Montana - What The Heck Does That Mean?!

If you’re new to the Flathead Valley, you’re likely to hear a pattern emerging as you gather new friends, and find new adventures. Things like “Let’s camp in the Bob this weekend”, and “I’ll meet you at Stumptown”, or “Let’s hit the Canyon” will pop up in conversation. We all know we don’t like to appear dumb, so it might sometimes be a

challenge to figure out what the heck they mean. I’m here to help! Here are a few places and their local names, so you can dig them up on line and head on out for some fun and adventure without looking like the newby!

The Bob: Bob Marshall Wilderness, expansive wilderness area east of the mission range.

The Jewel: The Jewel Basin wilderness area near Bigfork, with fabulous hiking and ridgeline views.

Birch Lake is located within the Jewel Basin Hiking Area.

The Big: Whitefish Mountain Resort ski area.

The Boat Club: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

The Lodge: Whitefish Lake restaurant and golf course. Note that this lodge/restaurant is not on the lake!

The Northern aka The Office: Great Northern Bar, arguably the most iconic bar in NW Montana.

The Bulldog: Iconic sports bar in downtown Whitefish.

Craggy: The Craggy Range Restaurant and bar in downtown Whitefish.

Grouse: Grouse Mountain Restaurant in Whitefish.

Gunsight: Gunsight Bar and Grill, a great bar/restaurant on Nucleus Ave in Columbia Falls, hang out for river rats, and music on the weekend.

River Rats: Those of us destined to spend every moment possible on the water, especially the three forks of the Flathead River.

Moccasin: A Middle Fork (of the Flathead River) put-in and take-out in Essex, east of West Glacier. Whitewater section.

Paola: A Middle Fork put-in and take-out off Hwy 2, between Moccasin and West Glacier river access. Whitewater section.

Take Out Beach: A Middle Fork river put-in and take-out in West Glacier. Very busy in summer.

Blankenship: A Middle Fork take-out and put-in on Blankenship Road in Columbia Falls. Very busy in summer. A Middle Fork/North Fork convergence takeout.

Schafer Meadows: A fly-in destination for professional/expert-level, remote, whitewater river rafting.

The Canyon: The area on the east side of Badrock Canyon, as you leave Columbia Falls and head towards West Glacier.

The Reservoir: Hungry Horse Reservoir, located on a beautiful drive on the south east side of Hwy 2.

Kookanusa: Lake Kookanusa, a huge manmade reservoir in Eureka, that extends into Canada.

Sandy Shores, or the Dunes: The beaches that surround the shores of Lake Kookanusa, which become expansive when the water is drawn down in the fall.

Stumptown: Walk-in Art studio in downtown Whitefish, offering various ceramic and fused glass projects, along with classes.

The Tam: Tamarack Brewing Company in Lakeside.

Pocketstone: Pocketstone Restaurant in Bigfork.

Mooses: Iconic pizza joint in downtown Kalispell. Don’t look for a sign...there isn’t one!

The Raven: Iconic dive bar on Flathead Lake, south of Bigfork in Woods Bay.

The Duck: The Sitting Duck, another iconic bar on Flathead Lake in Woods Bay.

Echo Lake: The cafe at the Echo Lake turnoff on Hwy 83.

Seeley: The town of Seeley, Seeley Lake, and the surrounding wilderness.

Aeneas: A specific hike to the top of Mount Aeneas in the Jewel Basin, with stunning views and lots of wildlife. No climbing skills needed, as it’s all on typical dirt/rock trails all the way to the top.

The Swan: Can refer to either Swan Lake which is south of Bigfork on Hwy 83, or the whole Swan Valley, also south of Bigfork and runs south to Condon.

The Merc: Typically means the Polebridge Mercantile located near the west entrance of Glacier National Park, but could also mean the Mission Mountain Mercantile on Highway 83 in Condon, so make sure you ask which one they mean!

Holland: Holland Lake, Holland Falls, Holland Lodge and campground, south of Condon.

Okey dokey, that should get you started! Be safe, and have fun out there!

Carmen

Broker/Owner, Touchstone Real Estate

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