Montana

Vacation Information
(800) 541 - 1447
Montana Information Website

Bighorn Lake. Fishing, Campsites without electric hookup, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic/Day Use. In the Bighorn National Recreation Area (scenic canyon that runs south to Wyoming). Popular sites include Barry's Landing and the ruins of Fort C.F. Smith. Accessible off U.S. 310 30 east of Warren.

Canyon Ferry Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply). Confederate recreational area lies along the southeastern side. Popular spot for Helena Boaters. Just 20 miles east of Helena along U.S. 12 / 287.

Flathead Lake. Waterports, Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Information Area, Woods Bay, Yellow Bay and West Shore State Parks are on the lake (just about one on each side). Popular stop includes Finley Point. Just east of the area lies the Swan River, (popular for fishing). Accessible along U.S. 93 north of Polston.

Hebgen Lake. Fishing. Nearby spots include Beaver Creek Recreational Area and the Earthquake Area Visitor Center. Located in the Beaverhead National Forest just 3 miles east of Yellowstone National Park.

Lake Elwell. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply). Home of Tiber Dam State Park. Located about 40 miles (towards the dam) southeast of Shelby just south of U.S. 2.

Fort Peck Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Visitor Information Center. Home of the world's largest found fossil beds. The Dam itself was featured on the first issue of Life Magazine in 1936. The Charles Russell National Wildlife Refuge is on the eastern fringe. Other popular stops include Devil's Creek, Rock Creek State Park (on the southeastern fork), The Pines and the Fossil Fields and Museum (near Fort Peck on the north shore). This is a very large lake extending up to 90 miles from southwest to northeast. It is accessible off Montana State Route 24 at Fort Peck. (402) 221-4274.

Fresno Reservoir. Fishing, Campsites without electric hookup, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp. Just 15 miles west of Havre north of U.S. 2.

Lakes of Glacier National Forest. The rugged scenic mountains of this area provides quite a backdrop for boaters and canoers. Call the state park office (as always it is best to call ahead) for more information on horse power limits before hauling your boat there. Lakes west of the Continental Divide include Kintia, Bowman, McDonald (lakes that are near recreational areas that include camping) and Logging Lake (more primitive). East of the Continental Divide lies Lake Sherburne and Two Medicine (both have nearby recreational areas including camping). There area also several smaller primitive that are breathtaking with scenery. Waterton Lake also runs east of the divide and runs through the U.S. / Canadian border.

Hungrey Horse Reservoir. Fishing, Campsites without electricity, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic Day / Use. Several recreational areas are located around the lake including Emery Bay, Murray Bay, Devil's Corkscrew, Peter's Creek, Spotted Bear, Lakeview, Lost Johnny Point and Doris Point. Follow the roads southeast of Hungrey Horse about 4 miles.

Libby Dam / Lake Koocanusa. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Visitor Information Center. A very scenic lake in northwestern Montana. It extends 48 miles to the U.S. / Canadian border along the Koontana National Forest then extends 42 miles into Canada. Located 17 miles northwest of Libby off Montana State Route 37. (206) 764-3750.

Medicine Lake. Fishing. Just southeast of Medicine Lake off Montana State Route 16.

Information based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brochures and boaters information.
If you know of any other great spots on the Mississippi River for boating (of all types), or have more information, feel free to E-Mail us at Boating America