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Hungry Horse Reservoir

Columbia Falls, Montana — Flathead County.

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23,596Surface acres
10Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 61140001).

Location & fast facts

Where Hungry Horse Reservoir is in Montana

The red circle marks Hungry Horse Reservoir.

Fast facts

About Hungry Horse Reservoir

  • County: Flathead
  • Nearest city: Columbia Falls (about 7.2 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Reservoir (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 91 mi from Missoula and 124 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)
  • Camping. 37 campgrounds within 15 mi, 13 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • 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.

Lake map

Hungry Horse Reservoir shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Doris Creek Campground (campground)Emery Bay Campground (campground)Lid Creek Campground (campground)Lost Johnny Campground (campground)Lost Johnny Point Campground (campground)Murray Bay Campground (campground)Riverside Campground (mt) (campground)Devil's Corkscrew Campground (campground)Elk Island Campground (campground)Fire Island Campground (campground)Peter's Creek Campground (campground)Lakeview Campground (campground)Crossover (campground)Abbot Bay 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)7Doris Point Boat Launch (Boat launch)8Murray Bay boat launch (Boat launch)9Riverside Boat Ramp (Boat launch)101 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Abbot Bay Boat 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. 8Doris Point Boat Launch
    Boat launch
  9. 9Murray Bay boat launch
    Boat launch
  10. 10Riverside Boat Ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 61140001), 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 Hungry Horse Reservoir

We found 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Hungry Horse Reservoir, 14 of them within 5 miles. 13 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 Hungry Horse Reservoir, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

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 (48.1779, -113.7713). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Hungry Horse Reservoir. 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 Hungry Horse Reservoir

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
    Abbot Bay Boat Launch——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.3427, -113.9813
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.3115, -113.9647
    Boat ramp—Flathead National ForestBoat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.1375, -113.7140
    Boat ramp—Flathead National ForestBoat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.1100, -113.6976
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.3328, -113.9500
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.1264, -113.8085
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.0168, -113.5849
    Doris Point Boat Launch—US Forest ServiceBoat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.3140, -113.9722
    Murray Bay boat launch——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.2675, -113.8162
    Riverside Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating48.2724, -113.8184

    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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Hungry Horse Reservoir

    How big is Hungry Horse Reservoir?

    Hungry Horse Reservoir covers about 23,596 acres in Columbia Falls, Montana (Flathead County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Hungry Horse Reservoir?

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

    Are there campgrounds near Hungry Horse Reservoir?

    Yes. We list 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 14 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Hungry Horse Reservoir?

    Hungry Horse Reservoir touches Columbia Falls in Flathead County, Montana.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Hungry Horse Reservoir? 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 Columbia Falls