Location: Polebridge, Glacier National Park, Montana, USA (50 miles from Kalispell airport (FCA) inside Glacier NP) View Map
Accommodations: Cabin Homestead, 3 Bedrooms + Detached Unit, 2 Baths (Sleeps 10)
Located in the northwest corner of Glacier National Park and 10 miles from the Canadian border, the Ranch is a private residence that sits at the edge of Big Prairie on the banks of the North Fork River, a designated wild and scenic river. Enjoy the comfort and convenience of your own cabin with spectacular mountain views in all directions and abundant wildlife. This section of Glacier is rustic and unspoiled as it is relatively undeveloped, meaning there are no paved roads or power lines for 35 miles. Due to our solar energy system, you can enjoy modern conveniences while getting far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. At the Ranch you can experience the true beauty and meaning of Big Sky country!
The North Fork is a designated Wild and Scenic River and from the cabin you can fish, wade, swim, hike and skip stones in the river. Hammocks are located in the trees overlooking the river, making it perfect for book reading and napping, and there is a fire pit and picnic table as well. Two horse-shoe pits invite evening competition.
The Ranch House, which is 1,500 square feet, has two bedrooms and one bath. One bedroom has a queen bed, while the bunk room has two bunk beds and sleeps four. The loft has an inflatable queen air bed which can be used if desired. The bathroom has two sinks, toilet, tub/shower and washer/dryer. The family room contains the kitchen, dining and living areas, which are open to the loft area above. Through the double french doors lies the covered deck, which is 1,000 square feet, with great views of Rainbow Mountain and the Livingston Range of the Continental Divide. The kitchen has a refrigerator, stove, microwave, double sink and pantry.
In addition to the Ranch House, we have a guest cabin which can be added to the Ranch House to accommodate larger groups. The guest cabin is 600 square feet, has a bathroom with shower/tub, a wood burning stove (WBS), couch, table and chairs and sleeps 4 in beds with a queen log bed downstairs and two twin beds in the loft. The covered porch offers sweeping views of the Livingston Range, looking north into Canada.
There are many activities to choose from while at the Ranch. In the summer, enjoy hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing, swimming and sightseeing. In the winter time, you can cross country ski or snow-shoe in any direction or enjoy the local pastime such as burning firewood and reading books!
Two beautiful high mountain lakes are a short distance from the Ranch, they are Kintla Lake to the north and Bowman Lake to the south. No boat motors are allowed on Kintla, so it is the preferred choice for people wanting to canoe or kayak.
The Ranch caretaker has extensive knowledge of the river, lakes, Glacier Park and the Flathead Forest to the West and can help you plan excursions from the Ranch.
Three miles from the Ranch is the Polebridge Ranger Station and the western entrance to Glacier Park. Outside the Park, two miles further is the historic Polebridge Mercantile, which is listed in the register of National Historic Places. The Merc offers fresh baked bread and pastries, as well as coffee and sandwiches. You can purchase basic supplies you might have forgotten in town, as well as gas for the car. Next door, the Northern Lights Café offers great home cooked dinners and brunch on Sundays. Friday nights are pizza nights. Enjoy a micro-brewed beer, wine and cocktails and watch the sun set over the Whitefish Divide.
Of course, there is all of Glacier Park to enjoy including Going-To-The-Sun Road, Logan Pass, West Glacier, Many Glacier, St. Mary and Waterton Lake. There is whitewater rafting in West Glacier, along with horse stables and some shopping.
The Ranch is located approximately 50 miles (1.5 hours) from the Glacier Park Airport in Kalispell (FCA). Delta, Northwest and Horizon provide air service. Car rental service is available at the airport. A unique way to get to the cabin is by train. Amtrak offers the Empire Builder service from Portland, Seattle and Chicago to Whitefish. Please note that the gravel road that leads to Polebridge can be bouncy and dusty at certain times of the year.
In winter the ranch can only be accessed via skiing or snowshoe and is available from Jan through March. Guests must bring their food and supplies with them and do their own cleaning. Linens are provided. Only the ranch house is available in winter and maximum capacity is 8 persons. Please contact us for more information
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: Stacking WD in bathroom of Ranch House.
- Dryer
- Linens Provided: Please bring your own beach towels.
- Wood Stove: Wood is provided
- Beds
- Queen Bed: One queen bed in Ranch house bedroom and one queen bed in guest cabin.
- Twin/Single Bed: There are two twin beds in the loft of the guest cabin
- Bunk Bed: Two bunk beds (sleeps 4) in second bedroom of Ranch house.
- Entertainment
- TV (No Cable/Satellite)
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library: We have a small library of movies on VCR.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill: A gas BBQ is available on the deck of the Ranch house.
- Deck/Patio: The Ranch house has a covered wrap around porch; the guest cabin has a large covered front porch.
- View/Location
- Waterfront, not Lake/Oceanfront. Ask for details: The ranch sits on the banks of the North Fork of the Flathead River which is a designated "Wild & Scenic River". Access is directly behind the ranch. A fire pit and hammocks are nearby over looking the river.
- Mountain View: The ranch looks out to the East at the Continental Divide including Rainbow Mountain and the Livingston Range.
- Communications
- Telephone: There is a basic telephone available for guest use.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters: Minimum age is 25
- Smoking Not Allowed: Please, no smoking inside any of the buildings.
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Sightseeing
- Rafting
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Swimming
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Horseshoes
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Ranch House .... $1,800/week Peak ($1,500 non-peak) (Sleeps 6)
Guest Cabin .... $ 400/week (Sleeps 4) may only be added to Ranch House rental
Winter (Jan-Mar) ....$300/night w/2 night minimum (ski in/ Ski out)
Cleaning fees are additional: Ranch House-$150, Guest Cabin-$75
7% Montana Bed Tax applies to all rental fee, Park entrance fee must be purchased.
50% Deposit holds reservation, balance due 90 days prior to arrival.
Rentals are weekly (Sat to Sat) with Check-in at 4pm and Check-out at 10 am.
Discount available for shoulder season (May & October)
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Wild & Scenic River Vacation Home Inside Glacier Nat'l Park
Year Purchased: 1936
Why the Owner Chose Polebridge
Jack's grandparents spent their honeymoon in 1932 in a rustic homestead cabin in Big Prairie near where our cabin is today. They later moved to Whitefish where they started a veterinarian practice and their family. They purchased a number of the homesteads in Big Prairie and started a dude ranch in the 1950's known as the McFarland "Quarter Circle MC" Ranch. After Jack's grandfather died his grandmother sold the dude ranch and other property to the NPS and built a small cabin nearby on the banks of the North Fork river. Jack spent his summers with his grandmother at the ranch. Several years ago we decided to share this wonderful place with others looking for a special connection with Glacier and the North Fork valley.
The Unique Benefits at this Cabin Homestead
While there are endless activities and adventures to be had just by stepping off the front porch it is entirely possible that your favorite activity will be relaxing on the porch and taking in the view of the mountains. They are majestic, rugged, and breathtaking; extending to the north and the south as far as you can see. They change throughout the day and at night when the stars are out they stand silently and cast shadows. Sometimes the northern lights dance behind them.
But don't forget to get out and go hiking, fishing, canoeing, rafting, exploring, biking or whatever form of outdoor activity you enjoy - there is so much to see and enjoy. Just remember that when it is all over you can come back to the comfortable and cozy cabin by the river and relax with all the amenities you need to recover and plan the next day's adventure.
There is a small primative campground here. No motors are allowed on Kintla so it is great for canoe and kayaks. Hike the trail along the lake as far as you want and enjoy the views. The water can
Rainbow Mountain dominates the skyline at Bowman Lake. There is a larger, more developed campground here. From the foot of Bowman Lake there are hikes along the lake, over the ridge to Quartz Lakes,
This is the old homestead of Judge Miller. This is where the trail to Akakola Lake, Teepee Flats and Bowman lake takes off. You can hike from here to Bowman Lake if you want a back country adventure
This is where Kintla Creek flows into the North Fork river. The fishing can be good at this spot and the views along the river are nice.
Best home made bread, cookies and pastries west of the Mississippi... Dan is the baker and they are fresh everyday first thing in the morning. You can get your basic supplies if you forgot any as wel
Cold beer and drinks, decent basic food and rustic cabin atmosphere. Friday nights they serve home made pizza. Get there early or expect a long wait.
You can hike from here to Quartz Lakes and then over to Bowman Lake. Always nice if someone can drop you off early and pick you up later at Bowman. A wonderful hike if you are ready and looking for
Enter the park here and follow the signs towards Kintla Lake. It is three miles to the McFarland Ranch. From the ranger station you can take the "inside" North Fork road south towards Apgar and We
There is a trail from here to Logging Lake. The hike is relatively flat and the fishing at Logging can be good. A nice round trip day hike.
Owner's Map of Polebridge
We live in Portland, Oregon and travel extensively for work and pleasure. However, we sneak away to our cabin on the river whenever we can. It is a very special place and we look forward to sharing with you. Our guests tell us our descriptions of the cabin and the setting don't do it justice but they agree that words and even pictures can't convey the serenity, tranquility and beauty of the area. So we hope you will be able to come and experience it for yourself.
Jack and Sue McFarland
Property Photos
- Rainbow Mountain from front deck of Ranch House - Polebridge Cabin Rental in Glacier National Park
- McFarland Ranch and Livingston Range - Polebridge Cabin Rental in Glacier National Park
- Relax on the front deck and enjoy the view of the Livingston Range - Polebridge Cabin Rental in Glacier National Park
- Kitchen in the ranch house
- Master bedroom in ranch house
- Front porch of guest cabin with view to the Continental Divide
- Guest cabin has queen bed downstairs and twin beds in the loft
- Fire pit by river
- Bowman Lake and Rainbow Mountain
- Kintla Lake is a beautiful lake to canoe and Kayak
- Mountain Goats on the Garden Wall trail
- The Polebridge Mercantile General Store
- Wildflowers on the Garden Wall trail
- There are lots of hiking trails near the ranch in Glacier National Park
- Kids love to fish near the ranch on the North Fork river
- The old ranch wagon is a great place for family pictures
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #98146
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Date last modified - October 26, 2009
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Kathy and Sean Kozak , Chicago, IL