Canyon Ferry Lake
Southwest Montana's biggest reservoir, Canyon Ferry Lake sprawls across the Missouri River floodplain between Townsend and Helena, just a one-hour hop northwest of the Bozone. Popular with spin fishermen and trollers, Canyon Ferry holds an excellent walleye population, as well as perch and some monster rainbow trout. Fly anglers often pursue the massive carp that patrol the lake in pods.
In the summer, waterskiers carve up the surface; autumn finds hunters patrolling its banks in search of pheasants and both mule and whitetail deer. Once winter sets in, out come the ice-boaters, along with local skaters, some of whom don speed-skates and set out for long excursions across the lake. Ice-fishing huts pepper the frozen surface from December through March. In short, Canyon Ferry is an all-season playground, offering something for every outdoor inclination.
Regardless of one's chosen activity, the Big Belts rising high above offer a sense of majesty, while the mostly undeveloped shoreline bestows feelings of solitude, especially in the off-season. Numerous campgrounds provide a variety of amenities, for tent campers and RVs alike. There is also plenty of BLM land available for impromptu dispersed camping. Several marinas offer boat launches, fuel, and other supplies.
For more information, check out the Bureau of Reclamation's Canyon Ferry webpage. The following articles highlight the lesser-known opportunities available in the winter:
