Updated October 22, 2026
Whitefish is a ski town first. Here is how to fill a winter week, on skis, on a ski bike, or on foot.
Big Mountain
Whitefish Mountain Resort sits a few miles above town, with lift-served skiing and snowboarding from the village to the summit. On a clear day the summit looks straight into Glacier National Park. The resort runs lessons, rentals and night skiing on select evenings through the season; check skiwhitefish.com for this year’s dates.
Ski Biking
Our SNO-GO ski bikes ride the lifts at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Most people are comfortable within an hour, and no skiing background is needed. Read how to ride a ski bike and rent one here.
Cross-Country Skiing
Groomed trails run at the Whitefish Golf Course and at Glacier Nordic Center on the edge of town. In Glacier National Park, the Apgar and McDonald Creek routes near West Glacier are the classic beginner tours, and the ski to Avalanche Picnic Area is about 11.6 miles round trip along the closed Going-to-the-Sun Road. The park rents no equipment, so bring your own.
Snowshoeing
The same park routes work on snowshoes, and the Whitefish Trail stays open all winter. Check avalanche conditions before any backcountry route.
Downtown
Winter is when downtown shows best: breweries, a few of the valley’s best restaurants, and the Whitefish Winter Carnival in early February. Park once and walk.
Glacier’s winter roads and trail conditions change with the weather. Check nps.gov before you leave.