Lake McDonald
Lake McDonald
4.5
About
Large recreational lake in Glacier National Park.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Lake McDonald and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
8 within 3 miles
Attractions
19 within 6 miles
See what other travelers are saying
- radx4Ellicott City, Maryland2,243 contributionsPicturesque LakeThough not the most impressive lake in Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald is very pretty with very still water and surrounded by beautiful mountains. If you are visiting Glacier National Park, I recommend stopping by Lake McDonald at least once. We were able to take the Lake McDonald boat tour. The tour takes you around the lake, and a tour guide provides narration giving some history of the lake, the park, and the surrounding area. Our tour guide was very good and knew a lot about the park, which made for a fun experience. Although the view from the boat isn't substantially different from what you can see on the shore, we did get to see some unique landscapes -- especially the mountains to the north. Note that if you have a reservation for the boat tour you will be able to enter the park from West Glacier even if you do not have a Going to the Sun Road ticket. I suspect many reservations did this as we were able to take the boat tour with a last minute reservation from the wait list due to large numbers of no-show reservations. Overall, the tour is relaxing and a nice way to take in views of the surrounding mountains. We did get to see some wildlife from the boat including birds. The best way to experience Lake McDonald is from the Lake McDonald Lodge. Be sure to check out the river north of the lake as well for some pretty views of rushing water. There are also hiking trails in the area.Visited June 2021Written July 13, 2021
- The Places Where We Go PodcastSimi Valley, California982 contributionsSpectacular if conditions provide a mirror effect on the waterWe had a wonderful drive by this water feature. In the morning, the reflection of the surrounding mountains into the water was breathtaking. We had planned to stop back later in the day for photos as we were concerned about getting to the Avalanche Lake trailhead in time to get parking. While the latter was accomplished, we sadly found out later that the sweet spot for getting prime photos of the lake would have been on that early morning drive. By mid afternoon, the mountain reflections into the water were not to be seen. Still, on the drive back to Coram, we stopped at nearly every turnoff near the lake to admire the variety of scenery.Visited June 2021Written July 1, 2021
- WanderingWithUsTwoPhoenix, Arizona737 contributionsColorful rocks add another element to this scenic backdropAs we planned our trip out to Montana we had seen some pictures of places we wanted to visit. Lake McDonald was one that we really wanted to see due to the clear waters and colorful rocks that lie on the lakebed. This lake sits next to the main visitor center and is one of the more well-known lakes within the park. There are a handful of locations to stay at around the lake but because of the prime location they can fill up very quickly. We suggest looking at other travelers and get suggestions on where to go and explore but also venture on your own. Since we stayed along Lake McDonald at the Sprague Creek we got to drive by and find these little areas to stop along the way and get some unique pictures from right behind our tent at the private beach. For this particular shot we wanted to get near a certain coordinate we had researched based on the view. The coordinates for this picture were approximated but we were glad to have been able to find the look we were going for. We suggest going during calmer weather to avoid ripples on the water or to take advantage of some long-exposure photographs to get a smoother look to your pictures! - @wanderingwithustwoVisited July 2019Written June 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
920 reviews
Excellent
688
Very good
186
Average
39
Poor
7
Terrible
0
Mike C
Ormond Beach, FL2,149 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
This picture was taken at 5:30 AM on July 3. This Lake is large with spectacular views no matter where you are situated. Boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and hiking around this lake are recommended activities. Swimming, for people who are okay with extra chilled waters, is an option.
Written July 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara S
Averill Park, NY18 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Apgar is the perfect campground-it definitely felt like we were away but not stranded. Lake McDonald was like a postcard, and we rented kayaks to get a little more up close with nature. Every one of the ranger programs was excellent, and every ranger we spoke to was helpful and excited to help us find a way to experience GNP. Going To The Sun Road was, as promised, breathtaking and a bit harrowing. Definitely get to Logan Pass early (before 9am) or take a shuttle, and hike to Hidden Lake or it’s overlook. The east side felt a little more forgotten. St Mary Lake is gorgeous! Tent-camped in St Mary for the second half of our stay, showers not operational and no one could give us info about where there might be working showers. Beautiful views & saw a grizzly.
About the new camping reservation system, which I agree with and understand the reasoning for: I will not tent camp in a busy park using this system again. Because it’s almost impossible to secure several nights in a row of campsites, it is a lot of extra work to constantly be setting up and undoing tents and changing campsites. It also invariably eats into your days’ activities. We were lucky to secure two nights of our stay in the same site, and that felt so relaxing! But beware to all tent campers.
Still, nothing could diminish what a gem this park is and the experience of this wonder!
About the new camping reservation system, which I agree with and understand the reasoning for: I will not tent camp in a busy park using this system again. Because it’s almost impossible to secure several nights in a row of campsites, it is a lot of extra work to constantly be setting up and undoing tents and changing campsites. It also invariably eats into your days’ activities. We were lucky to secure two nights of our stay in the same site, and that felt so relaxing! But beware to all tent campers.
Still, nothing could diminish what a gem this park is and the experience of this wonder!
Written August 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael K
Smyrna, GA560 contributions
Jul 2020
Lake McDonald is usually the first sight viewed by visitors to the park and it doesn't disappoint. The view from Apgar Village is breathtaking at any time, but especially at the beginning or end of the day.
We biked and hiked around the lake and kayaked across much of it as well. It was a little crowded since so much of the rest of the park was closed, but I'd guess things are improving with more of the Going to the Sun Road opening up.
We biked and hiked around the lake and kayaked across much of it as well. It was a little crowded since so much of the rest of the park was closed, but I'd guess things are improving with more of the Going to the Sun Road opening up.
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy Z
246 contributions
Jun 2022
Stunning lake and scenery. We took a Glacier Park boat ride to savor the beauty of this remote jewel. The guides on the boats are always informative but we so enjoyed the views, even though it was raining and windy. The Glacier Parks boats are works of art in themselves and beautifully maintained, the friendly crew and boats are always ready to go out because of the enclosed seating area/cabin in any weather. In Glacier NP in mid June we had every weather, wind, rain, a snow shower and a magnificent pair of thunderstorms. Dress accordingly in layers! We took 4 boat rides and booked all of them in advance, although you can usually call early in the morning for openings.
Written July 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Princess279
East Brunswick, NJ838 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
It's everything you see on the internet photos and then some. As you drive along the lake in the evening, pick a pull-out with no other cars, bring your chair to the shore and breathe it in. My children would've still be there if I let them (we were there over a week ago). Once the lake ends and the creek begins, the pebbles get bigger, but the scenery continues to infuse you with peace. So glad we got to see it!
Written July 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travellercjd
Round Rock, TX100 contributions
Jul 2020
Our family vacationed at Whitefish, MT and Glacier National Park for a week. Whenever we would come into the park to hike, we would pass Lake McDonald on the way in driving to the parking area for our hike. On the last day of our trip, we were trying to decide what to do in the afternoon, and finally decided to head back to this picturesque lake as our destination, instead of just driving by. We did not go out onto the lake in a boat, but just parked in one of the pull-off areas, walked through a short wooded trail, and sat lakeside with our feet in the water. The water is very cool and felt wonderful to us after days of hiking. It's also fun to just sit there and go through all of the small, smooth, round multicolor rocks that rim the lake. We just relaxed and took photos of the area for awhile. We only saw 3 other people the whole time we were there. A nice relaxing way to spend the final afternoon of our trip.
Written August 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ashley C
Fort Mill, SC289 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
This lake has healing powers! We hiked 3 hours prior, and we hike our kids played in the water.. we soaked out feet and skipped rocks. This iconic lake really does look like fruity pebbles and with a little “photoshop” the lake rocks pop vibrantly. We think the water was around 55-60° when we went late June. The view is spectacular and it’s very relaxing! Highly recommend a stop here!
Written June 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CountryGal5759
Jackson, OH528 contributions
Jul 2020
Lake McDonald was our first impression of Glacier National Park. Oh my-what an impression it made! The crystal clear water and mountains in the background. You must park and walk down to the lake and sit and simply enjoy the view. Dip your feet in the chilly water. Play with the pebble stones. The simple things in life are the best. We stayed in Whitefish and drove to the park each day of our vacation. The view from Apgar Village is beautiful. There is a restaurant at Lake McDonald lodge but DT COVID it is only open to guests staying at the lodge
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pastuhh
Denver, CO11 contributions
Sep 2021 • Friends
Beautiful! Be cautious, it’s easy to get a flat tire as the road has sharp edges around the lake if you go off a bit. We got a flat one and no service/no spare tire either. Rangers helped us to get to the city.
Our rental company didn’t help us at all after we spent 8 hrs outside at night waiting for a towing truck at 39F degrees. We ended up calling Bruce @ American Towing Company who saved us. Amazing service!!! Please save his phone in case you get in trouble on a west side: +14068928111
Our rental company didn’t help us at all after we spent 8 hrs outside at night waiting for a towing truck at 39F degrees. We ended up calling Bruce @ American Towing Company who saved us. Amazing service!!! Please save his phone in case you get in trouble on a west side: +14068928111
Written September 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia McCartney
4 contributions
Jul 2020
you can not beat the water quality here nor can you ask for a more incredibly colorful beach line! the water in late july is a perfect complement to the heat of the day. watercraft rentals are available both within and from outside of the park. I thought that the Glacier Guides (just a mile or so from the park entrance) and rentals that were perfect for single day adventures to the lake.
bring plenty of fish friendly sunscreen and plan at least one or two afternoons to take in all the wonders of the incredible lake McDonald!
bring plenty of fish friendly sunscreen and plan at least one or two afternoons to take in all the wonders of the incredible lake McDonald!
Written August 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
heidi h
Concord, CA5 contributions
Is there anyone out there that has been on all 4 of the boat rides on the lakes and could tell us which ones they thought were the best? We are thinking we cannot go on all 4. Thanks.
Gran7
Crossett1,612 contributions
The Many Glacier boat ride is a great adventure in a unique area of the park. The Lake McDonald ride covers much beauty. You can’t go wrong on your choice.
weejun
Salem, MA65 contributions
Hi, I'm going to West Glacier Aug 22 until August 24. Did you see any grizzly's on your hikes?
MaryEllenM27
Kalispell, MT17,897 contributions
Bears are incredibly mobile and fast. They can wander an unbelievable # of miles a day, simply foraging for berries and grubs.
They tend to be sniffing around the ripening huckleberry bushes and digging for grubs. In general you MAY or MAY NOT see one out in the distance.
=====
Are you wondering because you are scared of them or want to simply see them? There are many many days we go to Glacier without a single bear sighting anywhere...somedays yes.
=====
Most deadly bear encounters on hikes...no matter where in Glacier you hike...occur when you come around a hidden corner or from bushes that impede the view ahead of you. That startles the bear AND you.
Glacier has Grizzlies and many Black Bears too. They DO NOT stalk you. When you see one...do not approach or turn your back to them to get Selfies! And do not run after them to get your photos. Rangers are short staffed this year and visitors are taking a lot of dangerous chances getting out of their cars and chasing them...I KNOW who would do that? But just two weeks ago we witnessed about 6 cars stopped near Rising Sun and occupants chasing after the mama and 3 cubs for selfies.
Those people were incredibly lucky she ran up hill. Mama bears typically can spin around in a mini second to protect her cubs. The results have been gory and tragic before.
Please do not let others tell you that hiking in a line with others keeps you safe...you do not want to be the exact one in that line that a bear decides to charge of bluff charge.
Once you arrive...do not depend on other visitor's accounts...ask a Ranger instead.
jbatesdc
Chapel Hill, NC35 contributions
I'm coming to Lake McDonald with my son. He is nine years old, and this is a special mother/son trip. He wants to lake fish, and Lake McDonald seems perfect for us. It seems lake fishing guides are hard to come by. Anyone know a guide who would be willing to take us out on a little fishing boat and teach us how to fish? We're planning for the start of August, 2019.
Stephanie R
8 contributions
I would rent a boat from apgar village right at the shore and bring your own fishing pole. No need for a guide. You don't need a fishing license. I took my 6 yo with no luck fishing, but other people did catch trout. We rented a motor boat for 2hrs for 30 dollars.
Is there normally snow the first week of November. Planning a trip to old faithful then to Lake MacDonald on the way back to Edmonton
Jim
New Smyrna Beach, FL586 contributions
I would call Hotel in Lake Mcdonald. Also I believe that have/had fires
JBRetired
Apple Valley, CA466 contributions
We will be at Lake McDonald Thursday and only have a few hours can anyone recommend a short hike 1-2 hours
Are there bears in the area? Should I bring bear spray
cwille
Bradenton, FL20 contributions
There is a trail nearby. We had walking sticks with bells to make noise and frighten bears. Trail so close to road little to fear. Only trees to see. Best sights: trails on top of Going to the Sun Road, one wide open down to lake (short walk) the other across the road carved into a cliff. The views of the valley and mountains are incredible.
Is this Motor Home friendly as far as road travel and camping.
Isabel L
Washington, UT145 contributions
We camp outside the park since campgrounds are limited to 21 ft or 35 ft. You can’t drive anything longer than 21 ft on the Going to the Sun Road.
Can you camp here with a camp trailer?
cwille
Bradenton, FL20 contributions
Campground not far
ELKW
United States11,859 contributions
if I go there at mid-Aug, can I still see the snow-headed mountains, viewing from the lake McDonald? or all the snow will be melted? thanks.
Larry W
Swansea, IL78 contributions
You will see snow there any time of year. You will also need a jacket since it's always cold. If you take "going to the sun road" you can probably find enough snow to have a snowball fight not too far from the road.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingLake McDonald - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake McDonald
- We recommend booking Lake McDonald tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 Lake McDonald tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Lake McDonald:
- (0.13 mi) Village Inn At Apgar
- (0.12 mi) Apgar Village Lodge
- (0.07 mi) Lakefront Cedar Cabin Inside Glacier National Park
- (0.29 mi) Apgar Campground
- (0.25 mi) Lake McDonald Cabin on the shores of Lake McDonald
- Restaurants near Lake McDonald:
- (0.13 mi) Eddie's Cafe
- (2.34 mi) Glacier Highland
- (2.30 mi) Belton Grill Dining Room & Tap Room
- (2.24 mi) West Glacier Cafe
- (2.97 mi) The Wandering Gringo
- Attractions near Lake McDonald:
- (0.02 mi) Apgar Visitor Center
- (0.15 mi) Sun Tours
- (0.17 mi) Glacier Outfitters
- (2.27 mi) Glacier Raft Company
- (2.29 mi) Virginia Falls
Lake McDonald Information
Excellent Reviews | 687 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 185 |
Lake McDonald Photos | 670 |