Downtown Whitefish and the mountains in a historical 2006 photograph

Outdoors

Fishing near Whitefish

Lakes, rivers and recreation areas near Whitefish where fishing is allowed, closest first.

28places to fish
11 mito the closest
16within 30 miles

Good to know: Anyone 16 or older generally needs a state fishing license; seasons, limits and special rules vary by water. Montana license information ↗

Closest picks

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

Map of all 28 places

Map of 28 places loads as you scroll.

Within 30 miles (16)

11 mi west · USDA Forest Service · Campground

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

14 mi northeast · USDA Forest Service · Campground

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

17 mi southeast · Bureau of Reclamation

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

17 mi west · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Star Meadows Guard Station

The Star Meadows Guard Station has all the rustic feel of a remote Forest Service cabin while still being accessible by paved road from Whitefish.

  • Biking
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hunting
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Winter sports

18 mi east · National Park Service · Campground

Apgar Campground

Apgar campground is the largest campground in the park. It is situated in trees and provides tent and RV campers with shade and some privacy.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Ranger programs
  • Wildlife viewing

18 mi east · National Park Service · Campground

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

18 mi northeast · National Park Service · Campground

Fish Creek Campground

Fish Creek Campground is the second largest campground in Glacier National Park. Glacier National Park, in northwestern Montana, is comprised of pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains and spectacular lakes.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Picnicking
  • Ranger programs
  • Swimming
  • Wildlife viewing

19 mi southeast · USDA Forest Service · Campground

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

20 mi east · USDA Forest Service · Campground

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

20 mi southeast · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Lost Johnny Campground

Lost Johnny 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.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Swimming
  • Wildlife viewing

20 mi southeast · USDA Forest Service · Campground

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

23 mi north · USDA Forest Service · Campground

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

23 mi southeast · USDA Forest Service · Campground

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

24 mi northeast · National Park Service · Campground

Sprague Creek Campground

Sprague Creek is a small campground located on the northeast shore of Lake McDonald, just off Going-to-the-Sun Road.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Wildlife viewing

27 mi southeast · USDA Forest Service · Campground

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

30 mi northeast · National Park Service

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 (3)

31 mi southwest · Fish and Wildlife Service

Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge

Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge was established on August 24, 1999 and became the 519th refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Nature education
  • Photography
  • Ranger programs
  • Wildlife viewing

44 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers

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

50 mi west · USDA Forest Service

Kootenai National Forest

  • Camping
  • Climbing
  • Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
  • Fishing
  • Off-highway vehicles
  • Recreational Vehicles
  • Wildlife viewing

75 miles and farther (9)

93 mi southeast · Bureau of Reclamation

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

96 mi west · Fish and Wildlife Service

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

Nestled beside the Selkirk Mountains of northern Idaho, this 2,774 acre refuge provides diverse habitats for a large variety of wildlife including moose, elk, deer, bear, otter, bald eagles, and migratory waterfowl such as mallards,…

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Nature education
  • Photography

100 mi southeast · Bureau of Reclamation

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

101 mi southwest · USDA Forest Service

Idaho Panhandle National Forests

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  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horse Camping
  • Horseback riding

101 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers

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

108 mi southeast · Bureau of Reclamation

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

118 mi southwest · Bureau of Land Management

Little Lost Lake

This trail ascends to Little Lost Lake in the Widow Mountain Wilderness Study Area. The small and shallow alpine lake contains no fish. Undeveloped camping is allowed.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Photography
  • Wildlife viewing

118 mi southwest · Bureau of Land Management

Lost Lake

Remember your OUTDOOR ETHICS when enjoying your public lands. Please RECREATE RESPONSIBLY. Overview The trail ascends to Lost Lake within the Widow Mountain Wilderness Study Area. The scenic alpine lake contains cutthroat trout.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Photography
  • Wildlife viewing

119 mi southwest · Bureau of Land Management

Crystal Lake Wilderness Study Area

In Idaho, BLM manages over 9,000 acres of public lands in the Crystal Lake Wilderness Study Area. This area is valued for its scenic, recreational and cultural values.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hunting
  • 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

Favorite Things to do in Whitefish, MT video thumbnail

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 ↗
White Fish Alpine Slide White Fish Resort Montana video thumbnail

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

Questions

Where is the closest place for fishing 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).

Do I need a fishing license near Whitefish?

Yes, anglers 16 and older generally need a Montana fishing license from the state wildlife agency. Rules, seasons and limits vary by water.

Who manages these places?

Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.

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