4 hours | 240 miles
Flying into Spokane means your trip to Bigfork begins with an adventure through three states and some of the most beautiful terrain in the Inland Northwest. This route takes you from mountain passes to river valleys, and hot springs, the perfect prelude to your Bigfork vacation. Leaving Spokane, head east on I-90, toward Coeur d’Alene. Make your first stop count with a stroll along the 3,300-foot floating boardwalk, the longest in the world, or take the easy two- mile Tubbs Hill Trail right from downtown to soak in panoramic lake views. When you’re ready to refuel, pop into Moon Time, a favorite neighborhood pub with globally inspired comfort food and one of the best beer lists in town.
Back on I-90, you’ll drive through the forested mountains of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, climbing toward Lookout Pass and crossing into Montana. Stop in Wallace, Idaho, along the way. This quirky silver-mining town claims to be the Center of the Universe and has one of the best preserved Main Streets in the Northwest. Into funky history? Visit the Oasis Bordello Museum, or if you’d rather stretch your legs outside, Wallace is the gateway to more than 1,000 miles of former mining and logging roads that have been converted into the world’s largest trail network for biking, ATVs, and snowmobiles.
Once in Montana, follow the Clark Fork River to the St. Regis Travel Center, a family-owned road-trip tradition since 1962. Grab a huckleberry shake and browse the gift shop before heading north. Pro tip: take the 2-mile exit just west of St. Regis to cool off in a favorite local swimming hole.
From St. Regis, follow MT-135 as it winds into the wide valleys towards Plains – watch for eagles and ospreys fishing the bends. Here the river flattens into open ranchland, offering dramatic big-sky views. Continue east before turning onto MT-200 and then on to MT-28 and as you head toward Hot Springs, a town known for its mineral pools if you need a soak.
As you approach Elmo, you’ll catch your first breathtaking view of Flathead Lake – a sweeping expanse of blue. From here, MT-93 takes you up the west shore of Flathead Lake. This stretch hugs the waterline with several scenic pullouts to take in the views of Wild Horse Island and the Swan Range.
