Great Falls Area Bean Lake Bynum Reservoir Freezeout Lake Gibson Reservoir Lake Frances Nilan Reservoir Tiber Reservoir |
Bean Lake
Bean Lake state fishing access is located in northwest Montana near Great Falls. Fishing and boating may be enjoyed on the lake. At an elevation of 4500, the site encompasses 17 acres. There are 50 campsites. A boat launch, toilets and access for camp trailers are available. Click here for more photos.
Bynum Reservoir
Bynum Reservoir State Fishing Access does permit camping with a 14 day stay limit. A boat launch and toilets are available. Existing ADA Level: Easy Accessibilty. Click here for more information.
Freezeout Lake
Freezeout Lake is Montana's primary snow goose staging area, a place where as many as 300,000 snow geese and 10,000 tundra swans gather and rest before flying onward. In Spring, the snow geese head for Alberta and central Saskatchewan in Canada. Click here for more photos.
Gibson Reservoir
Gibson Reservoir is located just south of the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. The reservoir is formed by a concrete dam and backs water up between a hilly pass for about 3 miles. The water in the dam is initially provided by spring snow runoff and carried there via the North Fork Sun River and the South Fork Sun River right after the two join. The reservoir is mainly used for irrigation control. Recently, due to quite dry summers, the water has been well below average levels (20+ feet), as the water has been needed for crop irrigation. Gibson Reservoir is a common place to either hike in or catch boat rides into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Click here for more information.
Lake Frances
Lake Frances hosts year round activities. In the summer shore fishing and boat fishing for perch, pike and walleye are popular. The warm waters in the summer make boat skiing, jet skiing, swimming and wind surfing popular. The Valier firemen have built a pavilion suitable for family reunions, dances, and wedding receptions. The building can be rented for a small fee. In the winter ice fishing is popular also snowmobile ice drags are held annually. The kids enjoy ice skating and tubing on the ice. Lake Frances is a mountain-fed lake and as you gaze across Lake Frances you have a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains, There is also a landing strip adjacent to the lake for those wanting to fly in and meet friends. Click here for more photos.
Nilan Reservoir
Located approximately 8 miles west of Augusta in Lewis and Clark County, Nilan Reservoir is a highly popular year-round fishing hole for refugees from nearby Great Falls and Helena. This 500-acre prairie reservoir, which is reached by county road, provides not only recreational opportunities but also irrigation storage for neighboring farms. Because of this multiple use, recreationists should be prepared for late summer draw-down and the resulting loss of fishing and other recreational opportunities. Because Nilan is a prairie reservoir like its neighbor, Pishkun Reservoir, it also serves as a stop-over site for migrating waterfowl of the Central Flyway. In addition to the spectacular scenery of the Rocky Mountain Front, the nearby Lewis and Clark National Forest also provides something more immediate for visitors: public campgrounds. Another public campground is located about 8 miles north of the reservoir. Click here for more information.
Tiber Reservoir (Lake Elwell)
Just east of Shelby (less than an hour away), residents and visitors can enjoy one of the most versatile recreational areas in Montana, Tiber Dam-Lake Elwell. The lake provides excellent year-round angling for walleye, northern and sauger pike, native trout, ling, perch and others. Some may want to try their hand at bow fishing for carp that often exceed 20 pounds. For boaters and swimmers the area boasts over 178 miles of shore line, a marina, and five well-maintained boat ramps located strategically around the lake. There are also numerous campground areas. While you’re at Tiber you’ll observe spectacular windblown sandstone formations, tipi rings, and one of the largest earthen dikes in the world over three miles long! The area surrounding Tiber contains excellent hunting for mule and whitetail deer, antelope, upland game birds, water fowl, and varmints. A unique birdwatching area is located along the Marias River below Tiber Dam. Don’t miss Tiber Dam-Lake Elwell (Tiber Reservoir) and Tiber Marina. Click here for more information.
