Roadhouse Landing
Provides access to Whitefish River. Located in Whitefish, MT. Public access.
Flathead Lake State Park-Wayfers
🌊 Flathead Lake
📍 Bigfork, MT
View Details →Find a Boat Ramp
🔍
Boat Ramps in Montana
Discover 444 public boat launches, ramps, and marina access points throughout Montana. Find the perfect launch site for your next boating adventure.
444
Total Boat Ramps
Flathead County
29 ramps - Most in County
78
Counties Covered
Boating in Montana - Big Water, Bigger Scenery
Montana boating is defined by the setting more than anything else. The lakes here - Flathead, Fort Peck Reservoir, Canyon Ferry, Hungry Horse - all sit within landscapes that most people would travel internationally to see. Getting on the water in Montana is as much about where you are as what you're doing when you get there.
Flathead Lake in the northwest is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi and has several public ramp access points around its perimeter. The water is clear and cold, the mountains behind it are dramatic, and the lake supports a decent trout fishery. Afternoon winds can build significantly on Flathead, particularly from the south, so morning departures are a good habit.
Fort Peck Reservoir on the Missouri River in the northeast is an enormous impoundment in genuinely remote country. The paddlefish snagging season there is unique and draws people from across the region. Infrastructure is more limited than at the western lakes, so self-sufficiency matters if you're fishing the more remote reaches of the reservoir.
Canyon Ferry near Helena and Hauser Lake on the Missouri River corridor both have good public ramp access and serve the Helena area population well. Both are used heavily in summer for water sports and fishing.
Montana's relatively short boating season, roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day in most regions, and the cold water temperatures even in summer mean that immersion gear and a reliable life jacket are practical equipment rather than formalities. Water temperatures in Flathead Lake rarely exceed 65 degrees even in August.
Complete Guide to Boating in Montana
Discover the best boat ramps, popular water bodies, boating regulations, and essential information for Montana.
Read the Full Guide →Featured Boat Ramps in Montana
Elmo
🌊 Flathead Lake
📍 Elmo, MT
View Details →Duck Creek Bridge
🌊 Yellowstone River
📍 Yellowstone County, MT
View Details →Lost Johnny Campground
🌊 Lost Johnny Creek
📍 Hungry Horse, MT
View Details →Cliff Point (MT)
🌊 Wade Lake
📍 Ennis, MT
View Details →Dailey Lake
🌊 Dailey Lake
📍 Park County, MT
View Details →Browse by County
Flathead County
29 rampsFlathead
24 rampsLincoln
23 rampsLake County
19 rampsMadison
18 rampsMadison County
17 rampsMissoula County
16 rampsGallatin
16 rampsLewis and Clark County
15 rampsLewis and Clark
14 rampsPark County
13 rampsMissoula
13 rampsLincoln County
12 rampsGallatin County
10 rampsBroadwater County
9 rampsRavalli
9 rampsRavalli County
8 rampsValley County
8 rampsSanders
8 rampsSanders County
7 rampsBig Horn County
7 rampsYellowstone County
6 rampsCascade County
6 rampsBeaverhead County
6 rampsMineral County
6 rampsValley
6 rampsPowell County
5 rampsMineral
5 rampsCarbon County
4 rampsSweet Grass County
4 rampsTeton County
4 rampsGarfield County
4 rampsGlacier County
4 rampsGlacier
4 rampsBroadwater
4 rampsRichland County
3 rampsPhillips County
3 rampsStillwater County
3 rampsRosebud County
3 rampsCuster County
3 rampsChouteau County
3 rampsWheatland County
3 rampsLiberty County
3 rampsLake
3 rampsGranite
3 rampsBeaverhead
3 rampsJefferson County
2 rampsDeer Lodge County
2 rampsDawson County
2 rampsFergus County
2 rampsToole County
2 rampsMcCone County
2 rampsBig Horn
2 rampsCarbon
2 rampsDeer Lodge
2 rampsMeagher
2 rampsTeton
2 rampsFergus
2 rampsStillwater
2 rampsIdaho
2 rampsSilver Bow
2 rampsChouteau
2 rampsMeagher County
1 rampGranite County
1 rampPrairie County
1 rampTreasure County
1 rampDaniels County
1 rampSilver Bow County
1 rampFallon County
1 rampRoosevelt County
1 rampHill County
1 rampJudith Basin County
1 rampPetroleum County
1 rampPondera County
1 rampPowell
1 rampPark
1 rampLiberty
1 rampCuster
1 rampAbout Boating in Montana
Montana offers excellent boating opportunities with 444 boat ramps across the state. Whether you're looking to launch on lakes, rivers, or coastal waters, our directory helps you find the perfect access point for your watercraft.
Finding the Right Boat Ramp
When selecting a boat ramp in Montana, consider these factors:
- Number of launch lanes to avoid congestion during peak times
- Parking availability for vehicles and boat trailers
- Launch fees - many public ramps are free to use
- Ramp surface condition (concrete, asphalt, or gravel)
- Hours of operation and seasonal accessibility
- Nearby amenities like restrooms, fish cleaning stations, and bait shops
Explore All Ramps Below
Browse our complete directory of boat ramps in Montana below. Use the filters to narrow your search by county or specific features you need.
Barron Creek
Provides access to Kootenai River – Lake Koocanusa. Located in Lincoln County. Public access.
Souse Gulch Recreation Area
Provides access to Kootenai River – Lake Koocanusa. Located in Lincoln County. Public access.
McGregor Lake State Park
Provides access to McGregor Lake. Located in Flathead County. Public access.
Nelson State Recreation Area
Provides access to Nelson Reservoir. Located in Phillips County. Public access.
Rock Creek State Park
Provides access to Rock Creek – Fort Peck Lake. Located in Garfield County. Public access.
Flathead Lake State Park-West Shore
Provides access to Flathead Lake. Located in Lake County. Public access.
Flathead Lake State Park-Wayfers
Provides access to Flathead Lake. Located in Bigfork, MT. Public access.
Flathead Lake State Park-Yellow Bay
Provides access to Flathead Lake. Located in Bear Dance, MT. Public access.
Riverside Boating Site
Provides access to Hungry Horse Reservoir. Located in Flathead County. Public access.
Flathead Lake State Park
Provides access to Flathead Lake. Located in Finley Point, MT. Public access.
Painted Rocks State Park – Slate Creek
Provides access to West Fork Bitterroot River – Painted Rocks Lake. Located in Ravalli County. Public access.
Thompson Falls State Recreation Area
Provides access to Clark Fork River. Located in Sanders County. Public access.
Cooney Reservoir State Park – Red Lodge Creek
Provides access to Cooney Reservoir. Located in Carbon County. Public access.
Cooney Reservoir State Park – Lakeshore
Provides access to Cooney Reservoir. Located in Carbon County. Public access.
Cooney Reservoir State Park – Northshore
Provides access to Cooney Reservoir. Located in Carbon County. Public access.
Ackley Lake State Park
Provides access to Ackley Lake. Located in Judith Basin County. Public access.
Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park
Provides access to Middle Thompson Lake. Located in Lincoln County. Public access.
Devils Creek State Recreation Area
Provides access to Missouri River – Fort Peck Lake. Located in Garfield County. Public access.
Fourchette Creek Recreation Are
Provides access to Missouri River – Fort Peck Lake. Located in Phillips County. Public access.
Kirkwood Marina
Provides access to Madison River – Hebgen Lake. Located in Lakeview, MT. Public access.
Madison Arm Resort
Provides access to Madison River – Hebgen Lake. Located in West Yellowstone, MT. Public access.
Fort Peck Marina
Provides access to Missouri River – Fort Peck Lake. Located in Valley County. Public access.
Yellowstone
Provides access to Madison River – Hebgen Lake. Located in Gallatin County. Public access.
Abayance Bay Marina-Rexford
Provides access to Kootenai River – Lake Koocanusa. Located in Lincoln County. Public access.