Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake by surface area in the western United States. The lake stretches from the city of Polson in the south to Kalispell in the north. One of the lake’s most remarkable features is its crystal-clear waters. The lake’s water clarity is attributed to its relatively low nutrient content, which limits the growth of algae and ensures that the water remains transparent.

Despite spending nearly a decade just south of these waters, up until this morning I had never spent a single day on this lake. It was a pretty spectacular introduction and I’m looking forward to many more days spent exploring the many inlets and islands of this lake in the future.