This Small Montana Town Has The Best Downtown

Montana is a vast place that is one of the most sparsely populated states in the U.S. It is the fourth largest state in the Union, but the third least densely populated. One of its nicknames is Big Sky Country, which fits its beautiful natural environment. However, the state also has its fair share of small towns with wonderful downtown areas to spend some time. One such town is Whitefish.

Whitefish is a turn-of-the-century railway town that became a hub area for one of Montana's best state parks: Glacier National Park. This charming town combines Tudor Revival-style historic buildings with charming arts stores, delicious beer, and relaxing riverside parks, all right in its downtown. Read on to see why this small Montana town has the best downtown.

Historic downtown

Whitefish was officially incorporated in 1904 due to the Great Northern Railroad coming into the area. It flourished as a center for mining, logging, and agricultural work within Montana. Folks called it Stumptown due to this association with logging. Since Whitefish is a turn-of-the-century town, you can find diverse architectural styles and historic sites here.

One such downtown structure is the First Presbyterian Church of Whitefish, located on Central Avenue. Built in 1921, it has a Romanesque Revival style with simple yet beautiful arched windows and columns.

The Tudor Revival Style was a popular style for many buildings in Whitefish, such as the Great Northern Depot, which was built in 1929 to transport travellers and freight, especially to the majestic outdoor locales in scenic mountain routes. The depot shut down in 1972 due to a decline in railway travel, but has since been acquired by the Stumptown Historical Society and turned into the Whitefish Museum.

This museum is an ideal spot not just to learn about its railway history, but also its wildlife, schools, community, and immigrant groups such as Japanese people who settled here.

Shops, restaurants

This mountain town doesn't lack shopping opportunities. Its local businesses provide goods and services for all types of people, from outdoorsy folks looking to explore the Rocky Mountain landscape to artsy people looking for Western setpieces, and many others.

For artwork, the Cawdrey Gallery provides contemporary Western artwork inspired by the landscapes of Whitefish, while the Dick Idol Signature Gallery displays sculptures, crafts, and other artistic works.

If you need some equipment or clothing for your outdoor excursions, Whitefish has you covered with businesses like Black Tie Ski & Bike Rentals, Forloh for outdoor gear, Glacier Cycler & Nordic, and Lakestream Outfitters & Fly Shop for all your fishing needs.

Looking to try out local tastes? Then you need to visit Whitefish's markets. The Markus Community Market and Farmers Stand provide local produce, groceries, wine, and beer for you to try.

Speaking of food, you can try out a mixture of bakeries, Japanese food, breweries, and American fare at Whitefish's downtown restaurants.

There are many places in Whitefish where you can try baked goods or a coffee, such as Amazing Crepes or the Wild Coffee Company. For a more substantial lunch or dinner, there's Logan's Bar & Grill for American classics, Indah Sushi for Japanese food, Mambo Mountain Italian, and MacKenzie River Pizza.

If you're in the mood for a beer, downtown Whitefish has several breweries, including the Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company and the Blackstar BrewPub.

Downtown parks

Before you leave downtown to explore the wider area in Whitefish, you can also spend some time outdoors right in the middle of the downtown area.

First off, there's Depot Park that sits right next to the Whitefish Museum. You can spend time relaxing at the picnic tables at this two-acre park or attend one of the many festivals held here throughout the year, including the Huckleberry Days Arts Festival held annually in August or the Whitefish Downtown Farmers Market open from May to September.

The next hidden gem is the Riverside Park, named after its location by the Whitefish River. This is a favorite spot to go fishing, canoeing, or kayaking. There's also a paved trail for hikers and runners and a tennis court. Locals love to visit this one on days when they don't feel like traveling all the way to Glacier National Park.

Outside of town

As mentioned above, Glacier National Park is one of the biggest reasons people travel to Whitefish, Montana. Located 25 miles away from downtown Whitefish, the park has been called the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem, although in actuality, it has many ecosystems, such as hemlock forests, prairies, and tundra.

The park contains more than 700 miles of hiking trails that will take you on journeys through mountain lakes, forests, and, of course, up glaciers. Some of the most popular trails are the Avalanche Lake, a 4.5-mile round-trip to the lake alongside the serene Avalanche Creek, and the Grinnell Glacier, which traverses through waterfalls and wildflower meadows before reaching the glacier itself.

In addition to this beautiful national park, there are a few other outdoor spots just outside of Whitefish worth exploring. One that's closer to downtown is the Whitefish Lake State Park. This is an ideal place to go swimming, boating, or water skiing and is popular among residents as well as visitors. You can also take a scenic route to many local parks via the Whitefish Trail, a 40-mile interconnected trail with 12 trailheads that can take you to lesser-known places like the Lion Mountain Trailhead.

With its beautiful mountain landscapes, riverside parks, and charming depots, Whitefish's downtown is one of the best not just in Montana but in the West in general. Whitefish itself is in a highly remote part of America in Northwestern Montana, close to the Canadian border, so travelling here is like taking the scenic route. However, by taking this route, you will see all manner of sites you would have missed otherwise, from Old World architectural styles in the Far West to the magnificent glaciers of Glacier National Park. Downtown Whitefish is worth a trip for those coming to Montana or the Western U.S. more generally.