The Flathead Valley, named after an Indian tribe who hunted and fished in the region, is the terminal moraine left by receded glaciers in the northwest corner of Montana. Beautiful Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River ( between 5 and 15 miles wide and about 37 miles long ) resulted when the proceeding glaciers met the rugged granite abutment at Polson. Glacier National Park lies immediately East of the Flathead Valley . The Canadian border is approximately 80 miles north of Kalispell. The cities of Bigfork and Somers are on the North end of Flathead Lake on the East shore and West shore respectively. They are bedroom communities of Kalispell. The West shore residents view the beautiful timbered peaks of the Mission and Swan Range of the Rocky Mountains. The East shore residents view the sunset over the foothills of Kalispell and the Cabinet mountains. About 30 miles North of Somers and Bigfork lies the Big Mountain Ski Resort and the community of Whitefish. The Blacktail Mountain Ski Area is about 10 miles above Lakeside where there is never a lift line for your first run.