Flathead Lake

The largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, Flathead Lake sits about 8 miles south of Kalispell and is essentially impossible to ignore on a clear day. The drive around its shores (US-93 on the west, Montana 35 on the east) takes a couple of hours and covers very different terrain: the west shore is relatively undeveloped, while the east shore has cherry orchards, small towns, and views back across the water to the Mission Mountains.

The town of Bigfork, at the north end of the east shore, is a pleasant stop with galleries, a summer theater, and good restaurants. Polson, at the south end, has boat rentals and access to the Flathead River.

things to do sight
A story
Flathead Lake is large enough — 30 miles long and up to 15 miles wide — that it creates its own microclimate on the eastern shore. Cherry orchards line the east side of the lake between Polson and Bigfork, producing fruit that ripens noticeably earlier than anywhere else in Montana. The orchards open for picking in late July and early August.