Kintla Lake

Kintla Lake
Fog rolls over the lake's surface, caused by the differing temperatures of the air and the water
Location of Kintla Lake in Montana, USA.
Location of Kintla Lake in Montana, USA.
Kintla Lake
Location of Kintla Lake in Montana, USA.
Location of Kintla Lake in Montana, USA.
Kintla Lake
LocationGlacier National Park, Flathead County, Montana, US
Coordinates48°57′53″N 114°18′10″W / 48.96472°N 114.30278°W / 48.96472; -114.30278[1]
TypeNatural
Primary inflowsKintla Creek
Primary outflowsKintla Creek
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length5 mi (8.0 km)
Max. width0.8 mi (1.3 km)
Surface area1,698 acres (6.87 km2)
Max. depth390 ft (120 m)
Surface elevation4,008 ft (1,222 m)

Kintla Lake is a lake in the northwestern portion of Glacier National Park in Montana.[2] The lake is located in a rather remote portion of the park, close to the Canada–United States border. The lake is a 40 mi (64 km) drive from the west entrance along bumpy dirt roads. At 1,698 acres (687 ha), Kintla Lake is only slightly smaller than Bowman Lake, and is the fourth largest lake in the park.

Kintla originates from the Kutenai word for "sack". Kutenai legend states that a man had apparently drowned in one of the lakes which likened the lake to a sack where "once you got in, you couldn't get out".[3]

Canoeing and kayaking are ideal on the lake, as no motorized watercraft are allowed. There is a quiet campground on the lake, and it is rarely filled because of its remote location. Fishing is also popular on the lake, because of the trout found in it. There are also options for day hikes and extended hikes into the backcountry in the area.[4]

  1. ^ "Kintla Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
  2. ^ "Kintla Lake, MT" (Map (USGS Quad)). TopoQuest. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference montana_pn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Glacier National Park - Kintla Lake Campground". National Park Service. Retrieved 2011-03-06.