Overlooking the sparkling blue waters of the largest natural freshwater lake this side of the Mississippi, Lakeside is your sweet, quintessential Flathead Montana town.
With a population of approximately 3,000, Lakeside finds its charm in its stunning views and outdoor recreation. Nestled on the Northwest shore of Flathead Lake (28 miles long by 15 miles wide), these attractions feature outdoor water pursuits. Fishing, kayaking, water-skiing, and tubing are just the start of the fun you can find from several public lake access points.
For an afternoon of hiking, picnicking, and swimming, Wild Horse Island is a wonderful option. It’s about a 16 minute drive South of Lakeside with a short boat ride to finish the trip. Wild Horse Island is a 2,000 acre state park filled with mountain goats, mule deer, eagles, several varieties of birds, and you probably guessed it…wild horses. It’s believed this island was once used by the Salish-Kootenai tribe of Native Americans to house their horses to secure them against plundering from other tribes. Filled with history, this piece of the Flathead is a great place for a day-trip with your family or a friend.
For wintertime adventures, Blacktail Ski Mountain offers 24 runs that create 13 miles of skiable terrain. It’s built on 1,000 acres of National Forest land. On a clear day it has a phenomenal view of the lake with the Swan Mountain Range breaking the horizon. But, the coolest part of Blacktail Mountain is that it’s only about 3 miles from Lakeside town center. That’s only seven minutes up a beautiful mountain road!
The climate in the Flathead Valley is known for being fairly mild, and Lakeside is no different. July has an average low of 55 degrees with a high of 79. January generally has an average low of 25 with a high of 35 degrees. Rainfall evens out at about 16 inches, and snowfall at 46 inches.
Though Lakeside may be small, it offers great dining, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores, a public library run by volunteers, and a lumber yard. For more shopping and exceptional medical facilities, Kalispell is only 15 miles away.
Book a stay at Lakeside today. I’d say you’ll never forget seeing the sunrise, golden and cheery, over the Swan Mountains to rest its dancing rays over Flathead Lake, but you have to come discover that for yourself.
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