Flathead Lake: Pristine, beautiful, fun!
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake
in the western United States. It’s also one of the cleanest and most
beautiful large lakes, making it ideal for swimming, fishing,
kayaking, sailing, boating, and relaxing.
Melting glaciers carved out the Flathead Lake basin as the Ice Age
receded. The lake is more than 300 feet deep, 28 miles long and up
to 15 miles wide, covering 200 square miles. The southern half of
Flathead Lake is part of the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Recreational opportunities abound!
Whether you prefer powerboats, sails or paddles,
you’ll find Flathead Lake a boater’s heaven. The lake is big enough
for both jet-skis and kayaks to share the water happily. Mornings on
the lake tend to be calm, an excellent time for water skiing.
Anglers will enjoy fishing for trout, perch, pike, whitefish,
salmon, or bass. The state record for lake trout – 42.5 inches and
42.6 pounds – was caught in Flathead Lake. Hiking the trails around
the lake, bicycling on country roads, and camping at Flathead Lake
State Park are other recreational options you can enjoy here.
Flathead Lake Islands
Many privately and publicly owned islands dot the
lake. The largest is
Wild
Horse Island
now a Montana State Park, except for a few private properties on the
shore. For centuries the Salish-Kootenai people used the 2,100-acre
island to pasture horses and keep them safe from other tribes. A
small group of settlers tried to farm the island in the early 20th
century, leaving apple and pear orchards behind.
Wild Horse Island offers hikers a paradise for exploring and
wildlife viewing, with wild horses, badgers, bighorn sheep, mule
deer, water fowl, eagles and osprey to watch. You must reach the
island by watercraft, and the park is day-use only. Sailboats often
anchor offshore for the night.
For a few days, weeks, or a whole season of wonderful activities and
discovery, Flathead Lake is a fabulous choice for outdoor
enthusiasts of all types!
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