This Alpine Gem Near Glacier National Park Is A Nostalgic Fairytale Treehouse Stay For Adults

Glacier National Park's rustic cabins and Swiss-style lodges have a pretty distinct old-school kind of flair about them. The vintage accommodations are about as nature-centric as it gets, favoring immersion in the surrounding Montana wilderness over modern amenities. That said, you don't have to miss out on contemporary comforts to experience the great outdoors. You can find a luxurious stay within reasonable driving distance from the national park's main gates at Snow Bear Chalets. 

Situated on a slope at Whitefish Mountain Resort, this ritzy vacation rental property is about 34 miles from Glacier's West Entrance. The place is somewhat unconventional, with storybook-worthy treehouses and magical indoor stargazing turrets that kids will undoubtedly love. For grown-ups seeking a sophisticated escape, the Snow Bear Chalets definitely check all the boxes, too. The bedrooms are decked with high-thread-count sheets and bed warmers, and the kitchen is fully equipped with high-end appliances, including a Vitamix blender for pre-ski breakfast smoothies. 

Of course, if you want to sit down and enjoy a full meal, there are spacious dining areas both inside and outside of the chalet. Don't feel like cooking? Consider splurging on the grocery shopping service and private chef. As one guest shared in a Google review, "From the well appointed kitchen [to] always having toasty toes on the thermal heated floors and heated beds ... everything is well thought out for our comfort and fun." A private deck with a hot tub and the stunning alpine scenery are just the icing on the cake. They added, "We felt like we were in a snow globe when it was dumping big fat snow flakes outside!"

The Snow Bear Chalets are just a 15-minute drive from Montana's most charming small town of Whitefish. Dubbed the "world's first ski-in/ski-out treehouses" on the property's website, these accommodations definitely exude a more whimsical kind of nostalgia, compared to the historic lodges in Glacier National Park. Inspired by classic fairytales, the trio of treehouses serve as the property's centerpiece. Standing 25 feet above the ground, the multilevel structures are supported by beams disguised as tree trunks, giving them a woodsy feel. 

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom Ponderosa Treehouse lies right on the edge of Whitefish Mountain Resort's Hope Slope run. The earthy chalet is the most popular of the three, and was ranked among the 25 All-Time Favorite Properties in the World by Vrbo in 2020. The Tamarack Treehouse, sandwiched in the middle, has the same layout, while the Cedar Treehouse is the biggest, featuring three bedrooms and four bathrooms. 

The slopeside retreat underwent an expansion in fall 2020 with the addition of seven luxury chalets, housed in a three-level building next to the other abodes. The spacious two- and three-bedroom units, along with the treehouse-themed chalets, were put up for sale to private owners. But you can still find many of them listed on Vrbo and Airbnb.

The Snow Bear Chalets sit about halfway up Big Mountain, a some 6,800-foot peak in Montana's Whitefish Range, part of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Needless to say, the views around this alpine paradise are nothing short of extraordinary, especially during the wintertime. Step right outside your door, strap on your skis, and tackle Whitefish Mountain Resort's Hope Slope, a beginner-friendly trail next to Chair 3. Ride the chairlift to the summit for the best vantage point of the surrounding mountain scenery. On a clear day, you may even be able to see Glacier National Park, a.k.a. the "Crown of the Continent," and Whitefish Lake, Montana's captivating gem for water-skiing and camping.

If you do want to hit the slopes, you can rent skis and snowboards at Whitefish Mountain Resort. The resort also has bicycles available to rent if you want to tackle the slopeside trails during the warmer months. The rugged terrain is actually pretty popular among mountain bikers, so don't forget your helmet if you plan to cycle. Of course, you can also just enjoy the views from the comfort of your treehouse abode. "We really enjoyed watching the tricks the skiers and snowboarders were doing at the terrain park right outside our window!" one guest shared in a Google review. "This was the perfect vacation for us! Nobody wanted to leave."