Beaches in Montana? Absolutely. We might enjoy the lakeshore instead of the ocean here in Big Sky Country, but we have just as much fun as anyone on either coast. If you’d like some quality beach time this summer but don’t want to leave the state, these eight options are right in your (enormous) backyard! Here are some of the most beautiful lakes in Montana with amazing beaches: 

1. Brush Lake State Park
Brush Lake State Park, Dagmar, MT 59219, USA
Montana State Park Facebook
Brush Lake is great for swimming, and its shores are great for lounging. This is one of Eastern Montana’s best beaches.
2. Flathead Lake State Park
Finley Point Unit - Flathead Lake State Park, 31453 S Finley Point Rd, Polson, MT 59860, USA
Always Shooting / Flickr
Located on Flathead Lake’s Big Arm Bay, this park has a long pebble beach perfect for soaking up the sun after a nice long swim. Then you can camp under the stars and do it all again the next day.
3. City Beach, Whitefish
City Beach, 70 Lakeside Blvd, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA
Matt Simon / Flickr
City Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Montana—and it’s definitely one of the most beautiful. Canoes and paddleboats are available for rent, but they’re not allowed in the swimming area, so you can swim in peace.
4. Bozeman Beach
Glen Lake Rotary Park, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA
East Gallatin Recreation Area/Facebook
You might not think of sandy beaches when you think of Bozeman, but the East Gallatin Recreation Area has a beautiful seashore. The stretch of beach has a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and lots of grass for picnicking or playing catch,

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5. Black Sandy State Park
Black Sandy State Park, 6563 Hauser Dam Rd, Helena, MT 59602, USA
Ed Thomes/Wikimedia
Black Sandy State Park (near Helena) is one of the few public parks on the shores of the Hauser Reservoir, and it has a small swimming beach that’s a popular place to be on a hot summer day.
6. Cooney Reservoir
Cooney Reservoir, Montana 59070, USA
Columbus Kayak/Facebook
Cooney Beach is located near Boyd (and about 22 miles from Laurel). Along with swimming, fishing, and boating, beachgoers can enjoy camping nearby.
7. Boettcher Park
Boettcher Park, 31 Country Club Dr, Polson, MT 59860, USA
Boettcher Park/ Facebook
Located in Polson, Boettcher City Park is located on the beach of Flathead Lake. Between the lakeside lounging, children’s playground and covered areas for parties, you may have a hard time leaving.
8. Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park
Avalanche Lake, Montana 59936, USA
Lee Coursey / Flickr
There is a beautiful beach at the head of Avalanche Lake, but you’ll need to ford a small inlet creek to get there. It’s worth it.

What are your favorite beaches in Montana? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! We love hearing about your favorite places.

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Best Beaches in Montana

Tori Jane | June 06, 2022

Does Montana have beaches that are like the ocean?  

Believe it or not, yes! Sure, Montana may be landlocked, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have plenty of opportunities for a beach day. With 3,223 named lakes and reservoirs all over this beautiful state, there is no shortage of lakes in Montana for your enjoyment on a hot summer day. Some are even sandy beaches like you’ll find on the sea (more about those in a moment). Some of our favorite Montana beaches include eastern Montana’s Fort Peck Reservoir, which is not only beautiful but is also the fifth-largest man-made reservoir in the country. Then, there’s Canyon Ferry Lake, which is so convincing you might forget you’re landlocked!  

What are some of the best lakes in Montana?  

Did we mention that Montana has 3,223 named lakes and reservoirs? Because it’s worth mentioning again. Some of the best lakes in Montana are crystal-clear, chilly, and ridiculously photogenic. Among our favorite Montana lakes are crown jewels like Flathead Lake, which is an impressive 197 square miles in size. Need something a little smaller? No worries; another favorite lake in Montana is Iceberg Lake, which is so incredible it must be seen to be believed, and Mystic Lake looks and feels like something out of a fantasy novel instead of the Midwest.  

Where are all the best sandy beaches in Montana?  

As we alluded to above, there just so happens to be plenty of gorgeous, sandy beaches in Montana. There are all the wonderful ones we’ve already mentioned and so many more that it’s impossible to even TRY to list them all! More of our favorite beaches in Montana that might just make you feel like you’re at the ocean include gorgeous gems like the famed Whitefish City Beach, a seven-mile-long glacial beach with some of the best swimming and lounging in the state. Dig your toes into the soft, warm sand and soak up the sun at one of the most beautiful lakes in Montana. Another excellent beach in Montana is Bozeman Beach, which can be found at Glen Lake Rotary Park, on Manley Road.  

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