The 10 Biggest Lakes in Montana

Plan your countryside getaway to one of the 10 biggest lakes in Montana.
Written by Christelle Agustin
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Nature is aplenty with the hundreds of thousands of acres of lake to be found in
Montana
. From its biggest 245,000-acre lake, Fort Peck, to the more secluded 3,250-acre Ashley Lake, these beautiful bodies of water are sure to be your next relaxation spot. 
While Montana is known for its throng of national parks—like the beautiful
Yellowstone National Park
and Glacier National Park—there’s even more the Treasure State has to offer. For nature and water lovers alike, the wide access to lakes provides fun activities like kayaking, canoeing, and snorkeling. And if reading a book by the lakeside is more your thing, that counts too!
No matter which side of the water you’re on,
super app
and
car insurance
expert
Jerry
is here to give you a tour of Montana’s 10 biggest lakes. Find out where to find them, what activities are available, and get some tips on how to make the most of your trip! 
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Fort Peck (245,000 acres)

Location: 15 Marina Rd, Fort Peck
At Fort Peck, everything's big! Here you can find the largest embankment dam with the 5th largest man-made reservoir in the country. With 19 recreation centers, including marinas and campgrounds, you’ll always find something new to do. 
Let’s hope you have enough space in your car to fit all your gear. At Fort Peck, you can camp under the stars at
Crooked Creek Campground
, sail away from the boat ramps at
Fourchette Bay
, swim laps in First Dredge, meander through hiking trails, and even catch some fish at
Rock Creek Marina

Flathead Lake (126,100 acres)

Location: 23861 Montana Hwy 35, Bigfork, MT
Website:
Flathead Lake
Get ready for another big one: created by Ice Age glaciers, Flathead Lake receives its water from two rivers, Flathead and Swan, and is the largest natural lake in the western US! Neither too hot nor too cold, Flathead Lake suits any type of fun all season long as summers reach as high as 80°F and winters skate just below 15°F
If you love celebrations, Flathead does theirs well. As a spring welcoming, they hold the Whitewater Festival, where adrenaline junkies can go whitewater rafting and face a barrage of rough, bubbling waters. If you like the calmer side of nature, you can go on a
Captain Norm tour
and boat to
Wild Horse Island
where you can glimpse wild horses, big horn sheep, and mule deer

Lake Koocanusa (46,460 acres)

Location: 290 Abayance Bay Drive, Rexford, MT 59930
A stone’s throw away from the Rocky Mountains, Lake Koocanusa is a picturesque 90-mile lake that’s home to dozens of fish like rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, whitefish, and burbot. This man-made lake was created with the help of Canada (can you spot Canada and the US in the name?) to prevent flooding and for use as a hydroelectric power source
With 19 recreation sites to fish, hunt, dine, boat, and camp, spending your time at Lake Koocanusa is a refreshing change from city life. You can stay at
Koocanusa Resort & Marina
and rent kayaks, paddle boards, or even a 14-person double-decker pontoon. And if you don’t plan on staying,  you can peer out at Lake Koocanusa on the
Scenic Byway
as you drive along Highway 37.

Canyon Ferry Reservoir (33,500 acres)

Location: 300 Goose Bay Ln, Townsend, MT 59644
Twenty miles east of Helena, you’ll find Canyon Ferry Reservoir—with a backdrop of the 7,103-foot Hedges Mountain just behind. Along with 33,500 acres of water and 96 miles of shoreline, you’ve also got 9,360 acres of land to explore.
Surrounding the reservoir are 13 campsites, including Mahogany Cove Campground, Hellgate Campground, Goose Bay Campground, and Cottonwood Campground (check out
the map
). On top of roasting marshmallows and telling spooky stories by the fire, the reservoir is swimming with rainbow trout, perch, walleye, and ling for you to reel in. But if you’d rather be on the move, enjoy your time waterskiing, boating, and swimming

Lake Elwell (17,678 acres)

Location: 669 Tiber Marina Road, Chester, MT 59522
Website:
Lake Elwell
Fifteen minutes away from Chester, Lake Elwell spans 181 miles of shoreline and has 17,678 acres of water surface—all for recreational use! The lake is contained by the Tiber Dam, which was built in 1956 for flood control but also provides water to current Chester residents. 
As usual, you’ll be able to camp, boat, fish, and picnic at Lake Elwell thanks to its staggering 32 campsites and 7 campgrounds. Whether you’d rather chill at one of seven picnic areas and birdwatch, or reel in walleye, native trout, or sauger pike, you’re free to do so in a relaxed atmosphere. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for antelope, mule,and whitetail deer!
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Hebgen Lake (13,440 acres)

Location: Spring Creek Campground Rd, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Website:
Hebgen Lake
Moving down to Southwest Montana, Hebgen Lake is a 25-minute drive from Yellowstone National Park. Created by the Hebgen Dam, this manmade lake is known as the site of a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in 1959 that resulted in the formation of Quake Lake, located downstream.
With nine campgrounds and five quaint cabins available for rent, schedule your next staycation at Hebgen Lake! Start your day off with an early morning hike through the
Cinnamon Mountain Trailhead
and meet the sunrise at the lookout point. By afternoon, you can set up a picnic, then take your pick from horseback riding to sightseeing and boating

Lake McDonald (6,823 acres)

Location: Glacier National Park, Glacier Rte 1 Rd, West Glacier, MT 59936
On the west side of Glacier National Park, glaciers used to tower in the middle of this valley. Now at almost 500 feet deep, Lake McDonald shows the reflection of snowcapped mountains around it. In its vicinity, you’ll also find hiking trails, the classic Swiss chalet style
Lake McDonald Lodge
, and four campgrounds.
If you like guided tours and history, they offer a multitude of
Ranger-led activities
like guided hikes, an astronomy program at the Dusty Star Observatory, and
Native America Speaks
presentations with local tribal members of the Blackfeet, Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreille Nations. 

Bighorn Lake (5,574 acres)

Location: PO Box 7458, Fort Smith, MT 59035
Website:
Bighorn Lake
Made up of the glittering waters of Bighorn River, Bighorn Lake was borne out of the Yellowtail Dam in 1965. The following year, the Bighorn National Recreation Area was established. Stretching around 60 miles, this lake extends also into
Wyoming
, drawing visitors from the neighboring state and tourists from all over the country. 
Within the recreation area, you’ll be greeted by a magnificent view of the layered cliffs that surround Bighorn Lake. And since it’s open all year, you can take a stab at
ice fishing
in the winter,
hiking
in the spring,
fishing
for catfish in the summer, and
camping
in the fall. 

Holter Lake (4,800 acres)

Location: Wolf Creek, MT 59648
An hour’s drive from Helena, you’ll arrive at Holter Lake, a charming blue lake that connects to the Missouri River. Around the lake are rolling, tree-topped hills that give way to a full view of the sky—so no matter where you set up camp, your view is Instagram-worthy. 
While Holter Lake isn’t the biggest one in Montana, they have an incredibly maintained 52-site campground! Whether you’re bringing your RV or minivan, you’ll be happy to find level gravel parking lots that’ll give you an easy welcome. Starting at just $15, your relaxing stay with mother nature will be filled with swimming, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, and mountain biking!

Ashley Lake (3,250 acres)

Location: N Ashley Lake Rd, Kalispell, MT 59901
The smallest lake on our list, Ashley Lake, borders Canada and is a mere 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. But actually, that’s enough space for all the outdoor fun you can think of! 
If you’re into your quiet time, Ashley Lake is your perfect match. With three campgrounds and a total of 12 sites, you’ll avoid the busyness found on bigger campgrounds. Amenities include a boat ramp, picnic tables, a swimming area, and restrooms. So slow down and unwind at Ashley Lake. 

Protecting yourself while you travel

With so many lakes to spend your vacation at, planning ahead of time is essential! From prepping your itinerary to protecting your car with the proper insurance—nothing must be forgotten on your great trip! 
Luckily, finding affordable car insurance is a breeze with
Jerry
. Download the app and in a matter of minutes, you’ll have a list of the best quotes from our pool of over 55 insurance providers. Just pick your favorite policy and Jerry will even help you cancel your old one! No phone calls or filling out forms—it’s so quick, you’ll be cannonballing into a lake in no time! 
Jerry
makes choosing new insurance as easy as grocery shopping. Even though I had a car accident within the past 2 years, Jerry found me a great deal with Nationwide–I went from paying $340 to $90 a month!”—Pan N. 
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FAQs

Located in northwest Montana, Flathead Lake is the oldest lake in the state. It was dammed in 1930 but was originally formed by glaciers.
Yes! One of them has made our list: Holton Lake is a natural lake in Montana, which spills into the Missouri River.
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