Surrounded by towering mountains, pristine lakes, and fertile valleys, Kalispell sits nearly 3,000 feet above sea level on the west slope of the Rocky Mountains, at the north end of western Montana’s beautiful Flathead Valley. Glacier National Park and ski resorts are just 30-45 minutes to the north, mountains and wilderness areas to the east, and Flathead Lake just 10 minutes to the south make Kalispell the launch point for some of the richest outdoor recreation in the country. Four distinct seasons and a relatively mild year-round climate make skiing, mountain biking, hiking, boating, golfing and fishing sensational.

As the commercial hub of the valley surrounding Flathead Lake, Kalispell is an attractive city with tree-lined streets, historic buildings and western charm, as well as sophisticated urban pleasures like award-winning restaurants. But the entire Flathead Valley is beautiful, attracting many visitors who often decide to stay and make a home there. Just a few miles to the East, the picturesque town of Bigfork sits on a sparkling bay where the Swan River enters Flathead Lake. A great day trip, you’ll see why Bigfork has been designated "One of the 50 Great Towns of the West" and "One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns of the Nation." North of Kalispell is Whitefish, once known as “Stumptown” for the tree stumps that littered the streets. Today, tree stumps have been replaced by the cultural, artistic and other amenities you would expect in a western ski resort town.

Many of the names used to describe the area’s features are words belonging to the Salish, Blackfoot, Kootenai and Kalispel Tribes who were the original inhabitants of the area and whose 1.2-million-acre reservation encompasses the southern half of the Flathead Valley. Their tribal history and culture can be experienced at The People’s Center in nearby Pablo. Bison, another originally inhabitant of the area, can be viewed along with other wildlife in their natural surroundings at the National Bison Range in Moiese.