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At Flathead Lake in Montana (48539746062).jpg

Nasim Fekrat from… · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lakes → Montana → Flathead Lake

Flathead Lake

Montana · Natural · near Polson

126,000 acres 370 ft deep 30 ft clarity Water A

Compare

7.2SCORE

Survey summary · Montana

126,000

Surface acres

370 ft

Max depth

185 mi

Shoreline

30 ft

Typical clarity

2,893 ft

Elevation

Photographs of Flathead Lake via Wikimedia Commons. Credit and licence on each image — hover to view, click through to the source.

Flathead Lake covers 126,000 acres in Montana and drops to 370 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Water clarity averages around 30 feet, placing it among the clearer bodies of water in the country. Short-term rental posture: Flathead/Lake County. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

Exceptional clarity, roughly 30 ft
Deep water — 370 ft max
Large open water, 126,000 acres
Boating
Sailing

Score breakdown

Water 8.7

Recreation 7.2

Value 6.2

Access 7.3

Investment 5.9

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade

Water A

ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.

Water B

GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.

Water C

FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.

Water D

PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10

8.0+

ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.

7.0–7.9

StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.

6.0–6.9

SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.

5.0–5.9

MixedReal strengths and real compromises.

Under 5

CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Lake troutWhitefishYellow perchBull trout

On the water

BoatingSailingCherriesFishing

Live from USGS gauge 12372000. These are direct sensor readings, not estimates.

22.90 deg C

Temperature

2026-08-04

5.13 ft

Gage height

2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

What the drawdown looks like

Full pool vs autumn low · Flathead Lake

The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 10 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 495 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 501 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 370 ft, average 118 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityManaged Typical drawdown10 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity30 ft Water quality gradeA Elevation2,893 ft Managing authorityMontana DEQ

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityMontana DNRC Wake / speed rulesOpen water

A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with Montana DNRC that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Flathead/Lake County

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.

Model rental income →

Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.

$1,075,000

Median waterfront

$1,575

Per shoreline foot

+2.9%

Year over year

124

Est. inventory

131

Avg days on market

$331

Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy37% Booked nights / yr97 Gross revenue$37,807 Net operating income$16,847 Yield on median price1.57%

Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Flathead Lake actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$8,547

All-in per month

$244,050

Cash to close + setup

$18,792

Beyond P&I, tax, insurance

Where the annual cost goes

Principal & interest $67,968 (67%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $11,825 (12%) Property taxes $11,288 (11%) Hazard insurance $4,515 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (3%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Flood insurance $878 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest	$67,968
Property taxes	$11,288
Hazard insurance	$4,515
Flood insurance	$878
Utilities	$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)	$11,825
Septic service	$520
Well & water testing	$260
Dock maintenance	$900
Winterization / seasonal close	$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve	$960
Total	$102,563

Model your own numbers →

4.7 / 5 from 3 reviews

Great water, know the drawdown

Chris N. · Owner on the lake · Fall 2025

4/5

Beautiful clear water and the fishing is genuinely good. Be aware the level drops in the fall and our dock needed a longer walkway than we budgeted for. Not a dealbreaker, just plan for it.

Twenty years on this water

Steve & Kate P. · Owner on the lake · Spring 2026

5/5

We bought in 2005 and have never regretted it. The lake is busy on holiday weekends and quiet the rest of the time. Get a dock on the main channel if you can — the coves warm up and weed over by August.

Best family lake we found

Danielle S. · Summer 2025

5/5

We looked at six lakes across three states before choosing this one. Sandy bottom in the swim areas, enough marina services, and it never feels crowded outside July.