Recreational Activities in Montana: Wild Horse Island State Park
The largest island on Flathead Lake. Wild Horse Island has been a landmark since the Salish-Kootenai Indians were reported to have used it to pasture horses to keep them from being stolen by other tribes. The park is noted for its wildlife including bighorn sheep, mule deer, songbirds, waterfowl, bald eagles, and falcons, as well as five wild horses. Rare and endangered plant species have also been found on its Palouse Prairie grasslands. The island’s scenic shoreline is a favorite of hikers, boaters, swimmers and sailboat enthusiasts. Day-use only is allowed, and there are other strict rules to ensure maintenance of its natural character. There is a composting toilet at Skeeo Bay.
Recreational Activities in Montana: Camping in Montana
Wherever you are in Montana, there’s a place where you can pitch a tent, lay out your sleeping bag or park your rolling roost under the stars. You can dive as deep in the backcountry as your boots will take you, grill some grub with a view, or hop your way between unexpected campground luxuries like thermal pools, horseshoe pits, tepee rentals and quirky travelers’ libraries.
Conveniences like picnic tables, bathrooms and water pumps make the developed sites in our national forests and state parks handy for spur-of-the-moment overnights. You can look for these amenities ahead of time, right here. If you plan to camp in Yellowstone or Glacier National Park, be sure to stay in a designated site, or stop by the ranger station to get a backcountry permit. Keep in mind temperature swings can be quite dramatic here in Big Sky Country, so be sure to bring adequate clothing and shelter so you can fine-tune the luxury of your experience. The stars overhead and that first hot beverage in the morning add the final touches.
Recreational Activities in Montana: Finley Point
Finley Point is hidden away in a conifer forest. It is located near the south end of Flathead Lake. There are campsites here, and some of them have boat docks. This area is a good place to fish for yellow perch and lake trout.
Finley Point is about 11miles north of Polson on Montana Highway 35. In addition to camping and fishing, Finley point also has picnic sites, a swimming area, and boat launch. Fishing for whitefish is said to be great and is done from a boat since whitefish live in deep water. Whitefish can get up to 22 inches long. In the summer, lake trout also like the deep water and can be found in the middle of Flathead Lake. Try using large lures for these fish.
Mack Days
The first Mack Days event occurred in the fall of 2002, arising out of the need to restore balance to the Flathead Lake fishery caused by the continually increasing population of lake trout. These events represent a new approach to fisheries management that strives to directly involve the angling public in shaping the fish community. The success of the events continues to grow, and we commend the angler’s for their part in this success. Anglers harvested over 7000 lake trout in the spring 2005 event. While this was a record high level, it is still insufficient to significantly reduce the lake trout population in Flathead Lake. It is important to continue to build these events and maintain them in the future-Barry Hansen, CSKT Fisheries Biologist.
Blacktail Mountain Ski Area
Our instructors and coaches are certified by the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors. They excel at creating a learning environment filled with fun, safety, and improvement. No matter what age, gender, or ability you are, we can help your skiing and snowboarding to improve.
Lake County Fair
Lake County Fair will be held at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan. Exhibitors will show their crafts and projects. Vendors will be available, along with parades to be held Saturday at 10:00am and Sunday at 12:30pm.
Also scheduled are rodeos and a demolition derby, beginning Friday night and continuing through Sunday. A City Slicker Rodeo and kids events will be held throughout the period.
The Lake County Fair will be held at the Ronan fairgrounds, which are west of US Highway 93 and adjacent to the Ronan High School. The demolition derby is held a the Mission Valley Speedway, located between Ronan and Polson.
Mission Mountain Golf Course
Golfers at Mission Mountain Golf Course in Ronan, Montana get more than a great round of golf … they get an adventure. This golf course is nestled at the base of the beautiful Mission Mountains and is the “Jewel” of the Mission Valley. You get both a beautiful view and a challenging course to make it worth your time to come. While here, visit the beautiful club house which has a pro shop, restaurant and facilities you can rent for your special occasions.
From the longest tees it offers 6,479 yards of golf for a par of 72. The course was designed by Gary Roger Baird, ASGCA and opened in 1988. The course rating is 70.1 with a slope rating of 115. Mission Mountain is a daily fee golf course with a ‘Open To Public’ guest policy.
All active military personnel and their spouses golf for free. Must show Military ID. Call (406) 676-4653 to book a tee time
Recreational Activities in Montana: Biking in Montana
Montana offers countless opportunities and endless vistas for creating your own cycling adventure.
For maximum safety and comfort when bicycling, you should learn and develop some essential cycling skills. Depending upon the length and difficulty of the ride you’ve chosen, you might be spending many hours in the saddle. You might also face extremes in terrain or road surfaces. Following are some basic pointers that have been provided to thousands of cyclists through the years by the Adventure Cycling Association.
The bicycle is a legal vehicle in Montana, which means cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Find out more about Montana’s cycling laws and find additional contact information at the Department of Transportation’s cycling resource page. View Montana bicycle map with shoulder widths, rumble strip indicator, grades and average daily traffic.