Bull Lake Vacation Rentals

Why Rent On Bull Lake

Bull Lake is a glacial lake in Lincoln County, northwestern Montana, about 15 miles south of Troy and 25 miles southwest of Libby, nestled between the Cabinet Mountains to the east and the Selkirk Range to the west. The lake stretches roughly five miles long and just over a mile wide at its widest point, with several small islands in the southern basin and a series of deep drop-offs that make it one of the most fishable backcountry lakes in the Kootenai River drainage. Montana Highway 56 runs along the eastern shore for much of the lake’s length, making access straightforward without requiring any four-wheel-drive adventure. The surrounding Kootenai National Forest provides hiking, wildlife watching, and winter recreation immediately adjacent to the water.

On the water

Bull Lake holds one of the most diverse fisheries of any similarly sized Montana lake. Lake trout are the cold-water signature species, occupying 40 to 80 feet in summer and moving shallower in fall, with fish in the 5 to 10 pound range reported regularly from the southern basin. Kokanee salmon provide fast action in late summer when they school before the fall spawning run, particularly in the 30 to 50 foot depth range. Rainbow trout, brook trout, and westslope cutthroat trout populate shallower areas. Bull trout are present and are catch-and-release only under Montana regulations. Smallmouth bass and northern pike hold in the weed-edged northern shallows. Montana FWP manages a concrete boat ramp at the Bull Lake South Access Site near the southern end off Highway 56, with parking for vehicles and trailers and vault toilets. A Montana fishing licence is required for anglers 12 and older. Bull trout must be released immediately upon catch. Montana state law requires all watercraft to pass through an Aquatic Invasive Species inspection station before launching — do not skip this step for any craft. Highway 56 is accessible year-round, but winter conditions in Lincoln County can be severe; carry chains and emergency supplies November through March.

What to do near Bull Lake

Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Area, about 20 miles south via Highway 56 and Forest Road 398, is a grove of massive western red cedar trees up to eight feet in diameter and 500 years old — one of the finest old-growth cedar groves in the northern Rockies and worth the drive for any visit to the Bull Lake area. Wildlife watching around the lake includes whitetail deer, moose, osprey, bald eagles, and occasional black bear. The Kootenai National Forest immediately adjacent provides dispersed camping, hiking, and snowmobiling in winter. Troy, 15 miles north, handles full services including grocery and medical; Libby, 25 miles northeast, is the gateway to the broader Kootenai valley.

When to go and where to stay

June through September is the main outdoor season. Lake trout fishing is productive in spring before thermoclines develop and again in October as fish move shallower. Kokanee fishing peaks in August ahead of the fall run. Fall colour in the Cabinet Mountain foothills, peaking in late September and early October, is among the most dramatic in Lincoln County. Winter supports ice fishing for lake trout and perch, snowmobiling in the national forest, and cross-country skiing when conditions allow. Vacation cabins and lakeshore properties at Bull Lake are the closest accommodation to the water. Browse Lake.com for rental properties with mountain views and outdoor space in Lincoln County, Montana. Dispersed camping in the adjacent Kootenai National Forest provides a low-cost alternative for self-sufficient visitors.