Montana is rich with natural lakes, most of them carved out ages ago by glaciers, and human-made lakes created as reservoirs by dams that also often generate energy.
These natural and artificial lakes also provide scenic beauty and recreational opportunities.
Let’s take a look at some of the best lakes that you can drive right past and/or up to.
Lake McDonald
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The largest and deepest lake in Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald is one of the scenic highlights of the western side of the park. Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTTSR) runs along its shores for nearly 10 miles, providing many places for stopping alongside it. Popular activities there include boating, fishing, and, even though the waters are cold, swimming.
St. Mary Lake
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At the other end of GTTSR is St. Mary Lake, the park’s largest and deepest after Lake McDonald. The peaks surrounding it are more rugged and spectacular, creating opportunities for outstanding pictures. For some reason, you see far fewer braving the cold waters than you do at Lake McDonald. Maybe it’s because this side of the park tends to be a lot windier, making a swim seem even colder.
Two Medicine Lake
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Two Medicine Valley is in the southeastern part of Glacier NP. There’s no lodge or thru-highway here, and there are fewer easy hikes, so although summers here are busy, they aren’t as much so as in other popular areas of the park. The boat tour on the lake can also be used as a shuttle to shorten the length of some of those hikes.
Flathead Lake
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Located in northwestern Montana, Flathead Lake is the largest natural lake in both Montana and the entire western U.S. The most popular things to do here after just enjoying the beauty are fishing and boating, and roads circumnavigate the lake so that you have all kinds of access to lodging and recreation.
Freezeout Lake
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If you’re driving U.S. 89 between Great Falls and Glacier NP, you’ll pass directly by this lake. It’s an important habitat for migrating birds, and you should make a stop to observe the season’s visitors and admire the mountains in the distance. Freezeout is also the heart of a national wildlife refuge, and there are unpaved roads providing access to the interior of the refuge.
Fort Peck Lake
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The fifth-largest human-made lake in the country, Fort Peck Lake in eastern Montana is the result of a dam on the Missouri River. The hills and prairies of Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge surround almost all of the lake, preserving an open, unspoiled feel. It’s larger in surface area than Flathead Lake is, making it Montana’s largest lake in area, but it has less volume than Flathead does.
Canyon Ferry Lake
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Another dam-created reservoir on the Missouri, Canyon Ferry Lake frames views of the mountains in hills in the Helena area. It’s a huge draw for recreation, with watersports, swimming, hiking, camping, and fishing being top activities.
Lake Como
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A pretty mountain lake high in the Bitterroots near Hamilton, Lake Como at first glance may look natural, but a dam created it. It’s a base for typical mountain lake activities such as boating, hiking, and fishing.
Fairy Lake
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Reached by about 10 miles of bumpy driving, Fairy Lake is at the base of Sacagawea Peak, the highest peak in the Bridger Mountains, which are northeast of Bozeman. You can camp and picnic here, and many visitors come to hike the steep trail to the top of Sacagawea Peak, where you have dramatic views of Montana’s mountains and plains.
Hyalite Reservoir
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South of Bozeman, Hyalite Creek, fed by lakes and snowmelt in the Gallatin Range, races down Hyalite Canyon. Near the head of this canyon is dam-created Hyalite Reservoir, a large lake that’s extremely popular in the summer with people seeking relief from the hot temperatures down in the valleys and on the plains.
Red Rock Lakes
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Getting here requires a long drive on sometimes-rough unpaved roads, but if you make the journey, you’ll love the beauty and serenity of the surroundings. Located in a remote area of southwestern Montana, this area is also a national wildlife refuge with lakes and marshes with the Centennial Mountains as a scenic backdrop. Historically, this area was important as the primary location for attempts to save trumpeter swans from extinction. Once endangered, they’re now thriving.
Bighorn Lake
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This human-made lake is in southeastern Montana and stretches into Wyoming. It’s the centerpiece of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Known as a premier fishing destination, this lake supports populations of both coldwater and warmwater fishes.
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