406 Fun

Hiking and enjoying Montana,

Flathead Lake

The Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, Formally KERR Dam

Went hiking around the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ dam the other day. The gates are open wide at the south end of Flathead Lake. Really, if you haven’t seen it, it is worth the time spent. You wont even need bear spray. The staircase is steep on the way back up. Mike’s advise:  take it one step at a time.

See you on the trail.

The Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, Formally KERR Dam

The Dam is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation in northwest Montana. It is a concrete gravity-arch dam, built in 1938. The Dam is owned and managed by The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in conjunction with others. The purchase was complete in 2015. During the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ celebration of their acquisition of the dam, the Tribal Council announced renaming the complex to reflect the three confederated tribes.

The Kerr Dam, officially known since 2015 as the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam

The Go Hike With Mike Trail Guide

Purchase the Go Hike With Mike Trail Guide. Read the Table of Contents

Thanks for stopping by.

Montana’s Flathead Lake

Montana’s Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. Lying in the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana, the Lake is more then 300 feet deep and extends north and south some 28 miles and is seven to 15 miles wide.

As you drive and drive on the roads that hug Flathead Lake’s shoreline, (US Highway 93 on the west and Montana Route 35 on the east) it’s hard to believe manmade dams that are so common in the Pacific Northwest didn’t create it. Rather, the lake is a fortuitous product of the activity of ice-age glaciers, and is fed by the Swan and Flathead Rivers.

Montanas Flathead Lake

Montana’s Flathead Lake

All manner of water sports are enjoyed upon its 200 square miles of surface. Several state parks and lakeshore communities have boat launches and marinas on the Lake.

Locals know summer has arrived when a steady stream of traffic starts to build on the secondary roads. So in peak season expect to share your enjoyment of the Flathead Valley with many others, although the mountains still offer room to get-away if you are willing to exert yourself.

You can avail yourself of a boat tour or rent one of the many types of watercraft including canoes, kayaks, windsurfers, hydro bikes, sailing and fishing boats. Serious anglers can arm themselves with heavy-duty equipment and probe the 300-foot deep Flathead Lake for trophy Mackinaw. Lake trout, salmon, perch, pike, bass, and whitefish are found in the Flathead area’s many lakes.

There are many hiking trails around the area as well.

If you are looking for the area’s premiere trail guide take a look at Go Hike With Mike trail guide.

This GHWM website contains information about camping & hiking around Flathead Lake.   Mike has been hiking, wandering, hunting and spending time in these woods for more then 20 years and this guide contains most every trail head around Flathead Lake.

CSKT Tribal Recreation Permits

Recreation Permits: Camping and Hiking in the Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness:

Recreation PermitsThe Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness is located on the western slopes of the Mission Range. The area covers approximately 91,778 acres. It is roughly 34 miles long and five miles wide. Elevations range from four thousand to nearly ten thousand feet.

All recreational activities on Tribal owned lands require a non-member person over the age of 11 to purchase a Tribal Conservation Permit. All non-members must have on their person; whenever engaged in recreation activities on Tribally owned lands of the Reservation, a valid Flathead Reservation Use Permit, and any additional bird, fishing, or camping stamps as required. Certain Tribal campgrounds and recreation areas may have special regulations, which are posted, on site.

NOTE: Recreation Permits must be purchased in person initially from a retail outlet/Reservation Permit vendor to register. After that first registration you can purchase online. Reservation Permits are available on the internet at http://app.mt.gov/Als/Index

Pablo, MT at Zimmer Tackle
Plains, MT at Plains Service Center
Polson, MT at – CSKT, DFWRC, 406 6th Avenue East and Wal-Mart
Ronan, MT at Westland Seed
St. Ignatius, MT at Allard’s Stage Stop

Learn More

The Go Hike with Mike trail guide contains most every trail head in the Flathead and Kootenai Forest as well as the Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness.  Click here to purchase your copy.

Hiking around Flathead Lake

Hiking around Flathead Lake.There are many quality hiking very close to Montana’s Flathead Lake.  The views from these hikes around Flathead Lake are both beautiful and vast.  Hiking is a great way to explore the area while experiencing nature and wildlife. We have created a list of trails you may enjoy.  The list of trails when hiking Flathead Lake can be found below.

Each trail offers an adventure into the vast openness of untouched country and environment.

First things first, when hiking around Flathead lake you should be sure to carry bear spray.  Be sure to carry it with your finger in the hole, and your thumb on the safety.  Really, be safe, carry bear spray.  With that said there are ample hiking opportunities around Flathead Lake.

Get your  150+ page Flathead Lake trail guide. or visit the website: GoHikeWithMike.com

Hiking Trail: Crane Mountain Trail #314

Of the three trails on this page, this trail is best if you are looking for aerial views of Flathead Lake. The Crane Mountain trail is 2.1 miles long (total of 3.5 miles from trailhead) and climbs about 330 feet. It begins at the junction with the Beardance Trail #76 and ends at the junction with Road #10218 near Crane Mtn Rd. From the Beardance trailhead this is one of three trails that climb up Crane Mountain. This lesser known trail starts winding up a few switchbacks through a larch/pine forest with thick undergrowth. It then straightens out and parallels Crane Creek to an old road bed. Turning left, follow the level road out to the upper trailhead. The trail is open for the following uses: hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

From Bigfork, go south on Highway 35 past Woods Bay and turn right after mile marker 23, entering the Beardance trail head parking. The trailhead is on the east side of the highway.

Hiking Trail: Noisy Creek Trail #8

The Noisy Creek trail is 1.9 miles long and climbs 850 feet. It begins at the end of Jewel Basin Road #5392 and ends at the junction with Alpine Trail #7. This is one of many accesses to the Jewel Basin Hiking Area. The trail is open primarily for the following uses: Hiking. Other uses are allowed, but not recommended, up to the Hiking Area boundary.

From Bigfork, go north on Highway 35 for 2.3 miles and turn right onto Hwy 83. Stay on Hwy. 83 for 2.8 miles and turn left onto Echo Lake Road. After 2.2 miles, turn slightly right onto the Foothills Road. After 1.1 miles, turn right onto Rd. # 5392, following the Jewel Basin Road signs. The trailhead is 6.6 miles at the end of the road. Trail #8 starts at parking lot see information boards to make sure you are starting on the right trail as there are several that leave the parking lot.

It doesn’t matter if you are a novice hiker or you love a challenge: Jewel Basin has a hike for you. You’ll discover 15,349 acres of wilderness, 27 lakes and nearly 50 miles of hike-only trails.

The Jewel Basin is located just outside of Bigfork in the Flathead National Forest. To access the trailhead from Bigfork, take Hwy 35 north to Hwy 83.  Head east on Hwy 83 to the junction of the Echo Lake Road. Head north on Echo Lake Road about 3 miles to junction with the Jewel Basin Road (No. 5392).  Follow this road approx. 7 miles to the trailhead.

Hiking Trail: Crater Notch Trail #187

The Crater Notch Trail is 3.7 miles long and climbs about 3,000 feet. It begins 1/2 mile up the Echo-Brokenleg Trail #544 and ends at the Alpine Trail #7 leading to In-thlam-keh Lake. The trail is open for the following uses for the first 2.7 miles: hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. After 3.5 miles the trail enters the Jewel Basin Hiking Area where the only allowed use is hiking. Please respect these guidelines.

From Bigfork, go north on Highway 35 for 2.3 miles and turn right onto Hwy. 83. Stay on 83 for 2.8 miles, turning left onto Echo Lake Rd. After 2.2 miles, merge slightly right onto the Foothills Road. After 1.1 miles turn right onto Road #5392 also called Jewel Basin Rd. The trailhead is about two miles up the road on the right.

FLATHEAD LAKE TRAIL GUIDE

Hiking in MontanaThe Go Hike with Mike trail guide contains most every trail head in the Flathead and Kootenai Forest as well as the Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness.  Click here to purchase your copy.

Go Hike With Mike Flathead Lake Trail Guide

We are proud to announce our newest website GoHikeWithMike.com along with the 150+ page Flathead Lake trail guide.

Hiking in MontanaThe Go Hike with Mike Trail Guide contains most every trail head around Flathead Lake.  The guide includes trails as far north as Polebridge.

It also contains the Hungry Horse recreation area, the Swan Front and Swan Valley to the east.  To the north the guide contains trail head and campground information around Tally Lake.

The trail-guide contains detailed information about each trail.  Content comes from Fish Wildlife and Parks, as well as 20 years of hiking and walking in the woods.

Looking for a great trail in Flathead National Forest, Montana?   The Go Hike With Mike Trail-Guide contains most all of them in northwest Montana.  Trails include  trail running trails, mountain biking trails and just great hiking trails.

Ready for some hiking? There are 30 moderate trails in Flathead National Forest ranging from 1.8 to 23 miles and from 3,034 to 7,421 feet above sea level. Start checking them out and you’ll be out on the trail in no time!

Flathead Lake Trail Guide

It doesn’t matter if you are a novice hiker or you love a challenge: Jewel Basin has a hike for you. You’ll discover 15,349 acres of wilderness, 27 lakes and nearly 50 miles of hike-only trails.

The Jewel Basin is located just outside of Bigfork in the Flathead National Forest. To access the trailhead from Bigfork, take Hwy 35 north to Hwy 83.  Head east on Hwy 83 to the junction of the Echo Lake Road. Head north on Echo Lake Road about 3 miles to junction with the Jewel Basin Road (No. 5392).  Follow this road approx. 7 miles to the trailhead.

Get your  150+ page Flathead Lake trail guide. or visit the website: GoHikeWithMike.com

 

Visiting Montana

Visiting MontanaVisiting Montana. We provide information and content for folks who are visiting Montana. Thank you for visiting our site. Many years back the Flathead Lake Vacation Guide was written to provide tourist with the information they needed while visiting Montana.

This Vacation Guide contains most every public access point around The Lake.  Public and private fishing and camping areas.  So if you are looking for public or private campgrounds around our Lake, this vacation guide has the information you will need to plan your Montana vacation. See what is included, and Read the booklet Table of Contents.

Since that time we have created many websites and informational guides to assist visitors on what to see, and what to do.

Visit Montana’s Flathead Lake Website to purchase your guide today. montanasflatheadlake.com . Montana’s Flathead Lake Vacations are better with our downloadable guide. The guide includes restaurants, hotels, motels, vacation rentals, boat rentals, water craft rentals as well as public and private campgrounds. It is the most complete vacation information about Flathead Lake. Purchase your copy today!

At $4.99 the Booklet costs less then a Subway® sandwich you can buy in Bigfork or Polson. So this will insure you have the information you need to have a Great Montana Flathead Lake Vacation. Purchase your booklet using our Pay-Pal option knowing your information is safe and secure and we will see you on the Lake!

For easy download, the vacation guide booklet  is available for your tablet or smart phone.  So spend less time wondering what to do and more time doing it!

Here is a list of some topics covered in the Flathead Lake Vacation Guide.

Visiting Montana, THE FLATHEAD LAKE VACATION GUIDE

Finally if you have any questions about The Vacation Guide Booklet, including advertising options and affiliate programs send us an email to : vacation@MontanasFlatheadLake.com

Montana’s Flathead Lake

Flathead LakeFlathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States.  Lying in the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana, the lake is more then 300 feet deep and extends north and south some 28 miles and is seven to 15 miles wide.

As you drive and drive on the roads that hug Flathead Lake’s shoreline, (US Highway 93 on the west and Montana Route 35 on the east) it’s hard to believe manmade dams that are so common in the Pacific Northwest didn’t create it. Rather, the lake is a fortuitous product of the activity of ice-age glaciers, and is fed by the Swan and Flathead Rivers.

Flathead LakeAll manner of water sports are enjoyed upon its 200 square miles of surface. Several state parks and lakeshore communities have boat launches and marinas on the Lake.

You can avail yourself of a boat tour or rent one of the many types of watercraft including canoes, kayaks, windsurfers, hydro bikes, sailing and fishing boats. Serious anglers can arm themselves with heavy-duty equipment and probe the 300-foot deep Flathead Lake for trophy Mackinaw. Lake trout, salmon, perch, pike, bass, and whitefish are found in the Flathead area’s many lakes.

Locals know summer has arrived when a steady stream of traffic starts to build on the secondary roads. So in peak season expect to share your enjoyment of the Flathead Valley with many others, although the mountains still offer room to get-away if you are willing to exert yourself.

Purchase the: Go Hike With Mike Trail Guide, The Flathead Lake Vacation Guide, or the Vacation and Trail Guide Combo Pack

Camping around Flathead Lake

Camping around Flathead Lake

There are many state and private places for camping around Flathead Lake. On the east shore you will enjoy sunsets across Flathead Lake every evening as the weather cools.  As the scenic route, Highway 35 is also the road less traveled along the east shore.  If you decide to take this route, please have patience as  the road is posted at 50 miles per hour.

There are 13 public camping access sites around Flathead Lake that are maintained by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. In addition, this vacation booklet contains information about each and every public campground around Flathead Lake. It also contains most every private campground around Flathead Lake.  So it doesn’t matter if you are looking for public or private campgrounds for camping around Flathead Lake, this vacation booklet has the information you will need to plan your Montana vacation.

Flathead Lake State Parks

  • Big Arm State Park on Flathead Lake ~ Big Arm Montana
    Big Arm State Park is a 217 acre state park providing camping, hiking trails, boat launch, restrooms with showers offering camping opportunities from May through September and limited services camping available through mid-November. While a Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribal fishing license is required for fishing at this state park.
  • Finley PointState Park
    Finley Point State Park is a 28 acre park offering 18 campsites and 16 boat slips that can accommodate boats up to 25 feet long
  • Wayfarers StatePark ~ Bigfork Montana
    Wayfarers Park is a 67 acre state park that provides users with camping, restrooms and showers, trailer dump, and boat launch facilities. Therefore, the campground maintains 27 with several tent sites located next to The Lake for visitors arriving by boat, and one ADA approved campsite.  In addition, next to the park is Harry Horn Day Use area. Wayfarers is open year-round with limited services and is available May through September offering full services.
  • Yellow Bay
    Yellow Bay State Park is a public camping and fishing access site Yellow Bay is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation, so you will need a Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe fishing license to enjoy fishing here.

West Shore of Flathead Lake

  • West Shore StatePark
    With 31 sites and 7 reserved for tent camping, The West Shore State Park is a 129 acre state park.  In addition, the park offers vault toilets, grills/fire rings, firewood, picnic tables, bear resistant storage locker, trash cans, drinking water and interpretive displays.  Although the shoreline is rocky the views of Flathead Lake and the Mission Mountain Range is impressive.
  • Wild HorseIsland State Park on Flathead Lake
    Wildhorse Island Flathead LakeWild Horse Island is one of the larger islands on Flathead Lake. Also, it is a primitive 2,100 acre State Park that is only accessible by boat.  Furthermore wildlife on the island includes osprey, bald eagles, deer, big horn sheep, and wild horses. The island is for day use only and maintains about 4 miles of trails.The perimeter of the island contains Private property.  Please do not trespass on private property.  One of the better public access points in on the north side of the island, Skeeko Bay.  It’s in a cove, has a gravel beach and easy access to trail-head. This park resides within the boundaries of the Flathead Nation. Therefore a license from Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe is required for fishing.

How to Purchase The Ultimate Flathead Lake Vacation Guide.

At $4.99 the Flathead Lake Vacation Guide costs less then a Subway® sandwich you can buy in Bigfork or Polson and will insure you have the information you need so you have a Great Montana Lake Vacation.

Camping around Flathead Lake
Flathead Lake Vacation Guide

Click Here to Purchase your downloadable guide.

For easy download.  So spend less time wondering what to do and more time doing it!

Purchase your downloadable guide using our safe and secure Pay-Pal option.

If you Need more information

Finally, if you have any questions about The Flathead Lake Vacation Guide, including advertising options and affiliate programs send us an email to : vacation@MontanasFlatheadLake.com

Contact Information:
Website: www.MontanasFlatheadLake.com
Email: vacation@MontanasFlatheadLake.com

 

Purchase your Vacation Guide Here $4.99.