Kalispellglacier park gateway

Just south of Kalispell lies the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. At 188 square miles, the treelined shores and open water make the perfect place to play for the day. Take a scenic drive around the lake itself and make stops at the local craft breweries, restaurants and museums or rent a boat and spend hours motoring, sailing or paddling in peace. If fishing is more your style, the lake is filled with trophy-sized trout, yellow perch and whitefish. The lake’s largest island, Wild Horse, is a wildlife refuge that has more than 75 species of birds, deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes and bears living there. For a chance to see them, head to the hiking trails that wind around the island, through forests, open meadows, prairies and past 20th century homesteads.