Glaciers created this valley just as they carved the park that draws visitors from around the world. The same ice age forces that sculpted Glacier's peaks also ground out this broad, fertile lowland, depositing the soils that now support farms and ranches. Flathead Lake, 30 miles long and covering nearly 200 square miles, is the legacy of those glaciers - a remnant of the much larger lakes that once filled the valley.

The lake dominates life in the region. Fishing for lake trout, perch, and whitefish draws anglers year-round. Summer brings boaters, jet skiers, and swimmers to its cold, clear waters. The communities of Lakeside and Somers ring its northern shores, offering waterfront dining with mountain views. In autumn, the western larch - one of the few deciduous conifers - turns the surrounding hillsides gold.

Glacier National Park lies 35 miles northeast, its peaks visible from Kalispell on clear days. The park's billion-year-old rocks and ancient glaciers draw over 3 million visitors annually, and many pass through Kalispell on their way to the wilderness. The town has embraced this role as gateway, offering the hotels, restaurants, and outfitters that support an expedition into the backcountry.

But Kalispell is more than a waystation. The town retains a working Montana character that resort communities often lose. Ranchers still come to town for supplies. Logging and construction remain significant industries. The downtown's historic buildings house local businesses alongside tourist-oriented shops, creating a blend of authentic and commercial that feels less curated than many gateway towns.

The Flathead Valley offers year-round outdoor recreation that extends well beyond the national park. Whitefish Mountain Resort, just north of the neighboring town of Whitefish, provides world-class skiing with over 3,000 acres of terrain. Cross-country skiers and snowmobilers explore the Flathead National Forest's 2.4 million acres. Ice fishing on Flathead Lake continues traditions that stretch back generations.

Summer brings different adventures. The Flathead River system offers whitewater rafting on the Middle and North Forks, while the gentler reaches near town suit kayakers and float trips. Hiking trails riddle the surrounding mountains. Fly fishers work the streams for trout, particularly as the salmon flies hatch in June. The long northern days stretch past 10 PM at the summer solstice, offering more hours of daylight than most visitors know what to do with.

The railroad built this region. The Great Northern Railway pushed through in the early 1890s, opening the Flathead Valley to settlement and tourism. Company founder James J. Hill understood that passengers needed destinations, and he promoted Glacier as an American Alps, building the grand lodges that still serve visitors today.

Amtrak's Empire Builder continues that tradition, stopping daily at Whitefish, 15 miles north of Kalispell. The train follows the original Great Northern route, offering some of the most scenic rail travel in America as it crosses the Rockies between Seattle and Chicago. Passengers bound for Glacier National Park can detrain at West Glacier or East Glacier Park, or stay in the valley and explore the surrounding forest and lake country that the railroad first made accessible.