lake that we rent out on Airbnb. We are on a mission to explore as much of Montana as possible. Our goal is to help you plan your trip to Montana so you can some see Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park, and everything else under the Big Sky!

08/04/2021

Best Things To Do In Montana & Our Airbnb - www.mountforgemontana.com

Since we started renting Mount Forge on Airbnb, we have fielded lots of questions from our guests traveling to our cabin about what they should pack on their trip. After taking dozens of trips to Montana myself, I’ve started to get it figured out. A lot of what you’ll need to bring depends on when you plan on traveling. Since I like to do just about everything, I tend to pack for any situation.

Essentials List:

- T-shirts, long & short sleeve
- Sweatshirts & hoodies
- Water resistant outer layer such as a raincoat
- Bathing Suit (for the lake in the summer or the hot springs in the winter)
- Gloves
- Extra changes of socks
- Long johns or thermals
- Hats & beanies, you never know which will be useful
- Winter jacket (not needed in summer unless you’re hiking at higher elevations)
- Wool socks (same as winter jacket)
- Tennis shoes or sneakers are important for most activities

Hiking List:

- Hiking boots
- backpack
- Insect repellent
- First Aid kit
- Reusable water bottles & a LifeStraw or similar water-treatment supplies
- Bear spray

Lake Life List:

- Sunglasses
- Sunblock, but also SPF chapstick is super underrated
- A long sleeve shirt that breathes well

Other Items:

- Portable phone charger,
- Cash
- A map of the area (or download a region on Google Maps)

The weather in Montana can change quickly, so no matter what the forecast says in the morning, you can find yourself wishing you packed way more (or less) any day.

Stay at our Montana Airbnb - www.mountforgemontana.com

Follow Mount Forge on Instagram - instagram.com/mtforge

== About Mount Forge ==
We are Matt and Nicole. We came to Montana for the first time in 2017 and fell in love with everything about this special place. In January of 2019 we purchased 63 acres near Flathead Lake that we rent out on Airbnb. We are on a mission to explore as much of Montana as possible. Our goal is to help you plan your trip to Montana so you can some see Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park, and everything else under the Big Sky!

25/03/2021

Best Things To Do In Montana & Our Airbnb - www.mountforgemontana.com

Winter in Glacier National Park is one of the most special times of year. The park is near empty, snow covered, and as beautiful as ever. During this trip to Montana we decided to head to Glacier to do some snowshoeing. We headed southeast from West Glacier towards the Summit Trailhead. We strapped on our snowshoes and headed to Three Bear Lake. After trekking through the snow to this beautiful and solitary body of water, we headed back to West Glacier to see Lake McDonald, McDonald Falls, and Sacred Dancing Cascade. What a beautiful trip this was to Glacier, and it just goes to show that Glacier National Park is an incredible experience at any time of year.

Stay at our Montana Airbnb - www.mountforgemontana.com

Follow Mount Forge on Instagram - instagram.com/mtforge

== About Mount Forge ==
We are Matt and Nicole. We came to Montana for the first time in 2017 and fell in love with everything about this special place. In January of 2019 we purchased 63 acres near Flathead Lake that we rent out on Airbnb. We are on a mission to explore as much of Montana as possible. Our goal is to help you plan your trip to Montana so you can some see Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park, and everything else under the Big Sky!

18/03/2021

Best Things To Do In Montana & Our Airbnb - www.mountforgemontana.com

This is our list of the Best Things To Do In Montana in the Winter.

Did you know that the mountains of Montana can get up to 25 feet of snow per year? That's a crazy number. Even crazier is how much fun you can have in Montana in the wintertime. If you're choosing winter, here's a list of things you can do on your cold weather trip to Western Montana.

Skiing & Snowboarding

Snowmobiling

Cross-country Skiing & Snowshoeing

Hot Springs

Scenic Flights

Dogsledding

Some amazing resources and places to consider for your winter trip:

The Best Things To Do In Western Montana
mountforgemontana.com/blog

Swan Mountain Outfitters
https://www.swanmountainoutfitters.com/

Quinn's Hot Springs
https://www.quinnshotsprings.com/

Whitefish Mountain Resort
https://skiwhitefish.com/

Big Sky Resort
https://bigskyresort.com/

Glacier National Park XC Ski & Snowshoe Guide
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/xc-ski-2016.pdf

28/01/2021

Best Things To Do In Montana & Our Airbnb - mountforgemontana.com

After driving past this race track that's right by our cabin in Montana, we headed over one Friday night from Mount Forge and we had ourselves a great time. There were hours of races with different types of cars. I don't understand much about the racing scene, but from the research we did we learned this is one of the most popular tracks in the Northwest for Hobby Stock Car and similar racing. Cars were ripping around this 3/8 mile track at over 100mph, while we sat back with our $10 bucket of White Claws and had ourselves a good time. They have a full snack stand with pretty solid food for a sporting event. Considering admission is just $10 (free for kids under 7), it's probably the best thing you can do in Polson, Montana on a Friday or Saturday night.

Edit by - Gabby Barbieri || instagram.com/gabbycpbphotography

Stay at our Montana Airbnb - www.mountforgemontana.com

Follow Mount Forge on Instagram - instagram.com/mtforge

== About Mount Forge ==
We are Matt and Nicole. We came to Montana for the first time in 2017 and fell in love with everything about this special place. In January of 2019 we purchased 63 acres near Flathead Lake that we rent out on Airbnb. We are on a mission to explore as much of Montana as possible. Our goal is to help you plan your trip to Montana so you can some see Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park, and everything else under the Big Sky!

08/01/2021

The National Bison Range is a must-see attraction when you're in this region of Montana. We went here on our way to the Missoula Airport after leaving for Mount Forge. There's a road that loops the entire range that takes about 2 hours and you are guaranteed to see tons of wildlife. There are a few trails you can get out and hike on around the loop as well for some different views. There is a bison roundup in early October every year where the Bison are nowhere to be found, but as long as you're in before then you will have an unbelievable time. We've seen elk, mule deer, bears, and tons of bison up close. It's the closest thing you'll get to an African Safari right here in Montana.

06/01/2021

Want to go to Montana?

https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/the-best-time-of-year-to-visit-montana-breaking-down-each-season

When is the Best time to visit Montana? This article talks about which time of year is best. Montana is an amazing place filled with beautiful scenery, nature, exciting outdoor activities and amazing food. It is home to some of the best natural wonders in the world like Flathead Lake and Glacier Nat...

28/12/2020

The Gunsight Pass Trail is one of the most iconic trails in Glacier National Park. It runs just under 19 miles from the Jackson Glacier Overlook on Going-To-The-Sun Road to the Lake McDonald Lodge. If you do the entire trail you'll pass some incredible sights such as Gunsight Lake, Lake Ellen Wilson, and the Sperry Chalet.

On this trip we just decided to hike out and back to Gunsight Lake, which comes out to about 13 miles. The first half of the hike starts with a steep downhill for a mile and then heads through dense woods for the next 2-3 miles. Be very bear aware during this entire hike, it is less traveled than some of the popular trails in the park and goes through prime grizzly territory. About 3 miles in we saw a moose off in the distance across the river. It was very foggy for us and our views were limited.

Once we got to Gunsight Lake our day changed dramatically. The sun started peeking through the clouds and pushed the fog out. We were very close to heading back until the fog cleared and we had an incredible view across the lake for lunch. We saw a second moose (it was MASSIVE with big antlers) shortly after that. The weather warmed up a lot and it actually became a hot hike back to the parking lot.

Since it cleared up, our views on the hike back were unbelievable. We couldn't believe how massive the mountains were and that they were hidden so well from the clouds and fog in the AM.

That last mile coming back is a real doozy. The last thing you really want after hiking 12 miles is a very steep 1 mile incline. It was pretty brutal, but in the end so worth it. We loved this hike so much and look forward to planning a two-night through hike in the future!

28/12/2020

Best Things To Do In Montana & Our Airbnb - www.mountforgemontana.com

When people are interested in booking Mount Forge they often as us, "When is the best time to visit Montana?"

My response is always "There isn't a bad time to visit Montana!"

At any point in the year you can find incredible things to do in Montana. In this video we break down pros and cons of each season to help you plan your visit to Montana.

18/12/2020

On the way to the Mount Forge Airbnb from the Missoula Airport you can't help but notice the billboards on Route 93 and wonder "how the hell are there hot springs out here?"

Well they exist, and Quinn's Hot Springs Resort gives you the perfect place to enjoy them. We spent a night at a riverfront cabin during our last trip and it was every bit of relaxation we were hoping for. The cabins sit right on the shore of the Clark Fork River in between the mountains. Each cabin has a wooden porch swing and when we arrived (to a bottle of wine waiting for us) we couldn't help but relax and take it all in.

After enjoying the serenity of the riverfront view, we headed over to the restaurant for dinner. The chef prepared an unbelievable meal. The highlight of the appetizers was the charred brie. The entrees that followed were amazing. I had Elk Meatloaf and Nicole had a steak. We finished it off with the creme brûlée and some espresso. It was delicious from start to finish.

Following dinner we headed over to the main attraction, the hot springs. It reminded me of the hot pools of Reykjavik, Iceland. A very relaxing environment with pools of different temperatures and a full bar right next door. We had some awesome conversation and a few drinks before calling it a night. Back at the cabin you'll see a beautiful train pass by across the river every now and then that will make you feel like you're right in the middle of a Jason Aldean song.

Quinn's is one of the most relaxing places I've ever been to and I strongly recommend adding a day on the front end or back end of your trip to Mount Forge to get some peace by the Clark Fork River.

11/12/2020

Cowboy culture is a huge part of Montana's past and present. Ranching has long been a staple of the state's economy and horses have been a means of transportation for Native Americans dating back thousands of years. Swan Mountain Outfitters know how to give you an authentic horseback riding experience.

They have four corrals in the Glacier National Park area, three inside the park and one just outside the West Glacier entrance at the Crown of the Continent Discovery Center. For this excursion, we met up at the Discovery Center for a Cowboy Cookout. This is about a 2 hour horseback ride through the Flathead National Forest ending with a campfire cookout from a master chef.

Our guides were such a blast to be around. They knew so much about the area and gave us tons of information about the wildlife in the area. The horse riding was so fun and was a really enjoyable experience. At dinner we were served delicious fire grilled steaks, beans, salad, and finished it all off with s'mores.

This was an incredible experience and we look forward to going on more excursions with Swan Mountain Outfitters.

04/12/2020

Glacier National Park in the winter is a completely different world. We decided to adventure up there one day to check it out and give a shot at snowshoeing. We bought snowshoes the night before at the Cabela's in Kalispell and really didn't know what we were getting into. The snow was about 1-2 feet deep through the whole trail. Although it was only about 3 miles round trip, the snow made it way harder than we were expecting. Mostly that's just because we're not in great shape and we've never gone snowshoeing before. Once we started to figure it out it ended up being a blast! Nicole fell and got stuck in the snow, my snowshoe broke, and we got to see an amazing view. The trail wraps around Lake McDonald and although it was snowing like crazy we still could see pretty decent. It was a great experience and we can't wait for our next winter trip to Montana to go snowshoeing again!

27/11/2020

Whitefish Mountain Resort is a must see if you're staying at Mount Forge in the winter time. If you enjoy skiing or snowboarding, you will not be disappointed here. There are stunning views of Whitefish Lake and Glacier National Park from the summit. Not to mention the 3000+ acres, 105 runs, and 4 terrain parks, and summit lodge.

We went on a Thursday and it couldn't have been any more perfect. There were zero lines all day at any of the lifts and the snow was amazing. The staff is very friendly and informed. We had so much fun riding this mountain. They even have a ticket option for beginner skiers like Nicole where you pay a fraction of the cost to access the lower lifts and easy slopes. We can't wait for our next Mount Forge trip in the winter to go again!

24/11/2020

Snowmobiling in Montana is different. Back on the East Coast where we're from, if you want to ride a snowmobile, normally you're only able to go in small areas or on private property, with large groups, and only with a guide if you don't own your own sled. That's now how they do it here.

On this trip, we did a guided snowmobile tour through the Montana backcountry. There are hundreds of miles of groomed trails accessible during the wintertime. Rent a snowmobile and go shred the hills of Montana!

16/11/2020

How long do you think it would take to paddle the entire Flathead Lake in a canoe?

📍BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONTANA📍
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16/11/2020

The face u make after ur third snack on your "cheat day".

📍BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONTANA📍
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23/10/2020

The Sperry Chalet in Glacier National Park is one of the most sought after places to stay in America. Buried deep in the Montana Backcountry Sperry Chalet is located about seven miles east of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. The chalet was opened in 1914 by the Great Northern Railway and was a National Historic Landmark contributing property, being one of five structures in the Great Northern Railway Buildings National Historic Landmark. Along with Granite Park Chalet, Sperry Chalet is one of the two remaining backcountry chalets in Glacier National Park, both operated by Belton Chalets, Inc.

Staying at the Sperry Chalet was an amazing experience and the staff was unbelievable. This is a must add experience to your bucket list.

16/10/2020

Are you looking for the best places to eat in near in Montana? Look no further. This is Part II of our list of he Best Places to Eat near Flathead Lake and Polson Montana. When we visit Mount Forge we love to find places to eat that have amazing food. These are a few places that we've found to be great places to get food near Mount Forge Montana. We hope you enjoy! Send us your favorite places to eat and we might just stop there next!

11/10/2020

Flathead Lake Boat Rentals - Flathead Lake's Best Boat Rentals
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📍BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONTANA📍
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/boat-rentals-and-rides-flathead-lake-s-best-boat-rentals

Distance from Mt. Forge: 20 minute drive We just finished putting together the cabin that now sits at Mount Forge and we had one afternoon left before we had to head home. We decided the perfect thing to do was rent a boat and go out on Flathead Lake. We headed up to Big Arm and Matt was able to acc...

10/10/2020

National Bison Range - A Montana Safari
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📍BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONTANA📍
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/national-bison-range-a-montana-safari

Distance from Mt. Forge: 50 minute drive The National Bison Range is a must-see attraction when you're in this region of Montana. We went here on our way to the Missoula Airport after leaving for Mount Forge. There's a road that loops the entire range that takes about 2 hours and you are guaranteed....

08/10/2020

Polson Flathead Lake Museum - Home of the Flathead Lake Monster
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📍BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONTANA📍
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/polson-flathead-museum-home-of-the-flathead-lake-monster

Distance from Mt. Forge: 10 minute drive It was a rainy day at Mount Forge and we were looking for something to do. We decided to head on down to the Polson Flathead Museum to learn some history about the town and Flathead Lake. There's tons of very well curated items outlining how Polson came to be...

07/10/2020

Mission Valley Super Oval - High Speed Racing Right Around The Corner
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📍BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONTANA📍
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/mission-valley-super-oval-high-speed-racing-right-around-the-corner

Distance from Mt. Forge: 5 minute drive We've driven past the Mission Valley Super Oval dozens of times on our way to the Pablo Reservoir. Finally we decided to find out when there would be a race. We headed over one Friday night from Mount Forge and we had ourselves a great time. There were hours o...

06/10/2020

Blue Goose Aviation - Scenic Flights Over Flathead Lake
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📍BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONTANA📍
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/blue-goose-aviation-scenic-flights-over-flathead-lake

Distance from Mt. Forge: 10 minute drive Nicole's sister Alicia got us an amazing present for our anniversary. She bought us a scenic flight at the Polson Airport. This is one of the most memorable experiences we've ever had and it's only 10 minutes up the road! Joe is a pilot with decades of experi...

05/10/2020

Mud Lakes Trail - A True Wilderness Experience
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📍BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONTANA📍
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/mud-lakes-trail-a-true-wilderness-experience

Distance from Mt. Forge: 40 minute drive *** Hiking Safely In Grizzly Country To get to this trail, do not follow the AllTrails app location. There is a new trailhead that is maintained much better. The old trailhead on Mud Lake Trail Road is on private property and no longer maintained. Be sure to....

04/10/2020

Avalanche Lake Hike at Glacier National Park
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/avalanche-lake-hike-at-glacier-national-park

8/13/2019 Distance From Mt. Forge: 1.5 hour drive Avalanche Lake Hike at Glacier National Park *** Hiking Safely In Grizzly Country We did this hike one day after the Mud Lake Trail, so naturally we were VERY sore. This hike was a beautiful way to spend an afternoon. It's very doable for those less....

03/10/2020

Montana Griz Football - The Biggest Sports Team In Montana
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/montana-griz-football-the-biggest-sports-team-in-montana

Distance from Mt. Forge: 1 hour 20 minute drive Nicole and I are huge NFL fans (Matt//Steelers, Nicole//Titans), but neither of us have any allegiances to any major NCAA teams. Since there aren't professional sports in Montana we decided to jump on the bandwagon of the home team, the University of M...

01/10/2020

Wild Horse Island - Watch Horses Run on Flathead Lake
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/wild-horse-island-watch-horses-run-on-flathead-lake

Distance from Mt. Forge: 20 minutes & boat ride Wild Horse Island is a 2,000+ acre island in Flathead Lake that offers beautiful views of the lake and mountains, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities. While you cannot camp overnight on the island, you can have an amazing day. If you'd like to tak...

30/09/2020

Miracle of America Museum - 40+ Buildings of Americana
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/miracle-of-america-museum-40-buildings-of-americana

Distance from Mt. Forge: 12 minute drive My dad was visiting Mount Forge and he wanted to see a museum, so we headed into town to check out the Miracle of America Museum. We weren't exactly sure what we were getting into, but we ended up being completely blown away. The owner started off as a collec...

29/09/2020

Sperry Chalet Hike at Glacier National Park
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/sperry-chalet-hike-at-glacier-national-park

10/6/2019 Distance from Mt. Forge: 1.5 hour drive Sperry Chalet Hike at Glacier National Park *** Hiking Safely In Grizzly Country This hike is one of the most challenging hikes at Glacier National Park. We set out early in the morning, parking right by the Sperry Chalet Trailhead on Going-to-the-Su...

28/09/2020

Kerr Dam - Taller Than Niagara Falls
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/kerr-dam-taller-than-niagara-falls

Distance from Mt. Forge: 10 minute drive Entrance to trail here. Just finished dinner and looking for something to do? Take a drive up the road to Kerr Dam. It's a gorgeous 205 foot tall dam that regulates the level of Flathead Lake. There is a boardwalk with a couple hundred steps that take you dow...

27/09/2020

Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana - Authentic Native American History
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/ninepipes-museum-of-early-montana-authentic-native-american-history

Distance from Mt. Forge: 25 minute drive There are several museums in the area near Mount Forge, but none are based around the Native American history quite like Ninepipes. This place is a great view into the history of the indigenous people that occupied the region for thousands of years. There are...

26/09/2020

Amazing Crepes - They Have Amazing Crepes
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/amazing-crepes-they-have-amazing-crepes

Distance from Mt. Forge: 1 hour and 20 minute drive Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Favorite Items: Turkey, Red Pepper, Cheddar, & Spinach Crepe, Coffee Before a long day on the slopes, it's very important to fuel up. There's nothing better on the way to Whitefish Mountain Resort than Amazing Crepes. A quai...

25/09/2020

For anyone whose been to Glacier National Park, one of the most popular trails is the hike to Avalanche Lake. It's one of the most accessible, but also most beautiful hikes in the park. Starting at the Trail of the Cedars you work your way up through some beautiful wooded scenery to the unreal looking scenery of the lake. This hike is a must see and a perfect option if you have limited time in Glacier National Park!

24/09/2020

J and L Snowmobile Rentals - Best Snowmobiling Near Flathead Lake

https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/j-l-snowmobile-rentals-best-snowmobiling-near-flathead-lake

Distance from Mt. Forge: 1 hour 15 minute drive Back on the East Coast, if you want to go snowmobiling normally you're only able to go in small areas or on private property, with large groups, and only with a guide if you don't own your own sled. That's now how they do it in Montana. J&L Snowmobile....

23/09/2020

Whitefish Mountain Resort - A World Class Resort Without The Lines
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/whitefish-mountain-resort-a-world-class-resort-without-the-lines

Distance from Mt. Forge: 1 hour 35 minute drive Whitefish Mountain Resort is a must see if you're staying at Mount Forge in the winter time. If you enjoy skiing or snowboarding, you will not be disappointed here. There are stunning views of Whitefish Lake and Glacier National Park from the summit. N...

22/09/2020

Rocky Point Snowshoe Hike at Glacier National Park
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/rocky-point-snowshoe-hike-at-glacier-national-park

1/18/2020 Distance from Mt. Forge: 1.5 hour drive Rocky Point Snowshoe Hike at Glacier National Park *** Hiking Safely In Grizzly Country Glacier National Park in the winter is a completely different world. We decided to adventure up there one day to check it out and give a shot at snowshoeing. We b...

21/09/2020

Hungry Horse Dam - A Quick and Beautiful Detour On The Way To Glacier National Park
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https://www.mountforgemontana.com/post/hungry-horse-dam-a-quick-and-beautiful-detour-on-the-way-to-glacier-national-park

Distance from Mt. Forge: 1 hour 30 minute drive If you're heading up to or coming back from Glacier National Park then stopping at the Hungry Horse Reservoir is a must. It's a short detour off of the highway and very easily accessible, not to mention spectacular. At 564 feet in height, the dam was t...