Flathead National Forest, Montana

Looking for the best photography in Flathead National Forest? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Flathead National Forest. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Photography Spots in and near Flathead National Forest

  • Bigfork, Montana

    Hike to Bond Lake

    5.0
    11.6 mi / 2300 ft gain
    From Kalispell, head south towards Swan Lake along Highway 83 until a sign for Bond Creek Trailhead is located on the east side oft the road near mile marker 71. Turning onto Forest Service Road #680 and after 1.5 miles, turning on FS Road #9507, the trailhead will be 2.3 miles after the intersec...
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  • Bigfork, Montana

    Swim in Graves Bay Swimming Hole

    To get to this swimming hole you drive south from Hungry Horse on the West Side Road (Forest Road 895) 33.6 miles to the Graves Creek Campground. Park in the small parking lot with the bear box and outhouse, opposite the campground closer to the lake. Follow the path as it leads you past the casc...
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  • Bigfork, Montana

    Explore Graves Creek Falls

    Graves Creek Falls are a series of pleasant waterfalls viewable without much effort. To get here From Hungry Horse drive south on the West Side Road (Forest Road 895) 33.6 miles to the Graves Creek Campground. From here turn right into the campground, park and take a short walk of a couple hundre...
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  • Kalispell, Montana

    Backpack to Black Lake

    7 mi / 1500 ft gain
    Begin at Camp Misery (elev. 5,717 ft). This is a total misname by the way! It should be titled Camp On The Way To Awesomeness! Anyway, head .6 miles on Trail 8 to the intersection of trail. From here turn right on Trail 68 and hike .7 miles until the intersection where you turn right on Trail 7 f...
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  • Kalispell, Montana

    Backpack to Clayton Lake

    9 mi / 1500 ft gain
    From the Camp Misery Trailhead (elev. 5,717 ft) take the left Trail 8 for .6 miles. At the junction continue left for a 1.3 mile gently ascent into Jewel Basin. Nearing Twin Lakes continue left on Trail 7 for .6 miles until you reach Trail 55. Continue right, and make sure that after a short .3 m...
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  • Kalispell, Montana

    Hike to Summit of Mount Aeneas

    4.9
    6 mi / 1700 ft gain
    This hike can easily be overlooked since it is in such a geographically rich area, with Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness so close, but it is absolutely a hidden gem that doesn't get enough attention. Mount Aeneas sits at just over 7,500 feet and from the summit it gives amazi...
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  • Flathead National Forest, Montana

    Hike Montana's Swan Crest Trail

    47 mi
    Getting There: Coming from Seeley Lake, take the road towards Bigfork. Continue until you get to mile marker 27 and turn right into the Morrell/Clearwater turn off. Stay on the road most traveled until you dead end at the trail head roughly 7 miles up the road. Park here. The Trail: The trail ...
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  • Hungry Horse, Montana

    Relax at Spotted Bear Beach

    Spotted Bear Beach is a secluded white sand beach in the middle of Montana. To get here from the town of Hungry Horse, drive east on Highway 2 for ½ mile to the East Side Reservoir Road #38. Turn right (south) onto Road #38 and drive on through the town of Martin City. After two miles the pavemen...
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  • Essex, Montana

    Hike to Dickey Lake

    5.2 mi / 1463 ft gain
    *Parking for this hike is very limited, as the parking area can hold one, maybe two, vehicles.  This 5.2 mile roundtrip hike begins near Essex, Montana, at 4,620 feet of elevation, and leads to a small, hidden lake nestled in the Great Bear Wilderness. Immediately after leaving the parking area, ...
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  • Somers, Montana

    Kayak to Pig Island

    Drive to the North Flathead Launch in Somers, MT (15 miles south of Kalispell). Launch the kayaks and head south towards the yacht club. Once past the yacht club, paddle eastward, you should come upon a wooden shack, a number of wooden poles, and an island. Continue eastward past these various fe...
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  • Flathead County, Montana

    Hike to Blaine Mountain

    7.3 mi / 2350 ft gain
    To reach the trailhead for this hike, it is about an hour's drive from nearby Kalispell. You will drive around Hungry Horse Reservoir on the West Side Road, and turn off onto Doris Creek Road. Be sure NOT to get this mistaken with the nearby Doris Ridge Road. Once turning onto Doris Creek Road, i...
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  • Bigfork, Montana

    Summit Swan Peak

    18.49 mi / 6180 ft gain
    This hike is about an hour drive south from Kalispell. Follow MT-83 S for about 47 mi. towards and past Swan Lake. Take a left on NF-554 and follow the road for 1.6 mi. and take a right on Squeezer Creek Rd. and follow the road for 4 mi. to a gated road and park near the gate. Follow the gated ro...
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  • Martin City, Montana

    Drive around Hungry Horse Reservoir

    About 100 miles of mostly gravel roads (14 miles of pavement) will take you around this beautiful reservoir.  With that many miles of road and the shoreline to go with it, it is obvious that there is plenty to see and do in the Hungry Horse area. Check out some of my other adventures for ideas of...
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  • Hungry Horse, Montana

    Hike to the Blue Lakes

    2 mi / 100 ft gain
    The drive out to the trailhead where this hike starts is an adventure in and of itself. As the Forest Service website describes it. "Silvertip Trailhead is accessed from Highway 2. From the town of Hungry Horse, drive east on Highway 2 for ½ mile to the East Side Reservoir Road #38. Turn right (s...
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  • Dayton, Montana

    Kayak to Wild Horse Island

    5.0
    There are many boat ramps to access Flathead Lake, but the closest location to Wild Horse Island is Dayton, MT. Dayton offers easy access with only about a 1-hour paddle to the island for the novice kayakers. Unfortunately, the boat ramp in Dayton does not have room for parking, thus it is only a...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Snowshoe Skiumah Trail

    1.9 mi
    The trailhead for Skiumah Creek Trail is located just off of highway 2, and is well marked from both directions of the road. It is roughly 15 miles East on Highway 2 from the West Glacier Entrance of Glacier National Park. Parking is located on the other side of Highway 2 than the actual trailhea...
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