Flathead Lake to Wild Horse Island: a Montana kayak and hike in 4K

Legend has it that the Salish and Kootenai tribes used the island to pasture horses to keep them from being stolen by other tribes. A handful of wild horses still inhabit the park today.
The island boasts an old growth Ponderosa pine forest and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Along with the wild horses...bighorn sheep, mule deer, bald eagles, falcons and waterfowl are frequently observed. Bears are said to frequent the island as well.
Wild Horse Island (Flathead Lake State Park) is accessible only by watercraft. So we launched our kayaks for the 2.5 mile paddle from Dayton, Montana to Skeeko Bay on Wild Horse Island. Once on the island, there is a four mile hiking loop that takes your from Skeeko Bay to the Johnson homestead, up to the lookout, over to Eagle Cove and back to Skeeko Bay.

[@brianw4068]

You two are living the dream!!! Thank you for taking me to a place I always thought would be fun to visit.

[@nolanventures473]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you and enjoy the wilds.

[@kimberlynolan2745]

A hike accessible only by boat or kayak added to the appeal of this one. We were impressed with its beauty. An awesome day. Thank you! Enjoy the wilderness ⛰👍

[@WyomingCowboy-yd8lm]

Super cool 🤠🇺🇸👍

[@nolanventures473]

Absolutely 🇺🇸😎

[@barbswartz339]

Such a clear beautiful day. The lake water is stunningly blue in color and clear. Thank you for all your information and video. I will never get there, but watching your videos gives me in-site on all the beauty there is in life. Looks like the water was a little rougher going back than it was getting there.

[@nolanventures473]

👍

[@jeremiahjohnson6456]

Well done - a great combination of paddling and hiking. Probably nice to stretch your legs between stints in the kayaks. What a great place!

[@nolanventures473]

Thank you!

[@ashleylucas-hemphill3689]

We are going to have to get in our raft and take our kids to Wild Horse Island..Our daughter is obsessed with horses and I am hoping we will see them! Thanks for the video :)

[@nolanventures473]

Have fun!

[@kimberlynolan2745]

That's awesome, she would most definitely enjoy. The fact that there is no guarantee one would see them adds to the mystique, which is fun regardless. Nonetheless, very cool to expose young people to the greatness of the wilderness 👍⛰ Thanks so much and enjoy your adventures! 😁

[@TrailStrider909]

Very nice! ~~~~ You'll be at 2k in no time with great work like this!

[@nolanventures473]

Thank you very much!

[@TrailStrider909]

@@nolanventures473 Anytime my brother!

[@TrailStrider909]

@@nolanventures473 Anytime!

[@stevestewart5182]

Another great video! How long did the paddle take out to the island with those nice calm conditions?

[@nolanventures473]

About 2.5 miles each way. Took about an hour that day. But we stop and just float quite a bit. Cheers.

[@malencid]

Does the level of Flathead Lake vary much

[@nolanventures473]

waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/12371550/#parameterCode=00062&period=P365D&showMedian=true

[@malencid]

@@nolanventures473 Thanks for the data over 25 years the lowest was ~1ft the highest 0.5 ft. Seems quite stable. Have you noticed these changes by eye?

[@Coacheslick]

We are making this trek July 24. Did you launch from the public boat launch in Dayton? And is there a fee for accessing the island?

[@nolanventures473]

Yes from Dayton - See the website for fees and other info. Montana cheers! fwp.mt.gov/wild-horse-island