Finley Point Area - Flathead Lake State Park
RV Guide

The Finley Point camping area of Flathead Lake State Park is a popular place for both locals and visitors to launch their boats from. Smaller watercraft such as kayaks and windsurfing boards up to larger pontoons and sailboats can frequently be found on the clear waters of Flathead Lake. Boats up to 50 feet long are permitted on the lake. Water skiing and other types of towed recreation are also allowed on the lake from sunrise to sunset as long as a distance of at least 50 feet is maintained from any swimmers or any designated swimming areas. Contact the park about the availability of the dock; while the water level is typically high enough from mid-June through early September, low water levels at other times may render it unusable.

Not only is Flathead Lake the largest freshwater lake west of the Missouri River by surface area, but it is also quite deep and cold. Several fish species flourish in this environment, including kokanee salmon, pike, whitefish, bass, and yellow perch. The lake is best known for their bull and rainbow trout, however, many of whom reach great sizes, frequently exceeding 20 pounds. If you are seeking trout, you will want to be sure to pack your trolling gear in your trailer. During the majority of the year, these species spend most of their time in the deeper parts of Flathead Lake. In the fall, around September and October, flyfishing gear may be more appropriate as the trout are more likely to come nearer the shoreline. You will need both a Montana fishing license and a tribal fishing license to fish on Flathead Lake.

There are many trails and nature walks near the Finley Point Area that will allow you to explore both the shores of the lake as well as the abundant flora and fauna in the area. There are also a few paved trails suitable for bicycling that travel through the area, including the Gateway to Glacier Trail which is a 10.5-mile paved trail that travels through the Finley Point Area as it follows along the highway from Hungry Horse to West Glacier.

The Finley Point Campgrounds near Flathead Lake are a wonderful place to have a picnic. The fire rings with grills offer a great opportunity to cook your catch, grill some hot dogs or hamburgers, or put together some old-fashioned s’mores, and each campsite has a picnic table where you can enjoy your feast. Remember to clean and put away food, coolers, and cooking utensils either in your camper or in the bear-proof food containers on the premises, as well as throwing away all food waste in the bear-proof garbage cans located nearby.

Make sure that you pack your camera in your trailer when traveling to this State Park. The Finley Point Area on the shores of Flathead Lake provides beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding areas. Along with stunning scenic views, there are many types of flora and fauna for photography buffs to snap images of. There are a large number of mature trees including ponderosa pines and cottonwood trees to photograph as well as an abundance of wildflowers. Bears, deer, raptors, and bighorn sheep are often seen in this area, as are smaller animals such as squirrels, songbirds, and cottontail rabbits.

While scavenger hunts have been around for hundreds of years, the international scavenger hunt that is known as Geocaching was only made possible by relatively recent advances in cellular and GPS technology. The activity was first made possible in the year 2000 when GPS technology became available to the public by the removal of selective availability. Utilizing the combination of cellular and GPS technology, geocaching participants search for caches, usually small containers, where they can log their find, and possibly find a small trinket or trackable geocaching token. There are several geocaches that can be found in the Finley Point Area of Flathead Lake State Park.