What is better to do on a sunny Sunday with no plans, than to explore? So on a recent Sunday, we decided to head out to Polebridge, Montana to investigate.
Polebridge is located near the northwestern entrance to Glacier National Park, and is approximately 20 miles from the Canadian border. The community contains just a few buildings: the Polebridge Mercantile and Bakery, a supply building, some cabins and a cafe/saloon.
The Mercantile is open from March to October each year, and is accessible by driving about 35 miles up a two lane road that starts as a paved road in Columbia Falls. It becomes gravel for many miles, with another paved stretch as you get near Polebridge.
The ride itself is worth the time. Mountains can be in front of you, behind you, and on all sides, and the North Fork of the Flathead River can often be seen near the road. This is the kind of road that results in "wow, pull over for a photo!" happening multiple times.
In addition to the fantastic drive, there is in fact a reward at the end. The actual Mercantile is a fun place to visit with tasty treats and souvenir items. You can purchase a Polebridge mug, all sorts of huckleberry items including syrup, hot sauce and jam. There are tee shirts and hats. But what many people go there for is to have a freshly made huckleberry bear claw and coffee. Yes, the goodies are worth the drive!
So how did our exploration of Polebridge MT go?
The ride from Kalispell to Polebridge took approximately an hour and a half. We returned through Glacier National Park, and that trip was also about the same length of time. If you are looking for something to do on a beautiful day, hop in your vehicle and head north from Kalispell. You won't be sorry! For more on Kalispell, click here.
This is an entry in the ActiveRain's April 2021 challenge: Time to Get Out and Show Off Your Area.
Originally published at thehousekat.com.
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