Wild Horse Island Tour
Wild Horse Island
It is difficult to imagine a more scenic excursion than a kayak paddle out to Wild Horse Island, a Unit of Flathead Lake State Park! The trip starts with a gorgeous two-mile paddle across clear waters of Flathead Lake to the trailhead on the island at Skeeko Bay. Once to the island we allow 2.5 hours for a self-guided hike. Once on the island, we provide a lunch for each guest, bottles of water, backpack with map, and binoculars to view the abundant wildlife! Make sure you bring your camera! Hiking the island is a real treat, and we have yet to have a paddler NOT get to experience either the record size mule deer, horses or bighorn sheep!
The kayak portion of the trip is approximately two miles each way and takes 45-60 minutes, depending on the speed of the paddlers. To view a map of Wild Horse Island click here!
Experience Level:
Beginner to advanced. We will customize the tour to your experience level.
Time:
Total trip approximately 5 hours.
Rendezvous Point:
The Sea Me Paddle office in Lakeside, MT at 7220 Hwy 93 Suite 3 at 9:30 AM. Be prepared to follow us approximately fifteen miles by car to our launch location in Dayton, MT.
Includes:
Kayaks and all gear necessary to paddle safely to Wild Horse Island. In addition, we provide the items needed to help you enjoy your self-guided hike including: a backpack, trail map, binoculars, a snack-lunch and water for each paddler/hiker.
Wild Horse Island Quick Facts
Wildlife:
The wildlife diversity makes Wild Horse Island a prime location for wildlife watching and photography! Includes bighorn sheep, mule deer, songbirds, waterfowl, bald eagles, falcons, osprey, coyotes, and five wild horses. It is a violation of park regulations to feed, pet or intentionally come within 100 feet of any wildlife including wild horses.
History:
The Kootenai tribe that inhabited the shores of Flathead Lake had a name for this island, "Qwil Qanqami" (Kwiss-con-ka-may) that translated as "big" or "huge Island." Members of the tribe would swim their horses over to the island for safe keeping and protection of the horses from enemy attack. Wild Horse Island was established as a state park in 1978.
Restrictions/Closures:
Day use only.
Fires and Smoking:
Fires and smoking are prohibited at all times.
Size/Location:
2160 Acres. Largest island in a freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. Lat/Long: 47.84715/114.23458. It is designated as a primitive island.
Structures:
A homestead, circa 1911, still stands on the island, along with remnants of a corral and root cellar.
Amenities:
Wild Horse has a designated trailhead at Skeeko Bay and Eagle Cove. A public restroom is located up the trail from Skeeko Bay. This is the only designated restroom on the island.
Trail System:
Wild Horse has a designated trailhead at Skeeko Bay and Eagle Cove. A public restroom is located up the trail from Skeeko Bay. This is the only designated restroom on the island.