Wild Horse Island State Park
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- City and State Parks, Watchable Wildlife, Fishing/ Fishing Access Sites, Hiking/Backpacking, Swimming
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- General info
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Wild Horse Island is considered by many locals to be the best watchable wildlife area in the state. Its tremendous wildlife population includes bighorn sheep, full-curl rams, trophy mule deer bucks, eagles, osprey and a few wild horses. Occasionally, visitors will also spot coyotes, black bear and mountain lion. The island also boasts a beautiful wildflower display in the spring and summer months, as well as a variety of hiking trails to match anyone’s physical ability.
The Island has a very interesting history. Legend has it that the local Salish and Kootenai Tribes would hide their horses on the island to prevent the raiding Blackfeet war parties from stealing them. The Tribes would swim their horses out to the island in the summer and cross over on the ice in the winter. When the first white European settlers came to the island, they found the Indians hidden horses, and hence the island’s name arose.
Wild Horse Island was a main mid-lake stopover point for the steam, paddle wheel and big lake boats that used to cruise between Port Polson on the south end of the lake, and towns such as Big Fork, Somers, and Demersville on the north end. Many people got on and off these
Wild Horse Island State Park