Flathead Lake Montana:
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west
of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states, with over 200
square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. The
southern half of Flathead Lake is within the boundary of
the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Flathead
Reservation. Recreationists must purchase a tribal
recreation permit.
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.
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