With a whopping 3,223 named lakes and reservoirs in Montana, it’s safe to say that we’ve got plenty of places to enjoy fishing, swimming, boating and just lounging by the beautiful shore. From Seeley Lake to Flathead Lake to Eastern Montana’s Fort Peck Reservoir, every part of our great state has an abundance of freshwater fun available. But let’s take a closer look at one particularly blue lake in Montana that’s got everyone’s attention. 

There’s something truly surreal about Glacier National Park’s Grinnell Lake.
Navin75 / Flickr
Catching a first glimpse of it from over a hillside after a good hike takes your breath away… it’s so beautifully blue that it looks turquoise. In a state full of stunning lakes and rivers, this body of water really stands out. There’s an interesting natural phenomenon behind Grinnell Lake’s opaque turquoise appearance: when rock flour (silt) moves from the Grinnell Glacier into the lake, it mixes with the water and creates its unique hue. The results are astounding.
Typically hikers will have until late October to take the Grinnell Lake Trail to the lake.
Viktor Leshchenko / alltrails.com
This is one of the most beautiful hikes in the entire park, if not the entire Northwest. The trail, which is well-maintained, takes you beneath the massive melting glacier with sweeping views of hillsides, waterfalls and wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see floating icebergs in the lake from the melting glacier.

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The trail to the lake is 7.2 miles long out and back, but it’s a pretty easy path, and it’s totally worth it.
Travis Melton / alltrails.com
You can also take a boat tour across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine to shorten the distance.
Just look at this stunning lake. How lucky are we?
Yaz Obara / alltrails.com
We don't know about you, but we could spend a lifetime here.
It really is Montana at its most astonishing.
Ryan McKee / Flickr

Hike along with some experienced hikers in this stunning trail video:

Have you seen this incredible blue lake in Montana? If you’re looking for other lovely lakes, try visiting some more of the most beautiful lakes in Montana.

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Lakes in Montana

Tori Jane | June 22, 2023
  1. What are some of the bluest lakes in Montana?

Montana is an amazingly beautiful state with an incredible number of things to do, see, and experience. Montana’s lakes are otherworldly in their beauty, and some are even famous for being a surreal blue color. Some of the bluest lakes in Montana are: 

  • Bowman Lake – This gorgeous hidden gem within Glacier National Park is remarkably clear and tougher to access, so you might even have it to yourself.  
  • Turquoise Lake – This lake is so wonderfully blue that its shade is even in its name!   
  • Wade Lake – This beautiful Montana lake is in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and is famous for its clarity and blueness. 

 

  1. What are the clearest lakes in Montana? 

The vast majority of lakes in Montana are crystal-clear, so most of them would do beautifully as answers to this inquiry. However, some of these clear lakes in Montana are more famous than others, and these lakes famous for their clarity are lakes like:  

  • Flathead Lake – This gorgeous, 370-foot-deep lake is crystal-clear and leftover remains of an ancient sea. 
  • Mystic Lake – The otherworldly beauty of this lake is even in its name; this lake is truly mystical in its beauty.  

Learn more about Mystic Lake and all the reasons you ought to visit.   

  1. How many lakes does Montana have? 

Hold on to your hat, because this number is wild: there are no less than 3,223 named lakes and reservoirs in Montana. The most notable of these Montana lakes are ones such as:  

  • Fort Peck Lake – This is the largest lake in Montana, and it is man-made.  
  • Flathead Lake – This is the largest natural lake in Montana, with a size of 126,100 acres.  
  • Lake Kookanusa – The third-largest lake in Montana and definitely worth a hike.  

Learn more about Fort Peck Reservoir. 

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Grinnell Lake, Montana 59417, USA