Secret Seasons
Enjoy a spring or fall Secret Season getaway at the Garden Wall Inn. Abundant waterfalls and early wildflowers define springtime. In autumn, vibrant colors line lakes, rivers, and trails. During our spring and fall seasons, Glacier National Park welcomes visitors at a slower pace, and Whitefish is a perfect base for your stay.
Spring
Ride bicycles, or walk along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, when cars are not yet permitted, and take in the scent of cedars and the subtle variations in the many shades of green. Rent bikes from our friends at nearby Glacier Cyclery.
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Your Own Going-to-the-Sun Road
In springtime, the Going–To–The–Sun Road is open exclusively to bikers and walkers. Savor the scenery at a slower pace on this and many other cycling opportunities in the area.
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Glacier Wildflowers
Be the first to spot early–season Glacier Lilies , Trillium and Shooting Star wildflowers as you picnic in old–growth forests near waterfalls and splashing cascades.
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Birding
Northwest Montana is home to a wide variety of bird species, and hosts many more winged visitors, such as Snow Geese and Tundra Swans as they travel along their migration corridors. A special visitor is the Harlequin Duck that nests along the rivers and lakes in Glacier National Park. Listen and you might hear the call of the common loon, another favorite seasonal resident.
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Rivers and Lakes
Hundreds of miles of Wild & Scenic rivers and dozens of pristine mountain lakes provide endless opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting.
Autumn
Mountainsides of bright yellows and greens and reds compliment crisp, clear days. The trails and roads and rivers in Glacier National Park and around Whitefish are yours to explore at a slower pace. Return to the Garden Wall Inn to relax in front of a real-log fire before dinner at one of Whitefish’s award-winning restaurants.
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Autumn Colors
From late September to early November the mountainsides light up with fall color – first, the yellows and reds of Aspen and Birch, followed by the Tamarack's golden needles.
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Birding
Northwest Montana is home to a wide variety of bird species, and hosts many more winged visitors as they travel along their migration corridors.
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Fly Fishing
Fall hoppers catch native westslope cutthroat trout on the beautiful Flathead River system, or on nearby lakes.
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Rivers and Lakes
Hundreds of miles of Wild & Scenic rivers and dozens of pristine mountain lakes provide endless opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting.