10 best things to do in Bigfork, Montana

Bigfork, Montana, has just 4,000 residents and sits on the shores of pristine Flathead Lake, the largest lake in the state. Visitors here enjoy water recreation, walking downtown, visiting cherry orchards, attending the theater, and more. Read on for a list of the 10 best things to do in Bigfork, Montana. 

In this article

• What is Bigfork, Montana, known for?
• Is Bigfork, Montana, a good place to live?
• Why is Bigfork called Bigfork?
• What is the elevation of Bigfork, Montana?
• 10 things to do in Bigfork, Montana
• What to do in the evening in Bigfork, Montana
• Christmas in Bigfork, Montana
• How to get there and where to stay
• Hotels 
• Camping

What is Bigfork, Montana, known for?

Bigfork, Montana, is known for fine art, dining, theater, and its pleasant setting on Flathead Lake. The town has been designated “One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in the West”.

Is Bigfork, Montana, a good place to live?

Bigfork is a good place to live. The town’s crime rate is 12 per 1,000 residents, which is extremely low. This makes Bigfork, Montana, one of the safest towns in Montana.

Residents of Bigfork enjoy Flathead Lake and the many things to do around the lake, such as visiting Cherry Orchards, the bike park, and camping. The town features a nice downtown and plenty of art shops.

Why is Bigfork called Bigfork? 

“Bigfork” was the name Everit and Lizzie Sliter used when they founded the township on May 17, 1902. The name “Bigfork” likely derives from the two rivers, Flathead River and Swan River, which flow into Flathead Lake on either side of town, drawing what looks like an actual “big fork”.

What is the elevation of Bigfork, Montana? 

Bigfork, Montana, sits at 3,000 feet (914 m).

10 things to do in Bigfork, Montana

1. Kayak, boat, picnic, or swim at Flathead Lake

Bigfork lies on the shores of the largest lake in Montana – Flathead Lake (191.5 mi², 495.9 km²). Flathead Lake is known for its large size, crystal-clear waters, and beautiful scenery. Many areas for picnicking, swimming, kayaking, hiking, and boating surround the lake.

Visitors can explore the shores all around the lake. Several coves, bays, and state parks make great places to spend the afternoon on the shore, enjoying the water.

2. Explore Wayfarers State Park

One of the most unique areas in Bigfork, Montana, is Wayfarers State Park. This park sits just south of town, past the Bigfork Harbor on the shores of Flathead Lake. 

Wayfarer offers various hiking trails, many of which run across unique rock formations along the shore, offering excellent views over the lake. All summer, wildflowers grow on the shores. It’s also an ideal place for camping.

3. Go golfing

If you are golfer, you may have heard of Bigfork’s Eagle Bend Golf Club. This is a beautifully manicured 27-hole championship golf course located on the north end of Flathead Lake. It offers exceptional golfing with great mountain and lake views. Other golf courses in the area include Buffalo Hill, Village Greens, and Northern Pines.

4. Go camping

In and round Big Fork, you can pitch a tent or park your RV. The only problem you’ll face is choosing which campsite to settle in.You can find both public and commercial campsites located near Bigfork and along the shores of Flathead Lake.

Several campgrounds are situated just south of Bigfork, across the Harbor. Others are within a 10 to 25-minute drive south of town. A nice campground is also situated on Swan Lake, a few minutes east of Flathead Lake. 

Skip to the campgrounds section of this article.

5. Explore a bygone era at The Barn Antiques

The Barn Antiques is something like an antique second-hand gift store with many stores inside. Each of the indoor stores specializes in something different, offering an enormous selection of antiques and second-hand gems. A variety of items are also on display out front.

6. Tour art galleries

As we mentioned earlier, Bigfork, Montana, is well known for its art galleries. You could spend days visiting them all. Many of Bigfork’s art galleries and studios are located downtown, blocks from the Swan River, near Electric Ave.

Art Fusion offers work from different artists from a variety of disciplines, from traditional pieces to unique fusions. For example, some artists combine various styles, such as Fauvism, Cubism, and serigraphy-inspired oils. Eric Thorsen’s Fine Art Gallery offers bronze statues of various animals created by Eric himself. The gallery also serves as his studio. 

7. Go hiking

There are more than 15 hiking trails to explore near Bigfork. Some are near town, while others are in the state parks, bays, coves, and other areas around Flathead Lake and in the Flathead National Forest. 

Two popular trails are the Swan River Trail and Mount Aeneas Summit Trail:

• Swan River Trail. This is an easy in-and-out 4 mi (7 km) trail along the river that takes about 1 hr and 17 minutes to complete. The Swan River Trail is popular among hikers and birders.
• Mount Aeneas Summit Trail. This is an advanced in-and-out 6 mi (10 km ) trail that takes you across wooded hillsides and past mountain lakes to the summit of Mount Aeneas in the Jewel Basin. 

Regardless of where you hike, don’t forget to bring bear spray and bear bells. 

Read also: 20 most stunning mountains in Montana 

8. Visit a local cherry orchard

Flathead Lake is well-known for its cherries. Consider visiting a local cherry orchard. Stroll through cherry tree rows, taking in the blossom colors and picking cherries. 

For example, Bigfork Orchards is located on Montana Hwy 35, a 5-minute drive south of Bigfork. This orchard lets you stroll through its trees and pick cherries. Some of the cherries are rich, dark red, while others are rose-colored, mixed with yellow.

Many orchards are located around Bigfork and further from town.

9. Birdwatching

Bigfork is an excellent home base for birders. Within a 30-mile (48 km) radius of town, you can find multiple excellent birding locations. 

West Valley Ponds

The marshy, wetlands around West Valley Ponds between Kalispell and Whitefish hold migratory waterfowl throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. Birds you can see here include shorebirds, Sandhill Crane, and nesting grassland birds.

Jewel Basin Hiking Area

This camping and hiking area lies at the north end of the Swan Range and features 15,349 acres (6,211 hectares) of wild, natural landscape. It has 27 alpine lakes and 50 miles of hiking trails. The entire area lies just 15 miles (24 km) west of Bigfork, but due to the winding road, it takes about 45 minutes to reach it by car. 

Here, birders can see a variety of species, such as Cassin’s Finch and Olive-sided Flycatcher. Birders have reported seeing 17 different species of migrating raptors here, including accipiters, from late August to mid-October.

Other top birding locations in the area include Lower Valley, Lawrence Park, and the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area. The migration corridor around Bigfork is the best place to enjoy nature and see its seasonal changes.

Read also: 10 weird and wonderful things Montana is known for

10. Day trip to Glacier National Park

You can easily reach Glacier National Park from Bigfork in under an hour. Glacier National Park features some of the most stunning scenery in Montana.

The park is home to the historic Going-To-The-Sun Road, which traverses towering mountainsides past valleys of wildflowers. Many hiking trails cross through the park, allowing visitors to reach deeper into the park, and historic lodges with restaurants and hotel rooms offer comfortable accommodation.

The park is subject to heavy snow in winter. The best time to visit is during the summer, when all roads are clear of snow and open.

Read also: 9 breathtaking national parks in Montana

What to do in the Evening in Bigfork, Montana

Below, I list several of the best things to do in the evening in Bigfork, Montana.

1. Walking through the city

Bigfork is a beautiful town with nice streets and shops. Many visitors enjoy walking through the town and visiting the shores of the lake.

2. Bigfork Summer Playhouse

As previously mentioned, the Bigfork Summer Playhouse is a highly reputable theater located in Bigfork. Their mission is to bring the best of Broadway to the Rockies. Their regular shows start at 8 pm, with additional performances at 2 pm, 7 pm, and 7:30 pm on select days. 

View their show calendar here.

3. Take a line dancing class

The Bigfork Art & Cultural Center offers various events, workshops, and courses each week at different times. Their line dancing classes often take place on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

Christmas in Bigfork, Montana

Bigfork’s winter nickname is Montana’s Christmas Village. Each November, Bigfork transforms into a winter wonderland as the holiday season approaches. “Elves” appear on the streets to decorate downtown Bigfork with ornaments, and events take place.

Below are a few of the notable Christmas events in Bigfork, Montana.

1. The Bigfork Holiday Parade of Lights

The Parade of Lights is a yearly event celebrated on the first Saturday of December. This bright festive day ends with a big parade of floats. In the end, Santa arrives to wish “ Merry Christmas!” to Bigfork residents and take pictures.

2. Brunch with Santa!

Every year, Bigfork hosts what is called “Brunch with Santa!”. At Brunch with Santa, you can eat brunch and take pictures with Santa. In recent years, this event was hosted by Mountain Lake Lodge and Schafeur’s Restaurant.

3. Caroling at Lakeview

Each year, a group of carolers sings traditional Christmas carols for residents of the Lakeview Care Center. The event is open to everyone who wants to sing, regardless of their ability.

Lake View Care Center is located at 1050 Grand Drive, Bigfork, MT. Caroling usually starts at 5 pm.

Bigfork, Montana – How to get there and where to stay

Below, I outline the best ways to get to Bigfork, Montana, and provide a list of some top hotels and campgrounds in and near town.

Where is Bigfork, Montana, located?

Bigfork is located on Flathead Lake in northwest Montana. It is situated 40 minutes by car south of Whitefish, one and a half hours south of the Canadian border. 

How to get to Bigfork, Montana

Here are the main ways to get to Bigfork, Montana

• Car. If you’re driving from the south, take I-90, then turn onto US-93 or MT-83, which will take you north to Flathead Lake.
• Train. Bigfork is a 45-minute drive from the Whitefish Amtrak Station. 
• Fly. Wondering what airport you fly into for Bigfork, Montana? Below is a list of public airports near Bigfork, Montana:
  • Glacier Park International Airport (FCA). 35 minutes away by car
  • Missoula International Airport (MSO). 2 hours away
  • Great Falls International Airport (GTF) (limited connections). 4 hours away
  • Spokane International Airport (GEG). 4.5 hours away
  • Lethbridge Airport (CYQL/YQL). 4 hours away (plus the border crossing)
  • Bert Mooney Airport (BTM). 4 hours away
  • Helena Regional Airport (HLN). 3.5 hours away

Bigfork, Montana hotels

Below are some top recommended Bigfork, Montana, hotels. 

• The Inn on Bigfork Bay. This hotel is situated on Bigfork Harbor near the Swan River. Three decks overlook the bay, and an on-site playhouse puts on summer shows.
• The Islander Inn. This hotel is located 10 minutes south of Bigfork on Woods Bay. It offers bungalow-style accommodation big enough for families..
• Mountain Lake Lodge. Located five miles south of Bigfork near Woods Bay, this lodge offers views across the lake and of the Rocky Mountains. The lodge features a spa, pool, gym, and plenty of outdoor space.

Bigfork, Montana camping

Below are some of the top Bigfork, Montana, campsites.

• Flathead Lake Resort. This is a resort motel with cabins and glamping with beach access.
• Swan Lake Trading Post Camp. This establishment offers cabins, yurts, and RV sites.
• Wayfarer’s State Park. This state park lies on the southern edge of town on the shores of Flathead Lake. It features 30 traditional campsites, 9 hike-bike campsites, showers, a fully ADA-accessible site, RV sites, and bear-resistant storage lockers.
• Yellow Bay State Park. This state park lies 25 minutes south of Bigfork on Flathead Lake. It features 5 tent campsites available on a first-come-first-serve basis, all equipped with bear-resistant storage lockers. 
• Blue Bay Campground. This campground is located 2 minutes south of Yellow Bay State Park. It features several RV spots and camping spots. A few sites on the bluff have electricity.
• Swan Lake Campground. Located about 25 minutes southeast of Bigfork on Swan Lake, this campground features 38 family-sized campsites with paved parking. Sites feature picnic tables and fire rings, plus drinking water and vault toilets. There is no dump station. 

RV parks near Bigfork, Montana

In addition to the above campgrounds that also feature RV sites, here are several more RV parks near Bigfork:

• Bigfork Motorcoach RV Resort. This is a “Class A” RV resort featuring 29 privately owned sites, some of which are available for rent. It’s located south of town across Bighorn Harbor. 
• Outback Montana RV Park & Campground. This RV park features 50/30 amp pull-thru RV sites as well as cabins, glamping, and tent sites. Some of the RV sites are winterized and available year-round. It’s located a 10-minute drive south of Bigfork near Woods Bay.
• Montana Basecamp RV Park. This is a 50-acre RV-only park that’s open year-round. Bathrooms, showers, and laundry are closed from October to April. The summer fee includes a free firewood bundle, laundry, WiFi, a dog field, chairs, a ping pong table, and a bike trail. It’s located 18 minutes north of Bigfork on the way to Kalispell.