lodgepole gallery and tipi village

My family just stayed at the wonderful authentic tipi village just west of Browning MT. I live only 30 miles from the village. To the bad reviewers- YOU ARE STAYING IN A TIPI, what did you expect? Yes is it on the ground, yes there are natural things on the ground, like bugs, gophers (along with their holes), etc. but it is supposed to be an AUTHENTIC experience. If you want a hotel, stay in a hotel. As for the price.... our climate in northern Montana means that amazing places like this can only be open for a few short summer months. They must earn their living from mid-may to mid-september. There is no way that any business could operate if they charged bargain rates for this short season. My experience- My entire family loved it. We had our two sons (ages 3 and 1) with us. They had a blast. We booked an art workshop where we made drums and a par fleche, so fun! Keep sakes by which we will always remember our stay. We did the dinner (PLENTY OF FOOD) very good home-cooked family style dinner (buffalo meatloaf, chicken, polenta, salad, fresh bread, steamed veggies) yummm. We also signed up for the evening talk. After living just off the reservation for 7 years I didn't think I would learn much, but I was wrong. Sign up for the talk to have a better understanding and appreciation for the culture and history of the Blackfoot nation. Loved it. Want to stay again. Anytime I have family visiting in the summer I am going to bring them here!Thank you Darrell and Angelika for a great experience and for sharing your love of the Blackfoot culture with me and my family.

Great, authentic tipi camping experience. If you like camping and are in Glacier National Park area it is a must-stay experience. Reasonable rates, friendly service and good food (although the quantities could have been a little more substantial for hungry travelers).While there may be some complaints on TripAdvisor regarding the "primitive nature" of the accommodations, one must remember - it is a TIPI CAMP.... hello? If you want luxury, stay at the pricey park lodges, duh!The primitive nature of the camp and tipis is actually a nice change of pace from the overwhelming opulence of many other Glacier Park lodges and hotels, plus offers a unique perspective on the Native American history of Glacier Park that really cannot be found elsewhere.All in all, we actually had a better quality of sleep here than we did during any of our other nights in hotels or park lodges. We look forward to staying again next time we come back to Glacier Park area in a few years.

Wanted to sleep in a Tipi.The experience was nice, but the potholed gravelly incline getting up to the main area was a challenge on a motorcycle. Owners were very friendly and there is no luxury involved in the experience other than they do have an inside restroom shower area. You get a sleeping pad, sleeping bag with a freshly laundered liner, a pillow and a blanket. Wood is provided for the inside Tipi fire and the ground is dirt/dried grass, so be prepared. It is Rustic and authentic.Not my best nights sleep, keeping the fire going to stay warm, but we did it. One off the bucket list.

I agree with some of the reviews here which mention that staying in the tipi is overpriced for what you get. But, like me, they all knew ahead of time what it was going to cost and they chose to pay anyway. You didn't actually expect there to be bathrooms in the tipi's, did you? I paid $99 for two people and rented two sleeping bags and mats. This is more than a campground but I had never slept in a tipi before and I wanted to do it. For one night, it was a worthwhile experience.We did not eat here but went in to East Glacier instead. The bathrooms were clean and so was the common room. There were only a few other tipi's occupied the night we were there so it was quiet and there was more than enough space for all of us to use the bathrooms at the same time.

My daughter and I just spent a most memorable night at the Lodgepole Tipi Village. And I want to say something about the negative comments for this precious little piece of heaven created in the spirit of cohabitant, freedom, sustainability in keeping with the traditional lifestyle of the Blackfeet Reservation. As we were driving towards Browning (the camp is located about 2 miles from the town center) from St Mary where we stayed 2 nights before, we notice how open and natural the landscape is, compare to areas in and around the Glacier National Park. The Lodgepole is very much in keeping with that open spirit. Camping on this open plain in a well-kept tipi set up in the traditional way-facing the rising sun and against the sun rise-, with a fire-pit in the middle and dry wood readied in two neat piles, one inside and one outside, the canvas of your imagination is open to seeing how the Blackfeet people used to live and roam freely on this land, coexisting harmoniously with all its living creatures (the ground squirrels are a part of the package), and plants; I have seen the most wild flowers here than anywhere else inside the park. The owners, Darrell and Angelika are gracious hosts and full time artists, dedicated Blackfeet Reservation members whom spent their lives preserving, keeping the vanishing tradition of their people, and making this precious experience available at a very affordable rates to anyone. If you purchase the dinner and breakfast, which I highly recommending doing, you will find the home-cook meals satisfying to your stomach and your souls, specially if you have spend a few days to weeks eating in and around the park. Another advantage in staying here is the nearby Two Medicine Lake. The drive to the lake from here are physically and visually awe inspiring. The winding road through the majestic mountains and valleys is refreshingly empty, and so is the lake. Its setting is like a smaller version of Many Glacier minus the obnoxious presence of too many tour groups, and because there is no lodging except a nearby camping lot, it is a very peaceful and beautiful place for relaxing exploration. There is a nice general store (in historic 100 years old building) and bathroom facilities, boat and kayak rental and scenic cruise with guided hike. Unlike the larger Lake McDonald and St Mary, Two Medicines is blessed with long pebble beaches and numerous well kept and easy water falls hiking trails where you can access by taking the historic boat ride across. From the people I talked to, everyone said this is the best kept secret (now the secret is out, don't hate me) inside the Glacier National Park. And the stories about the Two Medicine are the most in-tuned with Blackfeet Nation to whom the entire park used to belong. The tranquility and accessibility of this lake makes it my favorite of the three visited on this trip. If you go, plan an early arrival when there's less chance of strong wind and water is mirror like reflecting the surrounding mountain peaks, you can then rent a kayak and glide along its intimate water ways. Imagine that!Lodgepole is an experience of a lifetime, it is the only place around the Glacier where you can embrace the sun without obstruction, experience art and nature the way Blackfeet tradition intended; I was very impressed with the aesthetics and details all around, this is a dream weaved together very thoughtfully by two dedicated artists. A side note about Browning. It is depressing to be there, but that shouldn't be the reason to avoid. 70% unemployment rate is the cause of its appearance, and guess what can change that situation? Your visit. However little you spent or don't spent at all, having people visiting will help change the image of the place and increase employment opportunity for the local people. At a minimum, pay a visit to the Museum of Plains Indians, which houses many exquisite beaded art objects (clothing, tools, toys, instruments) of the Blackfeet people, and a gallery where you can meet another Blackfeet artist demonstrating art making, and have a real conversation to learn about the people and their lives today.

Let me preface my review by saying that bugs and sleeping on the ground don't bother me one bit so this experience was perfect for me! After almost two weeks of driving and national parks, this was exactly what I needed - space to roam, quiet, and beautiful views. The owners were gracious and accommodating. We showed up hungry and the hosts had plenty for us for dinner (as we couldn't find what we wanted in Browning and weren't sure if we could "crash" dinner). Their gallery has many beautiful items. The bathrooms (found away from the tipis) were clean. The tipi grounds were clean and there was a sufficient room for four people (three with air mattresses) in the tipis. An additional space is available very close to the tipis to cookout if you choose. I would absolutely stay here again!

This is not the place for a person who will not camp. But if you are willing to camp, it is fantastic. It is rustic but homey and welcoming. The owners are so nice and friendly. We only got to stay for one night and arrived very late but they were super accommodating. Yes, there are holes in the ground from the ground squirrels but just watch your step. This is not the Ritz Carlton but it was so much fun. We went early in the season so they were not crowded. The owner made the biggest most amazing breakfast for just my friend and I. There was no way we could eat all the food. There was cereal, danish, sausage, bacon, egg casserole, pancakes, on and on. So much food. He was so nice and pleasant to speak with. They also have a great art gallery in the rear of the building. This art gallery is worth the visit even if you are not spending the night. It is a beautiful place. I can not say enough about the owners. What genuinely wonderful people. The view of Glacier National Park is amazing. We stayed at the Tipi camp on our way to the Glacier. This is a must visit location!!!!

The gallery has excellent art very fairly priced. Owners are friendly and knowledgable, a most pleasant place to visit and find a treasure.

If you are looking for an experience where you can spend way to much money sleeping in the back yard of some man's property then this is the place for you. You will sleep, maybe, on the ground, (unless you want to pay for a flat mat at $5 a night), with rocks, holes, grass, and horse poop, which is surley how the Natives must have done it. I have no problem sleeping on the ground, but at least remove the rocks and holes. There is no lighting so bring a flashlight, unless you want to break an ankle on the way to a bathroom,(HOLES EVERYWHERE). In addition, you can sit and listen to a talk about the Blackfeet Natives from a man who can't even remeber talking to you on the phone two days prior. Dinner will cost you at least $20 per person and breakfast is $13 per person and don't expect anything too traditional as danishes and orange juice are not what I would consider Native American. Don't plan on spending any time in Browning the Locals wont even go there. The state of the town is so sad it made me want to cry while I handed out food to a homeless girl and her baby. Yes, the sounds and landscape are beautful, but it hardly makes up for everything else. In short, don't waste the travel time or money. Stay in Glacier.

First, these are real tipis. If you don't enjoy camping - especially having to walk to the bathroom, this is not the place for you. That being said, if you enjoy sleeping outside and love hearing coyotes howl at night and watching shooting stars pierce the wide-open night sky in the plains, this is the place for you! Also, you should be aware, this is probably a 20-45 minute drive to Glacier National Park, depending on which entrance you plan to be using. There are Spanish mustangs which frequent the area in the mornings and a variety of other wildlife can be spotted (or at least heard) on occassion. This is the sort of experience that you will get out of it what you make of it - if you are expecting a big commercial campground with pools and stores, you will likely be disappointed. If you want a feel for what it is like to sleep in a genuine tipi on the plains of Montana looking toward Glacier, you will truly enjoy this experience! Also, inside the main house is some amazing art and local crafts. Really fun to browse through!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Tipi Village. Our hosts went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable, including considering our dietary restrictions. The site is lovely and it was very enjoyable to have a fire in our tipi at night.

We stayed at the Lodgepole Tipicamp for two nights after staying at a nearby KOA Kampground. In comparison, the KOA Kampground offered more to do (hot tub, pool, game room, store, etc.) and the Kabins were a much better value. We paid $125/night for our tipi for a family of four including an extra charge of a mat for $5 each per night. Photos posted online do not illustrate the proximity to the highway, railway and the house - this ultimately felt like tent camping in someone else's backyard.While Darrell may be an expert in Blackfeet culture but does not handle the details of the business well. He & & his wife are not able to communicate effectively and were confused about our prearranged meal reservations which we ended up forgoing. The walk from the tipis to the bathrooms & parking is about 100 yds over rough ground. Food & drink are not allowed in the tipis but can be kept in the common room in the adjacent house. An outdoor common cooking area is provided with picnic tables & firewood. Bathroom facilities are clean & serviceable but rustic with water temperature changing rapidly. The best aspects of our visit were the cats & horses at the site.My reasoning for the poor rating is that I felt the tipis to be overpriced relative to campgrounds in the area with more / better amenities. The cultrual aspect may well be worthwhile but you can take advantage of that without staying overnight. I'd recommend no more than a one night stay.

We shared a large tipi with our 4 children. There was plenty of space for everyone. It was a unique experience. Being on the prairie was quite lovely, though the wind was a little crazy. Beautiful sunset and stars!

We stayed here for 1 night and found the experience better than we thought.We also booked the traditional dinner which we ate with the owners and another couple,we then had a talk about the blackfeet history and traditions,the talk was supposed to last 2 hours but it only lasted 1.15 hrs maybe it was because we were the only ones there although we did try to ask questionsThe toilet facilities were a bit basic but then we didnt go here for luxury so accepted it for what it was.We had booked the breakfast in the morning which couldnt be faulted.A very wonderful experience,thank you again.

My husband, two kids (ages 9 and 12) and I spent a wonderful night in one of the tipi's last week. We were eager to sleep in a tipi and wondered if we'd be disappointed. We certainly weren't! The experience was magical and really fun! There was another family with kids and both sets of kids had a fun time hanging out together.We didn't have sleeping bags so we rented theirs along with mats. They were warm enough, comfy and clean (they were lined with sheets). Each tipi is supplied with a large pile of wood to use during the night. We were able to keep the fire going throughout the night, but we had to feed the fire every hour or so which made for a bit of a tiring night. I wish I knew the secret! On the plus side, the wood is very dry so it catches fire easily. On the negative side, the wood is very dry so it burns quickly. Make sure you bring a lighter and some paper to get the fire started. The mattresses are comfortable and we had no problems falling asleep or staying asleep.The bathroom/bathhouses are pristine clean and so nicely decorated. It's certainly not your typical one. Each has two showers and two toilets. There's also a room that you can hang out in to read, play a game or go on the free wifi should you be so inclined.There's a herd of Native American horses grazing in the pasture beside the tipi's which was really nice. Though you can't ride them, some of them will come up to you and allow you to pet them. You just need to stand there not moving, perhaps wave some long grass their way to get their attention and wait for one to come over. If you're patient, you have a good chance of being rewarded by a curious one meandering over to see what you have in your hand. Horse owners ourselves, we loved the variations in colors and markings, and petting them took away some of the pain at missing our own two horses.Please make sure you look around the gallery. It is amazing and filled with beautiful work! I would have liked to pack up the entire gallery and brought it home with me. While in the Lewis and Clark museum in Great Falls, imagine our surprise to be gazing at a reproduction of a Native American buffalo robe "painting" depicting a battle and realize that it was painted by the host and hostess of the tipi village!When in the area, don't miss out on the opportunity to sleep in a tipi. It was one of the highlights of our trip!