Lake McDonald

★5.0

GlacierNPS, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted

Largest lake in Glacier National Park, filling a valley formed by a combination of erosion and glacial activity

General Information

Pet Policy:
Pets not allowed on trails, along lake shores outside of developed locations, or in any building
Seasons:
Open all year though fully accessible for only four months during summer, owing to the very heavy winter snowfall
Apgar, MT Weather Forecast

From West Entrance (3.4 miles): Head northwest on Glacier Rte 1 Rd/Going-to-the-Sun Rd toward Grinnell Dr. Turn right to stay on Glacier Rte 1 Rd/Going-to-the-Sun Rd.

Overview

Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park, about 10 miles long, more than a mile wide, and 472 feet deep, in a valley carved by glaciers and known for its colorful stones under clear water. Apgar Village at the west end has a visitor center, shops, and boat rentals, and the rustic Lake McDonald Lodge, built in 1913-14 in a Swiss-influenced hunting-lodge style, is about 5 miles east on Going-to-the-Sun Road. McDonald Creek flows in and out of the lake.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Lake McDonald", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Crater Lake Wizard Island South View
Lake McDonald Lodge dinning room interior
David Restivo, GlacierNPS, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
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Lake McDonald Lodge exterior
Acroterion, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
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jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
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David Restivo, National Park Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
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McDonald Lake along Going-to-the-Sun Road
Wing-Chi Poon, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
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Sunset on Lake McDonald
GlacierNPS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted