Flathead Beacon - News for Montana's Flathead Valley (original) (raw)

Environment

Mountain Lakes of the Swan

With 4,000 glacial potholes, ponds, lakes, marshes, wetlands, and a 1,300-mile network of streams, the Swan Valley is the wettest watershed in Montana

By Kay Bjork

The Latest

Flathead Living

Food

Meet the Chef: Casa Luna’s Joel Lepe

Lepe worked with Kalispell restaurant owner Ruby Valera to blend traditional Spanish fare with Montana’s rustic regional flair for a dining experience that is both upscale and accessible

By Pete Avery

Glacier Journal

Tips for Getting into Glacier National Park in 2026

For the first time in five years, visitors can access all of Glacier National Park’s entrances without a vehicle reservation. But visitors will still have to navigate changes in 2026, including Logan Pass parking restrictions, a new reservation-only shuttle system, and construction-related closures. Here’s what to know.

By Tristan Scott

Books

A North Fork Legacy

“Trail Creek: A North Fork Saga” documents the lives and philosophies of two homesteaders on the outskirts of Glacier National Park just south of the U.S.-Canada border through the lens of a wildlife biologist

By Maggie Dresser

Sponsored by Flathead Rivers Alliance & American Rivers

Celebrating 50 Years of Wild and Scenic

The July 10th Flathead River Fest at Marantette Park celebrates the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River

NEWSLETTERS

OPINION

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Tourism

Flathead Valley Spring Tourism is Strong Despite Economic Headwinds

Hotel occupancy and Glacier visitation are up, but travelers are being more selective, taking fewer trips and choosing road travel over flying

Education

Methamphetamine Contamination Shutters Doors of Trego Elementary School

The contamination, found in the school’s library and in a school-owned property, has resulted in a need for remediation before students can return. The school’s roughly one dozen students completed their year in Eureka.

Photo Essay

Glacier’s Awe-Inspiring Landscapes

The stories behind some of our favorite images of the park

Police Blotter

Recent Podcasts

Project 7

A six-part series on notorious Flathead Valley militia leader David Burgert, who vanished into the wilderness after a shootout with sheriff's deputies in 2011