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Sight Apgar, Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald

A sight in Apgar, Glacier National Park, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Sunrise.

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Lake McDonald in Apgar, Glacier National Park
Photo: David Restivo, National Park Service · Public domain

Why go

Glacier's largest lake, famous for colored stones visible through clear water at Apgar.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Glacier National Park, alongside 6 activities, 2 places to eat and 1 place for a drink. The closest of our other picks is Russell's Fireside Dining Room, 3.2 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Sight · Nature
Neighborhood
Apgar
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Sunrise

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Glacier National Park, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Russell's Fireside Dining Room

    Lake McDonald Lodge dining room with regional dishes like bison and huckleberry desserts.

    Food · 3.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Glacier Park Boat Company Many Glacier Cruise

    Historic wooden boats across Swiftcurrent and Lake Josephine with ranger-led walks.

    Activity · 4.9 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail

    Flat boardwalk through old cedars, continuing 2.3 miles to a lake ringed by waterfalls.

    Activity · 8.2 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Hidden Lake Overlook Trail

    2.7-mile round trip from Logan Pass across meadows to a lake view, often with mountain goats.

    Activity · 11 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Going-to-the-Sun Road

    50-mile alpine road crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass.

    Activity · 14 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Highline Trail

    Ledge trail along the Garden Wall from Logan Pass with huge valley views.

    Activity · 15 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Lake McDonald is a stop on our Glacier to Yellowstone route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald is our only sight pick in Glacier National Park; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Glacier National Park guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Glacier National Park run from 21°F in December to 70°F in July; June is usually the wettest month. For Lake McDonald itself, we suggest: Sunrise.

Modelled monthly averages for Glacier National Park from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Glacier National Park weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Lake McDonald, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Lake McDonald, Montana 59936, USA
Coordinates
48.58317, -113.92557
Destination
Glacier National Park, Montana

Lake McDonald: quick answers

How much time do you need at Lake McDonald?

Plan on about an hour at Lake McDonald. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Lake McDonald?

Our pick: Sunrise. Insider tip: Calm water and best reflections come at sunrise from Apgar beach.

Is Lake McDonald free?

Yes, we list Lake McDonald as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Lake McDonald?

Lake McDonald is at Lake McDonald, Montana 59936, USA, in Apgar. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Lake McDonald?

Lake McDonald appears on Glacier to Yellowstone, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Lake McDonald to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Glacier National Park.

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Lists & regions

Also in Glacier National Park

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.