flathead lake

Hiking around Flathead Lake

There are many quality hiking very close to Montana’s Flathead Lake. The views from these hikes around Flathead Lake are both beautiful and vast. Hiking is a great way to explore the area while experiencing nature and wildlife. We have created a list of trails you may enjoy. The list of trails when hiking Flathead Lake can be found below.

Each trail offers an adventure into the vast openness of untouched country and environment.

First things first, when hiking around Flathead lake you should be sure to carry bear spray. Be sure to carry it with your finger in the hole, and your thumb on the safety. Really, be safe, carry bear spray. With that said there are ample hiking opportunities around Flathead Lake.

Get your 150+ page Flathead Lake trail guide. or visit the website: GoHikeWithMike.com

Hiking Trail: Crane Mountain Trail #314

Of the three trails on this page, this trail is best if you are looking for aerial views of Flathead Lake. The Crane Mountain trail is 2.1 miles long (total of 3.5 miles from trailhead) and climbs about 330 feet. It begins at the junction with the Beardance Trail #76 and ends at the junction with Road #10218 near Crane Mtn Rd. From the Beardance trailhead this is one of three trails that climb up Crane Mountain. This lesser known trail starts winding up a few switchbacks through a larch/pine forest with thick undergrowth. It then straightens out and parallels Crane Creek to an old road bed. Turning left, follow the level road out to the upper trailhead. The trail is open for the following uses: hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

From Bigfork, go south on Highway 35 past Woods Bay and turn right after mile marker 23, entering the Beardance trail head parking. The trailhead is on the east side of the highway.

Hiking Trail: Noisy Creek Trail #8

The Noisy Creek trail is 1.9 miles long and climbs 850 feet. It begins at the end of Jewel Basin Road #5392 and ends at the junction with Alpine Trail #7. This is one of many accesses to the Jewel Basin Hiking Area. The trail is open primarily for the following uses: Hiking. Other uses are allowed, but not recommended, up to the Hiking Area boundary.

From Bigfork, go north on Highway 35 for 2.3 miles and turn right onto Hwy 83. Stay on Hwy. 83 for 2.8 miles and turn left onto Echo Lake Road. After 2.2 miles, turn slightly right onto the Foothills Road. After 1.1 miles, turn right onto Rd. # 5392, following the Jewel Basin Road signs. The trailhead is 6.6 miles at the end of the road. Trail #8 starts at parking lot see information boards to make sure you are starting on the right trail as there are several that leave the parking lot.

It doesn’t matter if you are a novice hiker or you love a challenge: Jewel Basin has a hike for you. You’ll discover 15,349 acres of wilderness, 27 lakes and nearly 50 miles of hike-only trails.

The Jewel Basin is located just outside of Bigfork in the Flathead National Forest. To access the trailhead from Bigfork, take Hwy 35 north to Hwy 83. Head east on Hwy 83 to the junction of the Echo Lake Road. Head north on Echo Lake Road about 3 miles to junction with the Jewel Basin Road (No. 5392). Follow this road approx. 7 miles to the trailhead.

Hiking Trail: Crater Notch Trail #187

The Crater Notch Trail is 3.7 miles long and climbs about 3,000 feet. It begins 1/2 mile up the Echo-Brokenleg Trail #544 and ends at the Alpine Trail #7 leading to In-thlam-keh Lake. The trail is open for the following uses for the first 2.7 miles: hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. After 3.5 miles the trail enters the Jewel Basin Hiking Area where the only allowed use is hiking. Please respect these guidelines.

From Bigfork, go north on Highway 35 for 2.3 miles and turn right onto Hwy. 83. Stay on 83 for 2.8 miles, turning left onto Echo Lake Rd. After 2.2 miles, merge slightly right onto the Foothills Road. After 1.1 miles turn right onto Road #5392 also called Jewel Basin Rd. The trailhead is about two miles up the road on the right.

FLATHEAD LAKE TRAIL GUIDE

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.

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Hiking Trail: Broken Leg Divide Trail

Hiking Trail: Broken Leg Divide Trail #353

The Broken Leg Divide trail is 2.8 miles long climbs about 520 feet. It begins at the junction with the Peterson Creek Trail #293 and ends at the junction with Echo-Brokenleg trail #544. The trail is open to: hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

Usage is typically light, closest town is Bigfork.

Directions:
From Bigfork, go North on Highway 35 for 2.3 miles and turn right onto Highway 83. Stay on 83 for 2.8 miles and turn left onto Echo Lake Rd. After 2.2 miles, turn slightly right onto Foothill Rd. Continue for 1.1 miles and bear slight right following the Jewel Basin sign on to road 5392.

The trailhead is 1.8 miles up road 5392 on the right.

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.

The 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.

Follow Mike on Instagram or subscribe to his YouTube Channel

#gohikewithmike

Camping in Montana

Camping in Montana. Wherever you are in Montana, there’s a place where you can pitch a tent, lay out your sleeping bag or park your rolling roost under the stars. You can dive as deep in the backcountry as your boots will take you, grill some grub with a view, or hop your way between unexpected campground luxuries like thermal pools, horseshoe pits, tepee rentals and quirky travelers’ libraries.

Conveniences like picnic tables, bathrooms and water pumps make the developed sites in our national forests and state parks handy for spur-of-the-moment overnights. You can look for these amenities ahead of time, right here. If you plan to camp in Northwest Montana or Glacier National Park, be sure to stay in a designated site, or stop by the ranger station to get a backcountry permit when in the National Parks. Camping in National Forest is allowed without permit for up to 14 days.

Keep in mind temperature swings can be quite dramatic here in Big Sky Country, so be sure to bring adequate clothing and shelter so you can fine-tune the luxury of your experience. The stars overhead and that first hot beverage in the morning add the final touches.

If you are camping around Flathead Lake be sure to ensure you have the correct tribal permits to camp on Indian Land.

If you are more into Campgrounds when Camping in Montana.

For those of us who enjoy flushable toilets’ when camping, Montana State Parks are your spot. Be sure to make your reservations online as the campgrounds around Flathead Lake fill very quickly during the summer months.

One of the more popular Montana State Park campgrounds is the Finley Point Campground.

The Finley Point unit of Flathead Lake State Park is located 12 miles north of Polson on the southeast shore of Flathead Lake. This park sits in an open ponderosa pine forest.

The campground has 18 RV campsites with electricity, including one wheelchair accessible site; 7 tent-only campsites; 4 boat camping slips with electricity; and 14 boat slips. The maximum RV/trailer length is 40 feet. Bear resistant storage lockers are available. For more information about camping or specific campsites, visit montanastateparks.reserveamerica.com or call 855-922-6768.

This park is located within the Flathead Reservation and all recreation on tribal land outside of the park requires a tribal recreation permit and is subject to all tribal rules and regulations. A tribal fishing license is required for fishing on the southern half of Flathead Lake and all other waters within the reservation. For more information regarding the Flathead Reservation, visit csktribes.org.

Montana’s Flathead Lake Vacation Guide

Celebrating Its 7th Anniversary
Polson Montana 59860 Release: May 19, 2020. For Immediate Release

Montana’s Flathead Lake Vacation Guide announced its 7th anniversary of it’s feature packed vacation guide containing everything about the greater Flathead Lake area.FLVG began as an idea of bringing all of the businesses and activities surrounding Montana’s Flathead Lake into one easy to use resource guide. The creation of the Guide included numerous trips around Flathead Lake photographing trail heads, fishing & camping access as well as boat and vacation rental locations.The Guide was downloaded 300 times in 2015. The Guide includes complete listings of boat rentals and a new logo design in 2020. In addition to Guide updates, the website popularly has grown.

All Around Flathead Lake

Since its inception in 2013, the Guide has been providing on the ground information about hiking, camping, and fishing access around all of the Lake. In 2017 the website past the 1000 unique visitors in a single month. Visitor interactions have been increasing ever since. In 2018 a website advertising campaign allowed us the opportunity to assist folks around the lake with putting their message in front of visitors and local alike all around Flathead Lake. Now in its seventh year, FLVG a leader in providing up to date information and promoting tourism around the greater Flathead Lake area. Providing visitors with unique perspectives and in-depth information when planning their visit to Flathead Lake Montana.

“FLVG has experienced exceptional growth and refinements over the past years,” said Hewston. “Moving forward, our focus will remain on offering the best up to date information available. ”

Above all, FLVG has been successful at evolving and changing to stay up to date and relevant. Providing information about northwest Montana.

For more information on The Guide please visit montanasflatheadlake.com.

Contact info:
Montana’s Flathead Lake Vacation Guide
www.montanasflatheadlake.com
havefun@montanasflatheadlake.com
#montanasflatheadlake

Pablo Reservoir – Mirror on the water.

Price: $175
Location: Mirror on Pablo Reservoir
Size: 24×36″
Type: Canvas Print

The area surrounding Flathead Lake contains many different reservoirs, and wildlife havens, One of the larger bodies of water south of Flathead Lake is the Pablo Reservoir is part of the National Wildlife Refuge system. It is a refuge and breeding ground for native birds. The Pablo Reservoir is also the initial release site for the successful restoration of Trumpeter Swans to the Mission Valley. These large white birds can be seen with some regularity throughout the potholes and waterways of the Valley.

This Photograph was taken looking west across the Pablo Reservoir. The clouds on that day were forming almost a perfect mirror on water and sky. The canvas art home decor piece brings the moment of the circle into your home. This photograph was taken at the point when land and sky become one.

High-quality displays constructed of Art-quality canvas material. These fine art displays also have built-in hangers for easy display. The art canvas is wrapped in a sturdy wood frame for extra weight and durability.

Photographer: M.Hewston

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Pablo Reservoir as part of the National Wildlife Refuge was selected as an initial release site for trumpeter swans due to seclusion from excessive human activities, presence of abundant natural food resources, and the ability to control and maintain water levels.

The refuge is situated on land owned by the CSKT and administered by the USFWS under an easement. Wildlife management activities on the refuge are coordinated by both entities. Refuge lands encompass a large irrigation reservoir and include a smaller adjacent impoundment constructed by Ducks
Unlimited in the late 1980s to maintain water during the irrigation season. The habitat surrounding the Pablo Reservior is largely mixed grassland, interspersed with native and introduced tree species.

Flathead Lake at Sunrise

Flathead Lake at Sunrise was photographed looking east at the Misson Mountains.

Price: $175
Location: Polson Bay, Flathead Lake at Sunrise
Size: 24×36″
Type: Canvas Print

High-quality displays without the fine art price tag.
• Art-quality canvas material
• Built-in hangers for easy display
• Canvas is wrapped in a sturdy wood frame for extra weight and durability.

Photographer: M.Hewston

Add to Cart or View Cart

Flathead Lake is a large natural lake in northwest Montana, and is the largest natural freshwater lake by surface area that is west of the source of the Missouri River in the contiguous United States. The lake is a remnant of the ancient, massive glacial dammed lake, Lake Missoula of the era of the last interglacial.

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.

Welcome to Montana’s Flathead Lake

Montana’s Flathead Lake

Welcome.

Flathead Lake is located in northwest Montana just south of Glacier National Park. Come enjoy the crystal clear blue waters and endless hiking.

There are three major population centers around Flathead Lake. On the North, Bigfork, on the South, Polson. On the West is Lakeside.

BIGFORK MONTANA
Bigfork has been listed in the following publications: The 50 Great Towns in the West, 100 Best Small Art Towns, The Great Towns of America, and National Geographic Guide to Small Towns Escapes. Chosen by Sunset Magazine as one of the most picturesque towns in the Northwest

POLSON MONTANA
Polson was incorporated in 1910 and is the county seat for Lake County. Polson lies in a natural amphitheater at the south end of Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana. Polson is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Polson is a lakeshore community in the trading center for one of most fertile farming areas in Montana. This prime cherry growing region is home to dozens of orchards, which Polson celebrates with an annual Cherry Festival.

LAKESIDE MONTANA
Lakeside is a popular destination for summer visitors providing easy access to Flathead Lake. There are ample activities for visitors in Lakeside Montana. Activities include guided boat tours, a hiking system on Blacktail Mountain that is second to none. Lakeside is a nice place to stop, visit, and explore while you are visiting Montana’s Flathead Lake.

Our Vacation Guide contains most every public access point around The Lake. Public and private fishing and camping areas. So if you are looking for public or private campgrounds around our Lake, this vacation guide has the information you will need to plan your Montana vacation. See what is included, and Read the booklet Table of Contents.

Trails around Flathead Lake.

Trails around Flathead Lake. There are many trails around Flathead lake. Here are four trails that are easily accessible. The Flathead Lake Trail is by far the easiest hike. It is a short half mile loop interpretive trail hike. The short but steep distance down to excellent view of Flathead Lake and the western skyline. This trail was developed in partnership with the Bigfork High School.

Directions: From Bigfork, go south on Highway 35 past Woods Bay, and turn right after mile marker 23, entering the Beardance trailhead parking. The trail goes downhill from both parking areas, creating a loop.

If you are looking for something a bit more difficult, cross the road to the Bear Dance Trail. The Bear Dance trail and the Flathead Lake Trail share the same parking lot.

BEARDANCE TRAIL #76

The Beardance Trail is 6.7 miles long and climbs about 2,200 feet. It begins off of Highway # 35 from the Beardance Trailhead and follows Forest Road #10222 and terminates at Crane Mountain Road #498. This trail has been re-routed in the last year and no longer follows the old Forest Service Road #9755. The trail is open to: hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

Usage: Heavy | Closest Towns: Bigfork
Directions: From Bigfork go south on Highway 35 past Woods Bay and turn right after mile marker 23, entering the Beardance trailhead parking. The trailhead is on the east side of the highway.
Season: These trails are typically snow free by April.
Regulations: Hiking, horse riding and mountain biking are allowed on these trails. Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles are prohibited.

Area/Length : 6.7 miles
Latitude : 47.95678
Longitude : -114.03442
Elevation : 3,071 feet – 5,309 feet

Beardance Area: Trails #76, 373, and 314

Directions: From Bigfork go south on Highway 35 past Woods Bay and turn right after mile marker 23, entering the Beardance trailhead parking. The trailhead is on the east side of the highway.

Trail Description:
The Phillips Trail 373 leaves from the Beardance parking lot and climbs moderately, enjoy a nice viewpoint of Flathead Lake, then continues to climb through the trees and finally crosses two creeks and then descends to the road.

The Crane Mountain Trail 314 climbs up switchbacks in the shade of a dense forest and follows Crane Creek up to the junction with an old road. Once you reach the old road, the grade levels off for an easy hike to the upper trailhead.

The Beardance Trail 76 starts climbing up switchbacks then continue to climb up through a forested area to the trailhead on Crane Mountain Rd.

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, including this campground. Click here to purchase your copy.