12 Montana Counties with the Most Lakes

Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial summer kick-off, and many Montanans will be hitting the trails for adventure. Weather permitting, perhaps you're hoping to head to the lake.

Most of us are familiar with the larger lakes that are popular for boating and other recreation: Canyon Ferry, Flathead Lake, Holter, Ennis Lake, Tongue, Hauser, Fort Peck, all come to mind. But did you know that Montana has over 3,000 named bodies of water? This includes reservoirs, ponds, and lakes of all sizes.

Read More: Montana's Smallest State Park Is One Of The Greatest

Here are the 12 Montana counties with the most lakes, along with the largest body of water in each county. 

Flathead County - 269 lakes

Spectacular Flathead Lake is not only the largest lake in Flathead County, it's the largest freshwater lake in the Western US (outside of Alaska).

Valley County - 266 lakes

With Canada to the north and the mighty Missouri River to the south, Valley County is chock-full of lakes, including the massive Fort Peck Reservoir. With over 1,500 miles of shoreline, Fort Peck Reservoir is the largest body of water in Montana.

Carbon County - 178 lakes

The mountains of southcentral Montana are pocked with dozens of cold, clear lakes. Many of them are hike-in only. The largest lake in Carbon County is man-made Cooney Reservoir. This State Park is a popular spot for campers and boaters in the Billings area.

Beaverhead County - 166 lakes

Beaverhead County has a lot of lakes, and Clark Canyon Reservoir is the biggest, at over 5,900 acres when at its fullest. It's also the site of Camp Fortunate, one of the more significant spots along the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Park County - 164 lakes

Most of the lakes in Park County are found in the mountains, including the largest, Upper Aero Lake. Upper Aero is located northeast of Cooke City. It is approximately 230 acres, and you'll hike to 10,162 feet in elevation to reach it.

Lincoln County - 163 lakes

In the very northwest corner of Montana, you'll find lots of lakes, including some real gems in the Kootenai National Forest. The largest lake in Lincoln County is Bull Lake, at 1,200 acres. There are two boat ramps; however, much of the lakeshore is private property.

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Madison County - 158 lakes

Ennis Lake is the largest lake in Madison County, at 3,619 acres. If you're in the area, take a drive over to Ruby Reservoir and try your luck at finding rubies on the shore.

Phillips County - 147 lakes

Most of the lakes in Phillips County are quite small. The largest is Nelson Reservoir (located 19 miles northwest of Malta, MT) at 4,114 acres.

Powder River County - 143 lakes

When you drive through this county near the southeastern corner of Montana, it appears very dry. We were surprised to see that Powder River County has a whopping 143 "lakes". Most are small reservoirs and ponds. The largest appears to be Sanburn Reservoir, at 42 acres.

Missoula County - 132 lakes

Missoula County is blessed to have two relatively large, incredibly gorgeous lakes. While similar in size, Placid Lake is slightly larger than Seeley Lake (1,200 acres vs. 1,031 acres), earning it the Biggest Lake in Missoula County title.

Ravalli County - 126 lakes

The Bitterroot Valley is tough to beat when it comes to Montana views. Lake Como is the largest lake in Ravalli County at 910 acres.

Glacier County - 118 lakes

Set on the eastern boundary of Glacier National Park, you'll expect this county to have some great lakes... It does. St Mary's Lake is stunning, and it's the largest body of water in Glacier County at 272 acres.