Find the top rated birding trails in Polson, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Trail is smooth and hills are not steep. Nice mountain scenery, the only downside is the traffic noise.
The trail is basically uphill going from Hungary Horse toward Glacier, so the ride back to Hungary Horse is fast and easy.
I rode both south and west part way on this trail. On the westerly portion I turned back because the trail runs ride along US Hwy. 2 and the noise was bothering me. The southernly portion also runs along the busy US Hwy 93 but the noise is not so bad. I am just getting back into biking after a two year lay off and this ride was perfect.
Started in Kalispell at halfway of trail and rode south to Somers to Flathead Lake. Sat at the lakeside awhile then went back for lunch at Somers Bay Cafe. Great food, breakfast and lunches. Round trip is 24 miles.
As noted, this is an 11-mike one way trail along the highway, which is busy in the summer months. It does veer off onto old route 2 a few times, past camps & resorts, tucked away from commercial route 2. Well maintained, with stunning scenery along the way, this trail suffices for our quest of “Cycling the 50” states.
This is not a trail you pick for the scenery, although views along this highway are nice. The description in TrailLink is accurate, from what I can tell. I was very happy to have this trail to do. My husband needed to take a break and get some things done at our RV, which left me free to ride, and this trail was perfect. I could get in as many miles as I wanted and I did 40. It wasn't that easy - some nice long and a bit challenging hills made it interesting. If you just want a trail that will give you some nice miles this is great. I am really, really happy it was here. Thank you!
Took the ride from Kalispell to Kila in late August. Nice ride, but as noted a good portion of the trail was right along the road. Did see a couple quail in the brush along the way.
We were from out of town so we rented from Wheatons Cycle shop in Kalispell. Nice folks, and the bikes were pretty decent...Trek. Only disappointment was that the bike shop only offered full day rentals at $35 a day. No half day rentals...made for an expensive 2 or 3 hour ride
It's a nice paved trail, but be warned, at almost every bridge that you have to cross, the asphalt has sunk. This results in the hard concrete lip of the bridge rising 2" higher than the asphalt and when you hit it the damage will range from destroyed wheel to 4 punctures. I don't even ride my road bike on it anymore because of all the damage it receives.
Was looking for a pleasant family bike ride. We rode from Ashley Meadows to Somers. The path parallels, just yards away, from a 4 lane, very busy highway (Hwy 93). Road crossings every 1/4 mile. Very noisy, not scenic at all. The last 1 1/2 miles into Somers was the best part when it finally departed from the highway. I guess we're just spoiled with the amazing bike paths at home (Calgary, Alberta). If you want to ride your bike along over 800km of beautifully maintained asphalt pathways, meandering along rivers, through city and provincial parks, with little-to-no no road crossings, or other traffic interruptions, come visit Calgary.
For someone who rides in the Desert of AZ most of the year, this was a nice change of scenery. If you want to get miles and time in the saddle this one round trip in either direction is good. I started in Somers to Kali where the sign tells you the END and headed back to the train. Stopped at the Conoco for a refill of water. (Super Nice ladies there).
My only complaint is\are the post's or holes where the post should be at trail breaks at road crossings. They are to close together and the jagged holes could do some damage on road bikes. Just be cautious when approaching them.
Overall really, really good ride!
Nicely paved trail winding through Flathead county. The views are wonderful of the surrounding mountains and pastures and fields. There is so much to look at, especially on a beautiful day like today. With only a few turns to slow you down, this would be a great trail to get some distance riding on.
The only downfall is that the trail DOES follow along three different sections of highways. The fumes were a bit much at times.
We will ride this trail again when the weather gets colder. Should be pretty with light snow all around.
One of the problems with the rails to trail group is they don't enforce standards for trails to be "Rails-to-trails". Railroads don't like hills and curves, which makes them a unique ride and riding on 100 year old rail-beds is historic.
The Great Northern trail is mostly in name only, most of the old rail-bed has gone to highway 93 or the McMansions backyards. From Somers, across from the post office is a small 3 car parking area (look for the old logging engine display) the first mile north is on the old rail line and is stunning. Then you cross highway 82 and become a shoulder of highway 93. In Kalispell you can pick up the rail trail on highway 2 just west of town, as you are heading out, look for a blinking yellow light at an intersection, about 100 yards before that on the left is a driveway that connects to the trail, turn hear and drive about 200 feet down the rail trail (yes, it is shared with local driveways) and there is a parking lot. Heading east is true rail trail until you hit 93. Heading west is fake rail trail that follows highway 2. You can spot the old railroad grade in the backyards of the huge houses along the way.
Not the best effort of preserving the rail grade, but heck it is a ride.
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