Trails day offers fun for the family throughout Flathead Valley

Winter Trails Day is Saturday with several free outdoor activities. 

 These free activities are a way to enjoy the outdoors in winter and discover the fitness and social benefits of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in Northwest Montana. All activities are suitable for beginners and families.

Here are some of the offerings around the Valley:

A snowshoe walk on the Flathead National Forest, hosted by the Swan Lake Ranger District and Flathead Audubon, will be at the Blacktail Mountain cross-country ski trails near Lakeside from 10 a.m. to noon.  Participants may bring snowshoes, or a limited number of children and adult shoes will be available by reservation. Meet at the upper trailhead parking area on Blacktail Mountain Road.Reservations are not required. For information or to reserve snowshoes, contact the Swan Lake Ranger District at 837-7500.

Explore Lone Pine State Park on snowshoes. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., park visitors can borrow snowshoes and explore the many park trails. Adult’s and children’s snowshoes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A ranger-led snowshoe walk takes place at 1 p.m. Contact the park at 755-2706 for more information and to reserve snowshoes for the 1 p.m. walk.

Join Whitefish Legacy Partners at Stillwater Mountain Lodge and the Whitefish Bike Retreat for a day of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow bike riding and winter fun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Participants can ski on the Stillwater Nordic Center’s groomed trails. Bring your own equipment or demo equipment is available from the Lodge and Sportsman & Ski Haus. Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center will lead family friendly wilderness skill and animal tracking activities. Across the road from the lodge, check out a bike demo or snowshoe on the Whitefish Trail courtesy of several area cycle and outdoor sport shops. For more information contact Whitefish Legacy Partners, 862-3880.

Ranger-led snowshoe hikes at Glacier National Park will be at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

Each hike will last approximately two hours and reservations are not required.  Snowshoes are available for hike participants. Visitors need to purchase a park entrance pass. Meet at the Apgar Visitor Center. Call 888-7939 for more information.

 Join the Swan Ecosystem Center for a family snowshoe event at the Holland Lake Day Use Area, south of Condon, from 11 a.m. to 3p.m. Bring your own snowshoes or a limited number of children and adult snowshoes available by reservation. Join a trail trek geared for the whole family, warm up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa.

For more information or to reserve snowshoes call the Swan Ecosystem Center at 754-3137.