Flathead Lake State Park

The sunsets at the Wayfarers unit of Flathead Lake State Park are reputed to be the best in the valley.

Flathead Lake State Parks covers 2,606 acres in six parks around the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.

The largest and most interesting is Wild Horse Island, a 2,163-acre island primitive park only accessible by boat.

Camping is prohibited but day visitors enjoy trout fishing and can view rare prairie plant species, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and wild horses.

Big Arm, Finley Point, Wayfarers, West Shore and Yellow Bay are the other parks on Flathead Lake. Each offers seasonal camping, totaling 120 sites (16 with water and electricity, at Finley Point) and good water access with pebble beaches and boat launches. Canoeists must be wary of rapid weather changes, which are common.

There are wheelchair-accessible campsites at Wayfarer, West Shore and Finley Point.

While not as distinctive as the island, each of the mainland sites has its own natural charms, such as sweet cherry orchards at Yellow Bay and spectacular sunsets at Wayfarers.

Contact the Region I office in Kalispell for more information. All those who are not Montana residents must pay a park entry fee. Montana residents may use the park for free.