The Best Huckleberry Bear Claws in Montana is at This 110-Year-Old Trading Post Near Glacier National Park

Polebridge Mercantile, Montana

Built in 1914 at the edge of Glacier National Park, Polebridge Mercantile still runs without electricity in Montana’s remote North Fork valley.

The red wooden storefront has withstood forest fires and harsh winters for over a century, serving their huckleberry bear claws from a century-old oven. Today, it’s one of Montana’s last authentic homesteading-era general stores.

Bakers Used to Live in the Historic Cabins

The historic Bakers Row once housed bakery staff from 1920 to 1950.

Each 240-square-foot cabin preserves historic features, including original wood stoves. In 2010, 12 original handwritten recipes were discovered hidden in the walls.

The ‘Quartz’ cabin also housed the head baker for 27 years, while seasonal assistants stayed in the ‘Logging’ cabin.

Baking Without Electricity For Eons

Polebridge Mercantile bakery runs completely off the grid, using propane ovens to make their famous pastries since 1994.

Dan Kaufman, a third-generation baker from Idaho who owned the place for 15 years, changed everything right after.

Bakers start at 4 AM to have fresh pastries ready. Now they make over 100 huckleberry bear claws daily (sells out by early afternoon).

A Recipe That Hasn’t Changed Since 1994

Polebridge’s huckleberry bear claws follow Dan Kaufman’s original 1994 recipe, with 1/4 cup of wild Montana huckleberries from nearby mountains.

Bakers hand-make all dough without electric mixers, creating a signature texture locals recognize. Each bear claw is about 6 inches wide and costs $8.50.

The Saloon Has Been Open Since 1921

Just 30 feet from the Mercantile, the Northern Lights Saloon serves 12 Montana craft beers on tap (since 1921).

It serves 12 Montana craft beers on tap, including the exclusive ‘Polebridge Porter’ from Kalispell Brewing Company.

The outdoor area features 8 tamarack log picnic tables seating up to 64. On summer Fridays, live music by Montana artists draws crowds of 75–100.

Coffee Beans Get Roasted Right on the Property

The Mercantile roasts coffee in small 5-pound batches using a vintage 1960s propane-powered roaster. Their ‘North Fork Blend’ combines beans from three countries and sells for $18 per pound. Baristas craft coffee (around 15 gallons) each day.

They Use 800 Pounds of Huckleberries

The Mercantile bakery uses around 800 pounds of wild huckleberries.

Local pickers deliver fresh berries to the back door, earning $45 per gallon. During peak season, the bakery makes over 350 huckleberry items daily.

In addition to bear claws, they offer 11 huckleberry treats, including brownies, cookies, muffins, danishes, and the new huckleberry cheese bread, introduced in 2023.

They Mail Huckleberry Treats to All 50 States

Order Polebridge’s legendary huckleberry products through their online store, and they’ll ship to anywhere in the US.

Their huckleberry jam, priced at $14.95 per jar, uses locally picked berries and a recipe unchanged since 1980. The huckleberry honey, at $18.50 per jar, combines local Montana honey with wild huckleberry extract.

In 2024 alone, they shipped over 5,000 packages to customers who discovered these treats during Glacier visits.

National Geographic Has Featured Them Twice

Polebridge Mercantile is considered one of North America’s most pristine wilderness areas, according to National Geographic.

The store has been featured twice in National Geographic: once in 1997, about disappearing American outposts, and again in a 2019 climate change piece.

From their porch, visitors have spotted 27 different wildlife species including grizzlies, wolverines, wolves, and golden eagles.

Your Stay Comes With Free Pastries

When you book one of the four cabins at Polebridge Mercantile, you’ll get a $10 bakery voucher for breakfast included in your stay.

‘Bakers’ Row’ cabins cost between $59-$176 per night depending on size. Each cabin fits 2-5 people and has its own deck, picnic table, and fire pit.

See Two Mountain Ranges from the Porch

Looking east, you’ll see the Livingston Range reaching 10,014 feet at Vulture Peak, marking the Continental Divide.

To the west, the Whitefish Range creates a dramatic backdrop with mountains up to 7,522 feet at Nasukoin Mountain.

This spot is 15° cooler than West Glacier, with mountain shadows reaching the store by 4:00 PM, even in midsummer.

Luxury Cabins Have High-Speed Internet

Just 2.2 miles from the main store, Thunderbird Ridge’s four deluxe cabins (800-square-foot cabins) offer modern comforts and views of the Whitefish Mountains.

They offer high-speed satellite internet (25 Mbps), full bathrooms with walk-in showers, memory foam mattresses, and air conditioning.

Reach Glacier National Park in 15 Mins

Polebridge Mercantile sits exactly 0.8 miles from Glacier National Park’s northwest entrance, making it the gateway to Bowman and Kintla Lakes.

Grab supplies and walk to the park in about 15 minutes along a pretty path. Since 1914, it’s been the last place to stock up before entering this remote part of the park.

Visiting Polebridge Mercantile in 2025

Address: 265 Polebridge Loop, Polebridge, MT 59928

Store Hours

• Summer: 7 AM – 9 PM
• Winter: 8 AM – 6 PM

Bring cash, as credit card service may be limited.

Read More From This Brand:

• The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
• The Time Travel Mart in Los Angeles
• South Dakota’s Legendary Drug Store