Proposal Submitted To Build Sightseeing Tram Near Glacier National Park
A new sightseeing tram may be coming to a mountain close to one of the West’s best-known National Parks, but only if it clears a government approval process.
Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality, a company that operates tourist spots worldwide, including the Banff, Alberta, gondola, announced Thursday that it submitted a proposal to the Forest Service for a tram on the north slopes of Columbia Mountain above Hungry Horse, Montana, near Glacier National Park. The company already operates lodges in northwest Montana.
The proposed tram would include two 100-person cabins and bring guests to a station just below the summit in about six minutes, offering views of Glacier National Park from above. The proposal includes trails, walking paths, viewing areas, and visitor facilities at both the top and bottom stations.
“We are excited to bring forward a proposal that would introduce a new and accessible way for visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy the beautiful landscape of Glacier National Park and surrounding areas,” said David Barry, president and chief executive officer of Pursuit, in a release.
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The planned base facility—with a full-service restaurant and retail space, day-use parking, and an information center—would sit on a Forest Service parcel on the south side of Highway 2.
Pursuit said an economic analysis showed the project would support about 230 jobs through construction and ongoing operations, along with additional employment across the region.
If authorized, the tram would operate under a Forest Service Special Use Permit (SUP), remain subject to federal oversight and permit requirements, and would not require taxpayer funding, according to Pursuit.
Pursuit is now asking for comment on the tram separate from the Forest Service’s public engagement process.
A similar plan was rejected by the Forest Service, the Hungry Horse News reported in 2022, but Pursuit considered that it could revisit it in the future.
At the time, the Forest Service told the outlet that the 2018 Flathead National Forest Plan would need to be amended for the tram based on how the land use there was designated.
“Fast forward five years down the road, we have more data on how we are implementing the forest plan,” Flathead National Forest Supervisor Anthony Botello said, per the Flathead Beacon. “I think it’ll help in that determination, whether or not [an amendment] is needed and whether or not we’re willing to do that.”
The Beacon reported that Botello said any amendment would be made through an environmental review, shared with the public, and be site-specific.
“The proposal must be consistent with the purposes for which National Forest lands are managed and must be in the public interest,” said Tami MacKenzie, Deputy Forest Supervisor, in an email.
According to a Forest Service release, the initial screening criteria for the agency involve figuring out if the tram meets that public need and if Pursuit has the finances and ability to operate it. An environmental analysis and public involvement would then follow.
If the proposal meets the criteria, Botello said in the release, “I am committed to working with the public and Pursuit to evaluate this proposal and make an informed decision. I am looking forward to engaging with the community.”
Gary Rodgers, Pursuit’s Pacific Northwest COO, said in a statement that his company is fully “committed to meeting any Roadless Rule requirements and any other federal, state, and local requirements relevant to the review process” for the tram.
Pursuit said on a website dedicated to the tram that the latest approach differs by involving residents “through frequent project communications and ongoing opportunities to submit feedback,” noting that the previous outreach effort was “much smaller and, frankly, insufficient to the task.”
The company also said that the new proposal calls for year-round operations, a departure from the last pitch. The change, Pursuit said, “grows the value proposition for our local, recreation-driven economies across the valley.”
Otherwise, the latest tram proposal looks much the same as the last one. It has already drawn pushback.
Local outlets reported that Keith Hammer, the chair of the Swan View Coalition, a local conservation group, expressed opposition to the project and argued that it would further fragment wildlife habitat already broken up by nearby infrastructure and human use in the Flathead River corridor.
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