Really disappointed with how we were treated here, especially after planning around this for weeks…read more This was our first time trying Basecamp Bigfork. We've rented kayaks from other places around the lake for years without issue, even in unpredictable weather, but this year we thought we'd try something new (don't). We had a reservation for the 4th and came fully prepared: rented a U-Haul to transport and store the kayaks, brought our own gear, safety lights, and had a secure location to store the boats overnight. We communicated clearly leading up to the reservation, repeatedly assuring them that we wouldn't go out unless the weather conditions improved. We were asking for the option to maybe go out if it cleared up. Instead, they cancelled the reservation last minute with no room for discussion. They kept bringing up that it was "getting too late," even though we were still within our scheduled time and in regular contact. It felt like they didn't trust us to make our own judgment call, and that was especially frustrating given how much planning we had done and how careful we were being. It completely derailed our holiday plans, and they showed no real effort to accommodate or even acknowledge that. No flexibility, just a blanket cancellation with a shrug. We've dealt with unpredictable Montana weather before and had a plan, but never with a company this rigid or dismissive.

Book Early - It's Amazing if you love nature and DOGS!…read more So, 3 years ago I called in early November to get a reservation for a half day dogsledding trip over Christmas week, and was told they were all booked up. So, when we decided over the summer to go to Whitefish for the holidays, I called and made a reservation (this was in August!). Seriously, it was at least 4 months in advance and I pretty much stalked them until I got confirmation that I had secured a reservation. Upon arriving in the Flathead Valley, I noticed how little snow there was and started to worry that the dogsledding would be canceled, but luckily, Mark texted that it was still on and he had a location that still had snow and we'd be fine. Thank goodness! Upon arrival, we were given a tour of the kennel, met the 6 dogs that were going to be our team, and loaded them up in the trailer. We got a bit of a lesson on how to manage the sled and then drove about 40 minutes south to an area that had a good amount of snow and got the dogs all harnessed up and off we went! There were two of us, so one of us was standing and driving the sled, and one of us was sitting as a passenger. We were able to switch out throughout the trip, so we both got to be the driver for a portion of the trip. When you are the passenger, you can take pictures and video, which is nice, but standing and driving the sled is the BEST part. We sledded down a road for quite a while, letting the dogs take breaks as needed. Mark, the owner of the company, managed the team by cross country skiing along side us the entire way to make sure the dogs behaved, gave us instruction and lead the way. It's quite amazing how much physical effort he puts in for you to have a great time - he basically exercises for two hour straight. The second half of the tour included heading into the back country, sledding through trees on a narrow trail. OMG - this was amazing! We stopped along the river and had hot chocolate, which was such a nice way to enjoy the scenery and let the dogs rest, take pictures and pet and kiss the dogs. If you are still debating if you should do this, I would say don't hesitate - DO IT. Especially if you are in good physical condition, enjoy outdoor activities and love dogs. It is such a unique and amazing day. Also, Mark is a fantastic guide, he makes it fun, light and he is so incredibly nice. The dogs are super sweet (although, they do get a bit rowdy and occasionally get into little tiffs with each other) and the scenery is outstanding. I seriously had a smile on my face the entire time, laughing continuously as we went through the trees. We had a blast and I'm so grateful we got to experience this day, it was the highlight of our trip. Last note, I wasn't sure what to wear. I would dress like you are going skiing. Since sometimes you are sitting, you get a bit more chilly, so dress in layers. I had on Sorel winter snow boots, ski pants, thermal underwear top and bottom, a fleece and a puffer jacket, along with warm ski socks, a warm hat and my ski gloves. If it is a really cold day, I'd get those hand warmers and foot warmer things that you can put in your boots and gloves.