This Natural Freshwater Lake Is The Largest In The Western US And One Of The World's Cleanest

Whether you're visiting in the summer or winter, northwestern Montana will inspire you with its scenic beauty as far as the eye can see. The Treasure State embodies the picturesque American West as an outdoor dreamland full of majestic mountains and scenic beauty stretching past the horizon. As it is locally known, Big Sky Country is home to the world-famous Glacier National Park and a small sliver of Yellowstone National Park, as well as a third, aquatic treasure: Flathead Lake. 

At over 27 miles long, with 187 miles of shoreline, Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River and one of the cleanest in the world. All of the lake's entire 5.56 cubic miles of water is flushed every 2.2 years, helping to keep the water pristine for visitors. For over 100 years, the Flathead Lake Biological Center has been surveying the water quality from Flathead Lake, protecting the lake water from phosphates and other human-induced impurities. These efforts make Flathead Lake a perfect base or day trip for your entire family to camp, boat, fish, and explore one of the most beautiful corners of America: the Flathead Valley.

Flathead Lake's pure water and northwest Montana's long, summer days and cool nights make for some of the best camping, hiking, sporting, and water activities in the western United States. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks actively manages the 13 campgrounds, boat slips, and recreation areas along the lake to ensure public access and protect the local environment. For fishing enthusiasts, Flathead Lake and the nearby Flathead River offer fishing and fly-fishing opportunities, with many species of trout and whitefish. If you'd rather stay dry, the area is home to several world-renowned golf courses, as well as hiking trails for hikers of all abilities. Foodies will also find something to love. The towns of Bigfork, Woods Bay, and Lakeside all have restaurants along the shore, while the nearby city of Kalispell has a charming downtown and is a must-visit spot in Montana that's just about 15 minutes away from the north lake shore.

Within the lake are protected islands that offer excellent opportunities for a day trip or picnic (with fresh, locally grown cherries!), hiking, and outdoor recreation. The most well-known of these, Wildhorse Island, is home to herds of wild animals, notably Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mule deer, and — you guessed it — wild horses. The only way to get to these islands is by boat, and camping is not allowed. While out on the lake, be sure to follow all regulations, including obtaining a fishing license, and keep in mind that non-tribal members will need to purchase an additional permit for recreation on the southern half of the lake, as it lies on the Salish and Kootenai Tribes Flathead Reservation.

If winter is more your style, the Flathead Valley gets fluffy, white powder and has a ski season about 120 days long. The area has hundreds of nearby cross-country skiing trails and several ski resorts with runs and trails for all abilities, as well as gorgeous lake views.

Best of all, it's easy to visit Flathead Lake on a trip to Glacier National Park, Montana's most-visited tourist attraction. By car, Flathead Lake is nestled about 90 minutes north of Missoula, and one hour south of Glacier National Park in the Flathead Valley. If you're flying in, both Missoula and Glacier National Park have airports with connections to major hubs in the United States. If taking the train is more your style, AMTRAK serves nearby Whitefish (about 30 minutes from Flathead Lake) with its Empire Builder train. Around the lake, there is a variety of accommodations for all budgets, from camping to resorts. And once you've visited, if you can't get enough of the open roads, go explore the scenic and mesmerizing Seely-Swan Lake Corridor or tie your adventure into one of Montana's epic road trips.