Lakes Around Helena
Sometimes you just need to gather your family and friends and make time to be on the water. Lucky for you, when you make a trip to Helena there are quite a few options for spending time on the lake.
It doesn’t matter if you’re seeking to float in a tube with a book, partake in some wakeboarding, swim, or work on your tan, the lakes near Helena offer you plentiful options for outdoor activities. Browse through the local listings below to have a look your nearby locations including swimming lakes with beaches to larger lakes for you and the family to visit.
Lakes Close to Helena
A Day at the Lake: An Itinerary
When you visit a lake near Helena there are many things to do for groups of all types. You could go for an exciting day trip or make it a long weekend to a hotel on the beach to enjoy yourself more fully.
Now we’ll run down a list of some of the best things to do when you visit a Helena lake:
Get in the water. The swimming lakes near Helena provide all kinds of laughs and games for the big kids and little ones, or all the physical activity that an exercise junky could want in between getting that perfect golden tan. If you want to spend time swimming and on the beach you’ll want to be sure your lake has a nice swimming area and a sandy beach to spread out on prior to packing the car and the family! Admit it, even the nicest swimming pool doesn’t hold a candle to a beautiful public beach on a lake near Helena!
Canoeing, kayaking, or paddle boarding. If paddling is your thing, load up your preferred vessel and chart your course to a lake near Helena with a public boat launch you can use and get out and soak up the scenery on the waterfront.
Go fishing. For those that love to fish, finding a good fishing hole shouldn’t be too hard to help you have a relaxing day with a line in the water whether you’re roaming the lake in a killer fishing boat or tossing a line in from the dock.
Lake Getaway Prep
A lake day itinerary can honestly be all over the map when you take into consideration which lake you choose, the weather forecast, and the activities on your to-do list. To make things easier we’ve built out a short list of popular go-to items for you to use as a checklist prior to locking up the house and heading out.
Lake basics
When the plan is to be outdoors for the majority of the vacation, the following list of items is a good place to start for essentials that you’ll be happy to have on hand.
- A picnic basket
- Something to dry off with
- Portable stereo
- Bathing suits
- Backup clothing
- Eye protection, a hat, or both
- Garbage bags
- Sneakers
- A fully stocked cooler
- Sunscreen
Additional lake items
The gear in the list below might prove useful for trips to the lake depending on what you’ll be doing. You may want to double check some of these prior to hitting the road.
- Corkscrew
- Books
- Pool noodles, rafts, floats
- Life jackets
- Swimming goggles
- Tackle box and lures
- Worms or other bait
- Something to clean up with like sanitizers or wet wipes
- Licenses and registration for boating and fishing
- Toys for the beach
Lake Safety Tips
Of course spending a weekend on the lake can be lots of fun, everyone’s safety needs to remain top of mind. If you’re going to be out on the water here are some general safety tips to keep in mind.
- Always wear a life jacket when boating, kayaking or paddle boarding
- Have an escape plan for what to do if you get stuck on a boat that capsizes or tips over
- Don’t mix alcohol with swimming
- Avoid swimming near rocks or shallow water areas that may not be deep enough to dive underneath and escape from waves
- Keep children within arm’s reach at all times while swimming in deep water
- Don’t swim alone
- Use sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy outside
More Helena Lake Tips
If you’re going to visit the beautiful lakes around Helena, there are a few things that might make your trip plan far more successful. As an example, each individual lake near Helena has their own qualities and surroundings which makes it important to think about what will make for an unforgettable trip when planning yours.
- Maximize unique local resources. When you have time for a lengthier getaway, look for local state parks and recreation areas which give you the option to camp directly on the water for a reasonable price.
- Pay attention to the beaches. Depending on the time of year, occasionally beaches can get very crowded. To find some more peace and quiet, do some digging on multiple lakes in the area to learn about how busy they are to find one with a slower pace. If you want to be where the party’s at, then look for the busiest, most happening sandy party scene!
- Rent a boat. If you’re near the water you’ll often find nearby marinas that offer boat rentals. You don’t need to own a boat to enjoy a day fishing on the lake or a wild day of wakeboarding. Asking a local can usually help you find several places that can hook you up with the right vessel.
