This Artsy Montana Town Is Made for Walking

Stationed at the bottom of its namesake lake, flanked by its titular mountain range, and barely a half hour's drive from Glacier National Park, Whitefish, Montana is a well-known adventure hub. But in addition to skiing the slopes of Whitefish Mountain Resort, boating around Whitefish Lake, or driving up and over the Going-to-the-Sun Road, this town's compact and walkable core deserves its own slot in any itinerary. Whitefish is laid out in an easy-going grid, with parks and river paths to punctuate the wander. En route, expect to encounter galleries, artsy boutiques, coffee shops, and sweet treats by day, live bands reverberating from brewpubs and saloons by night, and pop-up markets in the spaces between. So lace up those shoes and follow me on a stroll through Whitefish.

Downtown Whitefish

Whitefish's commercial core is largely concentrated around Central Avenue (imagine that), but spills into the surrounding blocks. A second cluster also emerges along Second Street (imagine that!), in the blocks adjacent to its eye-catching Clocktower.

Downtown Whitefish exudes that Old West feel, but with a modernized flair. Many of the locally-owned businesses occupy two-story structures encased with stained wood, brick, or artificial siding, and beyond their windows, wide sidewalks pass beneath overhanging roofs. Every square-foot of retail space is put to use (with anything from novelty t-shirt shops, to antiques and handicrafts, to creative spaces, caffeine caches, and high-caliber bar & grills) but without ever feeling over-stuffed.

After combing through the higher density streets, be sure to sneak out to the town's periphery. Folklore Coffee has that warm and earthy feel to it, while Sweet Peaks Handcrafted Ice Cream is always popular with the kiddos. Hot coffee in one hand and icy-cool cone in the other, you should be thoroughly energized for the next leg of our Whitefish wander.

Whitefish River to City Beach

Whitefish is networked by a series of multi-use paths. These are great for connecting the shops and restaurants of downtown with the winding Whitefish River, freshwater beach, and some of the town's intermittent green spaces. You might enjoy dropping down to Riverside Park/Baker Park, where the river path climbs back to Second Street, or down towards Spokane Avenue. But for a more congruous, beach-culminating experience, work your way up Baker Avenue, and take the paved path west, right after crossing Railway Street (or you can access this same path from Depot Park - another of Whitefish's focal points that we'll double back to next).

The walk out to City Beach from downtown Whitefish is just long enough to immerse oneself in the introverted riverbank, while still keeping the legs fresh for a mid-stroll swim, paddleboard, or kayak upon arrival (rentals are available on site). Even if you intend to keep both feet on dry land, City Beach is absolutely worth seeing. This sandy and social strip gives way to the calm, expansive, and pure waters of Whitefish Lake, tree or snow covered mountains (depending on the season) spanning the backdrop, and (depending on the season) vibrant wildflowers in the foreground.

Those interested in a longer stroll are welcome to capitalize on Whitefish's broader network of nature paths - known collectively as The Whitefish Trail - which covers a total of 47 miles and can be accessed via 15 trailheads. You can even take it all the way out to Whitefish Lake State Park. But for now, let's head back downtown via the familiar Whitefish River path.

Depot Park and Thirty Eight

Depot Park caps off the north end of downtown Whitefish, guiding travelers to the Whitefish Depot (serving partially as a museum and also an active Amtrak Train Station), and tourists to a range of seasonal, weekly, and permanent attractions. Every Tuesday evening, the Whitefish Farmers' Market overtakes Depot Park. Along with the expected selection of produce, there are tents filled with local artisans, food trucks around the periphery, and rotations of musicians outside the station. If you're planning a summertime trip through Whitefish, then you might have the pleasure of seeing Depot Park at its peak potential during either the Whitefish Arts Festival (4th of July weekend), or the Huckleberry Days Arts Festival (August 7-9, 2026).

Should your stroll miss the larger gatherings within Depot Park, fear not. Another gathering of food trucks and live music takes place every day of the week (save for Wednesday) at an open-air venue called Thirty-Eight - not one block away. Bean bags tossed, bellies satiated, and ears sweetened with authentic Americana music, it's time to check back in with the watering holes of Central Avenue. Dormant earlier in the day, places like Blackstar BrewPub are now full of life - pumping out even more live music and craft beers for its amenable mix of locals and visitors.

A Similar Spot For A Stroll

Just 35 miles south of Whitefish, Bigfork, Montana is a comparable community for an artsy, nature-infused walkabout. Trading in Whitefish Lake for Flathead Lake, Whitefish River Trail for Swan River Nature Trail, Central Ave for the equally-Old-West-preserving Electric Avenue, and the Tuesday Farmers Market/Thirty-Eight for the equally-music-centric Monday Market, Bigfork hits all of the same beats as Whitefish (heck, they even share the same nickname: "Stumptown"), but in a more compact and lesser-known package. Like Whitefish, downtown Bigfork also boasts lively annual festivals - such as the classic car show, Rumble in the Bay, and the Bigfork Brewfest. But as is the case with its northern neighbor, Bigfork is a rewarding place to explore even on its quieter days.

Wander Through Whitefish

Whitefish is a favored gateway to Northern Montana's premier national park, ski resorts, and gargantuan glacial lakes. With that said, this town is also a self-contained attraction — especially for those who like to explore on foot. Whitefish is stocked full of interesting shops, it is regularly augmented by social events, and it is well-connected with the immediate Rocky Mountain scenery via pedestrian-only paths. So by all means, continue to utilize Whitefish as your adventure hub, but before rushing off elsewhere, be sure to pencil in a day or two for local perusing.