Rodeos in Western Montana.
One of the best ways to experience an authentic piece of the Glacier Country lifestyle is through heading to a small-town rodeo. Throughout the summer, many of the communities here host cowboys and cowgirls from across Big Sky Country and the region as they try their hand at taking home some prize money for the best ride, bulldog or barrel race.
Clearwater Canoe Trail.
Nestled in the picturesque Seeley-Swan Valley is a quiet oasis known as the Clearwater Canoe Trail. Located just a few miles north of Seeley, this waterway meanders its way through gorgeous scenery with the opportunity for wildlife viewing and birding, before emptying into the northern tip of Seeley Lake. The trail is closed to any type of motorized boat, offering kayakers and canoers their own tranquil peace of Western Montana.
Licorice in Arlee.
Located in the lush Jocko Valley about 30 minutes north of Missoula is Arlee--a quiet, friendly community with about 600 residents. But Arlee has a secret treasure: licorice. Hummingbird Toys & Treats carries 60 types of licorice (that’s one kind for 10 residents) from all over the world. If that’s not sweet, we’re not sure what is.
Glacier Country Trivia
Welcome to Glacier Country. Looking for our population stats or want to know the average temperature in July? You’ve come to the right place.
SIZE: Glacier Country is more than 22,000 square miles and contains eight counties: Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders.
LOCATION: Glacier Country is the westernmost region of Montana. It is approximately 400 miles south of Calgary, Alberta; 535 miles east of Seattle, Washington; 900 miles north of Denver, Colorado; and 1,100 miles west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
POPULATION: Glacier Country has a population of approximately 300,000 residents.
ECONOMIC INFLUENCE: The largest industries are agriculture, tourism, forestry, health care and education.
CLIMATE: With a fairly mild climate year round, the average temperature in Glacier Country is 30 degrees in January and 85 degrees in July. The region is fairly arid and receives about 15 inches of moisture per year. The valleys receive about 40 to 60 inches of annual snowfall, while the mountains receive up to 350 inches. In the valleys, the growing season is typically 100 to 125 days.
WILDERNESS AREAS/NATIONAL FORESTS: Bitterroot, Bob Marshall, Cabinet, Great Bear, Kootenai, Lolo, Scapegoat and Selway-Bitterroot.
WATER BODIES: Glacier Country has numerous river drainages, including the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork and North, South and Middle forks of the Flathead. Major lakes and reservoirs include: Como, Flathead, Koocanusa, McDonald, Noxon, Seeley, St. Mary, Swan and Whitefish.
INDIAN NATIONS: Glacier Country has strong Native American culture and history with two reservations within its boundaries. The Blackfeet Indian Reservation belongs to the Blackfeet Tribe and is 1.5 million acres in size. Located on the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains, the reservation celebrates its culture through North American Indian Days, the Museum of the Plains Indian, a Blackfeet Historical Tour, Blackfeet Interpretive Transportation Tour and Sun Tours.
The Flathead Indian reservation is home to the Kootenai, Pend Oreille and Salish tribes. Its 1.2 million acres includes the National Bison Range and part of Flathead Lake. It celebrates its past through the Agnes Vanderburg Cultural Camp, The People’s Center, the Arlee Pow Wow, War Dance Championships and Buffalo Feast and Hand Game Championships.
