Bring the family to camp and play on the beach. Boating, swimming, water-skiing and fishing are popular activities on this lake with beautiful mountain views.
A mature woodland is featured on this beautiful and secluded campground and beach. This park is your base camp for adventure. As part of the Whitefish hiking and biking trail system, and a short drive from Whitefish Mountain ski resort, recreational activities are abundant.
Boating, swimming, camping and fishing are popular activities and the lake is rarely windy so it provides ideal conditions for water-skiing. The park is close to the railroad tracks.
There are 25 campsites which offer a variety of tent only and RV camping opportunities, plus a new hike-bike campsite convenient for cyclists traveling the nearby Great Divide route. Call the Park Manager for specific inquiries about the hike-in/bike-in site. RV/trailer size limit is 40 feet in length. Please note: trains regularly travel by and stop temporarily adjacent to the campground.
Sea Me Paddle Kayaking Tours, Inc., concessionaire at Whitefish Lake State Park and Les Mason State Park, offers rental equipment, including: stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, and pedal boats. Open daily from June 15 through Labor Day; hours of operation may vary. Call 406-709-2124 or visit https://www.tourglacier.com/sea-me-paddle.
This park is 10 acres in size at an elevation of 3,012 feet.
Activities
Bicycling
Boating
Camping
Fishing
Lake Fishing
Paddleboarding (SUP)
Photography
Picnicking
RV Camping
Swimming
Tent Camping
Water Skiing
Wildlife Viewing
Amenities
Some amenities are seasonal. Check with the park for availability.
ADA Accessible
Bear Resistant Storage Lockers
Boat Launch
Boat Rental
Firewood for Sale
Grills/Fire Rings
Maps
Parking
Pay Telephone
Pets Allowed
Picnic Shelter
Public Restroom
Shower
Toilets (Flush)
Trash Removal
Water
Seasons & Hours
Hours listed below are normal operating hours and may not apply when there is a special restriction or closure. Check Alerts and Closures in the tab below.
Park
Open year-round, including the day-use area, boat launch, the lower loop of campsites 12-24, and the hiker/biker shared group site.
Campground
Open spring through fall. Typically the upper loop of campsites 1-11 and the shower facility, will be closed the first or second week of October. Everything will reopen in late April/early May.
Water and showers
Typically the upper loop of campsites 1-11 and the shower facility, will be closed the first or second week of October. Everything will reopen in late April/early May.
Contact the park manager for open volunteer positions at Whitefish Lake State Park.
For complete position descriptions, application forms, and details about Montana State Parks volunteer programs, visit the Volunteers page.
Fees
Montana Residents
Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration have no daily entrance fees to state parks. For residents who don't include this in their vehicle registration, non-resident day use fees apply.
Nonresidents
Day use entrance fee with a vehicle: $8
Day use entrance fee as a walk-in, bicycle or bus passenger: $4
With a Nonresident Entrance Pass: Free
Campsites
Campsite fees range from $4-$34 per night, depending on season and available amenities.
It is mandatory to have all motorized and non-motorized watercraft inspected prior to launching in Whitefish Lake. High risk watercraft must also be decontaminated (Section 13-5-3 of the Whitefish City Code).
Restrictions and Closures
See a current list of Restrictions and Closures on State Parks and other FWP lands that may be affected by floods, fire, drought or major maintenance activities.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Whitefish Lake State Park
c/o FWP Region 1 Headquarters
490 North Meridian Rd
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone:
April 15-Oct. 15: 406-862-3991
Oct 16 - April 14: 406-751-4590
AIS can be easily spread from one waterbody to the other. Anglers, boaters, construction workers, pond owners, gardeners, seaplane pilots, field workers - virtually anyone who works or plays in or around water can unknowingly transport these pests on their boats and equipment. It takes only one mistake to potentially infest a new water body.
Dave Bennetts has worked for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for over 12 years. Dave graduated from Oregon State University in 1993 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Forest Recreation Resource Management. He worked seasonally for the National Park Service for more than a dozen years before joining FWP in 2006. Dave is originally from Butte, MT.
