Top 5 Can’t Miss
- South of Glacier National Park, Wild Horse Island State Park is home to incredible wildlife, including five resident horses, the world’s largest bighorn sheep, and bald eagles.
- Visitors can kayak or take a boat across the largest natural freshwater lake in the western U.S. to reach the 2,160-acre island.
- In addition to wildlife viewing, activities on the island include hiking a scenic three-mile loop and picnicking with beautiful views.
- The equestrian-themed Flathead Lake Lodge offers a dude ranch experience, horseback riding included.
- The Sitting Duck highlights local flavors, serving northwest Montana’s trademark huckleberries in the form of huckleberry chicken wings to huckleberry pork sliders.
In the southwest arm of Montana’s Flathead Lake, horses run wild. Just south of Glacier National Park, a herd of five resident horses shares the aptly named Wild Horse Island State Park with countless bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and mule deer.
According to folklore, members of the Salish and Kootenai tribes brought the first of these horses to the park to protect them from theft. “To keep their horses safe, the Salish would swim them across Flathead Lake and stash them right there on that island,” says Justin Flake, owner of kayak company Sea Me Paddle.
In the 1970s, the 2,160-acre island became a state park, which now presents a quieter—yet well-maintained—alternative to nearby Glacier. Much like a road trip to the national park, however, a visit to Wild Horse Island transcends the destination itself; how you get there is half the fun. As the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States, Flathead Lake extends for about 200 square miles, and visitors to Wild Horse Island must cross some of that clear water by boat.
Options therefore abound for your Wild Horse Island pilgrimage, whether you’re interested in a guided kayak tour, shuttle pontoon, or boat rental. Once on the island, you’ll also have your pick of activities, so you can find both free-roaming wildlife and picnic-perfect views amid the ponderosa pines.
How to Get There
Roughly 35 minutes from Kalispell—a popular gateway to both Glacier and Wild Horse Island—Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) operates direct, year-round flights to major cities, including Denver, Seattle, and Las Vegas. For more options, you can fly through Missoula Montana Airport (MSO), which is less than two hours south. From either hub, make sure to reserve a rental car; Uber and shuttle services operate in limited capacity.
Know Before You Go
Aerial View of Wild Horse Island at the Flathead Lake in Montana.
Danilo Ruiz/Getty Images
In northern Montana, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes” isn’t a cliché but a guiding principle. Bring plenty of layers to account for variables in both weather and activities.
“You do have to pack a little bit for [Wild Horse Island] because you’re going to want to be in quick-dry material—whatever you dress in when you’re on the lake—and then change into hiking shoes,” explains Flake.
Unless you’re a seasoned paddler or familiar with the lake, Flake also urges kayakers to paddle with an experienced guide—and get a head start on the day. “The best time of day would be first thing in the morning to get over there before it gets too hot,” he says. “That’s when the animals are most active.”
Once on the island, you’ll find designated boat docking areas, as well as a bathroom. People tend to stay ashore for about three hours, according to Big Arm Boat Rentals and Rides’ Matthew Sisler, though journey times vary. On kayak, each two-mile, one-way trip to Wild Horse Island may take about an hour, while Sisler’s thrice-daily shuttles condense the ride to approximately 20 minutes.
As for state park fees? “Out-of-state guests are encouraged to visit the kiosk on the island and deposit the nominal amount in the box when they get off the boat at the main trailhead,” says Sisler.
Best Time to Visit
While Wild Horse Island technically stays open year-round, Flake recommends visiting during spring and fall; September prolongs the warm weather, while spring paints the island yellow with blooming arrowleaf balsamroot. If you’re looking to swim, however, save your trip for July and August, says Sisler. Note that the lake freezes come winter.
Best Things to Do
A large bighorn sheep ram in the forest of the Wild Horse Island.
bojorgensen/Adobe Stock
Find all five horses.
For a park named after its horses, this shouldn’t come as a surprise: “Wildlife viewing is the number one activity,” says Flake. Currently, five horses—all female—reside on the island and tend to congregate around the southern tip. “The state park manages those five horses, keeps tabs on them, and they usually live at a place called Driftwood Point,” says Sisler, who recommends visitors keep some distance and avoid petting the animals.
Hike the island’s trail.
If you’re up for a walk, head to the island’s main hiking trail, which begins at the northwest corner of Skeeko Bay. It leads hikers on a moderate, three-mile loop, with varying viewpoints of the towering Mission Mountains.
Marvel at massive bighorn sheep.
While the island embraces its reputation for horses, “the stars are the world’s largest bighorn sheep,” says Sisler, emphasizing their record-breaking size. “It’s better to get off the trail and explore the mountaintops where the biggest sheep hang out,” he says.
Break out your binoculars.
In addition to its four-legged inhabitants, the island attracts woodpeckers, ospreys, falcons, and songbirds. Around the middle of the northern shore, you may even spot a bald eagle nesting ground. “It’s marvelous to watch bald eagles swoop down to the water and pick up fish for their young,” says Sisler.
Picnic with a panorama.
There’s nowhere to eat or drink in the park, so if you’re hoping to picnic, plan ahead. Flake provides kayakers with a bagged lunch, though you can—and should—stop at Glacier Perks Coffee House to pack a huckleberry scone for the island.
Places to Stay
Exterior of a guest cabin at Flathead Lake Lodge.
Flathead Lake Lodge
Sherman Lodge
Cozy and comfortable, the five-bedroom Sherman Lodge keeps you in the heart of downtown Kalispell. If you’re traveling with kids, book the Sherman Loft, which includes a kitchen and four beds.
Flathead Lake Lodge
Go all in on the dude ranch experience at the all-inclusive Flathead Lake Lodge. To really run with the island’s equine theme, try your hand at horseback riding from the lodge’s trails.
State Park Campgrounds
As a day-use park, Wild Horse Island doesn’t allow camping, though camper-friendly state parks encircle Flathead Lake. “The Big Arm State Park unit … is the most accessible and easiest campground,” says Sisler. “Typically, if you’re not tent camping, you will need to get reservations a little bit in advance because it’s very popular.”
Places to Eat
Two overstuffed bloody marys at The Sitting Duck.
The Sitting Duck
The Sitting Duck
On the eastern side of Flathead Lake, The Sitting Duck serves all forms of northwest Montana’s trademark huckleberries, from smoked huckleberry chicken wings to huckleberry pork sliders. As a bonus, the drive to the restaurant from Wild Horse Island will lead you through a pastoral wonderland of lavender fields and cherry orchards.
Big Mountain Ciderworks
Just north of the lake, Big Mountain Ciderworks draws from its apple and pear orchard; the restaurant specializes in ciders, which range from dry to semisweet—and pair best with an apple bacon grilled cheese.
DeSoto Grill
As northwest Montana’s largest city, Kalispell has developed a robust culinary scene, with both storied institutions, like Wild West Pizzeria, Moose’s Saloon, and more modern cafes, like Ceres Bakery. Barbecue joint DeSoto Grill fits somewhere in between, serving up classic Americana dishes with a Montana upgrade. Don’t miss the peanut butter and huckleberry pork belly, which came to the restaurant’s owner in a dream.