With warm weather on the way, you may be looking for some cool places to sit in the sun. One nearby spot that is perfect for an afternoon drive, early season swim or picnic is Flathead Lake’s East Shore, specifically Yellow Bay State Park.
Located between Polson and Bigfork, Yellow Bay State Park offers stunning views of Flathead Lake, a rocky beach to walk along and a couple of campsites to spend a weekend. There’s also a dock so that visitors and locals alike can launch a boat excursion on the western United State’s largest freshwater lake.
Besides a dock and four campsites (first-come, first-serve), there’s a camp host, picnic area with a grill and sheltered table, drinking water, garbage bins and bathrooms. You can also check out Yellow Bay Creek, which runs through the park.
But as with every great excursion, the destination isn’t the only highlight. Montana Highway 35 along the east shore is a scenic and fantastic drive between Bigfork and Polson that passes through communities such as Woods Bay and Finley Point.
How to get there: Drive south from Kalisell on U.S. Highway 93 for about eight miles and then take a left on Montana Highway 82 and drive for about seven miles. Near Bigfork, take a right on Montana Highway 35 and drive 16 miles south. The park is located on the right.