COZY REMOTE CABIN, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK MOUNTAIN VIEWS, LOVED BY 3 GENERATION FAMILIES, FLEXIBLE ACCOMMODATION, OBSERVATORY, yet only 2.5 miles from the North Fork Park Entrance and 35 mins to Apgar and the Going to the Sun Road. Walk, bike or drive to the Polebridge Mercantile (bakery, pizza and rentals) and Saloon (often with live music). Explore the lightly used Flathead forest trails, hike to Look Out Towers or fish, swim or float the Flathead River and ponds and lakes. Great for ebikes.
YOU DO NOT NEED A RESERVATION TO STAY HERE.
The cabin is cozy with a large wood stove and propane heat. The kitchen has everything you need except a dishwasher and the table seats 14, There is a full bathroom on each floor with one downstairs bedroom and a master bedroom and a walk thru bedroom upstairs. Porches with ample seating on both floors. There is an additional guest sleeping cabin with outdoor shower and sink no bathroom about 30 yards from the main cabin. It has a European wood stove, and great views to the mountains. There is a newly added Kiddies secret hangout great for kids up to about 5 years old. There is a huge fire pit outside, observatory and historic homestead log cabin on site. Need more sleeping space? ask about the 2, 12' x14' Glamping tents which each sleep 2 to 4, available for groups of over 7 at $50/each/night plus $15 cleaning fee They have memory foam mattresses and cotton sheets, cozy duvets and magnificient views. There is plenty of hiking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing from the property. In the summer ask us about 2 additional glamping tents close to the property (each sleeps 2 to 3). They can be found under glamping tent 1 and 2 in Polebridge . A wonderful spot for a retreat or large multi generational family gatherings.
The cabin is approximately 36 miles from Columbia Falls much of which is unpaved. The cabin is accessed by a 0.5 mile gravel road and is remote. The Polebridge entrance to the Park is approx 2.5 miles away, the visitor center at Apgar is a gorgeous 35 minute drive. It is wonderful to retreat to the quiet of the cabin after a busy day in the Park or Forest. Plenty of Parking for boat /raft trailers. The road from Columbia Falls will be snow covered in winter and possibly dusty and bumpy in summer but go slow as the views are tremendous as you follow the North Fork River flanking the mountains of the Park. We have a number of trails on the property and highly recommend hiking to the look out with your evening cocktails. There is a screened in Gazebo with large dining table for family/friend gatherings. Inflatable SUP and kayaks, spinning rods available for use at own risk please ask. Dart board in the old log cabin and other lawn games. The observatory is locked and off limits to guests however Jim loves to show you how it works and the stars. Just ask . It contains 2 telescopes and a solar scope and is perfect for the Montana dark skies.The cabin is remote with no neighbours, the skies are dark with no artificial lights to be seen. The cabin is solar powered with a back up generator. Internet and wifi calling is good so this makes for a great working retreat. Need a river shuttle ? please ask
We can help you with ways to access the Park, and visiting the surrounding 2 million acre Flathead Forest. Guests are welcome to explore the property, we have trails over 200 acres our favorite is a short hike to the "lookout" for evening drinks and sunsets!
The cabin is stocked with essentials, Columbia Falls is the last stop for food, gas and cell service so stock up before you drive up. We share the beautiful landscape with many animals including deer, moose, elk wolves, mountain lion and black and grizzly bears. We are therefore very careful about food storage, use of barbeques etc and hike with bear spray in summer (provided)
Although the Park has a Vehicle reservation system in place for 2025 (details below) there is plenty of things to do outside of the Park, e.g hiking the lightly used trials (dogs allowed) in the Flathead National Forest, exploring the Lookout Towers, fishing lakes and rivers and floating the Flathead River, or take a day trip to Whitefish.
I have tried to simplify below the information for Park access in 2025 but I cannot include phone numbers/website due to vrbo policies.
Last year our guest had no problem getting vehicle reservations the night before. The free shuttle service was also popular from Apgar.
Glacier National Park will once again implement a pilot vehicle reservation system in 2025, from June 13 to September 28, 2025, for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork. Visitors can begin making advance reservations on February 12, 2025. Reservations will be required from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. As in previous years, visitors may enter reservation areas without a reservation before or after reservation hours.
New in 2025, the park will be piloting timed entry reservations for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork. Visitors will enter the park according to the time block they have reserved and can remain in the park for as long as they like on the day of their reservation. Visitors who miss their reserved time block can enter after 3 p.m. Multiple time blocks will be available between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Additional information regarding time blocks will be announced in a separate press release.
“In 2025 we are continuing successful measures from the 2024 season, including access to Apgar Village, Two Medicine, and the East Entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road outside of the vehicle reservation system. Within that successful framework we are going to try timed entry to see if we can minimize congestion, optimize visitor arrival, and improve visitor experiences,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer. “Timed entry should reduce congestion and wait times at the West Entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road.”
West Entrance
One timed entry reservation per vehicle will be required to travel Going-to-the-Sun Road beyond the Apgar Village area from June 13 through September 28, 2025, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can enter before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. Like previous years, visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations can access their intended service within the Going-to-the-Sun Road reservation area with proof of their reservation. Only commercial reservations that originate beyond the Apgar vehicle reservation checkpoint and west of Logan Pass will provide entry in place of a vehicle reservation.
As a reminder, lodging, camping (including Fish Creek and Apgar campgrounds), and commercial activity reservations originating in Apgar will not provide access beyond the Apgar vehicle reservation check point.
North Fork
One timed entry reservation per vehicle will be required at the Polebridge entrance station June 13 through September 28, 2025, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can enter before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. A reservation is not required to access the community of Polebridge which is located outside the park entrance.
Two Medicine Valley and St. Mary
No reservation require. Entry may be temporarily restricted at certain times of day (typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.) when areas become too congested. Visitors with service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, horseback ride, guided hikes) in these areas will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions.
Many Glacier Valley
As the park has previously announced, the Swiftcurrent area of Many Glacier Valley will be closed to public access during the summer of 2025 due to ongoing construction. The closure will greatly reduce the amount of available parking in Many Glacier Valley. The park is currently researching access alternatives for the valley in 2025.
Vehicle reservations will only be available on Recreation.gov, the Recreation.gov mobile app, or through the Recreation.gov Call Center (Reservation Line: 877-444-6777). Each of the specified areas of the park will require a separate reservation. Visitors will need to set up an account on Recreation.gov to obtain reservations. The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.
Vehicle reservations will be available through two booking windows.
· A portion of reservations will be available 120 days or approximately four months in advance, starting on February 12, 2025, at 8 a.m. MST on a rolling basis on Recreation.gov.
· The remaining vehicle reservations will be available at 7 p.m. MDT for next-day entry starting on June 12, 2025.
In addition to a vehicle reservation, each vehicle entering the park is required to have an entrance pass for any entry point into the park. These passes could include any of the following: a $35 vehicle pass, good for seven days; a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass; or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass. A vehicle reservation does not include an entrance pass, and the park entrance pass does not serve as a vehicle reservation.
Visitors are encouraged to check the park website frequently for updates and additional information.
There are no services north of Columbia Falls, get your supplies and ice there before you head up.
We have have maps and guide books and information on our favourite hikes. We can help you plan you day, figure out the Park entry system or if you wish or run river shuttles (extra cost)
The Polebridge mercantile now rents inflatable kayaks, rafts, paddle boards and ebikes which can be booked online under outfitters on their website
In winter it may not be easily accessible due to road conditions on the North Fork. We do snow blow the driveway and parking area. Roads in the Park are mostly closed to vehicles in winter allowing excellent hiking, xc skiing and snowshoeing opportunities. Polebridge is closed in winter so bring everything you need from Columbia Falls.
