Polebridge, Montana

Jun 5, 2013

I spent last weekend in one of my favorite places–Polebridge, Montana. A beautiful drive of just over three hours from Missoula, Polebridge sits across the North Fork of the Flathead River from Glacier National Park and is about 20 miles south of the Canadian border. It is surrounded by majestic beauty and rough wilderness.

According to the 2010 census, 202 people reside in Polebridge. For most visitors, the main attraction is the Polebridge Mercantile, an old-time general store known for its wonderful baked goods, pastries, and sandwiches. Next door is the Northern Lights Saloon, where Heather and I, along with two good friends of ours, enjoyed “Pizza Night” on Friday and “Prime Rib Night “on Saturday.

For our three-night-stay, we reserved the Ben Rover Cabin, a four-bedroom Forest Service cabin between the Mercantile and the park entrance, alongside the river. Having no running water (we pumped it from a well), no electricity (propane gas-fueled lights illuminate the interior of the cabin), and an outhouse for a bathroom were all pretty easy do deal with for a short stay like ours. Life without internet service or cellular coverage took a little more getting used to. As much as I feel like I want to “unplug” once in a while, the only times I seem to is when it’s forced upon me, like it was last weekend. It was great!

Besides enjoying the town and rustic amenities, highlights of the weekend included a day-trip to Bowman Lake, an incredible trail run next to the lake then back to the cabin on a hilly, winding, gravel road; grilling bison burgers and brats over the open-pit fire, reading next to the river, and card games at night next to a roaring fire. What a wonderful, peaceful, unplugged weekend!