Wild Horse Island

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Wild Horse Island is the largest island in Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Montana. For centuries, the Salish-Kootenai used the 2,100 acre (8.5 km²) island to pasture horses to keep them from being stolen by other tribes. Protected as a state park since 1978, the island near Big Arm Bay is home to abundant wildlife including bighorn sheep, mule deer, waterfowl, bald eagles, and at least three wild horses. Access is by boat only and for day use only. It is managed by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

There are some private cabins on scattered parts of the perimeter of the island, particularly on the south side. These were sold during the time when Bourke MacDonald owned the island prior to 1978. An intrepid explorer will discover the remains of an ancient one room homestead cabin just up from the largest bay on the north side of the island. A small orchard was planted in the fields there. Also, one will find the ramshackle ruins of the Hiawatha Lodge on the east side of the island. Though all that remains is the caretaker's cabin (privately-owned) and the fireplace from what used to be a three-story lodge, Hiawatha was a resort at the turn of the century that drew guests from the east coast for fishing, horseback riding, and relaxation. Telegraph wires were strung from the lodge over towards the southern side of the island. The entire cherry orchard was mysteriously removed from the property sometime between when the lodge closed and when the property was restored for private use in the late 1970s.