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Lakes in Western Montana + Glacier National Park

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Lakes Glacier Country’s Many Lakes

Glacier Country’s Many Lakes

Note: As of July 1, 2023, Conservation Licenses are required for everyone age 12 and older to access most state lands, including wildlife management areas, fishing access sites and wildlife habitat protection areas. This requirement does not include state parks. Please recreate responsibly. Learn more here.

If paddling a kayak through snowcapped mountains mirrored in a pristine lake sounds like a good time to you, well, that’s one of our specialties. The list of ways to play on our lakes is long: swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, water skiing, watercrafting, boating, sailing, fishing and ice fishing. And with notable lakes like Flathead Lake, Whitefish Lake, Lake McDonald, Lake Como, Seeley Lake and Lake Koocanusa as well as the hundreds of high-alpine glacial-fed lakes and quiet pools scattered throughout our region, your options are endless.

Anyone—resident and nonresident—traveling with their own motorized or non-motorized watercraft must stop at all open watercraft inspection stations they encounter. These mandatory inspections help keep Montana’s waters free of aquatic invasive species. Nonresidents must also purchase a Vessel AIS Prevention Pass.

After an amazing day of fun on the water, follow the three easy steps of Clean. Drain. Dry. to help keep Montana’s rivers, lakes and streams as pristine as you found them. 

For a map of rivers, lakes, and water access points in Glacier Country, click here.

Spring Seven: Western Montana’s Must-Do List

Dive into the season with our exclusive "Spring Seven" list—a treasure trove of must-do experiences that prove spring in Montana is the perfect time to visit.

Additional Resources:

  • Montana’s Fishing Access Sites Field Guide
  • Montana State Parks
  • Protect Our Waters
  • Renting Boats and Watercraft
Recreate Responsibly Plan Ahead, Play it Safe, and Leave No Trace.
News from Glacier National Park Currently, 12 miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road are open for travel.

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