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
Wildlife viewing and birding near Whitefish
Refuges, lakes and wild areas near Whitefish for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
30places to see wildlife
11 mito the closest
13within 30 miles
Good to know: Early mornings and evenings are best for wildlife; bring binoculars and keep a respectful distance.
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.
Star Meadows Guard Station
17 mi west · USDA Forest Service
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.
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Within 30 miles (13)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 to 75 miles (5)
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
Flathead National Forest
- Biking
- Camping
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Off-highway vehicles
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
Kootenai National Forest
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Off-highway vehicles
- Recreational Vehicles
- Wildlife viewing
Northwest Montana Wetland Management District
The units of the Northwestern Montana National Wildlife Refuge Wetland Management District (NWMTWMD) geographically situated within the Mission, Flathead, and Swan Valleys of northwestern Montana are administered by the U.S.
- Hunting
- Photography
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
75 miles and farther (12)
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
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
Selkirk Crest Wilderness Study Area
In Idaho, BLM manages nearly 1,000 acres of public lands in the Selkirk Crest Wilderness Study Area. The WSA is steep and heavily vegetated with a wide variety of species.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Photography
- Wildlife viewing
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
Mirror Lake
This is a short trail that traverses downhill through a dense forested area to Mirror Lake. The trail surface is natural dirt and rock with a moderate trail rating with the elevation ranging from 5760-6200 feet.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Photography
- 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
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
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
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
Grandmother Mountain Wilderness Study Area
In Idaho, BLM manages over 17,000 acres of public lands in the Grandmother Wilderness Study Area. The terrain varies from heavily forested drainages to bare peaks and several high mountain lakes.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Photography
- 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
- Boating and kayaking near Whitefish
- Biking and mountain biking near Whitefish
- Picnic spots near Whitefish
- Horseback riding 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 wildlife & birding 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 Star Meadows Guard Station (17 mi).
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.