Communities: Bigfork

Just west of the Swan Range, Bigfork is located on Highway 35, 15 miles southeast of Kalispell and 101 miles north of Missoula. Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness areas and the Swan Range and valley are full of wildlife and recreational opportunities for all outdoor enthusiasts, making Bigfork the perfect recreation center when enjoying the full range of opportunities surrounding us.

Located at an altitude of 2,900 feet in the spectacular mountains of northwestern Montana, the town of Bigfork hugs a sparkling blue bay where the swift waters of the Swan River flow into Flathead Lake. With more than 180 miles of shoreline, Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, providing a playground for fishing, boating and all varieties of water recreation. The Big Mountain Ski Resort and Blacktail Ski Area are also close by for beginning to expert downhill and cross country skiers and snowboarders.

Bigfork is a picturesque and charming village, home to world class art galleries, fine restaurants, and unique shops in a quaint Western setting. There have been a few small surges in growth throughout the years but the biggest changes occurred in the 1980s and 1990s when Montana became chic as it was heralded as the "The Last Best Place."

The area became a new home for returning Montanans who had gone elsewhere to build careers and for new residents from all walks of life seeking recreational second homes or permanent refuge from the crowded, harried urban life. Today Bigfork's year round resident population is approximately 1,400.

Eagle Bend Golf Course, which has been rated by many as one of the most challenging and beautiful golf courses in the nation raised the profile of Bigfork. Likewise, the Bigfork Summer Playhouse on Electric Avenue has been celebrated as one of the Northwest's finest repertory theaters for 40 years. Throughout the year, Bigfork offers fine art, gourmet dining, fun stores, great day and evening activities and a full line of accommodations ranging from ranches and rustic cabins to bayside condos. Voted as "One of the 50 Great Towns of the West" and designated as "One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns of the Nation," Bigfork offers you and your family a part of the West that you will never forget.