Welcome to Ponderosa Glen, a private 20-acre retreat that sits right above the stunning Ashley Lake—we’ve combined the best of mountain living peacefulness with lakefront fun for the best Montana experience around.
Our home has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and is 3600 total square feet that’s spread across 3 floors.
The master suite is on the main floor, features a king bed, ensuite bathroom with jacuzzi tub/shower, large closet, and a slider to the main patio with amazing views of Ashley Lake.
The 2nd bedroom is on the lower level and also features a king bed, large walk-in closet, private patio with lake views, and has a full bathroom right across the hallway.
The 3rd bedroom is also on the lower level and features a trundle bed with both the top and bottom sliding bed being queen sized.
The 4th bedroom is an expansive loft space that features 2 bunk beds with 2 full beds each (4 full beds total), and a creative lounge space that’s a perfect hang space for all that are sleeping in the loft.
The overall the set-up was really concentrated on having our family and friends around as much as possible. We’re big fans of food :)—and the kitchen and dining set-ups are really important to us. The refrigerator/freezer is very large, so storing food for long stays and big groups is not a problem.
The Area
Glacier National Park
Glacier is approximately 50 miles away. This is a must see! One of the most beautiful National Parks out there with numerous hiking trails, lakes, waterfalls, and everything wild Montana has to offer. I would recommend reserving your tickets into the park in advance. The last couple years, the park had to limit the amount of people entering into the park before 3pm.
Summer Activities
The activities in the summer here in the area are limitless. This includes, but not limited to, hiking, biking, fishing, camping, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, boating, swimming, and multiple national and state parks. If you are planning a trip to the famous Glacier National Park, there are many other exciting activities along the way. Everything from ziplines, hot air balloons, helicopter rides, mazes, and much more. I would highly recommend checking out the Montana Vortex, where gravity defies the laws of physics. Also, being that the house is fairly close to Kalispell, you always could spend the day exploring, shopping, dining, and enjoying all the city has to offer.
Winter Activities
During winter, enjoy our house to the fullest! Stay inside and bask in the warmth from our wood burning stove or our built-in electirc heaters that are installed through-out the house. Enjoy time with your family in the living room and make use of our game room where we have our collection of board games. If the cold does not discourage you, stand outside and contemplate a beautiful frozen lake.
If you are feeling more adventurous in our winter season, you can always take the family sledding, snowshoeing, or even cross-country ski through our 20+ acres! If you venture down to the private lake access in the winter, you are more than welcome to ice fish right there! Keep in mind that we do not plow the lake access area in the winter, so make sure you bring your snowshoes.
Nearby outdoor winter attractions, such as ski resorts and areas, include Blacktail Mountain Ski Area (~1hr 20 min/45 miles), Whitefish Mountain Resort (~1hr/40 miles), Glacier Nordic Center (~50 min/30 miles). There are also many areas to cross-country ski. Another exciting famous winter activity in the area is dog sledging.
During winter, the county keeps the roads maintained, and we plow the 1/2-mile-long private drive before your arrival.
Wildlife and Fishing
Ashley Lake is popular for its record-breaking rainbow trout and kokanee salmon, try your luck! Some of the native wildlife you may spot during your stay include White-tailed deer, elk, moose, bobcat, Lynx, mountain lion, black bear, grizzly bear, wolverine, badger, eagles, hawks, owls, and various other smaller furry and feathered friends. There is an amazing array of different bird species including a pair of loons that live on the lake!
Our home is accessed through a private drive just off the lake. Our driveway features an additional flat parking area in front of the barn providing plenty additional parking spaces for the family.
Morgan, the property manager, is reachable through Airbnb, e-mail, or cellphone for any questions or concerns. He will be available at all times for our guest needs and is always happy to help.
Ashley Lake is a quiet lake community tucked away inside the Flathead National Forest. It’s 4-miles long and roughly 2 miles wide. The lake is 2,850 acres, and has a maximum depth of 225ft. At certain times of the day it glimmers with an emerald colored hue because of light reflecting off the unique pale sediment from the incoming creek.
Recreational boating includes water skiing, quiet canoeing and fishing. Ashley Lake has kokanee salmon, cutthroat, yellow perch and rainbow-cutthroat hybrid.
There are 3 campgrounds located on the lake with tent and trailer sites. Fishing is good for kokanee, cutthroat, yellow perch and an occasional rainbow-cutthroat hybrid. There is a swimming area, boat ramp, picnic tables, fire rings and restrooms provided. Leashed pets are welcome.
Please note, for winter stays you will need 4 X 4 or AWD vehicles in order to access the property and safely navigate the neighborhood. Although we keep the driveway plowed, it is recommended to have studded tires or chains as an extra precaution as the driveway does get icy.
Our home is up a private road just off the lake about 1/2 mile and surrounded by the national forest. We also have our very own private shared dock, lakefront access, and parking area that is for our guests. This dock is co-owned with one of our neighbors. So, if they decide to use the dock area during your stay, please be respectful.
1. Maximum of 6 overnight guests
2. Must be at least 18 years of age to book.
3. No smoking
4. No pets
5. No events or parties
6. Quite hours are from 10:00pm to 8:00am