Hungry Horse Reservoir

Hungry Horse Reservoir and Dam are easy to access and fun to visit when you are in the Glacier National Park area, and they are a must-see for all vacationers.

  • Hungry Horse Reservoir and Dam are a must-see when you are in the Glacier National Park area
  • The best time to visit is from May through November
  • Catch some cutthroat hybrids when fishing in the reservoir
  • Ten boat ramps give you access to the pristine waters of Hungry Horse

Overview

Not far from Kalispell, Montana, and close to the western entrance to Glacier National Park, you’ll find the marvelous Hungry Horse Dam and the reservoir formed by its construction. This is the fourth largest and the highest dam (564 feet) in the world.

Location/Directions

To get to Hungry Horse Reservoir Montana, simply take US Highway 2 north from Kalispell. It’s about 20 miles. There are a number of forest roads that will be your access points. Forest Road 895 takes you along the reservoir on the west side and takes you over the dam. The contact information is:

Flathead National Forest
1935 Third Ave. E.
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406-758-5204

Seasons

Although the Hungry Horse Dam, Montana is open the year round, the fishing season is typically from May through November. The rest of the time, the weather dictates any access.

Activities

Fishing
When the South Fork of the Flathead River was blocked by the construction of the dam, the fish began to use the Hungry Horse Reservoir as their home to reach maturity. You’ll find rainbow and hybrid cutthroat populations, as well as bull trout, Westslope cutthroat and mountain whitefish.

Boating
With 10 boat ramps along the reservoir, you won’t have trouble with a launch. The longest ramp is on the east side of the reservoir, Abbot Bay. The longest on the east side is Lost Johnny Point.

Hiking
Bordered by some incredible wilderness areas, such as the Great Bear Wilderness, hiking offers wonderful adventures in the backcountry.

Winter Sports
When the snow comes, you’ll find the area around Hungry Horse gives a landscape for endless play. Take time for some great snowmobiling and cross-country skiing on 200 miles of groomed trails.

Additional Info

The Hungry Horse Dam, MT got its name from some sleigh horses that got lost in a severe winter of the early 1900s. They were found after a month, starving and weak, and in need of much care to nurse them back to health. The name Hungry Horse was used for a mountain, lake and creek, as well as the project of building the dam and the dam itself.

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