Quick facts
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Distance
- Short paved path, perhaps a half mile
- Elevation gain
- None
- Season
- Year-round
- Managed by
- City / County
- Permit
- Not required
- Access road
- Paved, in Polson off US 93
Riverside Park sits at the south end of Polson Bay where the Flathead River exits Flathead Lake. The park combines a public boat launch, a small swimming beach, picnic areas, and a paved walking path along the bay shore. It is the easiest direct lake access in Polson and is open year-round, free, family-friendly, and ADA-accessible at most sections.
The walking path is short but the bay views and the open water out to the lake proper make the visit worth it on any clear day. The boat launch sees regular summer traffic and is one of the busier launches on the south end of the lake. In winter the park stays open and walkable; the bay carries ice along the shoreline most cold weeks while the open lake beyond rarely freezes.
Restrooms are seasonal. The Salish Point promenade is a short walk north, near KwaTaqNuk.
Features
Current conditions, hours, and permit rules change. Always check the authoritative source before going. See the full permits and licenses guide →