Tally Lake Campground
11 mi west · USDA Forest Service
Tally Lake Campground is located on the northern shores of its namesake lake, west of Whitefish, Montana.
Outdoors
Boating and kayaking near Whitefish
Lakes, reservoirs and rivers near Whitefish for boating, kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding.
19places to boat and paddle
11 mito the closest
11within 30 miles
June–Septemberbest months
Good to know: Life jackets are required for children on most waters, and many lakes require an invasive-species inspection or a launch fee.
Closest picks
Big Creek Campground (Flathead National Forest, MT)
14 mi northeast · USDA Forest Service
Big Creek Campground lies in the expansive Flathead National Forest in northwestern Montana, 2 miles south of the Northwest entrance to Glacier National Park.
Hungry Horse Reservoir
17 mi southeast · Bureau of Reclamation
Hungry Horse Dam is on the South Fork of the Flathead River, 15 miles south of the west entrance to Glacier National Park and 20 miles northeast of Kalispell, Montana.
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Within 30 miles (11)
Tally Lake Campground
Tally Lake Campground is located on the northern shores of its namesake lake, west of Whitefish, Montana.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Ranger programs
- Swimming
- Water sports
Big Creek Campground (Flathead National Forest, MT)
Big Creek Campground lies in the expansive Flathead National Forest in northwestern Montana, 2 miles south of the Northwest entrance to Glacier National Park.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Hungry Horse Reservoir
Hungry Horse Dam is on the South Fork of the Flathead River, 15 miles south of the west entrance to Glacier National Park and 20 miles northeast of Kalispell, Montana.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Water sports
Apgar Group Sites
Apgar Campground is situated on the southern tip of Lake McDonald in beautiful Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana. Pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains and spectacular lakes are found throughout the park.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Ranger programs
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Doris Creek Campground
Doris Creek Campground is located on the Hungry Horse Reservoir, high in the Rocky Mountains, west of the Continental Divide and just south of the Canadian border.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Emery Bay Campground
Emery Bay Campground is located on the Hungry Horse Reservoir, high in the Rocky Mountains, less than 30 miles from the Continental Divide, surrounded by towering mountain peaks.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
Lost Johnny Point Campground
Lost Johnny Point Campground is located on the Hungry Horse Reservoir, high in the Rocky Mountains, west of the Continental Divide and just south of the Canadian border.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Ben Rover Cabin
Ben Rover Cabin is located 35 miles north of Columbia Falls, perched near the Wild and Scenic Flathead River.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
- Winter sports
Lid Creek Campground
Lid Creek Campground lies on the Hungry Horse Reservoir, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, west of the Continental Divide and just south of the Canadian border.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Murray Bay Campground (Mt)
Murray Bay Campground is located on the Hungry Horse Reservoir, high in the Rocky Mountains, less than 30 miles from the Continental Divide, surrounded by towering mountain peaks.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Glacier National Park
A showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a paradise for adventurous visitors seeking a landscape steeped in human culture.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horse Camping
30 to 75 miles (1)
Libby Dam and Lake Koocanusa
Libby Dam & Visitor Center is a great place to visit with family and friends. Located at 260 Souse Gulch Road, approximately 17 miles north of Libby, Montana, the Libby Dam Visitor Center is typically open from Memorial Day in the Spring…
- Boating
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
75 miles and farther (7)
Gibson Reservoir
Gibson Dam , the principal structure of the Sun River Project , is on the Sun River, 70 miles west of Great Falls, Montana. It is a concrete arch dam and contains 167,500 cubic yards of concrete.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Picnicking
Pishkun Reservoir
Pishkun Dikes and Reservoir are part of the Sun River Project. The Reservoir is an offstream storage reservoir, about 15 miles northeast of Gibson Dam and is formed by 8 earthfill dikes with heights ranging from 12 to 50 feet and an…
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Winter sports
Idaho Panhandle National Forests
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- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
Lake Pend Oreille
Albeni Falls Dam sits on the Pend Oreille River. Behind the dam, the waters of the Pend Oreille stretch 65 miles through a glacially carved valley that separates three mountain ranges.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Willow Creek Reservoir - Montana
Willow Creek Dam , a part of the Sun River Project, is an earthfill structure on Willow Creek about 15 miles southeast of Gibson Dam.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Freezeout Lake
The Lake is part of the Greenfields Division on the Sun River Project in central Montana, west of the city of Great Falls. Small recreation area with over 3,000 acres of land and 1,500 acres of water available for recreation.
- Boating
- Camping
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Popcorn Island
This small, one-acre island on the northern end of Killarney Lake features boat access, vault toilets, one camp unit and one picnic unit.
- Boating
- Camping
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Photography
- Wildlife viewing
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Whitefish. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Whitefish
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Favorite Things to do in Whitefish, MT
A Whitefish-area travel Short shared by javbrod, including a side trip to Glacier National Park. The park is outside Whitefish.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
White Fish Alpine Slide White Fish Resort Montana
A recorded alpine-slide visit at Whitefish Mountain Resort, shared by Best Life Adventure Channel. Check seasonal operation directly with the resort.
Watch on YouTube ↗More outdoors near Whitefish
- Hiking near Whitefish
- Camping near Whitefish
- Fishing near Whitefish
- Biking and mountain biking near Whitefish
- Picnic spots near Whitefish
- Horseback riding near Whitefish
- Wildlife viewing and birding near Whitefish
- Swimming holes and lakes near Whitefish
- Snow play and winter sports near Whitefish
- Parks in Whitefish
- Day trips
- Weather by month
Questions
Where is the closest place for boating & paddling near Whitefish?
Tally Lake Campground (USDA Forest Service), about 11 miles west of Whitefish as the crow flies. Next are Big Creek Campground (Flathead National Forest, MT) (14 mi) and Hungry Horse Reservoir (17 mi).
When is the best time for boating & paddling near Whitefish?
Based on Whitefish’s average highs, June–September. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.