Dam, Montana’s Flathead Lake is Pretty

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Prior to heading into a rain-besotted Glacier National Park, we camped out near Bigfork for two nights. The town is situated on Flathead Lake, though with all the fog resting heavily over the area, we had not actually seen signs of a body of water … until one brief hour-long respite when we capitalized on rays of sun piercing the ominous black clouds and hopped in the car in search of a view.

SVV wanted to circumnavigate the lake—“what else do we have to do?”—but I figured that might take all day, as I’m used to lakes like Tahoe with one slow road rimming the water. SVV turned out to be right: In an hour and a half, we had driven the perimeter.

Friendly guy that he is, SVV had talked to some locals who highly recommended we head out to Kerr Dam. I know what you’re thinking—since when has a dam, other than maybe Hoover, been interesting? Well, with all the water that’s been spilled into the area this spring, I’d have to say it was quite a sight to behold.

Kerr Dam, Flathead Lake, Montana
Kerr Dam, Flathead Lake, Montana

The dam itself is made of concrete and 204 feet tall. The flow on the other side was nearly as strong as the dam.

(Not all parties involved were nearly as impressed, clearly.)

Getting down there was easy enough—a quick trail followed by 180 stairs (so said a fellow stair-climber … I didn’t actually count so I can’t be sure of the exact number). Of course, 180 stairs down does indeed mean 180 stairs back up, so we—Ella, in particular—were huffing and puffing by the time we got back out.

However, after all the time spent indoors—and huckleberries consumed—I’d say a little exercise is exactly what the doctor ordered.

COMMENTS
  • July 22, 2011

    Awww!! Little Ella!!! That backdrop is stunning. πŸ™‚

  • July 22, 2011

    Oh lawsy, that is gorgeous!!

    xox

  • July 22, 2011

    Quite a gorgeous place, even the dam!

  • July 22, 2011

    I’d say this dam is more attractive than Hoover! I love the natural water in Montana… it looks so clean I want to drink it.

  • July 22, 2011

    Beautiful—reminds me of my trip to FHL two years ago. Next time you are in the area, drive south to the national buffalo range….it’s very neat!

  • July 23, 2011

    So, so pretty! I’ve been dying to go there!

  • July 23, 2011

    Wow that dam is something else! Everything looks beautiful!

  • July 23, 2011

    Certainly more beautiful country. Hopefully the lake will fill before all the water is sent down stream.

  • July 24, 2011

    What a gorgeous looking place – definitely a dam worth visiting!

  • July 24, 2011

    Wow! Love those pictures, especially the first one. We’ve not been to Kerr Dam but will add it to the list.

  • July 24, 2011

    Love it! I know Ella and Bolt would get along really well- he is always huffing when we take him for hikes and loves to be picked up!

    • July 25, 2011
      Kristin

      We should make that meet-up happen then πŸ˜‰

  • July 24, 2011

    Beautiful! You’d never know that the rest of the day had been grey and horrible from these bright blue pictures. And Ella really does have a teenager “oh my god, my parents are so embarrassing, I can’t believe they made me come on this stupid family vacation” look on her face.

    • July 25, 2011
      Kristin

      I laughed out loud at this comment. That is TOTALLY what it looks like–you hit the nail on the head!

  • July 25, 2011

    That water looks intense, and that poor dog… Glacier is amazing, but luckily I avoided the rain.

  • July 25, 2011

    Okay, didn’t we JUST talk about your dog being too cute? And now you post pictures of you and her in matching sweaters? Seriously. Keep this up and I’m going to have to eat her.

    Also, I love the damn dam. (Hehe.) I like how the pillars make it look like modern art.

    • July 25, 2011
      Kristin

      She thanks you. And has a mouth like a sailor–you two would get along swimmingly =)

  • July 26, 2011

    This area is stunningly beautiful! My aunt and uncle had a home on Echo Lake (right near Big Fork) so I’ve spent sometime in the area. You forgot the biggest claim to fame Big Fork, Montana has! It is the home of Evel Knievel! LOL

    • July 27, 2011
      Kristin

      That’s because I had no idea! Where were you, Debbie, when I needed a Bigfork tour guide? πŸ˜‰

    • February 22, 2017
      S.Nordberg

      Just a slight correction Evil Kenivel’s hometown is actually Butte, MT.

  • July 27, 2011
    penny

    BigFork Montana is so far my favorite place on earth, other than Heavens Peak at the Glaciers, too bad I live in the desert!

    • July 27, 2011
      Kristin

      We didn’t get to go into Glacier really, thanks to the weather–the visitor’s center was completely snowed under, in mid-June!–but I want to go back really soon (preferably some July or August where we’re guaranteed better weather) and will have to add Heavens Peak to my list!

  • July 28, 2011

    These are fabulous photos, Kristin. After reading/ogling this post and hearing about my cowriter Beth’s great time, I’m getting that travel bug for Montana. So…thanks a lot! πŸ™‚

  • July 28, 2011

    These photos are stunning! Those stairs give such an incredible vantage point…it almost looks like you took those from a helicopter! I love the vivid colors. I’ve never seen a dam in person–looks amazing!

  • July 29, 2011

    Love the photos especially the back drop! At your little dog was calm if I tried that with mine I make be still trying to get her out of the lake.

  • August 4, 2011

    Well this certainly is one damthat can be described as intetesting, although as you say maybe one little guy didn’t really appreciate the beauty. Montana is one stunning state.

  • August 30, 2011

    Oh my gosh, Kristin, these could be postcards!! I thought the first picture was gorgeous by itself, but then they just kept getting better and better! Love the one with Ella, she was looking as cute as ever. πŸ™‚

    Sara

  • January 19, 2015

    The pics you’ve taken are lovely. But when folks are pinning this to their Pinterest boards they mention that it’s near Bigfork. As you know Kerr damn is located just outside of Polson and I thought you could mention that. People traveling to Bigfork and looking forward to seeing this dam are to be annoyed in the least that it’s actually an hour away near a totally different town. Just a heads up:)

  • February 23, 2016
    Rachel

    Hi Kristin,

    Where did you camp outside of BigFork? I am in the process of planning a 2 week road trip around MT and we are planning on camping in the Flathead/Glacier area so we can bounce between Whitefish, Kalispell, Glacier and Flathead. I would love to hear where you stayed.

    • February 24, 2016

      It’s been so long I can’t say I remember! All I remember is that it was Bigfork because we were pretty centrally located, and then we did go up into Glacier for two nights and camp there, as well.

      It might have been this one?

      http://www.outbackmontana.com/

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