Dayton

Dayton occupies a quiet stretch of Flathead Lake's western shoreline on the Flathead Reservation, where broad lake views, agricultural land and the Mission Mountains define the landscape. U.S. Highway 93 runs through the community, while Dayton Bay opens onto one of the lake's most recognizable boating and sailing areas.

The community is known as a launching point for Wild Horse Island State Park, where old-growth ponderosa pine forests, wild horses, bighorn sheep and mule deer occupy the largest island on Flathead Lake. A public boat launch and marina activity bring seasonal movement to the shoreline while much of the surrounding landscape remains open and lightly developed.

The 1912 Dayton State Bank remains one of the community’s most distinctive historic structures. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Egyptian Revival-style structure provides a distinctive architectural setting that contrasts with the surrounding lakeshore and rural landscape.

Climate

Public Lands

• Natural Resources Department of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
• Flathead Lake State Park, Wild Horse Island Unit

Accommodations

Dayton offers a private campground. Additional accommodations are available in Polson, 20 miles south, with a wider selection in Kalispell, 30 miles north.