Tally Lake
Near Round Prairie, Montana
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $22/night
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Tally Lake
Tally Lake is a large, deep natural lake in the Flathead National Forest about 15 to 20 miles west of Whitefish, Montana, with a US Forest Service campground and designated buoyed swimming beach on its north shore. It is one of Montana's deepest natural lakes and a well-known local swimming hole, among the area's favorite summer places to swim and camp.
The lake sits in thick conifer forest within the Flathead National Forest, reached by forest/county roads off Highway 93, with a wild, relatively undeveloped shoreline compared to larger Flathead Valley lakes; sunsets and surrounding mountain scenery are noted by visitors.
Swimming at Tally Lake
Swimming is centered on the day-use beach at Tally Lake Campground, a large open grassy area with a buoy-marked swimming zone and a changing area. Water is cold, especially early in the season, with warmer surface temperatures on late-summer afternoons but cold water at depth given the lake's great depth; entry points are described as rocky, and water shoes are recommended. There are no lifeguards at the site.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Whitefish, travel west/north on US Highway 93 to Farm-to-Market Road, then continue via Star Meadow Road/Tally Lake Road (partly gravel/dirt, forest roads) to the Tally Lake Campground entrance on the lake's north shore; sources give slightly different turn-by-turn routes but agree on Hwy 93 to Farm-to-Market Road as the initial leg, roughly 10-20 miles of driving.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up destination: the designated swim beach sits within the Tally Lake Campground/day-use grounds on the lake's north shore, reachable by a short walk from the parking area with no trail or hike required.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
There's a buoy-marked designated swim zone and a grassy family picnic/beach area, but sources note rocky lake-bottom entry points (water shoes recommended), cold water at depth, no lifeguards on duty, and boat traffic (water skiing/motorboats) is permitted on the same lake, so young kids should be watched closely. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Parking
Lot
Parking is within the Tally Lake Campground/day-use area; no separate day-use parking fee was found (overnight camping fees are $22/night single site, $150/night group site, $5/night extra vehicle). Visitor reviews consistently describe the final approach as several miles (roughly 4-9 mi cited) of rough, dusty Forest Service gravel road, so high-clearance comfort and dust tolerance help; the campground reportedly fills fast on summer weekends.
Restrooms
Yes
Accessible vault toilets and a potable water source are provided at Tally Lake Campground, which adjoins the swim beach; exact toilet placement relative to the beach itself isn't specified in sources found.
Hours
Tally Lake Campground is open year-round but not plowed in winter, so realistic swim-season access runs roughly mid-May through early October; quiet hours are 10 PM-6 AM. No separate posted day-use gate hours were found.
On the water
The lake supports both non-motorized and motorized boating, including water skiing, per the US Forest Service facility listing and local news coverage; a boat ramp and dock are on-site. A local guide (406.buzz) advises that boat operators should slow down and watch for swimmers/paddlers near shore, but no official no-wake zone, horsepower limit, or other regulation was found in an official source. Two independent local sources (Flathead Beacon, 406.buzz) and Campendium visitor reviews all mention on-site kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals at the campground, but none name the operating business or give prices/hours/website, so no rental entry could be verified for the rentals list below.
What regulars say
Visitor reports from campers describe the lake itself as 'beautiful' and 'very refreshing,' with locals swimming there regularly. Complaints center on the access road, a several-mile stretch of rough, dusty Forest Service gravel, and on mosquitoes, called 'absolutely horrible' by one August camper. The campground is reported to fill up fast on summer weekends ('completely full minutes after we arrived'), with mid-week visits recommended; cell service is described as essentially nonexistent.
Backstory
A splash dam was built at Tally Lake during early-1900s logging operations to help move timber, according to a local guide.
Tally Lake: FAQ
Does Tally Lake charge a fee?
Campground overnight fees: $22/night for a single site, $150/night for the group site, $5/night for an extra vehicle; Senior/Access Pass holders get 50% off standard fees. Day-use-only beach fee not stated in sources found.
Is Tally Lake kid friendly?
There's a buoy-marked designated swim zone and a grassy family picnic/beach area, but sources note rocky lake-bottom entry points (water shoes recommended), cold water at depth, no lifeguards on duty, and boat traffic (water skiing/motorboats) is permitted on the same lake, so young kids should be watched closely. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Do I need to hike to reach Tally Lake?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Tally Lake?
Parking is within the Tally Lake Campground/day-use area; no separate day-use parking fee was found (overnight camping fees are $22/night single site, $150/night group site, $5/night extra vehicle). Visitor reviews consistently describe the final approach as several miles (roughly 4-9 mi cited) of rough, dusty Forest Service gravel road, so high-clearance comfort and dust tolerance help; the campground reportedly fills fast on summer weekends.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Tally Lake?
The lake supports both non-motorized and motorized boating, including water skiing, per the US Forest Service facility listing and local news coverage; a boat ramp and dock are on-site. A local guide (406.buzz) advises that boat operators should slow down and watch for swimmers/paddlers near shore, but no official no-wake zone, horsepower limit, or other regulation was found in an official source. Two independent local sources (Flathead Beacon, 406.buzz) and Campendium visitor reviews all mention on-site kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals at the campground, but none name the operating business or give prices/hours/website, so no rental entry could be verified for the rentals list below.
When is the best time to visit Tally Lake?
Summer, roughly mid-May through early October when the campground is open; water is warmest at the surface in late summer and coldest earlier in the season.
What are the rules at Tally Lake?
Reservations for camping recommended via Recreation.gov (some sites first-come first-served); dogs are not allowed on the beach; quiet hours 10 PM-6 AM; a food storage order is in effect (bear country); drop camping without a Forest Service permit is prohibited; no lifeguards are on duty at the swim area.
