Flathead National Forest

Towering peaks and alpine meadows, wild and scenic rivers, the Hungry Horse Reservoir, lakes and streams… all can be found in the 2.3 million acres of the Flathead National Forest.  Bordered by Glacier National Park and three other national forests, Flathead National Forest has 2,600 miles of hiking trails and 200 miles of National Recreation Trails, mostly in designated wilderness areas.  Flathead National Forest stretches along the west side of the Continental Divide, running south of the U.S.-Canada border for about 120 miles.  Nearly half of the Flathead National Forest is designated wilderness and is home to wolves, peregrine falcons, bald eagles and grizzly bears.

Jewel Basin

Flathead National Forest’s Jewel Basin is a 15,000-acre mountainous area maintained exclusively for hiking and camping.  Motorized vehicles and horses are restricted.  Jewel Basin includes 27 lakes and 35 miles of trails, and is located in the Swan Mountain Range east of Kalispell and west of the Hungry Horse Reservoir.  Peak season is generally in July and August.  High lakes may still have ice and trails can be snow-covered until July.  Use of Jewel Basin is limited during the winter.

Danny On Memorial Trail

This popular trail in the Whitefish Mountain Resort Ski Area is named after Danny On, a silvaculturist (applied forest ecologist) with the United States Forest Service who died in a skiing accident on Big Mountain in 1979.  A conservationist, he also excelled in nature photography.  This self-guided trail gives hikers an opportunity to observe and learn about plants and animals of the high country.  The trail system on the mountain offers four different routes to the summit.  Information about On’s life is available in the Environmental Education Center at the summit.  Snow usually remains on the upper sections of the trail until mid-July.