8 fun activities to do in the Glacier area...that aren't in the National Park

Vehicle restrictions at Glacier National Park seemed to deter a lot of vacationers. Our campground never filled during the three weeks we stayed, and crowds in the area weren't bad. It's a tricky situation for a community that relies on tourism for their income, but for the popular corridors of the national park, too many crowds not only hinder the enjoyment of visitors, but it can also create a safety hazard. Because we travel full-time, we're able to take things slow when we want. Three weeks at Glacier meant we weren't rushing to cram in all our activities. We imagined, though, that if we were a family taking a long weekend vacation, we might have an issue. If Glacier National Park is the main purpose of the trip and you don't get vehicle reservations, you're stuck visiting the park during limited hours - this year, even more limited than usual, with the only allowed time in being after 3PM. We can see why families might not take the big trip to only have 6 hours of daylight per day at the park, especially with young kids who don't typically stay up until 10 or 11 at night. We kept this in mind as we visited the area, hearing varying opinions on the vehicle reservation requirements. The National Park Service does what they can to accommodate visitors, but what about all the small businesses that rely on a much heavier tourist season? This got us thinking: If visitors arrive without a reservation and are looking to experience life outside the park, what would our recommendations be?

We always like to remind ourselves that boundaries are man-made. Sure, Glacier National Park is outstanding, but it's also surrounded by the same landscape, wildlife, and culture that you get inside the park. The park is bordered by Flathead National Forest, which offers ample opportunities for recreating that aren't restricted. There is so much to enjoy in northern Montana, that we ended up not spending as much time in the national park as we may have initially expected, and we were totally happy. So, if you plan a trip to Glacier in the peak season and don't procure vehicle reservations, don't fret. There is still plenty to do.

1. See mountain goats at the Goat Lick Overlook wildlife viewing area

We're starting off with a little bit of a cheat on this one, since technically this wildlife area is in the National Park, only it's on the south boundary along US route 2, so you don't need to go through any park entrances to get there. Therefore, you can enjoy this part of the park without a vehicle reservation, at any time of day.

The Goat Lick Overlook was built to try and keep wildlife off the busy main road. Instead of crossing the street, the animals would now be able to stay underneath an overpass. The area has a lot of rocky layers and dirt hills leading down to a gulch, and the rocks contain minerals that have run-off from the nearby Flathead River, resulting in a salty taste that the animals enjoy. It's said that over 100 mountain goats inhabit this area in the warmer season, when they seek out these salty snacks after coming down from the less mineral-rich upper mountain peaks. Other animals can be spotted here as well, including deer and bears.

When we stopped by, one of the trails was under construction. It looked like a viewing platform was being built to keep spectators safe from the eroding hillside. We took our chances with the erosion, and though it got a bit dicey at times, we were able to make our way up the hill to watch two mountain goats feeding on the rock. This ended up being our only mountain goat sighting in Glacier.

Because US route 2 is the road that connects West to East Glacier, chances are you'll pass the Goat Lick Overlook at some point during your visit. It's definitely worth a stop.

2. Get your nature fix in Flathead National Forest

We can't really narrow this down much more, though we will talk about a couple specific places we went within the forest boundaries, but we want to reiterate that, if you come to the Glacier area for the nature, there is more beyond the park. Flathead National Forest has all the recreational opportunities you could want, from hiking and biking, to whitewater rafting, to camping, and more. We took a scenic drive on one of the dirt roads in Polebridge, Montana, alongside the north fork of the Flathead River, and it was beautiful. Though one side is accessed from the national park, the other side can be reached from Columbia Falls, allowing you to circumvent the park's entrance. We also scouted out some of the National Forest campgrounds and found a beautiful spot for a picnic in one of the campgrounds' day-use areas.

3. Visit the country's highest glory hole

Walking the Hungry Horse Dam at over 3600ft is enough to make the faint-of-heart queasy. That said, you don't need to walk over this dam to enjoy the spectacle. You can drive, or you can simply gaze at the dam from afar at the Visitor's Center. The views from the dam are incredible. On one side is a vast canyon carved through mountains and pine trees. On the other side is the Hungry Horse Reservoir, which can store 3.5million acre-feet of water when full, providing important hydropower for the Pacific Northwest. This dam is the 10th highest concrete dam in the country, but its spillway holds the accolade for the country's highest glory hole. When the reservoir rises to too-high depths, the excess water gets sucked through the hole to be rerouted through pipes. What? I find absolutely nothing vulgar about anything I just said. In all seriousness, though, the dam itself it one of the most scenic we've seen on our travels, and we've seen a lot. And, if you do want to cross to the side away from the Visitor's Center, you'll be treated with a beautiful water cascade and even a picnic table with views of Hungry Horse Mountain, Great Northern Mountain, and their neighbors, standing tall over the lakeside.

4. Have a picnic at Lion Lake

Lion lake is a small recreation lake in the Bob Marshall wilderness in Flathead National Forest. It has two picnic areas, one on the southside and one on the north. We enjoyed a peaceful picnic on the northside. Not only were there plenty of picnic tables, but some even had firepits. After our picnic, we did a short hike on the North Lion Lake Trail, which we thought would just be a mile or so, but once we got further into the woods, we noticed more trail offshoots that didn't exist on All Trails, so you can probably hike a lot further if you'd like. The part of the trail we took gave us glimpses of the lake through the trees, and when we hiked in early June, the wildflowers were blooming. There were also some fun little stream crossings. Feel free to bring your floats, paddleboards, or even your rubber ducky to the lake too! Just be sure that no ducky is left behind, or else he might end up living the rest of his days in a much colder bubble bath than he's used to.

5. Taste all things huckleberry at the Huckleberry Patch

There is no shortage of huckleberry attractions along US route 2, but we opted to visit the Huckleberry Patch, because this place boasts the best huckleberry pie, and Anthony loves himself some pie. The Patch is more than just a pie stand, though. It has ice cream and a grill, and on the other side is a gift shop that sells a huge variety of Montana and Glacier souvenirs, as well as lots of outdoor gear. The shop also has fudge, and of course, huckleberry products, ranging from honey and tea to lotions and lip balms. Just don't slather on the lotion and wander into the wilderness. Bears love huckleberries too!

Anthony's love for pie, in addition to his perfecting the best pie crust, might not make us the best judges of this #1 huckleberry pie. We thought it was just OK. But, we enjoyed our stop for ice cream and still recommend you pay this place a visit. Who knows, you might think the pie is amazing! Even if not, it's still a fun local gift shop.

6. Go to a farmer's market

When you're done filling up on huckleberry pie, ice cream, and fudge, head to one of the seasonal farmer's markets in the area. The towns of Kalispell, Columbia Falls, and Whitefish host their markets once a week, on different days, so you can fill your week with visits to each market. Unfortunately, some legal permitting obstacles were taking place when we went to the Columbia Falls market, and so it only had a couple of vendors. Hopefully things will get worked out soon. Of the three markets, Whitefish was definitely hopping the most. In addition to the vendors, there was a whole row of food trucks, plus live music with ample green space to picnic. It's also right near the train depot, which is a really cool view when you're walking the market. However, Kalispell is the only weekend market of the three, so if markets on Saturday mornings are more your speed, then Kalispell is a great stop before heading up the street to do your end-of-week shopping.

7. Get your adrenaline pumping at Whitefish Mountain Resort

When winter ends and the snow melts, Whitefish Mountain Resort turns into a destination for summer mountain activities. On Memorial Day - one of their first days open for the season - we booked ourselves a zipline tour/alpine slide/scenic chairlift ride package. We've always been big fans of mountain resorts in the non-ski season, and Whitefish didn't disappoint. We had a blast, and despite being a cloudy day with rain in the vicinity, we saw some great views. If ziplining, alpine slides, and chairlifts aren't your thing, the resort offers enclosed gondola rides, two cafes, hiking, a children's climbing area, and an adventure park. Or, if you're feeling like channeling your inner Evil Knievel, there are lots of awesome mountain biking trails, with lessons and rentals if you need them.

8. Find your next adventure at the Crown of the Continent Discovery Center

Situated on US2 near West Glacier is the Crown of the Continent Discovery Center, a great place to stop before your excursion into Glacier National Park. Swan Outfitters - the company that hosted our horseback trail ride - has an activity desk there, featuring activities both inside and outside of the park. Want to do a guided hike? How about a rafting and horseback riding combo? Or perhaps a hike with llamas? Yes, they have all of those and more. Also at the Discovery Center are informational exhibits, a gift shop, and an ice cream and pizza counter. We did what we always do and didn't stop here until the last day of our visit, but unless all you're looking for are souvenirs, we'd recommend that you check it out at the beginning of your time in Glacier, so that if you want to hike with llamas, you'll have plenty of time to plan that adventure.

Three weeks in the Glacier area breezed by, so this is just a taste of the activities that are offered outside the National Park. We hope this inspires you to plan an epic Glacier trip, even with the limitations to get into the park itself. There is so much to see, do, and enjoy. This was our second year in a row kicking off summer with mountain adventures, and it's always incredibly fun and memorable, helping us to get our season started on the right foot.