Pursuit Attractions has proposed the Glacier View Tram on Columbia Mountain near Hungry Horse, Montana, which would rise more than 3,000 vertical feet in about six minutes and carry roughly 100 passengers in two cabins. The plan includes dining and viewing amenities at upper and lower stations, no new road construction, and year‑round, accessible operation. The Forest Service received the proposal on Oct. 1 and will first screen it (about 60–90 days) before a likely environmental review. The upper station lies within an inventoried roadless area and core grizzly bear habitat, so wildlife impacts will be a central focus of the review.
Glacier View Tram Proposal Would Carry Visitors 3,000+ Feet Above Glacier National Park
Image Credit: KPAX-TV Facebook.
Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality has submitted a fresh proposal for the Glacier View Tram on the north side of Columbia Mountain, near Hungry Horse, Montana. If approved, the aerial tram would lift visitors more than 3,000 vertical feet to scenic viewpoints overlooking Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley.
Project Overview
The company announced the plan after sending materials to the U.S. Forest Service on Oct. 1. Pursuit says the ascent would take roughly six minutes. Two continuously operating cabins would transport about 100 passengers at a time, with the upper terminal located approximately 1,000 feet below Columbia Mountain’s summit.
Visitor Amenities
Pursuit’s concept includes a lower station south of Highway 2 featuring parking, a restaurant, retail space and an information center. The upper site would offer a smaller café, viewing platforms and accessible pathways. The company says it would fund construction of the tram itself and would not build any new road to access the sites. Pursuit also intends the tram to be fully accessible and to operate year‑round.
Public Process and History
A similar proposal was submitted in 2022 and rejected by the Forest Service in January 2023 because it conflicted with the Flathead National Forest’s 2018 forest plan. Flathead National Forest Supervisor Anthony Botello told the Flathead Beacon that the new submission is "pretty much the same" as that earlier proposal. Pursuit says key changes include a commitment to year‑round operation and earlier, broader community engagement. The company has launched a public website where residents can submit questions and comments; the Forest Service will run its own separate public‑feedback process.
Regulatory Review and Environmental Concerns
The Forest Service received the proposal on Oct. 1 but has not yet accepted it as a formal application. Agency staff began an initial review the same day. The Forest Service must first determine whether the proposal meets screening requirements — a step Botello says typically takes about 60 days but could extend to roughly 90 days for a complex project.
If the proposal clears screening, it would move into an environmental review with public involvement. Officials will evaluate how the tram fits with the forest plan and assess potential impacts on wildlife and sensitive landscapes. Notably, the proposed upper station would lie within an inventoried roadless area and core grizzly bear habitat; the review will examine possible effects on grizzly bears, Canada lynx and other species.
Next steps: Screening by the Forest Service (60–90 days), followed by an environmental review with public comment periods before any approval decision.
For now, the Glacier View Tram remains a proposal. Any final decision will depend on the Forest Service’s screening, environmental analysis and public input.
Help us improve.
