Flathead Lake
Take I-90 to Highway 93 north;
take 93 north approximately 70 miles to Polson
The drive is half the fun when traveling 90 minutes north to Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States.
Your drive begins through the picturesque Jocko Valley, where you’ll catch a glimpse of Gray Wolf Peak.
You’ll continue north and climb up a pitch and round a bend and see before you one of the most majestic mountain ranges in the Rockies — the Missoula Mountains. Part of tribally protected land, the Mission Mountains to the east are so breathtaking that you might want to pull off the road, even if it’s not your first glimpse.
Be sure to stop at the 150-year-old St. Ignatius Mission to take in a little history. Make a stop at the Mission Mountain Golf Course in Ronan or head straight up to Polson, a quaint town on the south shore of Flathead Lake. Rent a boat or pitch a tent at one of the wooded campsites near shore and enjoy the setting of a true Montana treasure. Polson offers the full gamut of dining and lodging.
If you want to push on further, take Highway 35 north around the east side of the lake to Bigfork where plush accommodations, diverse culinary feats, and a multitude of galleries await you. Cherry orchards abound and many will let your pick your fill of the best Bing cherries in the country come harvest time in August.
Flathead Lake has it all. You just might find yourself wondering, “What’s all the fuss about Lake Tahoe?”
Check out this video courtesy of Gary Spetz and ColorMontana.TV (WatercolorQuest). Nobody captures the beauty of Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park (with both artwork and video) like Gary does!
