The Best Things to See and Do in Hungry Horse, MT
Hungry Horse, Montana is a tiny little town that is home to big flavor. Montana is known for its huckleberry food items, and the best place to stock up on these delectable goodies is in Hungry Horse.
Hungry Horse isn’t just known for its delectable berry treats though. It’s home to some other eateries you can check out plus a massive damn that’s marveling to see.
Oh, and one more thing — it’s just 15 minutes away from the west entrance to Glacier National Park!
Where to Eat in Hungry Horse
Hungry Horse has two main huckleberry outposts. Each of these stores/cafes have a different vibe so I recommend checking both out. You’ll find some of the same products at both stores, but each also have their own line of products that they carry.
These huckleberry products are also ones you’ll find in gift shops all over Montana, but in Hungry Horse you can get them right from the source.
In addition to the store-bought treats ranging from taffy to chocolates to lotions, all of which are huckleberry themed, each of these two shops have a café on site.
Huckleberry Jam and Pie Factory
Huckleberry Jam and Pie Factory has a casual mountain vibe to it. The store is divided in two: on one side you’ll find a cafe with counter service and tables, while the other side has a large assortment of pre-packaged huckleberry treats and souvenirs.
Huckleberry Factory has a decent selection of clothing and stuffed animals and other souvenirs, plus a plethora of huckleberry flavored goods.
Huckleberry Patch Shop and Cafe
Huckleberry Jam & Pie Company has more of a cabiny feel with a rustic dining area and ordering counter. You’ll see lots of cozy wood accents, and a focus on the pie for which it is famous.
Huckleberry Patch also has a decent size patio in case you wanted to enjoy your lunch or huckleberry pie out in the warm summer air.
Adjacent to the cafe is a well-stocked gift shop with a wide assortment of Huckleberry products and other Montana-themed gift items and souvenirs.
I also like Huckleberry Patch’s book selection in its shop, which almost feels like a little mini Montana book store in the middle of the rest of the gift shop.
Across the street from the Huckleberry shops are two more places to check out for food and shopping during your time in Hungry Horse.
Great Bear Cafe
The first of these is Great Bear Cafe, a great place to get lunch, especially if you don’t want to deal with summer crowds at the Huckleberry shops. Great Bear Café is located in a little alpine-style building and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is made from scratch daily.
It also has an outdoor seating area with grass around it, which makes this a good dining place for families with children. Items on the menu include breakfast staples like scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and waffles; for lunch and dinner you can choose from sandwiches, soup, burgers, and even gourmet mac and cheese.
More Attractions in Hungry Horse, MT
Museum of Wildlife Gift Shop
Right next-door to Great Bear Café is the Museum of Wildlife and gift shop. This is a taxidermy museum that was opened fairly recently by a married couple to showcase their hunting acquisitions from all around the world. I’m not a hunter or taxidermist aficionado, but sounds like a cool place for those who are. You can read more about their story here.
Along with the animals on display, there is a gift shop featuring jewelry (including Montana sapphires), clothing, packaged treats, and more, many of which are locally sourced.
Hungry Horse Dam
Hungry Horse Dam is a concrete arch dam on the South Fork of the Flathead River, located in Flathead County, Montana, United States. With a height of 564 feet and a length of 2,115 feet, it is one of the tallest and largest dams in the northwest region of the US. The dam was constructed between 1948 and 1953 and was named after the nearby town of Hungry Horse.
The history of Hungry Horse Dam dates back to the early 1900s when the need for hydroelectric power in the region increased. The construction of the dam began in 1948 and was completed in 1953. It was built to generate hydroelectric power for the Pacific Northwest and provide irrigation water to the surrounding agricultural lands. The dam has a capacity of 3.5 million acre-feet of water and generates around 428 MW of electricity.
To get to Hungry Horse Dam from the town of Hungry Horse, you need to take the Hungry Horse Boulevard, which is also known as Montana Highway 2, and drive west for about 5 miles. You will see signs for the dam along the way, and the road will take you to the dam’s visitor center and the powerhouse.
The visitor center offers guided tours of the dam and its facilities, as well as educational exhibits that showcase the history of the dam and its importance to the region.
Hungry Horse Dam is located on the way to boat launch areas for Hungry Horse Reservoir, which is a serene place to spend the day.
Where to Stay in Hungry Horse
With its delicious places to eat, close location to Glacier National Park and Whitefish, and proximity to Hungry Horse Reservoir, you may be wondering if this is a good place to base yourself during your trip to Montana’s Glacier Country.
It is! However, with the exception of one small motel, you’ll need to have an RV or tent, or be comfortable staying in a vacation rental or cabin. Here are your options:
Beargrass Lodging and RV Park
This expansive lodging facility right off Hwy 2 and close to the center of Hungry Horse (aka all those amazing huckleberry shops!) has a small motel with 12 rooms that have modern amenities alongside an assortment of RV sites.
The large property is also dotted with a fourplex structure and several vacation homes that are beautifully decorated with a rustic chic vibe. A sleeper cabin and 300-sq-foot tiny house are also available to reserve.
Additional amenities onsite include a pool, coin-operated laundry facility, free wi-fi, a gift shop, and complimentary coffee and tea in the main lodge.
Mountain Meadow RV Park
The Mountain Meadow RV Park has a number of RV sites with differing amp hook-ups. Some tent sites are also available. In addition, five rustic cabins are available to book. Free wi-fi, shower facilities, and a stocked rainbow trout pond area also onsite. The RV Park has a plethora of trees, providing many of the RV sites with some privacy.
