Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake

With its unique wildlife, designated hiking trails and scenic vistas, Wild Horse Island is a popular destination for hikers, boaters and day-use visitors. Located on Flathead Lake, the park is managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and lies within both the Flathead Indian Reservation and the state of Montana.

The largest island in a freshwater lake west of Minnesota, the park is also home to bighorn sheep, mule deer, waterfowl and bald eagles. Its herd of five wild horses is the most famous attraction at the state park.

Legend has it that the Salish-Kootenai tribes first used Wild Horse Island to pasture their herds and keep them safe from raiders. Today, the 2,160-acre island is a state park and protected wildlife refuge where the horses remain free to roam, but are managed by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The park is open year-round, though winter presents challenges. The ice on Flathead Lake can make it difficult to get to the island, and boat rentals are not available. The shoulder seasons are often the best time to visit for a balance of comfortable temperatures and reduced crowds.

In 1943, Cora Timken, an heiress to a roller-bearing fortune, purchased the land from Penwell. She had her sights set on building an Arabian and Thoroughbred breeding operation. But, her love affair with the island was short-lived. The dry summers and harsh winters left the herds over-grazed and in need of supplemental feeding. In addition, the long swim to and from Cromwell Island — about a mile from Wild Horse Island — seemed insurmountable for horses and their herders.

After Cora Timken’s death in 1956, the ranch was sold to R. Bourke MacDonald, the owner of a multigenerational lumber company in Butte. He envisioned a hotel, stables and lakefront lots on the island.

Despite the initial success of his plan, MacDonald began to see the value in the land’s wildlife and history. He negotiated with the state to allow the public to purchase much of the island at half its appraised value. A deal was hammered out, and the private land on the island is now only a 50-acre sliver of its original size.

Today, Wild Horse Island is the most visited state park in Montana and a popular destination for hikers, birders, photographers and boaters. In the summer, people flock to the island for its world-class fishing. The waters of Flathead Lake are home to trout, whitefish and kokanee salmon. Anglers need both a state and tribal fishing license to fish in the area and should check local regulations for species restrictions.wild horse island flathead lake