Lake McDonald

An extremely beautiful spot! We came here as our last stop on the way out of the park. There weren’t a lot of people, the views were amazing, and the sound of the water was peaceful. A great view of the mountains with the lake and colorful rocks

Beautiful lake, super clear water when the wind isn't making waves. The rocks have amazing colors. There are many different turnout spots where you can walk down and see the lake. It has great swimming opportunities as well as beaches to just lay and relax in the sun. I would recommend taking time to stop and walk down to the water for a better view when looking for a great reflective shot.

Amazing views. Super clear water. Not too crowded when I was there but definitely could be during peak season as the beach is pretty small. Brought my inflatable kayak. All watercraft must be inspected and tagged by NPS before being allowed on the lake

Stunning mountains and crystal clear water. The rocks along the shore are beautiful multicolored. The lake is easily accessible, with several pull off. It's a very short drive from West Park Entrance.

Beautiful! We loved taking out a motorboat on this lake! Another time we did kayak/SUP. And we also liked to come eat some huckleberry ice cream and sit out on the benches to watch the sunset over the lake

Beautiful! We loved it. Ride the bikes around. Admired the view. Saw some dear. Thought about bears. Fun.

Went to Glacier NP in end of July for my daughter's birthday. The weather was perfect during this time. We kayaked on Lake McDonald in the morning. It was serene and calm with not too many people. More people came later in the day. Would recommend going early. The park had a nice combination of restaurants, gift shops, hotel accomodations and launching pads. The lake itself was beautiful to be on. You can see the mountains and beauty much better from the water.

We were passing by the area and stopped at the Apgar Visitor Center and then the Lake McDonald Lodge. Beautiful lake with a lot of people kayaking and using small boats.

A very gorgeous lake that was a short trek to see and pretty populated. The peaks are in the background make it very picturesque. It was a great first stop heading into Glacier National Park for us!

Beautiful scenery. The water in the lake is so clear and refreshing during hot days. Parking can be limited in Apgar village.

Such a beautiful view!!! The drive here took about 30-40 minutes from our airbnb at Columbia Falls. There are several places on the road you can pullout to walk down for pictures, parking wasn't really an issue! My friends and I came here twice, once when the sun was out and the other time was when it was cloudy and both times it was so beautiful. When the water is calm, the mirror reflection on the lake is stunning! The mountains in the horizon make for such a beautiful backdrop it doest even seem real. I will say the famous "rainbow rocks" at the bottom the lake were pretty but definitely not as colorful as some of the pictures you see online!

SO BEAUTIFUL! I visited in June and stayed at the cabins right next to Lake McDonald. I made sure to walk out to Lake McDonald first thing every morning and spent about an hour out there each night before going to bed. The water is perfectly clear and the colored rocks are so unique and cool to look at. I had the opportunity to Kayak on Lake McDonald and it was one of the highlights of my trip!

This is such a beautiful lake! I would especially encourage people to wake up early so that you can see the sunrise as the colors are quite amazing. I had the opportunity to experience two sunrises here and they were quite spectacular.

Lake McDonald is situated towards the western section of Glacier National Park. If you're heading from west to east through Glacier, I'd say Lake McDonald sits at Mile 10 along.....famous 50 mile "Going to the Sun Road". It's a simple introduction to Glacier. But the scenery as you venture into the heart of Glacier gets MUCH MORE EXCITING than what's offered at Lake McDonald. There's parking on the side of the road to allow for walking down to the shore. You can even park at Lake McDonald Lodge and then stroll over to the lake. Although I was expecting magnificent views like some of the photos I viewed online....the overall appearance of Lake McDonald was just okay. I was anticipating incredible vistas of the mountains of Glacier to be hovering all around me. Instead....just a slight portion of the peaks emanated in the background. Lake McDonald has calm waters for you to swim in. Though the lake wasn't as colorfully striking as I had hoped for. Regardless, I still stopped along Going to the Sun Road, got out of my car and strolled the lake shore soaking up the surroundings. I took a few pictures as well. If you happen to visit the lake behind McDonald Lodge, you can certainly stop inside the hotel's lobby and appreciate what a real rustic, wooden inn feels like. It was quite nice to saunter through the lodge. Finally, just down the road if anyone cares.....there's a quick side stop at McDonald Falls. It's an elementary waterfall that you can view immediately after getting out of your car. It's a fast 2 minute stop, and there's a sign for it as you're driving along Going to the Sun heading towards the center of the park. Although Lake McDonald is quite famous, I found the whole setting to be a little muted compared to what's featured around the Logan Pass area later along in Glacier NP.

Lake Mcdonald is a very scenic lake that is nothing short of amazing to gaze upon. You drive alongside the lake on your way further into Glacier National Park. You can rent boats by the hour in Apgar at the very bottom of the lake. A must stop inside GNP.

This is a pretty lake at the end of Going to the Sun Road in Glacier. We stopped for a bit at the lodge to enjoy views of the lake. They have boat rentals and tours along with parents paddle board, kayak, and canoe rentals. It seemed like fun, but it was a little chilly when we were there and the rentals were kind of expensive. There are some hiking trails around the lake, but we didn't do any of them since we did other hikes that day. I think it's worth at least a quick stop while you're driving Going to the Sun Road.

One Of The Most Beautiful Lakes In The World! This is one of the most people lakes in the world! Flawlessly clear water reflecting the surrounding landscapes. Beautiful rock shorelines surrounded by beautiful forest. This is an amazing place!

First impressions this place is a must see. The pebbles on the lake floor are all different color. From reds to greens to yellows to orange to browns to blues. And when they get wet the color gets even darker. It's quite a site to behold. Also the mountain in the background still had some snow on it in the middle of July. I can only imagine the beuty when it's totally covered in snow during winter. The water is quite clear where you can see down for several feet. Theres multiple pull outs along the lake where you can actually get to the water which is nice. Theres also a hotel/lodge there where you can do rentals of kayaks, paddleboarding or small boats with engines to explore the river. There's also a good size stream there that feeds into the lake which you can walk acdoss and explore. This place is beautiful and I recommend it to anyone who comes to Montana. It's in the Glacier National Park. Didn't have time to visit the rest of the park but this lake is a must see for their very colorful rocks, and crystal clear water.

By far the prettiest lake in the region, and that too during sunset, a photographers dream .. one would find a lot of pros waiting for that perfect moment to add it to their collection. Visited about a week ago, and inspite of all the wildfire surronding the Glacier national park with the smoke and all, it was a sight to behold. A friend wanted to add the much sought after pics for his collection and glad that we accompanied him at that time. The Sun setting right behind those peaks, the water changing its colors, the colored rocks, and the small small waves .. as if it was custom made to be beautiful :) An absolutely wonderful sight, not to miss.

Lake McDonald is a gorgeous place. I loved visiting the area recently. While I did not take a boat or board out, due to lack of time, I did go onto a boat launch, watched a kayak for someone who went to the bathroom and marveled at the clear Lake water clarity. According to www.americawesttravel.com, "one of the Glacier National Park's largest and most scenic lakes, Lake McDonald is ten miles long and 472 feet deep, having been carved by a huge glacier. Located on the park's west side, it is surrounded by mountains on the north, south, and east. The continental divide with its jagged backbone runs north-south east of the lake." Many a photographer has used the glistening allure of the Lake as a focal point of many a Glacier Park photo, myself included. This large body of water lends a nice ambient touch to the dramatic scenery found in the Lake McDonald Valley. Taking a canoe, kayak, paddle board or small horsepower or inflatable boat out on the lake is not only great exercise but a scenic treat for the eyes and soul. You can rent these in town or bring your own water toys in to launch here at the small boat ramp. Water recreation enthusiasts will be in heaven here at beautiful Lake McDonald. Seasonal boat tours of the Lake can be found at the Lake McDonald Lodge hotel. Though I enjoyed visiting Flathead Lake in nearby Bigfork, MT., I left my mountain heart here at Lake McDonald. The massive glaciers that carved this lake out of the broad McDonald valley left behind a spectacular place for all to marvel at and enjoy.

This lake is beautiful and walking around is so beautiful. Definitely take the time to explore the area and then take a dip or kayak!