Flathead
Lake, with more then 180 miles of shoreline is the largest natural freshwater
lake west of the Mississippi. This scenic playground provides ample
opportunities for fishing, boating, and all varieties of water recreation.
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
maintains thirteen public access sites around the lake. These sites include:
Sportsmans Bridge, Somers, Big Fork, and Juniper Beach fishing access sites;
Wayfarers, Woods Bay, Yellow Bay, Finely Point, Walstad Memorial, Big Arm, and
Elmo state recreation areas, which have toilets, boat launch, camping, swimming
and picnic facilities; and West Shore State Park, located twenty miles south of
Kalispell on Highway 93. Also located along the west shore near the Big Arm is
Wildhorse Island, a 2,165-acre state park. The park is accessible only by boat
and is a public day use and picnic area only, no overnight camping.
Recreation on and around the lake includes: sailing, power boating, waterskiing,
swimming, fishing, picnicking, and camping. In the summer, roadside stands along
the east shore offer a variety of locally grown cherries, apples, plums, and
other fruits. There are numerous motels and rental cabins in addition to public
campgrounds scattered all around the shoreline. The major population centers
around the lake are Kalispell, Bigfork, and Polson, all of which offer a
complete variety of groceries, supplies, and information.
All manner of water sports are
enjoyed upon its 200 square miles of surface. Several state parks and lakeshore
communities have boat launches and marinas on the Lake. You can avail
yourself of a boat tour or rent one of the many types of watercraft including
canoes, kayaks, windsurfers, hydro bikes, sailing and fishing boats. Serious
anglers can arm themselves with heavy-duty equipment and probe the 300-foot deep
Flathead Lake for trophy Mackinaw. Lake trout, salmon, perch, pike, bass, and
whitefish are found in the Flathead area's many lakes.
Locals know summer has arrived when a steady stream of traffic starts to build
on the secondary roads. So in peak season expect to share your enjoyment of the
Flathead Valley with many others, although the mountains still offer room to
get-away if you are willing to exert yourself.
