Located in the Flathead Valley of Northwestern Montana, Kalispell is considered a premier spot for outdoor recreation, and that includes some epic motorcycle rides.
Salish (the Indigenous people of the area) for “flat land above the lake,” Kalispell is the largest city in the collection of small towns that make up the Flathead Valley. The community boasts friendly residents, but it’s the outdoor adventures that keep motorcycle riders coming back. In addition to the thrilling open road you’ll enjoy on a Kalispell motorcycle ride, there are ski resorts, champion-grade golf courses, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails to explore.
In this article, we’ll share the top motorcycle rides in and around Kalispell.
Libby Loop
This Kalispell route takes you on a north-bound journey along Highway 93. One of the best things about this motorcycle ride is the Kootenai Falls, which you’ll find at milepost 21 (roughly between Troy and Libby).
You might notice some familiar landmarks on this Kalispell motorcycle ride, and it’s definitely not your imagination or déjà vu. It turns out that some scenes from the Hollywood blockbuster movies, The Revenant and The River Wild, were filmed here. This region was home to the Kootenai Indians, and it is still sacred land.
Going-to-the-Sun-Road
This hyphenated route spans 52 miles, though when you make the loop from Kalispell, expect a longer ride. The entire circle is just over 200 miles.
The route begins in Kalispell and continues to Highway 2 North. From there, you’ll end up at Going-to-the-Sun Road before you get to Logan Pass, which is at 6,647 feet in elevation. There are plenty of opportunities to stop along the way to capture photographs of the beautiful scenery. Finally, you’ll ride along the edge of Glacier National Park before heading back on Highway 2.
Hungry Horse Reservoir
Did you know that Montana is home to one of the biggest arch dams constructed of concrete in the United States? This impressive architectural feat can be found along the Flathead River. To get here, head toward Glacier National Park and ride into Hungry Horse. The dam is right off of NF-895 and about 11 miles past West Side Road.
After you’ve gotten your fill of the view, head back the way you came. If you’d prefer an alternate return path, take Highway 35 instead of Highway 2 on the last leg of this 97-mile adventure.
Flathead Lake Loop
As you might have guessed, this route will take you along the perimeter of Flathead Lake, which is nestled in the middle of Flathead National Forest. And, as if the Hungry Horse Dam wasn’t impressive enough, this lake is the largest freshwater lake you’ll find in the western half of the United States.
Feel free to take your time and savor this ride. There are plenty of stops you can make along the 100-mile path to wet your whistle, view historic sites, and feast your eyes upon impressive mountain ranges.
Lake Koocanusa
Lake Koocanusa is 90 miles long, and half of it is in Canada. To get to Lake Koocanusa from Kalispell, ride north on Highway 93 toward Whitefish. Continue along that path until you get to Eureka, and then take Route 37, following the signs to Lake Koocanusa. You can keep the ride in the U.S. if you don’t want to cross the border.
Explore Kalispell with Law Tigers
Law Tigers is a national association of lawyers who also love to ride. We stand up for riders’ rights and help people all over the country ensure that their rights are protected when unfortunate events like accidents, theft, and wrongful death cases happen.
You can reach us any time for a free case evaluation at (888) 863-7216. We also offer a free rider benefit card that includes valuable benefits.
