Hiking around Flathead Lake

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Enjoy a Short Video from a recent Montana hike

Hiking in Montana

First of all, There truly is almost limitless hiking around Flathead Lake. Hiking is a great way to explore the state while experiencing nature and wildlife. Each trail offers an adventure into the vast openness of Montana. From scenic day hikes in Glacier National Park to multi-day wilderness excursions in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Hiking Flathead Lake

For instance, depending on your location there are ample hikes to do and trails to wander. If you are near Bigfork, Wayfares State Park is a good place to stop and camp.  Not worry,, if you are on the opposite side of the Lake, in Lakeside the trails are all but endless.  Blacktail Mountain Ski Resort, just outside of Lakeside is the best hiking opportunity.  The south side of Flathead Lake, near Polson provides limited hiking.  If you continue to travel south into the Mission Valley hiking trails are available for you to enjoy.

In addition to hiking trails, there are ample campgrounds, both public and private around the Flathead Lake.

Some Hikes to Enjoy around Flathead Lake Include:

No matter which side of Flathead Lake you are on. Above all, enjoy your Montana vacation.

Enjoy a Short Video from Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park

Throughout time, people have sought out Glacier National Park. It’s  rugged peaks, clear waters, and glacial-carved valleys; its landscape giving both desired resources and inspiration to those persistent enough to venture through it.

Hiking in Glacier National Park
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Explore things to see and do in The Park. Established as a National Park in 1910 it is a land of mountain ranges carved by prehistoric ice rivers. It features alpine meadows, deep forests, waterfalls, about 25 glistening glaciers and 200 sparkling lakes.

The vistas seen from Going-To-The-Sun Road are breathtaking, a photographer’s paradise. Relatively few miles of road exist in the park’s 1,600 square miles of picturesque landscape, thus preserving its primitive and unspoiled beauty.

West Glacier anchors the western entrance to The Park and provides a variety of visitor services including lodging, cafes and gift shops.

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St. Mary is near the east entrance of the Park,  and is situated between Lower St. Mary Lake, in Glacier County, and Upper St. Mary Lake, in the park.

Hiking you might consider in Glacier National Park.

1. Highline Trail

Explore Glacier’s high alpine ecosystem as you traverse across the Garden Wall with expansive, breathtaking views every step of the way.

2. Grinnell Glacier

Enjoy this day hike to the foot of one of the park’s most iconic glaciers, where the trail takes you past lakes, cliffs and alpine meadows and offers possible glimpses of wildlife along the way.

3. Pitamakan – Dawson Loop

Explore the Two Medicine area on this epic loop that looks down glacier-carved, U-shaped valleys populated with lakes. Swing past two lakes and climb two alpine passes connected by a goat trail with endless views.

4. Iceberg Lake

Hike to a cobalt-blue lake tucked below jagged, jaw-dropping cliffs populated with its namesake chunks of ice.

5. Hidden Lake Overlook

Kid Friendly

Start at the famous Logan Pass, work your way across flower-covered alpine meadows, then along a glacial moraine to an overlook of the gorgeous, alpine Hidden Lake tucked among jagged peaks.

The Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, Formally KERR Dam.

Went hiking around the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ dam the other day. The gates are open wide at the south end of Flathead Lake. Really, if you haven’t seen it, it is worth the time spent. You wont even need bear spray. The staircase is steep on the way back up. Mike’s advise:  take it one step at a time.

See you on the trail.

The Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, Formally KERR Dam

The Dam is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation in northwest Montana. It is a concrete gravity-arch dam, built in 1938. The Dam is owned and managed by The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in conjunction with others. The purchase was complete in 2015. During the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ celebration of their acquisition of the dam, the Tribal Council announced renaming the complex to reflect the three confederated tribes.

The Kerr Dam, officially known since 2015 as the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam

The Go Hike With Mike Trail Guide

Purchase the Go Hike With Mike Trail Guide. Read the Table of Contents

Hiking in The Cabinet Mountains

The Libby Area has the Kootenai River from Libby Dam to Troy running through the heart of it.  The Kootenai River is identified as a “blue ribbon trout stream”.  The Purcell Range is located north of the River and features numerous peaks at 6000’ elevation.  Turner Mountain Ski Area is located 22 miles north of Libby, providing 2200’ of vertical and 1000 acres of terrain for alpine skiing.

The Cabinet Mountains are located south of the River with many peaks at 7500’ elevation.  Snowshoe Peak at 8738’ is the tallest peak on the Kootenai National Forest.  The Cabinet Mountains Wilderness located in this area provides visitors with self challenge, spiritual renewal, solitude, alpine scenery, and the opportunity to view unique wildlife (grizzly bear, mountain goat, wolverine, Canadian lynx, and peregrine falcons) and wildflowers.

Over 132 species of wildflowers have been found in the Wilderness.  Access into the Wilderness is by one of many non-motorized hiking trails.  Kootenai Falls located 10 miles downstream of Libby is the last undammed falls on the Kootenai River.  Located adjacent to US Highway 2, it is the most highly viewed scenic attraction on the Forest.

Libby Dam located 17 miles upstream from Libby, forms 90 mile long Lake Koocanusa.  More than 400 miles of summer use trail are open and available in the Libby Area.  Over 60 miles of snowmobile trail and 15 miles of X-C ski are regularly groomed from December through March.  Four developed campgrounds provide facilities for camping and picnicking.  The Libby Area provides the nation’s first lookout tower available for public rental at Big Creek Baldy Mountain.

Cabinet Mountains

If you’re looking for a campground try Howard Lake.

Cabinet Mountains

Howard Lake campground is located south of Libby on road 4779. The campground has 10 sites (3 pull thru’s) including one host site with tables and fire rings.  Campground roads and parking spurs are gravel.  Amenities include vault toilets and swimming beach. There are 2 day use sites with fire rings and picnic tables near the beach area.

The camphost may close the gate to the campground each evening at 10:00 pm and open it again at 7:00 am. The gate closes for the season on December 1st and is opened again when access permits.

See you on the trail.

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Hiking in Montana Videos

Hiking in Montana.  Enjoy some videos from Mike’s Hikes around northwest Montana.  There are unlimited hiking options available to you. If you are looking for more vacationing information and less hiking information try the Montana’s Flathead Lake Vacation Guide. If your still reading I will assume you are interested in our trail guide, or maybe to enjoy some video clips.  Be sure to subscribe to Mike’s YouTube channel.

Hiking in Montana

The Mission Mountain Wilderness

Hiking in Montana

Mike receives countless inquires about good trails and camping spots around Flathead Lake.  There is clearly a need for more detailed information about hiking around Flathead Lake.  This website and trail guide are the trails Mike would like to recommend to you during your visit to northwest Montana.

Hiking Flathead LakeThe trail guide is focused on trails, camping and being in the woods.  Mike’s Flathead Lake Trail Guide breaks the area in five easy to use sections.  North of Flathead lake, including The Talley Lake area and due north to Polebridge. East of Flathead Lake, including the Swan Front, Swan Valley, and on into the Hungry Horse recreation area.  The guide contains most every trail Mike has hiked in the last 20 years or plans to hike in the next 20 years.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR COPY.

Don’t need the hiking guide, just some basic trail information, do not fret.  Mike has included some beginner to medium hikes on this website.  Depending on were you as staying there is most likely a trail head near you. Thanks for visiting, hope to see you on the trail.

Mission Mountain Wilderness Videos

The Mission Mountain Wilderness is the gateway to the Mission Mountain Wilderness Area, a 73,877-acre paradise for hiking, camping and fishing. An area of outstanding scenic beauty–rugged, snowcapped peaks, several small glaciers, alpine lakes, meadows and clear cold streams. Popularly known as the American Alps, the overpowering western face of the Missions pierces the sky almost 7,000 feet above the valley floor. The apex of the range is a glacier-studded 9,280-foot McDonald Peak in the rugged south, where a dozen other summits rise above 9,000 feet. Permanent snow fields feed hundreds of gem-like tarns (glacier formed lakes) in one of the highest densities of alpine lakes in the Northern Rockies. Waterfalls are abundant, with the best known being the 1,000-foot plunges of Elizabeth and Mission Falls.

Mission Mountain Wilderness Videos
Mission Mountain Wilderness

In 1979 the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes designated 89,500 acres of privately owned tribal lands along the western slopes as Wilderness. This is the only Tribal Wilderness in the nation to be established by the actual tribe. In the words of the Mission Mountains Committee: ‘These mountains belong to our children, and when our children grow old they will belong to their children. In this way and for this reason these mountain are sacred.’

The west side Tribal Wilderness is managed with a priority for wildlife. Each summer grizzlies gather on the snow fields of McDonald Peak to feast on swarms of cutworm moths and ladybugs. In order to avoid displacing these great bears, the tribe closes about 12,000 acres to all public use from mid-July to October, The closed area is part of a larger trail less region that serves to discourage humans from entering the grizzly’s home during a critical time.

If you are not a tribal member, and are between the ages of 18 and 64, you must obtain and carry a tribal recreation permit, which entitles you to hike, fish, camp and enjoy the Wilderness as well as other Flathead Reservation lands that are open to recreation.

Flathead River Videos

This page contains videos of Montana’s Flathead River. Thank you for visiting. You can subscribe to Mike’s YouTube channel to enjoy new videos as those hikes get hiked. See you on the trail.

Flathead Lake Videos The Flathead River, in the northwestern part of Montana, originates in the Rocky Mountains near Glacier National Park and flows southwest into Flathead Lake.

These videos of the Flathead River were taken near Sloan’s Bridge west of Ronan.  The land you see in these videos resides within the Flathead Reservation.

A Tribal permit is required to recreate.

You can purchase your permits at these locations..

Pablo, MT at Zimmer Tackle
Plains, MT at Plains Service Center
Polson, MT at – CSKT, DFWRC, 406 6th Avenue East and Wal-Mart
Ronan, MT at Westland Seed
St. Ignatius, MT at Allard’s Stage Stop

 

Flathead River Videos

The Go Hike with Mike trail guide contains most every trail head in the Flathead and Kootenai Forest as well as the Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness.

Click here to purchase your copy.

The Go Hike with Mike Trail Guide contains most every trail head around Flathead Lake.  The guide includes trails as far north as Polebridge.  It contains the Hungry Horse recreation area, the Swan Front and Swan Valley to the east.  To the north the guide contains trail head and campground information around Tally Lake.

Flathead Lake Videos – Yellow Bay

Videos of Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake

Yellow Bay on Flathead LakeYellow Bay is in the heart of the famous Montana sweet cherry orchards. Cherry blossoms color the hillsides during spring. In the summer, cherries can be purchased at nearby roadside stands or U-Pick orchards. The park includes Yellow Bay Creek and a wide, gravelly beach. Among its attractions are boating, lake trout fishing, water skiing, bird watching, swimming, camping, and scuba diving. The park is 15 acres in size at an elevation of 2,907 feet. It offers 5 tent sites.

There are both flush and vault toilets, a group day-use area, pedestal grills, picnic tables, trash cans, and drinking water. No open fires are allowed, only charcoal. There is a 14 day camping limit during a 30 day period. Boat ramp and dock available. A joint state/tribal fishing license is required at this sit. Campground open May 1 through September 30.
Fees are charged for camping and day use.

For more information about Yellow Bay State Park on Flathead Lake visit http://stateparks.mt.gov 

Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake

The Go Hike with Mike trail guide contains most every trail head in the Flathead and Kootenai Forest as well as the Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness.  Click here to purchase your copy.