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Canyon Ferry Lake

Townsend, Montana — Broadwater County.

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32,810Surface acres
10Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 63168726).

Location & fast facts

Where Canyon Ferry Lake is in Montana

The red circle marks Canyon Ferry Lake.

Fast facts

About Canyon Ferry Lake

  • Counties: Broadwater, Lewis and Clark
  • Nearest city: Townsend (about 1.4 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 63 mi from Bozeman and 70 mi from Great Falls, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Montana: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Montana

Official FWP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 10 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Rainbow trout
  • Camping. 23 campgrounds within 15 mi, 10 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Eurasian watermilfoil recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official stocking data (Montana FWP)

Stocked by the state: Rainbow trout (2015–2026, 12 years; 3,396,191 fish in all, fry included)

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Fish Stocking Records from the FWP Fisheries Information System (releases into Canyon Ferry Lake since 2015). Look up details in FishMT stocking reports. These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

Canyon Ferry Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Chinamen's Campground (campground)Court Sheriff Campground (campground)Hellgate Campground (campground)Jo Bonner Campground (campground)White Earth Campground (campground)Goose Bay Marina & Campground (campground)Confederate Campground (campground)Crittenden Campground (campground)Fish Hawk Campground (campground)Silos Campground (campground)Riverside Campground (campground)Boat Launch (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Boat ramp (Boat launch)5Boat ramp (Boat launch)6Boat ramp (Boat launch)7Boat ramp (Boat launch)8Boat ramp (Boat launch)9Boat ramp (Boat launch)101 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat Launch
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  5. 5Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  6. 6Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  7. 7Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  8. 8Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  9. 9Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  10. 10Boat ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 63168726), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Canyon Ferry Lake

We found 23 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Canyon Ferry Lake, 14 of them within 5 miles. 10 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Montana

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Canyon Ferry Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (46.5074, -111.5698). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Canyon Ferry Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Canyon Ferry Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MT (America/Denver), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    10 public access sites listed, 10 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat Launch——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.6435, -111.6848
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.6496, -111.7179
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.6359, -111.7215
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.5219, -111.5875
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.4129, -111.5734
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.4156, -111.5734
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.4109, -111.5722
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.4100, -111.5715
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.4056, -111.5735
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating46.5397, -111.5641

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Canyon Ferry Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Canyon Ferry Lake

    How big is Canyon Ferry Lake?

    Canyon Ferry Lake covers about 32,810 acres in Townsend, Montana (Broadwater County).

    What fish are in Canyon Ferry Lake?

    Montana FWP fish stocking records lists Rainbow trout.

    Is there a public boat launch on Canyon Ferry Lake?

    Yes. 10 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat Launch and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Canyon Ferry Lake?

    Yes. We list 23 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 14 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Canyon Ferry Lake?

    Canyon Ferry Lake touches Townsend in Broadwater County and Lewis and Clark County, Montana.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Canyon Ferry Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Montana lakes & ponds · All waters in Townsend