There’s nothing like a hot summer day spent by some of the best lakes in Montana. Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, or just lounging on the shores with a picnic, the perfect lake is never far away when you’re in Montana. Visit one of these 10 lakes in Montana this summer when you need to relax and unwind.

  1. Swan Lake

rayb777 / Flickr Swan Lake is located in Bigfork. Numerous campsites line its shores, so it’s possible to enjoy some lakeside camping. Learn more about this beautiful lake in Montana. Swan Lake, MT 59911, USA

  1. Hebgen Lake

Charles (Chuck) Peterson / Flickr One of the best lakes in Montana, you’ll find Hebgen Lake in the southwest part of the state in the Yellowstone area. Visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, boating, and hiking. While you’re there, check out the Hebgen Dam. Or try this trail around the lake. Hebgen Lake, Montana 59758, USA

  1. Lake McDonald

Roy Luck / Flickr This lake in Montana is a must-see for anyone visiting Glacier National Park. Going-to-the-Sun Road runs along the lake’s southern shoreline, so if you can’t stop, you can at least snap some photos. Read more about visiting Lake McDonald. Lake McDonald, Montana 59936, USA

  1. Avalanche Lake

Leonardo Stabile / Flickr Avalanche Lake in Glacier is one of the most beautiful lakes in Montana. For the best views, check out the lake by hiking the Trail of the Cedars. Get all the details on Avalanche Lake before you head out. Avalanche Lake, Montana 59936, USA

  1. Mystic Lake

Jim Slack . AllTrails.com Mystic Lake is the deepest lake in the Beartooth Mountains, and it has a nice, large sandy beach to enjoy. The fishing is also good here, and it’s a great destination for a day hike. Plan your day at Mystic Lake, one of the best lakes in Montana. Mystic Lake, Montana 59028, USA

  1. Flathead Lake

stonecassie / Flickr Flathead is the place to be for all Western Montanans in the summertime. If you go boating there this summer, don’t forget to stop at a roadside stand along the east shore and pick up your Flathead cherries and plums. Get all the details on what to do during your visit to Flathead Lake. Flathead Lake, Montana, USA

  1. Lake Elmo

Wikipedia If you don’t mind crowds, Lake Elmo is one of the most beautiful lakes in Montana to take the family. Bring your dogs along, too—Lake Elmo State Park has a 200-square foot dog park. Learn more about recreating at Lake Elmo. Lake Elmo, Billings, MT 59105, USA

  1. Fort Peck Lake

Jimmy Merson, DVM / Flickr Formed by the vast Fort Peck Dam, Fort Peck Lake has 1,520 miles of shoreline. That’s a lot of space to explore! Check out more about visiting Fort Peck Lake. Fort Peck Lake, Montana, USA

  1. Whitefish Lake

Troy Smith / Flickr This is arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in Montana. Whitefish City Beach Park has a nice sandy beach, designated swimming areas, docks, gazebos, and picnic tables. Read more about visiting Whitefish Lake. Whitefish Lake, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

  1. Ennis Lake

Gloria Cabada-Leman / Flickr When the Montana Power Company built a dam on the Madison River in 1905, one of the best lakes in Montana was born. It’s the perfect lake for fly fishing, and it’s a great starting point for a Yellowstone National Park adventure. Get further details on Ennis Lake from Montana Wildlife and Parks. Ennis Lake, Montana 59729, USA

Will you be spending time at any of these lakes in Montana? Tell us about your experiences in the comments! And if you’re looking to cast a line out in Montana, check out these awesome fishing spots.

rayb777 / Flickr

Swan Lake is located in Bigfork. Numerous campsites line its shores, so it’s possible to enjoy some lakeside camping. Learn more about this beautiful lake in Montana.

Swan Lake, MT 59911, USA

Charles (Chuck) Peterson / Flickr

One of the best lakes in Montana, you’ll find Hebgen Lake in the southwest part of the state in the Yellowstone area. Visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, boating, and hiking. While you’re there, check out the Hebgen Dam. Or try this trail around the lake.

Hebgen Lake, Montana 59758, USA

Roy Luck / Flickr

This lake in Montana is a must-see for anyone visiting Glacier National Park. Going-to-the-Sun Road runs along the lake’s southern shoreline, so if you can’t stop, you can at least snap some photos. Read more about visiting Lake McDonald.

Lake McDonald, Montana 59936, USA

Leonardo Stabile / Flickr

Avalanche Lake in Glacier is one of the most beautiful lakes in Montana. For the best views, check out the lake by hiking the Trail of the Cedars. Get all the details on Avalanche Lake before you head out.

Avalanche Lake, Montana 59936, USA

Jim Slack . AllTrails.com

Mystic Lake is the deepest lake in the Beartooth Mountains, and it has a nice, large sandy beach to enjoy. The fishing is also good here, and it’s a great destination for a day hike. Plan your day at Mystic Lake, one of the best lakes in Montana.

Mystic Lake, Montana 59028, USA

stonecassie / Flickr

Flathead is the place to be for all Western Montanans in the summertime. If you go boating there this summer, don’t forget to stop at a roadside stand along the east shore and pick up your Flathead cherries and plums. Get all the details on what to do during your visit to Flathead Lake.

Flathead Lake, Montana, USA

Wikipedia

If you don’t mind crowds, Lake Elmo is one of the most beautiful lakes in Montana to take the family. Bring your dogs along, too—Lake Elmo State Park has a 200-square foot dog park. Learn more about recreating at Lake Elmo.

Lake Elmo, Billings, MT 59105, USA

Jimmy Merson, DVM / Flickr

Formed by the vast Fort Peck Dam, Fort Peck Lake has 1,520 miles of shoreline. That’s a lot of space to explore! Check out more about visiting Fort Peck Lake.

Fort Peck Lake, Montana, USA

Troy Smith / Flickr

This is arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in Montana. Whitefish City Beach Park has a nice sandy beach, designated swimming areas, docks, gazebos, and picnic tables. Read more about visiting Whitefish Lake.

Whitefish Lake, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Gloria Cabada-Leman / Flickr

When the Montana Power Company built a dam on the Madison River in 1905, one of the best lakes in Montana was born. It’s the perfect lake for fly fishing, and it’s a great starting point for a Yellowstone National Park adventure. Get further details on Ennis Lake from Montana Wildlife and Parks.

Ennis Lake, Montana 59729, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

best lakes in montana May 16, 2022 Rachel Raimondi How much rain does Montana get in the summer? While many states experience a great deal of rain in the summer, such as Florida and South Carolina, Montana is one of those states where you don’t technically have to worry so much about dodging thunderstorms when you’re planning out your day and activities. Between May and July, you’ll see the most rain in the Treasure State, but the total average for the year is only 15 inches. You may get a short mid-day storm in the summer but depending on the temperature (which can range from the 80s – 90s), you might be glad for that afternoon cooldown. And if you are still looking to cool off, try out some of these swimming holes, many of them some of the most beautiful lakes in Montana. What are the top trails in Montana to add to my bucket list? There are tons trails within Montana’s over 147,000 square miles. And of course, there are many that are deemed “must hikes.” In Gallatin Gateway, you’ll find the 1.6-mile out-and-back Ousel Falls trail, which leads out to the 100-foot falls. Over in Glacier National Park, the Iceberg Lake Trail is another bucket-list-worthy hike. It’s 9.7 miles out and back, and features bright-blue water dotted with icebergs, surrounded by cliff walls. It happens to be one of the best lakes in Montana. Are there any swinging bridges in Montana? If you find yourself near Kootenai Falls in Lincoln County, you are in for a real adventure. At 90 feet, it is one of the tallest free-flowing falls in the area. You can take a hike here, or if you are brave enough, take in the views from the Kootenai Falls Swinging Bridge. It’s about 100 feet above the river gorge and 210 feet long. Get all the details on braving this swinging bridge.

The OIYS Visitor Center

best lakes in montana

May 16, 2022

Rachel Raimondi

How much rain does Montana get in the summer? While many states experience a great deal of rain in the summer, such as Florida and South Carolina, Montana is one of those states where you don’t technically have to worry so much about dodging thunderstorms when you’re planning out your day and activities. Between May and July, you’ll see the most rain in the Treasure State, but the total average for the year is only 15 inches. You may get a short mid-day storm in the summer but depending on the temperature (which can range from the 80s – 90s), you might be glad for that afternoon cooldown. And if you are still looking to cool off, try out some of these swimming holes, many of them some of the most beautiful lakes in Montana. What are the top trails in Montana to add to my bucket list? There are tons trails within Montana’s over 147,000 square miles. And of course, there are many that are deemed “must hikes.” In Gallatin Gateway, you’ll find the 1.6-mile out-and-back Ousel Falls trail, which leads out to the 100-foot falls. Over in Glacier National Park, the Iceberg Lake Trail is another bucket-list-worthy hike. It’s 9.7 miles out and back, and features bright-blue water dotted with icebergs, surrounded by cliff walls. It happens to be one of the best lakes in Montana. Are there any swinging bridges in Montana? If you find yourself near Kootenai Falls in Lincoln County, you are in for a real adventure. At 90 feet, it is one of the tallest free-flowing falls in the area. You can take a hike here, or if you are brave enough, take in the views from the Kootenai Falls Swinging Bridge. It’s about 100 feet above the river gorge and 210 feet long. Get all the details on braving this swinging bridge.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

While many states experience a great deal of rain in the summer, such as Florida and South Carolina, Montana is one of those states where you don’t technically have to worry so much about dodging thunderstorms when you’re planning out your day and activities. Between May and July, you’ll see the most rain in the Treasure State, but the total average for the year is only 15 inches. You may get a short mid-day storm in the summer but depending on the temperature (which can range from the 80s – 90s), you might be glad for that afternoon cooldown. And if you are still looking to cool off, try out some of these swimming holes, many of them some of the most beautiful lakes in Montana.

What are the top trails in Montana to add to my bucket list?

There are tons trails within Montana’s over 147,000 square miles. And of course, there are many that are deemed “must hikes.” In Gallatin Gateway, you’ll find the 1.6-mile out-and-back Ousel Falls trail, which leads out to the 100-foot falls. Over in Glacier National Park, the Iceberg Lake Trail is another bucket-list-worthy hike. It’s 9.7 miles out and back, and features bright-blue water dotted with icebergs, surrounded by cliff walls. It happens to be one of the best lakes in Montana.

Are there any swinging bridges in Montana?

If you find yourself near Kootenai Falls in Lincoln County, you are in for a real adventure. At 90 feet, it is one of the tallest free-flowing falls in the area. You can take a hike here, or if you are brave enough, take in the views from the Kootenai Falls Swinging Bridge. It’s about 100 feet above the river gorge and 210 feet long. Get all the details on braving this swinging bridge.