Area Info & Business Partners

The Crown of the Continent Discovery Center is about exploring, enjoying and engaging this beautiful place we live. We are a proud member of the following community groups and industry associations that share that same passion for Northwest Montana and the Crown of the Continent region:

  • Gateway to Glacier Business Owner’s Association
  • Bigfork Chamber of Commerce
  • Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce
  • Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
  • Seeley Lake Chamber of Commerce
  • Whitefish Chamber of Commerce
  • Flathead Convention & Visitor Bureau
  • Glacier Country
  • Swan-Mission Search & Rescue
  • America Outdoors Association
  • Professional Wilderness Outfitters Association (PWOA)
  • Montana Guides and Outfitters Association (MOGA)
  • Flathead Snowmobile Association
  • Montana Snowmobile Association

We have also partnered with local business and are pleased to share more links and information with you below

Swan Mountain Bigfork VRBO

If you are looking for a unique glamping experience look no further. Our geodesic domes are the perfect blend of camping and comfort. The cabin on site is cozy and perfect for a family of 4 that wants a little bit more space. Located on 10 acres, this is the perfect quiet basecamp for you and your family. All of the amenities of Big Fork are just a 15 minute drive from camp. Our Swan corral is located just a quick drive away. Book either dome (VRBO #3475717 or #3478351) or the cabin (VRBO #3474960) to receive 10% off any Swan Mountain Activity! If you would like yo book all three buildings, contact us for a possible discount.

Swan Mountain Vrbo

If you are looking for a relaxing space, big enough for the whole family, and close to summer recreation, you've found the right place. This home is located between Whitefish and Columbia Falls, making it a great base to explore the whole Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park. This home has 3 bedrooms and sleeps 8. An updated kitchen and spacious living room can be found on the main level as well as a full bath, and a back entry with washer/dryer, separate toilet closet and separate shower space , perfect for coming back after a long day enjoying the area. Receive 10% off your Swan Mountain Activity with this stay!  Plus, this property (#3120680) currently has a new listing discount on Vrbo.

Montana Dreams Getaway

Nestled on 10+ acres against the backdrop of the Swan Mountains within the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park area, Montana Dreams Getaway home awaits you and your guests. Come and breathe the pristine mountain air, immerse yourself in nature, and reconnect with family and friends. A true Montana experience. If you want to experience the West and be centrally located to Glacier National Park, the entire Flathead Valley, Flathead Lake, the Swan and Mission Mountain ranges, you have found your Montana Dreams vacation home! Sweeping views of the mountains in all directions on 10 acres. Perfect location to relax and refresh. Choose from the Lodge, Bungalow, or Home Retreat. Can also rent a separate space connected only by a common drive that can accommodate 6 more guests. Book now for an unforgettable vacation!

Kandahar Lodge

Kandahar Lodge offers four season accommodations, with special rates for shoulder season lodging. Located at Whitefish Mountain Resort, guests enjoy expansive views of Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley. A European-style continental breakfast is included in room rates. Stay, unwind, and indulge yourself in the luxuries of Kandahar’s mountain lodge.

Swan Valley Images

John K. Mercer of Swan Valley Images, is famous for his  stunningly-beautiful photo images of the Swan Valley, Glacier National Park, and iconic places within the Crown of the Continent region. His work can be found right here at the Crown of the Continent Discovery Center, and is available for purchase. Our gallery is free to browse, come check it while enjoying a Montana Coffee Traders roasted latte from our coffee shop. A Swan Valley Images photo is the perfect memoir from a visit to the area, or from a favorite local spot.

Backslope Brewing

Great local craft beer and great food in Columbia Falls, Montana. Near Glacier National Park and the Crown of the Continent Discovery Center.

AIG Travel Guard Insurance

Travel Guard offers insurance plans designed to cover US and international residents’ needs. Plans include valuable medical coverage, trip interruption, emergency travel services and more.

Wild River Adventures

During the summer, Wild River Adventures offers rafting trips, fishing trips and horse/raft packages in and around Glacier National Park. During the winter, the company hosts the base of operations for Swan Mountain Snowmobiling in West Glacier Montana.

West Glacier KOA

The West Glacier KOA is 2.5 miles away from the West Entrance of Glacier National Park. In addition to tent sites, there is a large log lodge with a pool table, TV and fireplace as well as a heated swimming pool, restaurant and ice cream shop.

Stonefly Lounge

The Stonefly Lounge is your good-times bar in Coram, Montana, just minutes from the Desert Mountain trail system. The Stonefly offers regular free live music and entertainment, a fine whiskey and micro-brew selection, and fuzzy memories nightly.

St. Mary’s KOA

The St. Mary’s KOA is located just one mile from the St. Mary’s Entrance to Glacier National Park. The resort offers traditional tent sites, RV sites and cabins.

Sperry Chalet

Sperry Chalet was built in 1913 by James J. and son Louis Hill of the Great Northern Railway, the prime developer of Glacier National Park. Listed as an Historic Landmark, these rustic buildings, built of native rock, have survived their rugged environment relatively unchanged for over 90 years.

Izaak Walton Inn

The Izaak Walton Inn, in Essex Montana, is an alpine lodge constructed in 1939 by the Great Northern Railroad. The resort is open year round and specializes in cross country skiing in the winter.

Great Northern Resort

Great Northern Resort, in West Glacier Montana, operates a lodging resort in addition to a variety of river activities in the summer. Their lodging consists of custom made log chalets complete with kitchen, cookware and linens.

Granite Park Chalet

Granite Park Chalet was built in 1914 and 1915 by the Great Northern Railway to provide comfortable back country accommodations inside Glacier National Park. It was the last of the chalets built by the railroad and one of the only two back country chalets that have survived. Today this rustic lodge is listed as a National Historic Landmark and it continues to provide comfortable lodging to adventurers and visitors in the Glacier National Park wilderness.

Glacier Raft Company

Glacier Raft Company is Montana’s oldest raft company. In addition to whitewater rafting, they also offer fishing trips and lodging and operate an extensive retail shop called the Glacier Outdoor Center.

Glacier Park Incorporated

Glacier Park Incorporated operates several historic lodges around Glacier National Park as well as the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton National Park. Additionally, they offer several packaged services through partnerships with multiple Glacier-based businesses.

Glacier Park Boat Company

Glacier Park Boat Company has been offering boat rides in the Park since 1937. They operate out of Many Glacier, Lake McDonald, St. Mary, Two Medicine and Apgar.

Glacier National Park Lodges

Xanterra Parks & Resorts holds the primary concession contract in Glacier National Park to operate the historic lodges within the Park as well as the retail shops, restaurants and the historic red bus tours.

Glacier Highland Resort

The Glacier Highland Resort is a one stop vacation destination with a motel, restaurant, gas station, convenience store and gift shop.

Glacier Guides Inc.

During the summer Glacier Wilderness Guides and Montana Raft Company offers guided hiking, rafting and fishing trips in and around Glacier National Park. They also recently built a new lodge in West Glacier Montana.

Glacier Distilling Company

Glacier Distilling is a craft distillery nestled in the foothills of Glacier National Park.  We specialize in small-batch whiskeys that reflect the rugged beauty of our surroundings.  We use local grains and pure glacial water from the Northern Rockies to create alpine whiskeys best enjoyed in the great outdoors.

Eddie’s Cafe & Gifts

Eddie’s Cafe & Gifts is a family owned business, which is located in Apgar Village at the foot of beautiful Lake McDonald just inside the West Entrance of Glacier National Park.

Belton Chalet

The Belton Chalet offers fine dining and lodging in a beautifully restored Chalet and Lodge directly across from the Belton Depot in West Glacier, Montana.

Abbott Valley Homestead

Abbott Valley Homestead offers historic cabins and guest houses right at the head of the Desert Mountain trail system, one of the most scenic snowmobile areas in Northwest Montana.

Whitefish Chamber of Commerce

Whitefish is home to the world-class Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort, the gateway to Glacier National Park, and 7,436 of the friendliest Montana folks – and business owners – that you’ll ever want to meet.  Whether you’re looking for a great place to raise a family, run a business, enjoy your retirement years or simply take a well-deserved vacation, look no further!

US Forest Service – Flathead National Forest

The Flathead National Forest Service, managed by the US Forest Service, is a 2.3 million acre forest which contains both the Desert Mountain trail system and Canyon Creek trail system. The forest stretches along the west side of the continental divide from the US Canadian border south approximately 120 miles.

National Weather Service

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service website provides invaluable information about the weather.

National Park Service – Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park contains pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, it is a hiker's paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, transportation, and stories of Native Americans.

Montana Official State Travel Site

Official state of Montana vacation, recreation, accommodations and travel information website.

Montana Outfitter’s and Guides Association

MOGA is proud to include over 200 of the top licensed professional outfitters and guides in Montana with operations spanning all of Travel Montana’s regions. With years of experience guiding hunters, fishermen, horseback riders, skiers and snowmobilers through Montana’s mountains, lakes and prairies, our outfitters will show you the best of Montana in a Montana vacation customized and personalized to your needs.

Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) enforces laws and regulations regarding fish, wildlife, and state parks, and encourages safe recreational use of these resources (such as safety courses for boaters, hunters, snowmobilers, and others).

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

A great basecamp, Kalispell offers discovery in every direction – from Glacier National Park to Flathead Lake and all around.

Gateway to Glacier Trail

This is a non-profit citizens' organization seeking to build a bicycle/pedestrian path stretching along US Highway 2 from Badrock Canyon to West Glacier, Montana. The path will create a safe zone for pedestrians and bikers as well as a long awaited connection between the Flathead Valley and Glacier Park.

Glacier National Park Conservancy

The Glacier National Park Conservancy is the official non-profit fundraising partner of Glacier National Park. The Conservancy assures the Glacier National Park experience by providing support for preservation, education and research through philanthropy and outreach.

Glacier National Park Associates

GNPA is a private, non-profit whose purpose is to help the NPS accomplish its goals in Glacier Park. GNPA encourages the donation of private funds to complete projects for which Park funding is insufficient. It also organizes volunteers to accomplish projects recommended by Park staff. GNPA educates the public about the Park's biological, geological, and historic resources, and the challenges the Park Service faces in the administration of the Park.

Glacier Institute

The Glacier Institute is a private nonprofit organization that provides hands-on, field-based educational adventures to people of all ages. Their field office is located inside Glacier National Park.

Glacier Country Visitor Information

Glacier Country – the official travel website for northwestern Montana. Find information about places to stay, things to do, special deals, events, travel ideas and vacationing.

Flathead Snowmobile Association

The Flathead Snowmobile Association is a membership of snowmobilers and outdoor enthusiasts who endeavor to educate the public about snowmobiling, enhance the riding experience in the Flathead Valley, promote safety, and provide opportunities for family recreation.

Flathead Valley Convention & Visitor Bureau

The Flathead Valley Convention & Visitor’s Bureau promotes Montana’s Flathead Valley, a destination that offers: 360-degree views of mountains and lakes, one of North America’s premier national parks , recreation options for every age and ability, two nearby ski resorts, nine excellent golf courses, charming & historic small towns and first-class convention facilities.

Flathead Avalanche Center

Based in Kalispell, Montana, the Flathead Avalanche Center covers an area of approximately 3,300 km2 that includes the Flathead, Swan and Whitefish ranges within the Flathead National Forest and portions of Glacier National Park. The goal of this site is to help provide the public with avalanche, snow pack and mountain weather information, as well as provide basic avalanche awareness and education.

Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce

Columbia Falls is nestled in the Northeast corner of the spectacular Flathead Valley. It’s a community which boasts Montana hospitality and family fun like no other. With a central location just minutes from Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake, numerous golf courses, and the Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort, you’ll find year round attractions, accommodations, and dining with honest Montana flavor and value.

Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation connects Americans with their wilderness heritage by providing access to and stewardship of one of the world’s most spectacular places –Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, the crown jewel of the Wilderness System. We help hundreds of hard-working volunteers, including youth, develop a land ethic and give back to the wilderness by opening trails, restoring heavily used areas, maintaining historic structures and fighting weeds.

Bigfork Chamber of Commerce

The town of Bigfork is a picturesque and charming place. World class art galleries, fine restaurants, a 27-hole golf course, live theatre and unique shops can all be found within a quaint Western setting. Located near by, Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall and the Swan Wilderness areas are full of wildlife and offer endless recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Crown of the Continent Geotourism Council

The Crown of the Continent Geotourism Council is a regional network of communities, tourism bureaus, conservation and business groups, educators, First Nations, government agencies, and others working together in the region that includes and surrounds Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in southwestern Alberta, southeastern British Columbia, and northwestern Montana. Established in 2007, the partnership’s focus to date has been collaboration with National Geographic Society on the Crown of the Continent MapGuide and its associated website and implementing a regional sustainable business program.