Wild Horse Island State Park Reviews

To get to the island, we got a ride from Boat Rentals and Rides which is situated in Big Arm. You could also rent a boat to get to the island and there are a few designated public spots to beach your boat. The island is a State Park and therefore they have a self pay station charging $3 a person for maintenance, unless you are a State resident or have a State Park Pass. There is a public path that goes a bit around the island, starting at the Skeeko Bay beaching site, as well as an outhouse. You are allowed off the path, but we would recommend closed footwear as there is a lot of speargrass and thistles and our socks and hiking shoes were full of them by the end. We were told the horses like to hang out near driftwood point (the opposite side of the island from where we were dropped off at Skeeko Bay), so we did a lot of off pathing to get over there, but only found deer and tons of big horn sheep. On our way back we did lots of hill climbing (climbed 2 tallest peaks) and got incredible views. We finally found the horses when we got back on the path on our way back to Skeeko Bay. There are 5 mares, and despite being "wild" they are pretty used to people and even wandered my way when I was taking their pictures. There is also a Bald Eagle protected site with an eagle nest, but we ran out of time to go see it. We spent about 3.5hrs exploring the island, but the main path wouldn't take more than 2hrs to walk. Fun day, would recommend going to the island if you are in the area!

Obviously you need a boat to visit the island. It was only accessible to us by swimming from the boat. I suggest that people wear sturdy water shoes as the shoreline is rocky.

As an avid kayaker, I love to paddle to Wild Horse Island whenever I have a chance. It's a great, easy paddle as long as the day is nice and winds are calm. It's best to give yourself the day to hike and explore, especially if you want to see wildlife. Take a picnic and be sure to hike to the beautiful vantage points at the top of the island. I highly recommend this day trip for alll!

there are only 5 wild horses on the island and we didn't see them because you have to hike through brush to get to the. it was a very hot day and most of the island is devoid of trees. did see some mountain goats. but to pay for a boat to take you there, just not really worth it

This place was on my bucket list. On a recent visit to flathead lake we took our small boat. Note here Flathead Lake is HUGE and you should have a map with you when on the lake as even the islands seem like the shoreline. The swells can be come huge in minutes and don't need to wind so proceed with caution. We visited Wild Horse Lake and it is awesome but give yourself time which we were short of. Quick hike to the top and seen lots of deer and turkeys but no horses. We should of taken a lunch and allowed more time. Wish we could of spent more time and had a bigger boat. There are compost toilets at one spot on a huge island so go prepared.

I kayaked to the island (2 mile paddle) along with a wonderful guide, feeling very foolish that I had expected to see the 5 wild horses on the island. It's a big place. But I did. Sometimes miracles happen. There are 4 black horses and one paint. Incredible. The lead stallion let us know when he was sick of us snapping photographs, so we went up the hill to see... wild goats. Sometimes you book animals and they never show, but they were all hanging out on the same part of the island. This will always be one of my favorite days.

We worked here a couple of years ago and the game here is outstanding. You will really want to bring a camera and just troll around the island to see the game. Some of the biggest whitetail bucks you will ever see.

Lovely experience. We booked our boat to the island with Big Arm Boat Rentals and Rides for $45 per person. The staff were lovely and the boat carried us and a small group of 10 other people to the island at 9am. The trip to the island takes only 15-30mins depending on how fast the boat is.

We hopped off the island and were pleased to discover that we actually had to walk off the trails to avoid the animals. 3 times we found ourselves walking around herds of deer and horses hanging out on the trail. We spotted the big horn sheep too. The whole time we didnt see anyone else on the island. It was absolutely gorgeous and I highly recommend taking the grueling hike up to the Outlook for stunning views.

After what felt like the perfect amount of time, we made our way back to Skeeko beach for a 12.30pm boat pick up. All around a great day out and worth the one hour drive down from Whitefish.

Visiting Wild Horse Island was one of the highlights of our vacation. We used Captain Norm's Fish 'N Fun. Our guide was Sean who was excellent. He was informative, accommodating and pleasant. Highly recommend! The island itself was bucolic. There were very few people there in early August. Within ten minutes we saw a herd of female bighorn sheep. A while later, we saw a herd of bighorn rams. We also saw a herd of bucks and some osprey. Just before we were leaving, many bighorn sheep came down to get a drink of water. We didn't see the horses but we were thrilled with all we had seen. If you enjoy viewing wildlife in their natural environment, you will be in for a treat here!

Too dry and hot; animals are in hiding from the tourists or something because there wasn't a one there when we went. It's much too dry right now and all the flowers are gone. Not worth a trip over at all.

Wild Horse Island located in Flathead Lake has a something for everyone. Rich in history, scenery, wildlife, swiming and hiking it's a great way to spend some time. While thete are only five wild horses on the island there is abudant wildlife big horn sheep, deer, bald eagles,and osprey. The island is a true treasure.

Wild Horse Island must be visited by boat, either private or commercial. It is a delightful day trip to add to your Northwest Montana visit, particularly if you are staying on Flathead Lake. It's kid friendly and offers a fine picnicking opportunity. There is an excellent self-guiding trail nature trail which leaves from the boat mooring area, but branching off the marked trail to the higher areas makes the experience (and views) even better, without any fear of getting lost. Birds are plentiful in summer and eagles are often seen. There were once wild horses in large groups, but currently, only four or five animals call it home. More interesting is the large group of bighorn sheep which call the island home and which are actively managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. If you are quiet and a bit stealthy in your hiking, you can get wonderful pictures of the animals, particularly in September and October when they come down to the lake for water. There are a number of private in-holdings along the shoreline of the island, but once you are up on the hills, those won't detract at all from the experience of hiking the trails.

If you enjoy beautiful scenery and wildlife this is a great place to spend the day. We went out to the island and were fortunately enough to find the incredible long horn sheep....which was our focus for the trip. You have to hike a bit to find them, but it is definitely worth the effort and not a difficult hike. We enjoyed several hours (enhanced by our tour boat guide Chris from Flathead Raft Co) cruising the shore line, seeing bald eages, deer, big horn sheep, ewes...didn't see the wild horses, but enjoyed the entire trip. A great outing for anyone.

Launched from Dayton in my sea kayak for a circumnavigation that gave me a duck's-eye view of bighorn sheep rams that came to the south shore to drink, nibble on the soil of upturned trees ---- and head-butt to impress the accompanying females! A challenging paddle returning straight across the bay from the east point to Dayton into the predictably fierce evening winds flowing down out of the canyon.

Cruised around the island by boat. Great way to see the sights. Many bighorn sheep around the island which you can see clearly from the boat with binoculars. Worth the trip.

The island is dry and barren. Not much to see. Chances of seeing a horse are slim-to-none with there only being 5 of them. We saw deer and some mountain sheep but you can see those in Glacier Natl Park.

Rented a pontoon and rode over to Wild Horse Island. Even tho we didn't see the wild horses, we saw goats and other wild life. We had a fun day hiking all over the island. Definately worth the trip, especially if you like being near the water. Swam in Flathead Lake -- so clean!!!!

Less crowded than many of the other major hikes in the general area. Amazing view when you make the trek to the top and many little coves to swim in. Wildlife sightings guaranteed.

Yesterday I went on the Wild Horse Island trip with Flathead Raft Company. They are located in Polson and you go from Big Arm, which is a lot better than getting on a boat way up in Big Fork. So... the biz and the trip: WOW! It was fantastic! I used Flathead's website and interacted with two of their folks on the phone. When making my reservations, Katie was very helpful. I'm travelling solo and I was concerned about being alone on the island for a few hours, so she really helped me with info about 10 vs 2, today vs tomorrow kind of choices. Brett was great talking me into the marina when I called because my map program was not quite right. Then, he was great as an informative, professional boat captain and guide. He told us great facts and history about the island, and great stories too. After we circled the island, he landed and he oriented us to the hiking area. He briefed us at the map and gave us helpful info about the trails. (clean restroom near the trail head) If you noticed I'm saying "us" it's because I made friends with the other folks on the tour and we all set off together. The trails are easy, and easy to follow. You have a gradual climb and then you are up nice and high and get a nice view of the lake. We saw so many critters -- including the wild horses and excluding the bear. Perfect trip!

Nice little visit over to the island in a boat we rented for the day from Big Arm. DO BE ADVISED: there IS a resident bear on the island. Many blogs we read said there are no bears, but the MT state park hosts was on the Heritage Trail the morning we arrived and he gave us directions and distances AND confirmed there was a bear kill 5 days previous of a bighorn sheep and there is a bear den on the west side of the island. We saw mule deer, no horses or sheep for us. The day we went was kinda a bust on wildlife sightings, but the park host was a bonus bc we went on a weekday and it normally not staffed. We got a brief little history on the island and learned about the bear. Go prepared.

This island park is accessible only by boat. The nearest charter boats are in Big Arm, but other places on the lake offer charters as well. The park hosts a herd of wild horses, and big horn sheep. There are lots of hiking trails, and buildings left over from the islands farming past. There is some privately owned land on the island so be respectful of these places.

The island is a bit primitive with no real place to dock a boat. We had to figure that part out then try to get off the boat by stepping on floating branches! One restroom serves the island. There is a park ranger to give information and collect the fee. Hike to try to see the wildlife. No crowds here! We enjoyed it!

We visited the island by private boat. There were more people and boats than expected, but it certainly wasn’t crowded. The island itself is a lot bigger than we thought, meaning you are very unlikely to find the few wild horses. We saw old horse droppings, but nothing to indicate they were near. We did the 2 mile Heritage Loop hike; there are numbered landmarks, and you can read on your phone about some of the island’s history. It wasn’t a difficult hike at all, but it was extremely dusty and hot. No shade, and we were literally gray head to toe by the end from the huge amount of dust. So gross. We did see a surprising number of deer and bighorn sheep ewes. The small beach was nice, but there are many better lake beaches in the area. Overall I can’t say I would recommend it, and we won’t be going back.

We were in Whitefish for the month of August and were mostly hiking in Glacier. On one of our last days, we decided to take the boat to Wild Horse Island and I will now recommend this as a "must do" for anyone in the area. We didn't see any of the wild horses, but saw 38 big horn sheep who galloped down a hill right in front of us. We also saw mule deer and enjoyed gorgeous views. We took one of the first boats and then went for lunch at Tamarack Brewery about 15 minutes from Wild Horse. If you want lunch in a great place on the other side of the lake, I would recommend The Raven. This is a great day for families or others who want an easy, but gorgeous hike.

A boat is required to access Wild Horse Island. Boats of all types can be rented around the lake. It's fun to kayak to Wild Horse but only if you are an experienced kayaker as the lake conditions can change very quickly. There are no public accommodations so this is a day trip only. If you love to hike and view wildlife this is the perfect destination. There is still a herd of wild horses but they are relatively used to people. They shouldn't be pet because they are wild and unpredictable and like all wildlife should be left alone. There are deer and bighorn sheep, plus lots of smaller mammals and birds. There is also the remnants of an old homestead that you can explore. Even at the top of the tourist season this is an area of the Flathead Valley that is sparsely populated. Be sure to bring food and water.

Every time I have visited, I have seen either wild horses and deer! Well worth the time to visit and hike. Pack plenty of water and a snack.

I hike this island for a Montana experience. It is a special place for our family and friends
Bring water and lunch. The animals go wherever they want and there is no single viewing area. I have the best experience entering from Eagle Cove because there is usually not other people there. A hike up to the top of the peaks will usually find the Big Horn Sheep.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 2.5 hours on the island. We hiked the (mostly easy) 3 mile loop (plus a quick hike up to the top of a knoll for the view) and got to see the 5 wild horses, lots of big horn sheep and a few deer. A beautiful place!

Primitive state park is a beautiful Island off the West shore of Flathead Lake. Wildlife may be viewed there include big horn sheep, deer, racoon and other varmints. Some wildlife may vary if the lake freezes over between the island and the mainland as they will cross back and forth. There are many trails among the pines and lots of bays for swimming. Accessible only by boat or water craft. There used to be a large lodge on the island that I believe Teddy Roosevelt used from time to time. It is no longer there.

We saw all 6 wild horses, they came right on up for a visit, but of course we gave them space. Saw deer and 6 rams, all within just 2 hours of hiking. A huge bald eagle soared over at one point. Highly recommend getting there. We used Captain Norm's Fishing Fun to charter out and he was amazing!

We chartered a boat out of big fork to do 2 hours on wild horse island. & 2 hours of fishing. The hill as u first arrive is the toughest. Once you get past that the rest of the trails are much easier. We never saw the horses but we went for the bighorns and there were lots of them! Since it's only accessible by boat, you have few others to have to share the state park with.

Absolutely beautiful hikes, and the peace which come from knowing that the wildlife here has no predators. (leave your guns at home) You can get up close to the bighorns.

The boat ride out is worth it alone, but in addition to that you get to see some of the most beautiful natural scenery. We saw deer, rams, and big horn sheep, including some baby lambs. We also saw several bald eagles and osprey.

We hiked Wild Horse Island State Park, and seen a herd of Rams, and we found the Wild Horses. My husband sat down near them, and they walked right up to him, and ate grass from his hand. My husband grew up around horses, and has alot of experience with them. Not everyone will have the same experience with wild horses that he did. Please be careful, they are WILD animals. Our daughter was amazed. So beautiful. I also saw a large bald eagle perched in a tree above us. Very cool.

If you are out on the lake and can take the time to kine one of several approaches to the peak it is well worth your time. If not

I grew up on Wildhorse Island (not Wild Horse State Park) in the summers every weekend. It was our second home, living in a big ol' Army tent with another smaller tent and an outhouse way up the trail. Mice would run across our feet in our sleeping bags, and we would scream and laugh. Having to pee in the middle of the night was a TRIP... because we'd watched way too many werewolf movies and still had to make it up to that outhouse in the dark. My dad's best friend's family, the Boulters, were three lots (acres?) down, and we were always together. One of the times we Gratzer and Boulter kids hiked up the mountain, all of these long-horn sheep were up there, and next thing we knew, three wild horses came after us. We were running and screaming, being chased by those horses, and we ran into the most beautiful meadow.... a perfect circle surrounded by wildflowers.... and then we ended up finding our way back halfway around the island, climbing over rocks at times or doubling back because we didn't know the water. Then the Californians who moved up here in DROVES decided it "wasn't fair" that only a "few" people had access to Wildhorse (even though all anyone had to do was ask us to use our docks), and they got the Feds involved and turned it into "Wild Horse State Park," and everything went to hell. Thanks for ruining a good thing, all just so you could go see... what the Feds put there for you now. (The original wild horses left over the ice pretty much when we did; the horses there NOW were planted by the government for tourism.) Yay.

We traveled out by boat for a half-day trip and enjoyed every minute. Great hiking, lots of wildlife. Bring a camera and a field guide, so you can identify all the flowers, plants and birds you'lll see. Pristine and gorgeous.

Wild Horse island is located in Flathead Lake and part of the Flathead Lake group of 6 parks.This is a great day trip to a unique location. You need a boat to get to the island, go to the Montana State parks website for details. Abundant wildlife including deer, bighorn sheep, horses ,birds and many others. There is a good trail system on the island. Consult and print the maps on the Montana FWP website ahead of time. Watch the weather as it could affect your boating.

We stopped by a pleasant beach on Wild Horse State Park and sifted thru the rocks that are annually washed down from the glacier. The island is worth the stop.

Rented a boat ride out ($45 per person). Really nice views of Flathead Lake on the way out. We walked around the island, it was a bit warm (around 85) and not a lot of shade the way we went. Saw a few deer in the trees, but missed the horses (another traveler told us where they were but we had to catch the boat back). If I go back, next time I'll rent a boat for myself to spend more time there. Quiet place.

Need a boat to access the island. You can hike over the top from west to east in about 3 hours and see some awesome Mule Deer and Bighorn Sheep.

Beautiful hike and scenery. Worth a boat ride to see the wildlife. Be mindful of where you park your boat.

We paid to have a boat in the town of Big Arm to ferry us out to the island and pick us up a few hours later.
The trails were well marked and we saw mule deer and big horned sheep. Saw lots of signs of horses but didn’t see them.
The scenery is pristine and so lovely.

We boated in to Wild Horse Island and tied up on one of the landing sites. There are no public boat docks on this protected island. We hiked the trails, but we never saw the horses.

My friend and I got a ride out to the island with Big Arm Boats (they are currently charging $45 per person). We didn't see the horses, but did see deer and bighorn sheep. I see a few other reviewers mentioned there's a bear, but the employee at the boat company said it had been following people so the decision was made to euthanize it in July 2022. I still brought my bear spray just in case.

A storm started picking up on our return trip and the boat ride back was a bit scary (especially since they didn't require or provide life jackets).

Populating the island with Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Goats, Wild Horses, Osprey, Eagles, and an Eight Point Buck Deer, the Island is just as it was 100 years ago. Walk the island, shoreline or rolling hills for spectacular views of nature. Bring a good camera. Enjoy.

It feels like your own private nature reserve. On our trip we saw a half-dozen horses and over 20 Big Horn Sheep. The views are amazing and panoramic if you hike to the top. Simply beautiful. We kayaked here and rented from Boat Rentals and Rides from Big Arm. It's about an hour to the island by kayak each way. There is a bathroom on the island, but only on one side. If you are taking a tour, your boat landing is near it. If you come by kayak, it's about a 20 min hike away.

Interesting Island and quiet hiking with some scenic views but did not see any of the 5 wild horses nor any sheep. The only birds we saw were some gulls. We did see a 6 point buck and other deer towards the end.

We took a boat ride from Big Arm to Wild Horse Island to take advantage of the beautiful weather today. We spent 5 hours hiking the island and grabbed some fantastic photos of mule deer, bighorn sheep, osprey, etc. There is a clean outhouse near Skeeko Bay, which was a huge plus! Take plenty of water to stay hydrated .. air is dry and we were covered in dust from hiking off trail. The island is never crowded and very peaceful to visit this time of year.

Apparently the state limits the number of horses on the island to five. We circled the entire island by boat and saw no wildlife. Services on the island are limited to one composting toilet a long hike in from the shore. Very undeveloped in terms of a state park.

Had a wonderful time observing nature and the local wildlife. Make sure you take occasionally go off the main highways to check out the local wildlife with out all the noise and distractions. Can't wait to visit again.

Wild horses, bighorn sheep, and the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Primitive: no amenities, but beautiful.

great place to spend an hour, 1/2 day, all day, or a weekend. trails throughout the island. deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes and yes even wild horses are on the island. great views in any direction from any spot on the island. there are geocaches out there for those so inclined. the only negative that I have discovered is the cheat grass that will literally ruin a set of socks, teva sandals or non-leather hiking boots.

We rented a boat in Polson and it took 40 minutes to reach Wild Horse Island northeast cove where the three mile trail starts. Easy to bring the boat to shore and secure it. The trail goes up a hill to the right where we immediately saw Big Horn Sheep. Then a little higher three deer were grazing. We saw two golden eagles and an osprey. The only evidence of deer was their well digested meal. It was hot and I suspect they were down in the forest keeping cool. We met an island resident who told us the history of the island from the time it was offered as homestead. Now the state owns it and it cost $3 for non residents to walk the trails. It was a great day on the water and except for no-show horses, nice on the island. Sheep were waiting for us on the beach when we returned from out hike. Boat was $220 for four hours. At Lakeside there is a boat ride (4 hours with driver) for $250 that takes you on a tour of the lake and a short visit to Wild Horse Island. We preferred our own boat. Toilets available.

We were using google map for driving to this place. Somehow it took us to some very cute residential houses. It was our last few hours before going home, so we did not investigate where the real location was.

This State Park is special for the Flathead Valley area. You must take a boat tour or rent water craft of your own to get there. You can picnic on the shore if you bring a sack lunch and drinks. A hike will be fun if its not too hot, but there is no guarantee that you will actually see the wild horses or Big Horn Sheep. Still for a different adventure, its pretty neat. Its great to avoid the crowds and for beach lovers who love to sun by the water.

I am not sure I would plan a day out there with older relatives unless they are really fit and used to changes of temperature.

A good place for picnics with great views of Flathead lake. This place is good only on brilliant sunny days.

we kayaked to the island and we were greeted by big horn sheep 200 yards from the beach. While the wild horses were not around, we enjoyed the hiking on well marked trails and a clean safe park.

Nice day trip. Wild Horses and Big Horn Sheep. Nice walking path, but very little in structure. Bring your own food and water. Not many places for boats.

We really enjoyed our day, at Wild Horse Island. We ventured off the trail and climbed the hills on the SE corner of the island. What a work out that was! We were so glad we went this way, as we stumbled upon a herd of the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. We saw about 20 to 25 of them. It was hot, when we were there, maybe 92 degrees , so our mistake was not bringing enough water with us. We never saw the horses, which we wished to come across, but that is not the fault of the park. There is a restroom, near the head of the trail up the hill, from Skeeko Bay. It was very easy to beach our rented motor boat, in the Bay. We would love to go back and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the outdoors and seeing nature in a true natural setting.

I went to the Island with my husband, after reading about this island on the internet. We arranged for a boat to drop us off in the morning, and pick us up 4 hrs later. ( Boat Rentals out of Big Arm--Matt is the man!) A cold front was moving in, rain expected in the afternoon, so I figured the animals would be on the move. We had not been hiking for 5 min when a mule for stepped up beside us, maybe 10 yrs away--did not even know she was there. Looked around and saw at least 5 other heads and sets of ears. They were not spooked. Continued up the trail and found a flock of Merriam turkeys. Hiked to the top of the land to look--wind was howling. Started walking across the bluff, and saw what looked like a dark boulder on the top of an open, grassy ridge. We had brought a new Zeiss spotting scope with us, with tripod, that I could attach my phone to for pictures. Had the MOST INCREDIBLE DAY! CAN'T wait to return--I need a whole day here.

My wife and I chartered Wild Horse Express out of Lakeside to take us to the Island. Within 10 minutes of hiking on the island we were met by a half dozen sheep. They were unafraid and mainly just kept to themselves.

We took a half day and hiked around the island. There are marked trails on the south side of the island which would take about 3-4 hours to do. There also seemed to be many unmarked trails spurs. Because of the charter's time of exit we weren't able to explore the entire island.

We saw deer and sheep but no horses, still the hiking was pretty good and the views were amazing.

We stopped by here on our day long fishing trip for lunch and a hike. Didn’t see many animals, but we expected this since it’s super dry and hot right now in MT. The few mule deer we saw were cool.
When we come back another time of year we’ll certainly visit again.

Some nice little hikes around the island :)

There is a little climbing, and a lot of hiking, but the area is beautiful and the varied wildlife is fun to see. Many boat trips are available around Flathead Lake. Choose one that lets you stay as long as you like, or rent a boat and go out by yourself.

Wild Horse Island is a place that should be on anyone's bucket list. It's very peaceful and so quiet with birds chirping very loudly! There is a very good chance that every time you visit you will see the wild horses. The wild horses aren't that scary and do not act wild. Views from this island are breathtaking!

a great place for a picnic lunch and a nice hike.. Visiting is often more about the journey-than the destination--and this is case in point----The boat ride over was exillarating and informative-breezy and we even saw ancient pectroglyphs----(on the way)..But, Island side..., saw more animal droppings than animals........sometimes--? It's just like that...-----Still, clear trails and nice views.

We took a private tour with Sunset Wild Horse Island Private Boat Tour and loved it! Eric the owner and guide was fabulous. He is so friendly, very informative and a wealth of knowledge on the lake, the island and more. Beautiful boat too! Highly recommend this great tour.

Very primitive island-state park. We took a pontoon boat to the island from Big Arm. Take a photo of the map before starting out. Even with map it was difficult to navigate the trails as nothing is marked well. A primitive outhouse is the only amenity on the island. No picnic tables or benches to sit on. Very worthwhile afternoon. Hiking and viewing wildlife. We were on the trail 30 minutes and saw horses. They did not seem afraid of us-just minded their own business and waked by. Soon we saw a herd of goats and big ram sheep. There was an osprey nest with 5 little ones. Nice relaxing walk around the water. Only saw one other hiker while we were here. We finished before the 3 hours were up so called the contact and they sent a boat to pick us up. We were in the area for Glacier NP and read about the island so decided to give it a try. Lots of photo ops for wildlife. We saw more wildlife here than in Glacier NP. Take a small cooler and snacks. We left them close to shore while we hiked.

Everything was worth going. Wild animals everywhere. Kids big and small will enjoy every last minute. Will not want to leave.

Plan for at least a few hours to hike on the island, and swim in the protected bays. Usually uncrowded, with plenty of room to explore

We rented a boat from a local rental agency in Lakeside.
The boat ride over to the island was wonderful-we were able to just pull right up and tie off to a tree. Our children loved exploring the island. We have visited the island multiple times but this was the first time we found the horses grazing in the field. It was a memory that my young niece who loves horses will remember for her lifetime! From the journey on Flathead Lake to exploring the island this is a fun family trip to take.

If you want to "hike" in a less crowded area this is a nice location where you could walk and do some swimming too (bring water shoes for the rocks!) and you can spend a few hours going off trail to explore, which really is needed to see more of the wildlife. On trail you might see some deer. Bring plenty of water on hot days! The heritage loop trail has some moderate up hill incline depending which way you go and it can be a little difficult if you're not in the best of shape!

I’ve read many posts about Wild Horse Island State Park and agree will all those who say “WOW!”

My family visited the island park in mid June on one of the most glorious days imaginable. We rented a boat and loaded up our picnic lunch and backpacks and made the 22 minute crossing to the island from Big Arm, MT. 5 adults and our 4 year old granddaughter.

We beached the boat, grabbed the backpacks and set out to see if we could find the famous wild horses. We hiked for almost 5 miles and saw many deer and even five big horn sheep rams, and a bald eagle but the horses remained elusive... until we returned to our boat! As we arrived, so did all five of the horses! They’d come down to nibble the sweet grass at the edge of the lake. We ate our lunch while the horses ate theirs! What a sight! What a great day!

We are grateful for Flathead Lake... it’s a jewel all it’s own... Wild Horse Island State Park deepens the lake’s value immensely: it is truly amazing and wonderful! Montana is truly a terrific State!

We rented a boat and headed out for Wild Horse Island mid-afternoon. The weather was beautiful and the island a true wildlife lover's paradise. We saw lots of birds, a bald eagle, big horn sheep and deer. We did not get to see the horses but that was okay. The island was magical enough without seeing them. We did not see one other person while we were hiking the island.

We took a tour boat from Polson area and had a wonderful adventure walking the island, seeing the wildlife and yes seeing the beautiful wildhorses. A fun family adventure, romantic day for a couple or just time with nature

This awesome island is in Flathead lake... No Bridges... Get there by boat and enjoy the deer and mountain sheep.

We rented a kayak from Big Arm Boat Rentals in Big Arm, MT. The price was reasonable for an all-day rental ($80 for two people). The paddle to the island was not too difficult but does require the ability to be able to paddle for aprox. 1 1/2 each way to make the 3.5 mile trip to the island. The views are amazing and being on the water was fun. The island is good, trails aren't well marked but we were able to make our way to the highest peak. We didn't see any wild horses, but we did see mule deer and bighorn sheep. The view from the mountain peak was definitely worth the hike. We took a picnic and enjoyed our lunch with a view!! The hike is a moderate hike to get to the top.

This is a great kayaking destination, with an established trail, pioneer buildings, and herds of wild animals. It also provides a nice botanical exploration, with some rare wild grasses and many flowers.

Everything you hope to see in Montana. Surrounded by magnificent Flathead Lake, Wild Horse Island is only accessible by boat, but worth the cost and the ride over and back is breathtaking.

On the Island it is a hiker's paradise. Well maintained trails take you all over the island and wildlife is everywhere. From squirrels to bald eagles overhead, you will see mountain goats, mule deer and the famous "wild horses".

The island is surrounded by beautiful mountains that can still have snow on the peaks in July. Most visitors to the Flathead are not aware of Wild Horse Island, but it is one of the best attractions in the area.

Our group of 3 couples rented a pontoon boat from Big Fork just so we could go out on Flathead Lake & get to Wild Horse Island! It took about an hour to get there & we found a nice beach to park the boat & have some lunch before our hike to find the horses. It was a pretty warm day on the water & even warmer hiking inland on the island. There is a trail for you to follow & meanders amongst the pine trees & dried grasses. We hiked to the top of the mtn looking for the horses...none to be seen. Continued to the corrals & trees...still no horses. Did see some deer though 😊 Made our way to the other side of the island & back to the water as we kept a lookout for the beasts. By the time we were down by the waters edge we needed to cool off as we were all over heated. We texted the driver of our pontoon boat to come pick us up on the other side where we were..which they did. It was a fun experience looking for the horses on an island..just wish we had seen them 🐴🐴🐴

Hike the trails on Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake and see the wild horses, bighorn Rams, deer, bald eagles, golden eagles and this weekend we saw thousands of white butterflies. Came across a ranger and he answered all our questions. What dug the big holes in places? What were the butterflies? What was around the fruit trees?

Planning our trip for the end of busy season worked well in having less foot traffic on the island! We recommend taking a scenic boat tour with Bill of Wild Horse Island Boat tours! Bill was knowledgeable, engaging and helped us spot wildlife around the island before our hike! We recommend a 6-7 hour excursion with Bill who gets you to the island with some great stops along the way, including pictographs and bald eagles! Try to go early in the day to see the most wildlife, it's worth it!

Whether you take a charter or venture there by kayak, the island is a gorgeous escape from people. It is phenomenal in early summer, when covered with wild flowers. It's next to impossible to get away from a trip to Wild Horse without seeing the namesake horses or a Bighorn Sheep.

This place is so quiet and peaceful. Did not see any wildhorse. One deer and Bald Eagles, was disapointed I did not see as much wild life but a great, heart pumping hike. Also a lil expensive for the fairy $200 for a family of 5.

Wild Horse Island is in the middle of Flathead Lake. It is almost straight across from Dayton. It is just a short trip by boat and many people cross also in kayaks, canoes and paddleboards, for the adventurous. There are hiking trails on the island and restrooms. There is no camping allowed on the island but you can stay on your boat anchored in Skeiko Bay right at the entrance. You can see the wild horses, big horn sheep and deer. Beautiful views of the lake from the island.

Great trails on this island. Bring a lunch and a boat and enjoy the day. We saw Golden Eagles and Bald Eagles!

You can only get here by boat. My husband & I have kayaked out to Wild Horse Island with friends (kayak only if you're experienced & go with a group, as the winds come up later in the day & the paddle can be very challenging).
There are lots of bighorn sheep, mule deer and of course some wild horses & lots of bird life. Usually easy viewing for the animals, lots of hiking trails & stunning views. There is also remnants of an old homestead. There is a bathroom as well.
A great family adventure-boat ride to get there, hiking, views, animals & a boat ride back to town.
A different and unforgettable place.

We took Howe's Fishing Charter for a half day trip out to this island. A huge shout out to Chris for the trip out. It was a quick way to visit and we got to see the lake as well. The island itself was great. We went in September so it was cooler and a very pleasant hike. We were actually the only ones on the island that morning. The views are beautiful and the hike is just very peaceful. We didn't see any wild horses but we did see see big horn sheep, mule deer, big bucks, turkeys and osprey. Definitely bring your binoculars and good camera if you are going to be visiting.

Wild Horse is not the easiest place to get to, but it is worth the boat ride.

There are a few beaches along the shore to land the boat and get out to explore the island. There are several private cabins along the island that are not part of the state park and you are not able to use those docks.

There are a couple of hiking trails and a restroom on the island.

We had a nice picnic on the shore and I would recommend taking all the stuff you need to enjoy a nice lunch in the park.

Had a local person take us around the lake and onto the island. We hiked inland and saw Mule Deer and Long Horn Sheep. Did not see the Wild Horses but still is was a great hike. The Long Horn Sheep were fantastic. Our guide was able to get real close to them and we now have great pictures of the them. It was an outstanding day with seeing both the lake and the Island.

You can only reach this place by Boat, and if I hadn't called AAA, I would not have found one, Strong arm excursions to Wild Horse. Had a great time seeing all the wildlife there. Finally found the horses.

I would definitely recommend Wild Horse Island State Park for a nice relaxing day trip from the Flathead Lake area. You should easily see the bighorn sheep, mule deer,and possibly the wild horses. We were lucky to have spotted the wild horses at the end of our day on the island thanks to some friendly locals who pointed them out. You can hike on the island in a relatively quiet & peaceful environment. We found that the best point on the lake to get to Wild Horse Island is from Dayton. We used Big Arm Boat Rentals to get back and forth from the island rather than spending extra money for a complete boat excursion.

I also hear there is a bear and a mountain lion on the island.

The island is reachable by boat or kayak, Seadoo, or swimming, if you dare...and have support. You must anchor out or beach it at several of public beach landings located around the island. The kayak trip is about two miles from the nearest launching point in Dayton.

Beware, you will cross open water that can get wind blown and very choppy. Know your limits, bring a bailer, I would not recommend an open bow, or a sit on top kayak or a kayak less than 11 or 12'.

It is best to go in the morning and return by early afternoon as winds can be up anytime, but are more likely to strengthen in the afternoon. I wouldn't recommend kayaking alone, and if in a group, bring a tether line to help with weaker paddlers.

The island has about 5 miles of maintained hiking trails. You'll likely see deer, and big horn sheep. You might see one of the wild horses. We did not on our two visits to the island.

During the summer at least, there are naturalists that volunteer on the island and will be more than happy to tell you of it's history, natural areas, etc.

There's only one bathroom on the island, but there's plenty of natural space.

Wild Horse Island does not have any roads, only a handful of homes, and no electricity. It's a truly authentic nature experience. Very few people make it out there because you need a boat to access the island. There are some unmarked and marked trails, and the top of the mountain overs breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Definitely a must for the avid outdoorsman!

We had a wonderful time hiking ( and we are not hikers)! The island is such a gradual slope for most of the hike that you barely notice you are going up hill most of the time. At the time we went, we were the only ones on the island. We saw Eagles, BigHorn Sheep, Mule Deer and Wild Horses. It is a nice hike through the woods on a narrow path that you can easily follow.When you get to the top, it is clearly marked and you can walk in a loop before going back down through the woods to the shore. There is a restroom on the island, but no water. Our cell phones did get a signal there. You have to get there by boat. We took Norm's Fish N'Fun. He was a very nice!

Took us about 2 hours for this hike- easy and relaxing- We were able to see Mule Deer, Big Horn Sheep and Wild Horses. Must see!!!

We had a great hike following the animal trails, even came across a deceased long horned sheep, untouched....We were dissapointed in not seeing any horses even though we cover 2/3 of the island trying to find them.

spent a few hours there, the boat ride over was fun, saw lots from the boat and after coming ashore we hiked for several hours

Family of six (four kids age 11-18) enjoyed our tour. We took off from Bigfork, which is probably the longest place to get to the island from in the lake (from towns that give tours). Took about an hour to get there. Lake was a little rough and clouds came in, so not quite as pleasant a ride over as we hoped. Going from closer location might be better.

We did not hike on island, but went all around on boat we chartered. (It was reasonably priced and didn't really cost us much more than renting a boat and driving it ourselves. Advantages of captain/guide were many).

Saw osprey and eagles flying and nesting. Bighorn sheep and bucks on hills, as well as one buck down at lake to drink. Homes around island and its history are neat, too. Would have been worth spending a little more time and hiking on island.

Also, Indian petroglyphs on cliffs and couple Of smaller islands nearby worth seeing, too.

We actually were very close to the 7 wild horses on the island. Awesome sight! Can only get their by boat, rental or private charter.

We loved our visit to Wildhorse Island state park in Flathead Lake Montana. We hired a bote to take us there and come back to get us. We were not fortunate enough to see the 5 wild horses that live on the island. We did see several mule deer and some turkeys. We enjoyed some hiking and relaxing by the lake. It's a great day trip as there is no overnight camping allowed. When you go be sure to take lunch, snacks and plenty of water because there is no where to purchase this kind of stuff.

We took a boat ride over to Wild Horse Island one afternoon while vacationing at Glacier National Park. I was told I'd see more wildlife on that island than in the park, and that proved to be true. The island is rugged and primitive. We came across bighorn sheep, a huge herd of mountain goats and their babies (who seemed very curious about us), and mule deer, and saw some Golden eagles flying overhead. Although we would have liked to see them, we did not come across the horses, unfortunately. The island has a primitive bathroom. Plan to spend several hours there hiking, wear solid shoes, and pack a picnic lunch and drinks. I would go back in a heartbeat and plan to spend even more time there. A few hours just wasn't enough! (Although there are no bear on the island, we brought a can of bear spray with us just in case, as it was suspected that a mountain lion had come across onto the island over the winter.)