Duck Lake frontage, near Babb,Glacier Park, St. Mary's, Many Glacier,Waterton Pk
About the property
- House2600 sqft
- Bedrooms6
- Sleeps10
- Bathrooms2
- Half Baths0
- Minimum Stay3 nights
Lovely 3 bedroom + 3 bedrooms downstairs, 3 bath home, w wrap-around deck & dock
Our Duck Lake home is a family-friendly, warm and inviting three bedroom (plus 3 more downstairs!) hideaway with all the comforts of home. We (Don and Irene) bought our lake-front lot about 6 years ago as a place to park a camper and enjoy this lovely area alone or with our children and grandchildren. We loved the view from this lot (the lake to the east, & Glacier Park & Chief Mountain on the west), the neighbors (many professionals from all over the northwest), the fishing ( Duck Lake is one of Montana's premier trout-fishing lakes!), and world class magnificent scenery (Glacier National Park with all of its' outdoor activities) that feeds the soul. God's handiwork and His incomparable creative genius is so evident to us that it is hard to imagine not being totally in awe of this Creator of the wonderful universe! And you can enjoy this paradise without the long lines, and hustle and bustle of crowds of people! We decided to build, then found a nice home to move onto a styrofoam-formed daylight basement on our large lot. The large master bedroom has a king-sized bed, and private bath. This bedroom has a lake view. Bedroom #2 has a four-poster queen bed literally 'fit for a queen'. Bedroom #3 is our "kid's room & features a bunk bed with a full bed on the bottom and a single on the top. Children's books and family games are stored in the dresser there. In the closet there is a single 'taco' bed, and 2 port-a-cribs. An air mattress (provided) could be used in the living room. A full main bath (with heated tile floor) has a tub and shower, large living room, dining room, and full kitchen complete the main floor. A small laundry area with washer and dryer is next to the kitchen. The walk-out, daylight basement is close to being totally finished (but now very functional), adding three more bedrooms, (1 king bed, and 3 queen beds), a bathroom with a shower, and a family room with a queen hide-a-bed, and a "game" area with a round table and chairs.
As all the homes in this beautiful area, we get our water from a well. And as all the homes in the area, the water has a high iron content. A water conditioner, iron filters, and a whole house water filter have been installed, but there is a slight iron smell detectable. This water has been tested by a state-approved lab and is safe for drinking. The septic is a holding tank that must be pumped--so water conservation is appreciated.
Large windows in every room brings the outdoors 'in'. There is a lovely deck on the lakeside accessible from the dining room on the main floor. Another large deck cantilevers the lake shore by the garage area! A gas grill, a charcoal grill and table and chairs is available there. This is a historic deck--having been "rescued" --re-purposed---from a remodeling project at Yellowstone Park. It graced the front of the Old Faithful lodge for many years. It is fun to think about the thousands of pairs of feet from all across the world that strolled, skipped, or ran across its planks! Watching the sun come up with a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate on the deck overlooking the lake couldn't get any better! It is also not uncommon to see wildlife stroll or run across the yard, and certainly always lots of water fowl on the lake, as well as large trout jumping. A word of caution, however. Grizzly & other bears have been sitghted not far from our place. Be bear aware!! Cows and horses roam this area as well, and a few friendly neighborhood dogs. This is rural Montana, where livestock and wildlife outnumber people!
We also have a small area between the house and the lake that is set up with a small fire pit and chairs, and some rustic seating logs where you can build a fire, roast hot dogs, or marshmallows (s'mores! Mm, mm!) get out the guitar and sing "Home on the Range", "How Great Thou Art" or any other tune at the top of your lungs if you should choose to. Neighbors would smile, or maybe even sing with you!
The iron pickets in the front fence were salvaged from the recent construction of the new East Glacier bridge. We love the historic touches to our place!
Our garage is still full of construction materials, but a full curved driveway makes room-a-plenty for parking vehicles and/or boats, and there is space to park in the front by the road.. A 'roll out' boat dock is available for our lot's lake access. Glacier National Park is about 15 minutes away. Hiking into pristine mountain areas with roaring waterfalls, snowy banks, nonchalant wild game, majestic trees and beautiful delicate flowers is an experience of a lifetime! Seasonal restaurants, small shops, as well as St. Mary's Lake and other attractions are close by as well. Bring warm clothing if you decide to go over the famous 'Going to the Sun' highway, ( a 'must see')! Snow, icy waterfalls and wild flowers, and wild life plus PEOPLE do co-exist nicely here!
We pray that all who come and stay sense the peace we feel when we and friends and family have enjoyed our Duck Lake home. We welcome you to "Big Sky Country", and know you will fall in love with the views and friendly neighbors you will meet.
Owner
Irene Martin
- Response rate:
- 100%
- Response time:
- within a few hours
- Speaks:
- english, german
- Calendar last updated:
- Apr 10, 2018
About Irene Martin
Don, a retired health systems administrator and business owner is an avid sportsman and Irene, a registered nurse, have lived in and loved Montana most of our lives. About 5 years ago, A friend and Duck Lake year-around resident friend called and told us about this beautiful, lakefront lot that was for sale. We, with daughter Dawn, bought it and spent many months building, upgrading, and enjoying it. It has been mostly a labor of love (but yes, there have been some 'X#*m%vm' moments we'll have to admit). We haven't yet finished all the upgrades that we plan, but the warm and serene atmosphere of the home and it's setting now make it a wonderful place for children and grandchildren to gather, recreate, and relax year around. Two of our grandchildren, Emily and Joshua, caught their very first fish right off our little dock. Em, the less squeamish of the two, handled her trout until we believe most of the bones were broken and the fish limp. Her parents very conveniently left for home without the frozen fish. But Em remembered a few miles out and they had to return and retrieve the trophy! Joshua jumped in glee when he caught his big trout, but did not want to touch it. Dad cleaned it for him! He held it far away from him as we took his picture (now framed in the dining room). Winter months here are not for 'sissies'. Often there is an abundance of snow and frigid weather that makes the surface of the lake becomes a skating rink a foot or two thick, which make the ice-fishermen smile from ear to ear as they sit around their heaters in the icehouse! A few of the over-eager have dropped vehicles into the lake through ice not quite thick enough. We love this area. We think you will too! A sad footnote from Irene: Don, my husband & the love of my life, went to be with Jesus Jan. 2016. His contributions to our place are missed every day. I know he is watching with love and interest as we continue our work. 2 grandsons even say they smelled his English Leather" there.
Irene Martin purchased this House in 2009
Why Irene Martin chose Babb
Location, location, wonderful location! Chief Mountain, Glacier National Park, and Waterton Park close by, and seen from the living room window, the lake seen from the kitchen, dining room, & master bedroom, with premier trout fishing in your own back yard, wildlife, wild flowers, many species of birds, and all the comforts of home. You may see a bushy-tailed fox strolling across the back yard, or a deer, and even a moose. There is solitude when you want it, yet there are social activities when you want them, as well. The neighbors are friends as soon as you meet them. Everyone smiles and says hello. There are no crowds to fight, and no standing in long lines to see or do what you would like. This area is why Montana has been called 'The Treasure State' and 'Big Sky Country'! We've lived and roamed through this area longer than anywhere else, although we have seen quite a bit of the U.S. & the world. We love the beautiful setting, the raw beauty, and being right on the lake. It feeds the soul, and fills us with God's peace. Despit some long, hard winters, we choose to live here. The benefits certainly out weigh any negatives!
What makes this House unique
We've chosen not to bring the hustle and bustle of our busy lives to this place. We don't have cable or dish T.V. or wifi (about 2 years out in our area, we hear), although music, books and movies, and games (and a radio) and intimate family times are there if we want them. We do have a cell phone booster and auxiliary blue tooth phones if we need or want to communicate. But this is a 'get-away-from-it-all place', where a bushy-tailed fox trots through the yard. A white-tailed deer reaches up to munch the leaves on a low-hanging branch, a nervous fawn close by. Loons call from the lake. Fish arc as they jump in the water. Graceful swans gliding on a placid lake surface between boats that float or bob as the fishermen they carry cast graceful arches of line on either side of their boats. Ducks quack, quack, quack their silly-sounding call. An osprey swoops and picks a fish right out of the water. Johnny-jump-ups and other wild flowers riot across fields and hillsides. And all framed by majestic, snow-capped mountain peaks. Our large "wrap around" back patio overlooks the lake. You can catch the various moods of the lake itself, the breath-taking sunrises with a steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate... or just watch the antics of the aquatic birds on the lake... Or roast a marshmallow or hot dog on the fire pit in the back...Could there be a sweeter place? As we/ve been told a number of times, we have the perfect spot to see the lake, but also the mountains that peak in Glacier National Park.
Amenities
- Heater
- Fireplace
- Kids Welcome
- Washer & Dryer
- Parking
- TV
- No Smoking
Bedrooms
- 6 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10
- Bedroom 51 king, Cool basement bedroom
- Bedroom 61 queen, Lakeside view basement
- Bedroom 72 queen
- King size beds (2) Master bedroom & basement master., Queen size Beds (3) Bdrm #2 & 2 basement Bdrms, Baby Cribs (Port-a-cribs(2) and highchair (1), Sleep Sofa (1 queen). (2) single 'taco' bed (roll-away)., Bunk Beds (1) Has double bed on bottom, single on top in Bdrm #3.
Bathrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
- 2
Location Type
- Lake ViewThe sometimes sparkling and other times stormy lake with it's fishing boats bobbing on the surface, and the water birds and raptors swooping over or landing on the surface, looking for a meal is showcased by the kitchen, dining room and master bedroom windows. The kinds of birds change with the season, as birds migrate north and south.
- LakefrontOur home has lakefront access to Duck Lake, one of Montana's premier trout fishing lakes. A 'roll-out' dock is also there. This is not a swimming lake. Very cold with lake weeds for fish habitat.
- Monument ViewChief Mountain, the sacred mountain to the Blackfeet Indian Tribe, is framed by the livingroom and 2 bedroom windows.
- Mountain ViewThe panaramic, majestic, snow-capped mountains of Glacier National Park are also viewed adjacent to Chief Mountain.
- ResortSt. Mary Lodge is close, as is Many Glacier Lodge.
- RuralMontana has 2 cows for every person living in the state, and you will see pastoral views of horses and cows contentedly grazing on lush pastures. Shopping is for necessities and souvenirs mostly.
- VillageSt. Mary and Babb are tiny villages with souvenir and convenience type items available.
Theme
- Adventure
- Away From It All
- Family
- Historic
- Tourist Attractions
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Mobile PhoneCell phone booster and cell phone auxiliary blue tooth phones in house. Requires your personal cell phone. No other phone services.
- Clothes Dryer
- Hair Dryer
- HeatingElectric
- Iron & Board
- Linens Provided
- Living RoomThere is a living room with sofa, love seat & rocking chair upstairs. There is also a living area downstairs with sleeper sofa and side chairs.
- GarageIs not available for parking. Is being used for construction materials @ present time.
- ParkingBoth in front of home, and in curved drive in back
- Parking Off Street
- Parking for RV/Boat/TrailerOff road curved dreiveway for parking vehicles, boat, trailer. Lake access for boats.
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machine
- Wood FireplaceThis is not for summer use. Sorry.
Kitchen
- Microwave
- Coffee MakerRegular drip coffee maker,
- Dishes & UtensilsDishes, bowls, cups, glasses and silverware to easily accommodate 10-14 guests.
- Dishwasher
- KitchenFully functioning kitchen with glass-top stove, coffee maker, blender, toaster, microwave, cooking utensils, dishes and glassware, some basic cooking staples (spices, etc.)
- Cooking UtensilsGood assortment of various sized pots and pans. Slow cooker and electric fry pan. Blender and hand held mixer there.
- Oven
- Pantry ItemsSpices and condiments are available as well as some basics (flour, sugar, pancake mix, some canned items such as soups, etc.)
- RefrigeratorFull fridge with freezer on top.
- Stove
- Toaster4 slice toaster
Dining
- Child's Highchair
- DiningTable (leaves available) to seat 6-8. Counter to seat 2-3.
- Dining Area
Entertainment
- BooksSome fiction and non-fiction.
- CD Player
- DVD Player
- Game RoomRound table and chairs downstairs.
- GamesAssortment of boxed games, mostly family oriented
- TelevisionTV is only for watching movies, or playing games. No satellite or cable.
- ToysA few games and toys in dresser in "bunkbed" bedroom.
- Video Game ConsoleX-Box 360 for games and movies.
- Video GamesFamily type games available.
- Video LibraryLimited movies, mostly family oriented. Also have a good selection of books to relax with after a full and active day, or during inclement weather.
Outside
- BalconyDeck off dining room is about 9 feet off ground.
- BicyclesAvailable upon request.
- Deck / PatioLarge "wrap-around" deck off dining room overlooking lake. Large historic deck (salvage from front of Old Faithful lodge @ Yellowstone Park) on side of garage overlooking lake w gas & charcoal grill.
- Lawn / GardenMostly natural mountain "lawn"
- Outdoor GrillGas and charcoal grills and table & chairs on "Yellowstone" deck overlooking lake. Also fire pit in back yard.
- Water Sports GearSome fishing poles and gear. Some life vests.
Suitability
- wheelchair inaccessibleThere are stairs both to access upstairs and downstairs (3). Doors on upstairs not wide enough for wheel chairs. Bedroom doors downstairs are wide enough for w/c.
Attractions
- churches
- live theater
- museums
- restaurants
Leisure Activities
- scenic drives
- bird watching
- gambling casinos
- horseback riding
- photography
- boating
- shopping
- sight seeing
- sledding
- walking
- wildlife viewing
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- groceries
- laundromat
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- mountain biking
- cross country skiing
- fishing
- fly fishing
- freshwater fishing
- golf
- hiking
- hunting
- ice skating
- kayaking
- cycling
- mountain climbing
- mountaineering
- rafting
- rock climbing
- snowboarding
- snowmobiling
- swimming
- water tubing
- whitewater rafting
- wind-surfing
Notes
- Family friendly, warm and inviting hideaway in one of the most beautiful places on earth. All the comforts of home. A wrap-around deck overlooks the lake. The basement is almost finished, but very useable. The bedrooms can accommodate guests. The main floor is furnished and decorated & ready for guests! There is a boat dock into Duck Lake, one of Montana's premier trout fishing lakes. Our grandchildren, Tate, Emily, Noah, Joshua, & Mia, loved fishing in the summer and skating, sledding and sliding on the frozen lake that was dotted most of the winter with ice-fishing houses.
35 Reviews
Latest reviews
Stunning remote location, yet close to Glacier
Idyllic Place
Thank u for your objective appraisal. Am so glad you enjoyed your stay! It is an idyllic place!
I also hear your concern-- that there is limited access to phone service, no tv and wifi. The phone booster there doesn't work well with all cell providers,and in certain weather conditions. When attempting to get wifi at Duck Lake, the phone company that has exclusive rights (besides satellite) to this area told me wifi is about 2 years out. Most guests enjoy the freedom from electronics. In emergency situations, however, this could be very unsettling. This year, the driest in almost a century, there are wildfires raging in Canada, & the northwest states, including Montana. If you are new to the area, especially in this rural area, Are you safe and what do you do to stay safe?
I have personal experience with the emergency preparedness system that is in place in Glacier Co. & Montana. It is top-notch, trained, prepared and always vigilant. There are trained emergency staff and resources from several agencies (county, tribal, state, park service & border patrol) behind the scenes who know exactly what to do to reach and help people unobtrusively stationed in St. Mary, Babb, and throughout the area who are literally on "standby" for any kind of natural or man-made disaster. They have training exercises, meet regularly, and stay in constant communication through dedicated emergency channels that do not rely on our cell or wifi channels. And we have caring and helpful neighbors who look out for one another. My personal feeling is in any disaster or emergency situation, I would rather be in this area than in any city in our great country. Please be re-assured we are mindful of & do take good care of guests who come to Montana to visit! We want you to know that we have your "back" even when you do not know it!
Please come back to visit again soon!
Duck Lake property
Great property, beautiful location, well-stocked, friendly and responsive owner
Perfect Location
Great location for a nature and mountain get away
Location
Enjoy stargazing, Northern Lights displays, viewing and photographing spectacular wild flowers, wildlife and exquisite nature views, getting acquainted with friendly local folks, meeting and swapping stories with visitors from all over the globe, including the international college students who spend their summers working in and around Glacier Park, view Blackfeet Indian cultural activities and enjoy breathing CLEAN Air! There are 2 native American museums to see in Browning. North American Indian Days happen annually the 2nd week in July. Native dancing, spectacularly crafted Native American costumes from all over the U.S, teepees, and lots of horses and riders congest the celebration arena and Browning itself. Drive very cautiously!! A little later a similar, but a little smaller, celebration is held in the Heart Butte, which is about 30 minutes south of Browning. Live theater and music 'happens' in the Glacier Park lodges in the summer. Hiking trails, nature walks, and boat tours at St. Mary and Many Glacier are so close and spectacular! Grinnell Glacier is a very popular hiking place. Of course, traveling the Going To The Sun Road is a MUST DO activity. The park has historical refurbished "red busses" with nature guides who point of areas of interest, flora and fauna, as well as history of the area. You can get off and spend time at attractions and wait to board the next bus, which comes about every half hour. At the summit is the visitor's center (& restrooms!). There are walkways, and places to roam. You can observe flowers growing from under snow banks. A jacket is a good thing to bring! City folk enjoy the rural setting with cows (2 to 1 per humans in Montana) and horses grazing contentedly on lush pastures. Blackfeet Tribal herds of buffalo (bison) can be observed (and photographed) a few miles west of Browning and about half way between Browning and Duck Lake on Hwy 464. In the spring, frisky red bison calves can be seen frolicking close to their mothers. You will fall in love with them! Be on the lookout for moose, deer, elk and bears and other wildlife anywhere in our area. We have heard elk bugling while out working on our yard. Recently a black bear "visited" a nearby cabin kitchen entering through a screened window close to a sleeping inhabitant and when "encouraged to leave", crossed through our yard to?? A red fox trots through our yard regularly. Winter activities include ice fishing, back country skiiing, snow mobiling, sledding. Close to Canadian border and Cardston, Alberta. Lethbridge, Alberta (Costco, and shopping centers) is about 1/2 hour away. Waterton Park on the Canadian side of the border is close as well. Kalispell, Montana and Great Falls, Montana are about 2 hours away. Between East Glacier and West Glacier towards Kalispell you will cross the tip of Glacier National Park. A must see if you go to or come from Kalispell: The goat lick in that area. Mountain goats traverse steep slopes to a natural salt lick and down to the Flathead River. They often stop to rest in the shade under the highway bridge. There is a parking lot and nice walking path with spectacular views at that turn off. In addition to the mountain goats (& their little kids in the spring) the chipmunks and squirrels that scamper around, unafraid, will leave you with a smile on your face. For those who are railroad and history buffs, Essex (also between East Glacier and West Glacier) is a great place to stop. There is a (Great Northern) railroad museum there and the Whistle Stop Café offers great food. Essex is still utilized by BNSF as a place to keep "helper" engines for trains who haul loads of "stuff" over the steep mountain passes. Essex is also a very popular cross country skiing area. It will leave you panting and very rosy cheeked! Our Duck Lake "Hideaway"is located about 1/2 mile off Hwy 464 on West Shore Duck Lake Road on the right side (lake side). It's a gray house with a wood and wrought iron fence in front. Hwy 464 can be accessed from the east end of Browning (turn at the concrete Expresso tipi), or from St. Mary/Babb side as well. Out of our living room window you can view Chief Mountain, the sacred mountain to the Blackfeet and Glacier Park. Chief Mountain can be hiked around the bottom, but climbing it is off limits to non-Blackfeet.
Rates & Availability
Additional information about rental rates
$150 cleaning fee will be added. We require 2 payments: 1/2 due at booking, 1/2 due 30 days before arrival. No refunds within 30 days of reservation.