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Flathead Lake East Shore: Highway 35, Flathead Lake, Montana
Photo: Chris Light · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives Montana Glacier, the Flathead and Northwest Montana

Flathead Lake East Shore: Highway 35

MT 35 · Polson → Bigfork

Leisurely30 mi35 min1,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 3,200 ftOne way
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The drive

Montana Highway 35 follows the east shore of Flathead Lake, which covers 197 square miles. The drive runs north from Polson to Bigfork. The road starts on the Flathead Indian Reservation and heads into the foothills of the Mission Mountains.

Near Skidoo Bay the topography forces the road to wind between the shoreline and the mountains. The east shore is where the lake's cherry orchards grow, and the drive passes Yellow Bay and Woods Bay before ending at Bigfork, where the highway crosses the Swan River. It's 30 miles and about 35 minutes with no hurry. Combined with the west-shore drive on US 93 it makes a loop of the lake.

Along the way

  1. Polson (US-93)
  2. Yellow Bay
  3. Bigfork
Elevation
1,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 3,200 ft
PolsonBigfork
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
PolsonBigfork
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Shoulders are narrow, and summer traffic moves slowly.
  • The road winds between the lake and the mountains, so passing spots are limited.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Montana 511 Travel Information.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Flathead Lake east shore drive take?

Polson to Bigfork on Highway 35 is 30 miles and takes about 35 minutes.

Can you drive all the way around Flathead Lake?

Yes. Highway 35 runs along the east shore from Polson to Bigfork, and US 93 follows the west shore.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
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Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Flathead Lake East Shore: Highway 35, from Polson to Bigfork