Whitefish

A hub for golfing, lake recreation, hiking, mountain biking, and skiing, Whitefish sits at the base of Whitefish Mountain Resort. Nine lifts serve 3,000 acres of powder skiing and summer activities, as well as outstanding views (the mountain is closed from mid-April to mid-June and from late September to early December) into Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies. At Whitefish Lake, Native Americans once caught and dried whitefish. Euro-American settlers came a century ago to farm or join the timber or railroad industries; the sporty resort town now has 8,300 residents. Skiers descend Whitefish Mountain late fall through early spring, and summer attracts hikers, mountain bikers, and zipliners. The Danny On Trail leads to the mountain summit, which can also be accessed via the Glacier Chaser chairlift. Numerous other activities—such as summer tubing, an Aerial Adventure Park, a Summer Nature Center, art and music festivals, and nighttime stargazing events—keep the mountain busy throughout the warmer months. The nature center and a few gift shops and restaurants remain open mid-June–mid-September.