No need to worry: The bear claws are now available all year.
In its 100th year tucked up the North Fork next door to Glacier National Park, the beloved Polebridge Mercantile is keeping its door open instead of hibernating for winter. The new owner, Will Hammerquist, has decided to keep the popular store open and offer the cherished huckleberry bear claws, cookies and other savory items that make the scenic drive even more worthwhile.
Through Thanksgiving weekend, the Merc will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. During winter, the store will stay open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The bakery items are also now available at the Stumptown Market in downtown Whitefish.
The Mercantile was built in 1914 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It remains a classic piece of Montana history and, combined with the scenic drive along the North Fork Flathead River and the edge of Glacier Park, it’s a destination worth seeking. The shelves are stocked full of handy items, such as medical supplies, for adventurers and explorers alike.
There’s also now a new trail project, the Transboundary Trail, that is located just north of the historic Merc and winds one-quarter mile long with nine different interpretive stops along the path. The name derives from the nearby Canadian border, barely 17 miles to the north.