Summer in Whitefish
The weather is beautiful in Whitefish in the summer with lots of sunny, clear days and moderate temperatures. Whitefish Lake is located right in Whitefish and offers every water activity you can imagine – boating, fishing, SUPing, swimming, kayaking, and more. City Beach and Whitefish Lake State Park both provide public access and are known for gorgeous views of Whitefish Mountain Resort and welcoming sandy beaches which are great for families to wade or swim out from. Les Mason is another public access option with ADA friendly paved trails, a dog-friendly beach area and a gravel beach which is also good for swimming.
Whitefish Mountain Resort provides a handful of fun summer activities from mountain biking, zip-lining, ropes courses, alpine slides, scenic chair or gondola rides, hiking and more! The Summit House lodge is located at the top of the chairlift or gondola ride with breathtaking views of the Flathead Valley including Whitefish Lake and even Flathead Lake. You can also see into Glacier National Park to admire the stunning peaks which are often still snowcapped. Speaking of Glacier National Park, it is a primary summer attraction and is located only 45 minutes away from Whitefish.
Other noteworthy summer activities in the Whitefish area include hiking or biking the Whitefish Trail system which offers 14 trailheads and 43 miles of trails right in the Whitefish area. Downtown Whitefish offers great restaurants, art galleries, breweries, distilleries, a train museum, and parks. There are opportunities for rafting on nearby rivers, exploring the many lakes in the area, golfing some of the local courses and horseback riding. And don’t forget about events such as Huckleberry Days or Under the Big Sky music festival! Read more about Things to Do in Summer in Flathead Valley, Montana.
Winter in Whitefish
Many people think that Montana is extremely cold in the winter. It can be cold but Whitefish is special in that it doesn’t get as cold as other parts of Montana. Eastern Montana gets the coldest temperatures while Whitefish enjoys relatively mild winters with plenty of snow to keep skiers happy. Downhill skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort provides 3,000 skiable acres and 14 lifts with terrain for all skill levels. The resort was recently ranked #3 in the West by Ski Magazine readers!
There are plenty of other winter activities from snowmobiling, cross country skiing, ice fishing, hiking, snowshoeing and more. Of course you’ll want to explore downtown Whitefish’s eateries and galleries and don’t miss Winter Carnival with a parade and skijoring! Read more about Things to Do in Winter in Flathead Valley, Montana.
Where to Stay
Stay Montana is delighted to offer 55+ vacation rentals throughout the Flathead Valley from Bigfork to Whitefish. From cozy rentals in Bigfork, Montana to Flathead lakefront rentals, to downtown Whitefish accommodations, to cabin rentals directly on Whitefish Mountain – there’s something for everyone! Check out all our Flathead Valley rentals to find your perfect home away from home!
Have a second home that you’re interested in renting? Find out more about Stay Montana’s Whitefish Property Management Services.
How to get to Whitefish
Glacier International Airport is conveniently located in Kalispell, Montana, and is about a 20-minute drive to Whitefish. The airport offers many direct flights as well as connecting flights. It’s a small airport that is easy to navigate and get through security.
Need to rent a car? Check out Turo!
With driving becoming more and more popular, a road trip to Montana is sure to please with lots of gorgeous scenery to take in and countless attractions to explore along the way. Keep an eye on the weather to avoid back roads during winter storms. Main roads are usually kept clear throughout the winter.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Whitefish!
Whitefish is located in the Northwest corner of Montana, about 1 hour south of the Canadian border. This charming town has it all from a historic main street with restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and shopping to year-round outdoor activities including Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Resort and Whitefish Lake in close proximity. There are also well-known events like Huckleberry Days, Under the Big Sky music festival, Oktoberfest, Winter Carnival which includes Skijoring (where skiers get pulled behind horses), a parade and more!
