TRAVEL INFORMATION Know Before You Go

Noah Couser

Polebridge

The tiny, off-the-grid outpost of Polebridge is brimming with personality and charm. It’s less than a mile from the northwest entrance to beautiful Glacier National Park, with access to Bowman and Kintla lakes (though the roads into both are rough). Polebridge is also a stone’s throw from the iridescent blue-green waters of the North Fork of the Flathead River, just a few miles from the Canadian border (not a border crossing), and a 35-mile drive from West Glacier (on a primarily dirt road).

This eclectic, seasonal community features minimal structures, with a handful of houses, cabins, a hostel and a few small ranches along the North Fork Road, with the iconic Polebridge Mercantile as its “hub.” This towering red icon is known the world over for its quirky charm. Behind it, the towering snowcapped peaks of Glacier National Park set a timeless scene. Polebridge is also home to the Northern Lights Saloon, a one-of-a-kind rustic bar seemingly in the middle of nowhere—a far-out little spot with unique personality.

Polebridge is entirely off the grid. There is no cell service, internet, Wi-Fi, running water or flush toilets. Accommodations in Polebridge are limited to primarily cabins and a hostel, and there are no accommodations in the winter. The nearest community with modern facilities is West Glacier, (27 miles/52 minutes), though Columbia Falls (35 miles/60 minutes) and Kalispell (52 miles/90 minutes) have the services necessary for film crews.

Visitor + Business Information

Government

Fire + Safety

Hospitals

Transportation

Population

>100 (10 in the winter)

Elevation

3,514’

Climate

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Average High

29

35

44

54

63

71

79

79

68

55

38

29

Average Low

7

9

17

24

32

38

41

39

31

24

17

9

Public Lands

Accommodations

Polebridge only has a few rustic cabins and a hostel. Film crews can find lodging and services in Columbia Falls and Kalispell.

Film + Television Credits

Movies: Warren Miller’s Line of Descent

Television: Unsolved Mysteries

MOTBD
Polebridge Mercantile  Photo: MOTBD
North Fork of the Flathead River
North Fork of the Flathead River  Photo: MOTB
North Fork Hostel
North Fork Hostel  Photo: MOTB
Fall in Polebridge
Fall in Polebridge  Photo: Kelly Javanmardi
Demers Ridge Trail
Demers Ridge Trail  Photo: Noah Couser
Outside North Fork Road
Outside North Fork Road  Photo: Noah Couser
Winter Views of Glacier National Park
Winter Views of Glacier National Park  Photo: Noah Couser
Winter Views of Glacier National Park
Winter Views of Glacier National Park  Photo: Noah Couser
NORTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD RIVER
NORTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD RIVER  Photo: CHRIS SAWICKI
POLEBRIDGE MERCANTILE
POLEBRIDGE MERCANTILE  Photo: CHRIS SAWICKI
POLEBRIDGE
POLEBRIDGE  Photo: CHRIS SAWICKI
POLEBRIDGE MERCANTILE
POLEBRIDGE MERCANTILE  Photo: CHRIS SAWICKI
NORTHERN LIGHTS SALOON STAGE
NORTHERN LIGHTS SALOON STAGE  Photo: CHRIS SAWICKI
NORTHERN LIGHTS SALOON
NORTHERN LIGHTS SALOON  Photo: CHRIS SAWICKI
POLEBRIDGE MERCANTILE
POLEBRIDGE MERCANTILE  Photo: CHRIS SAWICKI
HOME RANCH BOTTOMS STAGE
HOME RANCH BOTTOMS STAGE  Photo: CHRIS SAWICKI
HOME RANCH BOTTOMS
HOME RANCH BOTTOMS  Photo: CHRIS SAWICKI