Updated August 2026
Best Kayaking Lakes in Montana
Top 10 kayaking lakes in Montana, ranked by Secchi clarity (clearer water makes for better paddling — you can see fish, plants, and the bottom).
- Grade A–B water quality
- No known access restrictions
- 50–2,000 acres
Kayaking-friendly rankings prefer lakes with low motor-boat congestion, interesting shoreline, decent water clarity, and public access. Tally Lake (A) tops the Montana list.
Kayaking favors lakes with shoreline interest — bays, islands, undeveloped stretches — which tends to correlate with the larger, more remote Montana lakes rather than the small, residential ones.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Clarity | Area | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tally Lake | Flathead | MT | A | 15.2 ft | - | - |
| 2 | Inez Lake | Missoula | MT | A | - | - | - |
| 3 | Alva Lake | Missoula | MT | A | - | - | - |
| 4 | Lake Alva Mid-Lake Deep | Missoula | MT | B | 21.6 ft | - | - |
| 5 | Lake Inez South Hole | Missoula | MT | B | 17.8 ft | - | - |
| 6 | Placid Lake Midlake Hole | Missoula | MT | B | 16.7 ft | - | - |
| 7 | Seeley Lake | Missoula | MT | B | 15.4 ft | - | - |
| 8 | Cooney Reservoir | Carbon | MT | B | 12.5 ft | 1,078 acres | - |
| 9 | Lake Inez Off Helms Rd S End of Lake | Missoula | MT | B | - | - | - |
| 10 | Lake Inez Off Rana Drive Upper W Side of Lake | Missoula | MT | B | - | - | - |
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Where to stay near Montana kayaking lakes
Find cabins, campgrounds, and rentals near Montana's clearest paddling water — live availability and prices for your kayak trip.
Top-rated places to stay near Montana paddling lakes
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.