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Montana, United States
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Northwestern Montana has some of the most varied terrain in the Mountain West. The Bitterroot and Continental Divide branches of the Rocky Mountains flank it on west and east, leaving a mixture of freshwater lakes, prairies, glaciers, rivers, and forests between. It is best known for the sprawling Glacier National Park and the cities of Missoula and Kalispell.
By car
Interstate 90 passes through Missoula, connecting from Idaho on the west towards Southwestern Montana and Butte on the east.S.
By train
Amtrak operates the Empire Builder service daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago.
By foot
For the dedicated long-distance hiker, the Continental Divide Trail is a National Scenic Trail running 3,100 miles between Mexico and Canada.
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Missoula · Regional · MSO
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Missoula is a medium-sized city in Western Montana with a population of about 73,000 (2020). The hub of five valleys in the northwest region of the state, or Glacier Country, the town boasts the University of Montana, the Rattlesnake Recreation Area, and a multitude of recreational opportunities, along with an active and colorful downtown.
Lolo is a community of about 4,400 people in northwestern Montana, about 10 mi (16 km) from Missoula. It is at the eastern end of the Lolo Trail, a route through a challenging section of the Rockies used by the Nez Perce people and by Lewis and Clark, who camped here in 1805 and again in 1806.
Hamilton is a city of about 5,000 people in the Bitterroot Valley of Northwestern Montana. It is the central trade area for the many farms, ranches, and orchards in the valley, and a base for exploring the steep Bitterroot Range.
Ravalli is a village in Northwestern Montana.
Seeley Lake is a small town in Northwestern Montana. About 1,600 people live there.
Superior is a town in the Glacier Country of Montana, in the narrow valley of the Clark Fork River. There are high mountains on both sides of the town, since Superior is inside the Rocky Mountain Range.
Thompson Falls is a city of 1,300 people in northwest Montana. The city sits next to natural waterfalls on the Clark Fork River.
Kalispell is the largest city in the Flathead Valley of northwest Montana, near Glacier National Park. The name means "flat land above the lake" in Salish, referring to Flathead Lake just to the south, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.
Bigfork is a small town on northeast shore of Flathead Lake in Northwestern Montana. About 5,100 people lived there in 2020.
Columbia Falls is a town in northwest Montana. About 5,300 people lived there in 2020.
Polson is a town of 5,100 people (2020) in Montana, on the Flathead Indian Reservation. It is at the south end of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.
Whitefish is a small town in the northern Flathead Valley of northwest Montana, on the southern end of Whitefish Lake. Whitefish Mountain Resort north of town offers excellent skiing, and Glacier National Park to the east is a major hiking and camping destination.
Babb is a very small town located near the eastern entrance to Glacier National Park in Northwestern Montana.
Browning is a town in Northwestern Montana. It is the headquarters for the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
Cut Bank is a small city in northwest Montana. It provides the nearest full-service tourist facilities to the east side of Glacier National Park.
East Glacier is a town at the eastern park border of Glacier National Park in Northwestern Montana. In 2020, 354 people lived there.
St. Mary is a town near the eastern entrance to Glacier National Park in Northwestern Montana.
West Glacier is a town at the western entrance to Glacier National Park in Northwestern Montana. This small town teems with tourists during the summer.
Eureka is a small town in the Tobacco Valley of Northwestern Montana, close to the Canadian border. It is also close to Lake Koocanusa, a reservoir on the Kootenai River with recreational opportunities.
Libby is a city of about 2,800 people in Northwestern Montana, nestled in the Kootenai River Valley between the Cabinet and Purcell Mountains. It is the county seat of Lincoln County.
Troy is a town in Montana of the United States. With its scenic beauty, Troy is a great place for outdoor recreation.
For the park in British Columbia, see Glacier National Park (British Columbia) Glacier National Park is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site that is on the northern border of Montana.
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