Whitefish Lake
Resting at the foot of the Whitefish Mountain Resort, and right along the northern edge of town you will find the beautiful Whitefish Lake. This lake covers an area approximately 5 square miles. Whitefish Lake is popular for boating and water sports as well as fishing. There are several public beaches and state parks that grace the shoreline as well.
Flathead Lake
Flathead Lake is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River in the lower 48 states, with over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline.
The lake is bordered on its eastern shore by the Mission Mountains and on the west by the Salish Mountains. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including trout, salmon, and whitefish. Flathead Lake is also a popular destination for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping.
Hungry Horse Reservoir
Hungry Horse Reservoir is a popular recreation destination in northwestern Montana. The reservoir is located on the South Fork of the Flathead River, about 15 miles south of the west entrance to Glacier National Park. The reservoir was created in 1953 by the construction of the Hungry Horse Dam. The construction of the dam was controversial. Some people argued that it would destroy the natural beauty of the area. Others argued that it would provide much-needed flood control and hydroelectric power. In the end, the dam was built. Hungry Horse Reservoir was created, and the area around the lake has become a popular destination for recreation.
Lake McDonald
Stretching for nearly 10 miles into the western interior of Glacier National Park along the Going-to-The-Sun Road, you will find one of northwest Montana’s most picturesque lakes. Lake McDonald sits in a stunning glacier basin, a relic from the Ice Age, with a striking mountain back-drop that gives it a fjord-type appearance. The park concessionaire offers boat tours around the lake, and private boats are allowed as well via a public boat launch (after a required, certified pre-inspection).
Ashley Lake
Ashley Lake is a beautiful, blue and emerald colored lake covering approximately 2,850 acres in northwest Montana just about 17 miles to the south and west of the city of Kalispell. The lake shore is a mix of private land and public access points and the lake is popular for both boating and water skiing, as well as fishing and simply camping at designated campsites near the waters edge. Fish species include trout, perch and whitefish.
McGregor Lake
McGregor Lake is a large freshwater lake loacted about 35 miles west of Kalispell along HWY 2. McGregor Lake is a spring-fed lake that covers 1,500+ acres. Recreational activities include water skiing, fishing, and canoeing, and there is a public fishing access boat ramp across the west side. The lake contains a few lake trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout (which prefer the warmer waters), as well as kokanee salmon, arctic grayling and yellow perch.
Lake Koocanusa
Lake Koocanusa is a reservoir located in northwestern Montana. It was created in 1972 by the construction of the Libby Dam on the Kootenai River. The lakes name is a mash-up of the Kootenai tribe, (the original inhabitants of the area) and the countries of Canada and USA, because the lake crosses the boarder between the two countries.
Lake Koocanusa is the second-largest lake in Montana, after Flathead Lake. It is 32 miles long and 10 miles wide, with a surface area of 190 square miles. The lake has a maximum depth of 370 feet.
The lake is a popular destination for recreation. It is a great place for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping. The lake is also home to a variety of wildlife, including bears, deer, elk, and eagles.
Fishing: Lake Koocanusa is a great place for fishing. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including trout, salmon, and whitefish.
Echo Lake
Echo Lake is a relatively quiet lake located just to the north of the town of Bigfork, Montana. The stunning Swan Mountains and Jewell Basin Hiking area serve as a backdrop to Echo Lake. Echo is well-known for it’s fly fishing and spin fishing opportunities including bass, pike and trout.
Tally Lake
Talley Lake is a wilderness lake that lies about 20 miles west of Whitefish, Montana. The lake is popular for recreational activities like fishing, boating, cliff jumping, and swimming. It is also known for its considerable depth of almost 500 feet. Despite its size, the lake is warm in late summer because of the high quantities of tannins, which also give the waters a dark color.
Thompson Chain of Lakes
The Thompson Chain of Lakes is a hidden gem in northwest Montana, with 18 lakes that offer stunning scenery, great fishing, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. The lakes are named after David Thompson, a Canadian explorer who traveled through the area in the early 1800s. Seven of the lakes are larger than 35 acres and over 160 feet deep! This chain of lakes provides some of the best fishing in the state along with plenty of recreation.
Little Bitterroot Lake
Recreation abounds at Little Bitterroot Lake which is located just southwest of Kalispell, Montana near the small community of Marion. Fishing, swimming and hiking near the shoreline are all popular activities enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. The lake is mostly surrounded by private residences, and boasts 3,000-acres of surface area with 11-miles of shoreline and depths that reach 100 feet!