The west isn’t just home to big mountains and hiking, it also has amazing lakes for boating. The glacier carved area around Missoula is dotted with lakes that are perfect for spending a day on the water in the summer time. Whether you have your own boat or not, there are tons of businesses just waiting to rent you a great boat for your trip to the Flathead Lake area.
The largest natural freshwater lake in the Western United States, Flathead Lake is surrounded by gorgeous scenery and the Mission Mountains and Bob Marshall Wilderness. With multiple boat launches and docks, fueling points, and 195 square miles of water to explore you will have plenty of opportunities to boat your heart out.
A visit to Whitefish or the Flathead Valley wouldn’t be complete without a day on the water. Rent boats for water-skiing, scenic cruising and tubing from lake marinas or private suppliers in nearby towns. Fishing boats are also available at many lake marinas, along with fishing guides or charters.
One of the smaller lakes in the Clearwater River chain, Lake Alva is great for a quiet boating day. The rocky shores and deep trenches of the lake are covered in thick spruce trees and make it a scenic and tranquil place to boat.
Another fun place to boat is Flathead Lake State Park. Known for its ‘painted rocks’ and the beautiful views of the Bitterroot Mountains, this lake is a boating destination you don’t want to miss. The parking lot is small, so you may have to park in the dirt on the side of the road.
Another great place to boat is Skeeko Bay on Wild Horse Island State Park. This lake is a boating destination for families, and you will see lots of wildlife on your trip to this beautiful bay. The bay is a protected wilderness area, and you will see mule deer, antelope, waterfowl and Bald Eagles. This is also the home of a herd of five to six Wild Horses that have been kept there since 1987. boat rentals flathead lake