Best Sea Kayaking in Montana

Trying to find the best sea kayaking in Montana? Bivy has great hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, skiing, riding and more, with hand-curated trail maps, as well as detailed driving directions.

1

Montana, Lake County

03 :42 hrs
4.6 mi
5.2092285 ft
SK III

Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Paddling to Wildhorse Island is scenic and well worth the visit. This area is popular for fishing and the opportunity to see wild horses, big-horn sheep, deer and many species of birds. Wild Horse Island is for day use only but Cedar Island which is just north offers good camping. Best time to travel is early morning because of the winds and waves that can be nasty in the afternoon.services and launch ramps. Fishing is popular and towards the south end are a few beautiful islands to paddle to.

2

Montana, Bigfork

04 :16 hrs
5.3 mi
3.797058 ft
SK I

Wayferers is located on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake near the charming town of Bigfork. This part of the lake features a scenic rocky shoreline with cliffs and excellent views of Flathead Lake. Camping, picnic sites and full services are available.

3

Montana, Lake County

04 :40 hrs
5.8 mi
4.956787 ft
SK I

Yellow Bay is located on the east side Flathead Lake. There are restrooms, picnic, camping areas and fishing opportunities. This is the deepest part of the lake so the water is a little colder. There are Canoes and Kayaks available to rent locally.

4

Wyoming, Crook County

09 :44 hrs
24.3 mi
5.545166 ft
SK I

Located on the outskirts of the Black Hills and within view of Devils Tower, this reservoir provides paddlers with many miles of scenic shoreline to explore. There are large areas of open waters as well as many side coves and channels. There are multiple boat launches located around the lake for paddlers to launch from. The Wind Creek Campground launch is located centrally and is the best launch to use if exploring the western part of the lake. Other activities at the lake include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, and picnicing.

5

Montana, Lewis and Clark County

01 :35 hrs
2 mi
3.6921387 ft
SK I

Canyon Ferry Lake is a reservoir on the Missouri River. It provides power, irrigation and flood control to the area. This large reservoir stretching 25 miles is home to excellent fishing and bird watching.

6

Montana, Valley County

02 :29 hrs
3.1 mi
9.461304 ft
SK I

This is Montana’s largest body of water with a maximum depth of 220 ft. and 1,520 miles of shoreline. Winds can pick up and make vicious waves. This access point and marina is closest to the amazing dam. Most of the terrain consists of grassy hills, bluffs and buttes. The lake is nearly treeless. Fishing is popular with a variety of species.

7

Wyoming, Teton County

02 :42 hrs
3 mi
0.72021484 ft
I

This section of the Yellowstone Lake shoreline provides paddlers with numerous opportunities to view the thermal activity of the Yellowstone region. The route travels along the West Thumb Geyser Basin where multiple hot springs and geysers can be viewed from the water. Paddlers can then paddle even further to Potts Hot Spring Basin, another less-visited area of geysers and hot springs. Shore access to the hot springs and geysers is not allowed. There are also areas along the route where fishing is not allowed. Afternoon winds on the lake can cause rough waters so leaving early in the day and staying close to the shore is strongly advised.

8

Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park

06 :36 hrs
7.3 mi
1.6813965 ft
I

Leaving from Sedge Bay and heading south, paddlers follow the eastern shoreline of scenic Yellowstone Lake. Tree-lined shores and rock cliffs along this stretch of the lake provide great scenery and wildlife viewing opportunity. For paddlers wishing to cover the whole distance from Sedge bay down to Meadow Creek an overnight stay is recommended as afternoon winds create rough waters for paddling long distances. There are multiple campsites along this route for overnight use.

9

Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park

10 :20 hrs
11.5 mi
1.3999023 ft
I

This trip follows the south shores of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake to a protected bay at Wolf Point. This trip is best done as an overnight trip as afternoon winds can cause unfavorable paddling conditions late in the day and there are multiple campsites available along the route. There are great opportunities for viewing diverse landscapes along this section of the lake as well as abundant wildlife.

10

Montana, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County

02 :45 hrs
3.1 mi
2.4742432 ft
I

This high mountain lake is surrounded by the Flint Creek Range to the north and the Pintlers to the south. Campsites are available around the lake. Good opportunities to see moose, birds and other wildlife while paddling along the shores.

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