Planning a trip to Columbia Falls

Getting There -- Glacier Park International Airport (tel. 406/257-5994; www.flyglacier.com) is 10 minutes away between Columbia Falls and Kalispell at 4170 U.S. 2. Alaska/Horizon (tel. 800/547-9308), Allegiant (tel. 702/505-8888), Delta (tel. 800/221-1212), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525), and United (tel. 800/864-8331) offer service. The closest Amtrak station is in Whitefish, 10 miles to the northwest.

Visitor Information -- The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 312, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 (tel. 406/892-2072; www.columbiafallschamber.com), can provide you with pertinent area information. The chamber and the U.S. Forest Service jointly operate an information cabin in Maranette Park on U.S. 2 near the center of town. You can also get Columbia Falls information from the Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission (tel. 800/338-5072; www.glaciermt.com).

Getting Around -- Dollar, 5506 U.S. 2 W. (tel. 406/892-0009), and Thrifty, 4785 U.S. 2 W. (tel. 406/257-7333), both have car-rental offices in Columbia Falls.