Wayfarers State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wayfarers State Park
Flathead Lake with Wayfarers State Park on the opposite shore below the Swan Range
Wayfarers State Park Location in Montana
Location	Flathead County, Montana, United States
Nearest town	Bigfork, Montana
Area	67 acres (27 ha)
Elevation	2,923 ft (891 m)
Established	1969
Visitors	158,961 (in 2016)
Administrator	Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Website	Wayfarers State Park

Wayfarers State Park is a fun place to visit in Montana. It's a public park that covers about 67 acres. That's like 50 football fields! The park sits right next to Flathead Lake, which is a very large and beautiful lake. You can find the park just south of a town called Bigfork.

Many people love to visit Wayfarers State Park. In 2016, almost 160,000 people came to enjoy the park. It's also home to a yearly event called the Northern Rockies Paddlefest. This event is for people who love to paddle on the water. In 2013, over 200 people joined in the fun!

Nature and Wildlife at Wayfarers State Park

Wayfarers State Park is a great spot to see different kinds of plants and animals. The park has tall pine and fir trees that make a shady forest. Underneath these trees, you can find many colorful wildflowers, especially in spring and summer.

Plants and Flowers You Might See

In 1998, a special garden was planted in the park. It's called the Harry Horn Native Plant Garden. This garden helps people learn about the local plants. You can see many beautiful wildflowers there, such as:

• arrowleaf balsamroot (a yellow flower that looks like a sunflower)
• indian paintbrush (a bright red or orange flower)
• silky lupine (a purple or blue flower with soft leaves)
• death camas (a white or cream-colored flower, but be careful, it's poisonous!)

Things to Do at Wayfarers State Park

Wayfarers State Park offers many activities for visitors. It's a perfect place for camping and enjoying the lake.

Camping and Boating Fun

The park has 30 campsites where you can set up your tent or park your RV. There's also a boat ramp, which makes it easy to launch your boat onto Flathead Lake. You can go boating, kayaking, or paddleboarding.

Fishing in Flathead Lake

If you like to fish, Flathead Lake is a great place to cast your line. Many different kinds of fish live in the lake, so you might catch something exciting!

Future Plans for Bicycle Campers

In 2016, there were plans to make the park even better for people who travel by bicycle. The idea was to create a special area just for bicycle campers. This area would have spots for 10 campsites and other things that bike riders might need.