The northwest Montana region of Flathead Lake draws visitors who are looking for a peaceful escape from everyday life. The pristine waters of the area lakes and rivers beckon people to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities, from leisurely boat tours to whitewater rafting adventures. Located in Glacier Country, this stunning natural resource offers something for every type of outdoor adventurer.
The Flathead Valley is home to a number of charming towns that are popular for their local cuisine, craft brews, and beautiful scenery. In addition to their enchanting landscapes, Bigfork, Kalispell, Polson and other town centers also offer fine dining, wineries and distilleries that sell authentic Montana-made drinks, fascinating museums, live theatre, a local symphony orchestra and shopping for Montana-made products.
In addition to its countless lakeside parks, the northwest Montana region is blessed with numerous marinas and public boat launches. Visitors can rent a family boat, deck or pontoon boat, or charter a boating tour at one of the many Montana lake tours companies. Those who bring their own boats can launch at the lakeside park or at one of the public launches at Bigfork Marina and Boat Center, Lakeside Resort, Arrowhead RV Park and Marina, or other nearby locations.
Flathead Lake is a boater’s paradise that offers miles of scenic water for all types of watercraft. The crystalline waters of the Montana’s largest naturally occurring freshwater lake provide the perfect spot for visitors to enjoy a variety of recreational activities including fishing, kayaking and paddleboards.
Guests can charter a boat from the numerous Flathead Lake tour companies that offer scenic cruises. Shadow Cruises, based out of KwaTagNut Resort on Flathead Lake, offers a variety of cruises that include brunch and dinner cruises. They also offer a narrated whale watching trip that lasts up to five hours. Leashed pets are welcome on all of their boat tours.
Other popular boating activities at Flathead Lake include jet skiing, paddleboats, canoes and float tubes. The lake’s deep blue waters provide excellent fishing spots for a wide array of game fish. People can also explore the Wild Horse Island, a primitive state park that is home to bighorn sheep, full curl rams, trophy mule deer and bald eagles.
If you want to spend a day on the water, there are a number of Flathead Lake tour companies that offer sightseeing cruises, lunch or dinner cruises, as well as narrated wildlife and twilight cruises. Visitors can also take a private cruise to the secluded Wild Horse Island, which is home to a herd of wild horses and many other animals. Guests can also visit the various u-pick farms that sell fresh fruits and vegetables along the shore of Flathead Lake. These farms sell apples, plums, cherries and more. They can be a great way to stock up on snacks for a beach day or a picnic. During cherry season, these farms become a real draw. boat tours flathead lake