The Underrated Island State Park In Montana Full Of Wildlife And Scenic Shorelines

Plenty of things come to mind when you consider Montana. Big Sky Country. The Treasure State. Rocky Mountains. Yellowstone and Glacier. The Last Best Place. There's no shortage of beauties in the American West, and Montana has more than its share. Experience some of this beauty yourself on a road trip between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, stopping at the pristine Flathead Lake along the way. Located about five hours northwest of Yellowstone and an hour south of Glacier, the lake is surrounded by tribal lands, wilderness areas, and soaring mountain ranges, with several charming towns on the shoreline. Flathead is also chock-full of recreational opportunities, like fishing, boating, and camping.

In the middle of the crystal-clear water lies Wild Horse Island State Park, a large, picturesque piece of land known for its wildlife, forested shoreline, and rare Palouse Prairie ecosystem. Only accessible by boat, the island is most famous for its five remaining wild horses (a rarity in Montana — the only other herd is in the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range). The local Salish-Kootenai tribes reputedly pastured their horses on the island to protect them from warring tribes. It's likely the horses even had to swim from neighboring islands during the transfer!

Flathead Lake is one of Montana's must-visit spots for good reason. The natural lake is the largest body of freshwater west of Minnesota, with 185 miles of shoreline and an area of 200 square miles. It's also famously clean and clear (although not quite "the clearest lake in the world," as it is sometimes called), and, according to the nonprofit Flathead Lakers, you can see through over 20 feet of water at some spots. 

Dozens of islands are dotted on these deep blue waters, and Wild Horse Island State Park is the largest at 2,160 acres (874 ha). Although the island is for day use only, it's an ideal spot for lake adventures, hiking, picnicking, kayaking, swimming, and wildlife viewing. The shoreline is also excellent for fishing, as Flathead is home to a variety of native fish species, like mountain whitefish, lake trout, and westslope cutthroat, which, sustained by the clean waters, can grow up to 20 pounds. Note that you'll need to purchase a tribal and state fishing license in order to fish from the island.

Surrounded by the clean, fresh waters of Flathead Lake, Wild Horse Island State Park is a paradise for all different types of wildlife. In addition to the fish that thrive in the lake and the last five wild horses, island visitors can spot bighorn sheep, bald eagles, mule deer, and local songbirds.

And even though this is bear country, and the occasional bear has been known to visit Wild Horse Island State Park, there are few predators, so the animals tend to get big. In fact, the largest bighorn sheep skull ever was found on the island! You may spot bones and skeletons on your own as you explore, and likely plenty of living wildlife. And, during your journey to and from the lake, on your kayak or speedboat, keep an eye out for the legendary Flathead Lake Monster (perhaps a relative to Scotland's famous Nessie of Loch Ness). You never know!